Kota kinabalu: Sabah Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam has urged all state assemblymen to engage with residents to explain the importance of the Pan Borneo Highway project, including issues surrounding compensation. Dr Joachim, who is also the state Works and Utilities Minister, emphasized the necessity of this engagement due to ongoing concerns about compensation for residents served with eviction notices.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Joachim acknowledged that some residents have not received compensation, attributing this to incomplete documentation or disagreements over the amounts offered. During a State Assembly sitting, he responded to concerns raised by Datuk Dr Mohammad Yusof Apdal about demolition actions affecting residents, including those with titled homes in gazetted villages. Dr Joachim reinforced the project's significance as a transformative development initiative for Sabah, urging assemblymen to communicate this to the public.

For the Silam constituency, Dr Joachim noted that the project is still in its early stages, with physical progress below 30 percent. This, he said, presents an opportunity for continued dialogue among stakeholders. He detailed that compensation payments are being executed in phases, contingent upon the type of land and adherence to established protocols. The process for land with valid ownership is progressing under the Sabah Land Acquisition Ordinance, with payments to be processed once consent documents are complete.

Dr Joachim clarified that structures within road reserves are not eligible for compensation, in accordance with policy guidelines. However, ex gratia payments may be considered for structures within other reserves, like river or utility reserves, pending relevant approvals. He assured that allocations for compensations have been secured and will be managed by the Sabah Lands and Surveys Department to ensure transparency and adherence to procedures.