Rail track operator urged to pay compensation to house owners

The company operating the railway track for the Electrified Double Track Project from Ipoh to Padang Besar is urged to speed up payment of the compensation to 58 house owners in Kerian.

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir said the compensation totalling more than RM200,000 for the damage caused to the houses due to the construction of the railway tracks should have been paid as soon as the construction was completed two years ago.

"One group (of the affected families) had repeatedly made appeals to the operating company to resolve their problems and I personally had voiced their problems to the government," he told reporters after chairing the State Exco meeting, here today.

Zambry said he had been informed by the company concerned that they would pay the compensation when all 63 house owners had agreed to the compensation amount.

"So far, only 58 families had agreed while the other five had not. The company should pay the families who had agreed first...if they wait for everyone to agree, when will they be able to pay?" he said.

The Menteri Besar said the company concerned should show appreciation to the families who had agreed to the amount of compensation and pay them immediately.

"This action (of not paying) will complicate the compensation paying process when the 58 families lose their patience and act against them.

"I hope they (the company) can take action and resolve the problems of the 58 families," he said.

The construction project which was implemented since 2008 had incurred expenditure amounting to RM16.05 billion including the cost of land acquisition. - BERNAMA