Over 1,200 squatters in Johor relocated to make way for double-tracking project

JOHOR BARU: A total of 1,265 squatter homes and 65 houses of worship in Johor have been relocated to make way for the Gemas – Johor Bahru Electrified Double Track Project (EDTP).

Johor works, transportation and infrastructure committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh said the relocation efforts were carried out since 2011.

“Besides squatter homes, six surau, 15 Buddhist temples and 41 Hindu temples were relocated in a span of 12 years.

“Another three more Hindu temples will be relocated soon and the state government has offered them a plot of land at 929 sqm each at Taman Eko Flora.

“The temples were supposed to move out by Nov 1 but we gave them some leeway in view of the Deepavali celebrations.

“We hope the relocation can be done soon for the EDTP to go on smoothly to meet its completion date in 2025,” he said after visiting the temple relocation site on Tuesday (Nov 14).

The three temples were Dewa Sri Maha Kaliamman temple in Taman Impian Emas, Arulmigu Sri Sivalingeshwarar temple in Jalan Bujur, Taman Century and Yellow Temple or Arulmigu Sri Muniswaran temple in Jalan Tun Abdul Razak.

He added that all three temples had to be relocated due to safety reasons as they stood in the way of the EDTP.

“The relocation process took some time due to the long negotiations (with the temple committees).

“We have also included adequate infrastructure like roads leading to the temple site to ease the relocation process,” added Mohamad Fazli.

The Gemas-Johor Baru EDTP, which started on Dec 1, 2016, covers 192km with a cost of RM8.9bil.

A total of 11 stations would be built in Johor along the route: Segamat, Genuang, Labis, Bekok, Paloh, Kluang, Mengkibol, Rengam, Layang-Layang, Kulai and Kempas Baru.

Separately, Mohamad Fazli said that the Public Works Department had carried out maintenance works at all the roads under its purview in preparation of the monsoon season.

“During a meeting to coordinate the state’s monsoon preparation chaired by Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi on Nov 9, we were informed that the roads and drainage under the department, as well as other agencies such as local councils, have been given the necessary maintenance.

“Looking at the floods that took place in March this year, which was due to high rainfall that exceeded the capacity of the drainage system, I believe all agencies involved have done the needed preparations,” he said.