Over 150 making way for ECRL in Gombak get ex-gratia payments

SOME 157 heads of households at Desa Mukmin in Gombak, Selangor received ex-gratia payments and moving costs as they will have to relocate to make way for the construction of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL).

Selangor housing and culture committee chairman Borhan Aman Shah said Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) offered the ex-gratia payments to help ease the occupants’ burden of moving out.

He said residents had received notices from Selangor Land and Mines Office (Selangor JKPTG) that they would have to move out by Jan 15, 2024 to make way for ECRL works.

Residents, he said, would receive RM3,000 in moving out expenses and RM1,500 in monthly rent for a period of 24 months as well as costs of the structures affected.

“Recipients will also have the option to purchase Rumah Selangorku (RSKU) units in Bandar Tasik Puteri at RM79,000.

“They can also choose to rent SmartSewa units at either Blok Temenggung or Sri Damai,” he said before handing over the ex-gratia payments to resident representatives at Dewan Beringin Sri Gombak.

Borhan, who was representing Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, said a census conducted by Selangor JKPTG found that there were 135 structures at Kampung Desa Mukmin that would have to make way for the ECRL line.

Resident Mohd Akhir Zakaria, 60, said he had accepted the fact that they would have to leave the area by next month.

“We were one of the first families here during the early 1990s.

“We have been hearing that the ECRL line would cut through the village, so we were mentally prepared.

“For the sake of the country’s development, we will compromise,” the self-employed lorry driver said.

During the same event, Borhan also gave out contributions to 107 Gombak district residents who were affected by flooding and landslides in October.