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Extracted from Malaysiakini
Villagers win the day, Tebedu
project scrapped
Tony Thien
Oct 15,
The
The decision was conveyed to a four-man delegation led by village security and
development committee chairperson Beranyi Basi during a meeting with Tebedu
state assemblyperson and state minister Michael Manyin.
“He (the minister) told us the government has cancelled it (the decision to
acquire the kampung land),” committee secretary Michael Jumat told malaysiakini immediately after the
meeting in Kuching.
Other members of the delegation included Councillor Tinggi Akam Tambi and
Penghulu Jen.
“We are of course very happy with the decision. Everyone can go back to our
usual routine,” he said, referring to the distress suffered by the 550
villagers after receiving a notice last week from the Land and Survey
Department that their land was to be acquired for a proposed inland port
project.
A map attached to the letter revealed that the entire village would have to
make way for the 150-hectare project.
The villagers were also told to make claims for compensation within a 60-day
period, which expires on Nov 21.
Free trade zone
However, the villagers strongly
protested, saying that the land has been occupied by them for nearly a century.
They then urged Manyin to intervene.
Malaysiakini understands that the inland port project was planned as a free
trade zone to facilitate trade between
Nearby, a new township with 60 shoplots has been developed. Most of these
shoplots are currently used for storage purposes.
“Although the township looks empty, all the shoplots have been sold and used
mostly for storage,” said Tebedu senior administrative officer Bai Dunga.
A Sarawak-based public-listed company Hock Seng Lee is also developing an
industrial estate in the area.
