SERDANG, 25 May: Explorers and farmers at Parit 14 and Paritr 15, Sungai Panjang, who have been carrying out farming illegally on the land cannot receive compensation from the State Government.
The Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, said that the land involved is fully owned by the State Government and was explored illegally by residents in the area, and that they had never paid any premium.
“We will not pay compensation to those who were exploring the land illegally because if we do so, we have to pay to over 500,000 other explorers.
“If we pay them, then Selangor will be filled with illegal exploration. This is the Selangor people’s land, those who are liable have to pay compensation,” he said during a press conference after the Selangor Heritage Education Excellence Award ceremony at the Putra University, Malaysia, yesterday.
Previously, over 50 explorers at the area of Parit 14 and 15, Sungai Panjang, near Sabak Bernam, gathered peacefully in front of the Selangor State Secretary’s (SUK) Building earlier this month.
This was to protest against the State Government’s actions of allegedly seizing the land which has become the livelihood of their families for almost 60 years.
They are part of the 336 explorers who demanded the State Government to withdraw the decision to acquire the land, in addition to asking the government to allow them to continue the cultivation of oil palm, rice and cocoa on the land of the Sungai Karang Forest Reserve.
NS
