GOOD PROGRESS: Lee (centre) and Ting look at the plan of the link road.
MIRI: Datuk Lee Kim Shin yesterday quashed allegations by certain quarters that the government is out to grab people’s land.
Dismissing the claim as baseless, the Assistant Minister of Communications and assemblyman for Senadin disclosed that the government in fact had paid out almost RM10 million in compensation for the Tudan–Kuala Baram Road to Miri Bypass and Miri Airport.
“We have acquired a lot of private lands for the project and land compensation is over RM9 million. The government doesn’t simply take land belonging to the people as it always compensates for everything taken,” he said when making a site visit to the road project.
Accompanying Lee during the inspection was Public Works Department (JKR) road maintenance engineer Ting Sie Loh.
“The 4.5km Tudan–Kuala Baram road to Miri bypass and Miri Airport also includes a bridge over Miri River. We have completed the whole Pujut 7 roundabout traffic light junction ahead of schedule,” he added.
Giving the thumbs-up to the contractor, JKR and other agencies involved in the project, Lee said he received good feedback and fewer complaints from road users, especially along Pujut 7, on road congestion.
“So now we are going to focus on this link road as this is another very important road. I believe that with the completion of this road traffic jam in the city centre will be reduced. Those living in the northern part, especially Permyjaya, Tudan and around this area, will have an alternative route to the city centre and Miri Airport. This will give them shorter travelling time,” he added.
Currently, road users travel a long way to get to Miri Airport, taking the Pujut Padang Kerbau Road and Miri Bypass.
On the overall progress of the link road, Lee said it was nearly three per cent ahead of schedule.
“However, we hope to be able to complete it before December next year,” he added.