Manyin said the amount was excluding the RM16.4 billion allocated for the construction of the Pan Borneo Highway.

He said the huge amount spent for building roads and upgrading existing ones proves the government’s commitment to connect the people in the rural and urban areas and reduce the travel time to many interiors of the state.

Manyin was speaking to reporters after handing out land titles to 75 people to build houses at Kampung Suba Bandar, Bau, here today.

Asked about landowners in areas from Simpang Nyabau to Bakun who refused to hand over their land to ease the construction of the Pan Borneo Highway, Manyin said negotiations were still in progress.

He said landowners whose lands are affected by the Pan Borneo Highway project would be compensated accordingly to ensure the project is carried out according to plan.

Manyin said the government had paid out RM800 million as compensation to landowners who had agreed to allow their land to be used for the project.

Speaking of the process to hand out land titles for building houses at places of their origin to the Bidayuh community by the Sarawak Land and Survey Department, Manyin said the process would continue.

“Giving out land titles to owners of the Bidayuh community under the Bumiputera Native Customary Rights (NCR) is relevant because it is the only property that belong to the community,” said Manyin.

Manyin said with the land titles in their possession, the Bidayuh community can mortgage their land to start businesses

– BERNAMA