KUANTAN: Food stall operator Razali Awang has been climbing the stairs at the Kuantan district and land office here for the past 50 years, hoping to secure his land title ownership but to no avail.
Several weeks ago, when some government officers visited his premises along Jalan Kuantan-Kemaman near Kampung Kubang Ikan in Balok here, the 73-year-old assumed that it was "good news" related to his land grant application, only to be told that his plot are among those earmarked for the mega East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project.
The father-of-five said the 'neatly dressed' officers told that he will be entitled to receive some compensation payout but Razali is 'disturbed' as he does not have a land title.
"Although, I might not go home empty-handed but the compensation will be much lower compared to those who have land titles. This is unfair as I have been applying for the land grants since 1973 and my applications were rejected several times due to various reasons.
"When my shop and house is demolished for the ECRL road project, where am I supposed to go and what should I do for a living. I am not against the government acquiring my land but please provide a fair compensation so that I can build a new house and continue my business elsewhere," he said when met today.
Razali said most of the villagers in the settlement did not have a land grant when they first moved here but built their homes before they slowly managed to secure the titles after going through the necessary process.
"Some received theirs (land titles) after a long wait....maybe 20 years or more and it is usually a matter of time. In my case, despite putting forward several applications I am still unable to secure my land grant.
"Those with land grants will receive an adequate compensation accorded based on the assessment provided by the valuer but what about those without the land titles?....Beserah assemblyman (Andansura Rabu) is trying to assist us and I hope the others including the Pahang government will show some pity to help those without land grants," he said.
Razali said he has forked out a huge amount of money to build the food stall and concrete house so he is pleading for a fair compensation, and not a lopsided deal.
Meanwhile, elderly couple Sulung Abdullah, 68, and his wife Rokamar Abdul Majid, 63, are praying for a miracle that their 45-year-old wooden house in the village will be spared from the Cherating ECRL station road project.
Father of eight Sulung, who manages a cattle farm, said several weeks ago a group of men who introduced themselves as property valuers came to the village to inform that some of our lands will be taken for the ECRL project.
"We were taken by surprise as none of the villagers were aware about the matter. We raised the matter to Andansura but everything seems to be progressing at full speed as we have been told be present at the land office in June for a meeting to discuss the compensation value.
"Once the cash (compensation) is deposited into our accounts, the land owners will be given 90 days to vacate the plots. My wooden house has a lot of sentimental values as it was where my eight children grew up...I cannot imagine my house being demolished but it seems that we have no other options as our land will not be replaced but only given cash.
"Many of us are still unsure about the procedures related to land acquisition and the entire process. The authorities should come to the village and hold an engagement session with all the affected villagers and provide a clear explanation," he said adding the land will be taken for a dual-carriageway road travelling through the village to the soon to be built Cherating ECRL station.
Meanwhile, Rokamar claimed several private property valuers came to the village to offer their services to evaluate
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