Ahmad Fairuz Othman New Straits Times 1 Sep 12;
LAND ACQUISITION: Those unhappy with compensation can air their grievances, says MB
JOHOR BARU: THE state government will begin land acquisition award hearings next week to settle matters affecting more than 3,000 residents in Pengerang, following the development of oil and gas (O&G) projects in the area.
The first two projects are the Petronas Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid), and Pengerang Independent Deepwater Petroleum Terminal, located within the proposed Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC).
Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said the public hearings, from Sept 3 to Sept 14, would enable villagers to state their case on government compensation for their acquired land and properties.
"The compensation offered will be based on valuation conducted by the Valuation and Property Services Department based on prevailing market prices. It will not be arbitrarily decided by the state government," he said in a statement yesterday.
All compensation will be paid in cash.
The Johor government is offering a special housing ownership scheme at a new resettlement area for villagers whose houses are affected.
All the new houses come with 557sq m (6,000sq ft) of land each, and the villagers need to pay a nominal fee of RM1.
Ghani said the villagers would be able to use the compensation they received for the affected houses to offset the costs of owning the new houses.
Agricultural land at 0.81ha per lot will be offered at minimal premiums to those whose lands were acquired for the development projects, based on certain prerequisites.
Ghani said the government's compensation package would be fair and reasonable, adding the entire exercise would be undertaken in a transparent, effective and timely manner.
He said families unhappy with the quantum of compensation offered were free to seek redress from the courts.
The state government will acquire some 8,094ha of land in Pengerang for the development of the PIPC.
About 2,550ha will be developed by Petronas Rapid, while 544ha will be for the Pengerang Independent Deepwater Petroleum Terminal, which is a joint venture between Dialog Group, Royal Vopak and Johor's State Secretary Incorporated.
These are the first two projects to be developed in PIPC.
Future potential investors and supporting industries will take up the remaining land in PIPC.
This massive development is the state government's initiative to transform Pengerang into a oil and gas hub.
It will involve the relocation of 3,122 people from 927 families currently residing at the affected areas.
Phase One of the relocation exercise will begin in March next year with three villages.
The three villages are Kampung Sungai Kapal, Kampung Teluk Empang and Kampung Langkah Baik.
By October, four villages will follow suit. The four villages are Kampung Sebong, Kampung Batu Mas, Kampung Jawa and Kampung Sungai Buntu.
