Federal govt to provide compensation for homeowners affected by LTU, says deputy works minister

GUA MUSANG, July 25 — The federal government has agreed to provide compensation to 177 homeowners affected by the Lingkaran Tengah Utama (LTU) Expressway, previously known as the Central Spine Road project, said Deputy Works Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.

He said that the compensation would be based on humanitarian grounds, for residents living in illegal settlements along the project route from Gua Musang to Kuala Krai.

“These homeowners and shoplot owners are those residing without titles along the project route.

“Yesterday, I raised this issue in a pre-Cabinet meeting, chaired by Works Minister Datuk Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, proposing that we provide compensation to them,” he said.

He said this in a press conference, after receiving a briefing on the LTU project in Kelantan, at Bandar Utama Gua Musang, today.

Ahmad Maslan explained that the compensation would be paid using a specific formula, due to the demolition and relocation of homes they had built.

“These individuals do not hold land titles, but have constructed houses and shops along this project’s route.

“The ministry will study the provision of this compensation as soon as possible, to assist the homeowners and shop owners involved,” he said.

He added that the ministry would write a letter to the Ministry of Finance, outlining the formula and compensation needed to be given to them, based on humanitarian grounds.

He added that the compensation would benefit the people, even though they reside without titles, given that residents find it difficult to obtain titles from the state government.

“This compensation involves costs in the millions, but I do not want to mention the exact amount as we are still calculating and formulating a specific formula,” he said.

In a separate development, he said that the contract for the Kota Bharu-Kuala Krai Highway Project (KB-KK) for Package 2B, covering 6.2 kilometres from Ketereh to Kok Lanas, has been terminated, and will be retendered.

He added that for the Section 3D Project (Gua Musang Roundabout to Mentara), contractors are still given the opportunity to carry out the project. — Bernama