Serian DAP branch chairman Edward Andrew Luwak said the farmer, Belden Bongkoi Singo from Kampung Kakai Pasir, wanted the state government to reimburse him for the felling of his fruit trees and crops.
Luwak added that the government had also demolished Belden’s store to pave the way for the RM16 billion highway project.
He said Belden was told that he would be compensated as the project would affect his crops and involve his plot of land being reclaimed. However, according to Belden, no compensation was ever paid to him.
“It came as a surprise to Belden as when he went to the Land and Survey office in Kota Samarahan recently, he was told that he was not entitled to any compensation as his house compound was found to be within the road reserve.
“Belden believes that there were others whose land fell within the road reserve and yet are being compensated. To him, if such was the practice, it was double standards,” Luwak said in a statement today.
He said Belden also believed that he was not the only one who failed to receive compensation as he claimed two of his neighbours had not been paid either.
“I am not against development, and I have strong support for any development project that benefits the people. In this case, it was to improve the road infrastructure which can benefit the country and the public at large,” Belden was quoted as saying in the statement.
“However, the authorities should consider compensating people like me as it took me many years and a lot of pain to maintain the fruit trees and my compound.”
Belden said he was a victim of circumstances, pointing out that only part of his compound was within the road reserve and that it was only because of the upgrading work that his house was affected and his fruit trees felled.
He added that he strongly believed there was merit in his claim for fair and reasonable compensation.
Belden once worked as a teacher and served as a community leader for 10 years after retirement.
Last year, he was informed that the Pan-Borneo Highway project would affect his house compound and that his land lot had been surveyed by the Dayak Bidayuh National Association on Aug 7, 2015, and described as Field Lot No. 001 at Kampung Kakai Pasir.
The Pan-Borneo Highway project was launched by Prime Minister Najib Razak in Bintulu on March 31, 2015.
Expected to be completed in 2022, the highway will span a total distance of 1,060km and is slated to be the transportation backbone of Sabah and Sarawak. It is also expected to play a major role in opening up economic corridors and opportunities in the area.
* Ivy Chong contributed to this article.