MOVING OF FAMILIES FROM QUEENSTOWN TO JURONG AND TAMPENIS

Mr John Ede asked the Minister for Local Government, Lands and Housing how many families it is planned to move from the Queenstown area to prepared plots at (a) Jurong and (b) Tampenis: how many have already moved to these plots; and whether he is aware that any reluctance to move is largely due to the compensation being offered.

Inche Abdul Hamid Bin Haji Jumat: Mr Speaker, Sir, it is planned to move, in the first instance, 41 families from Queenstown to prepared lots at Jurong and Tampenis. 36 families will be moving to Jurong and five to Tampenis. 32 families for Jurong have accepted the offer and taken the cash and credit note for material. Five houses have already been erected in Jurong; eight others are being constructed, and it is expected the rest will start building operations in the immediate future. None have completed removal, which will no doubt take place when building operations are completed.

Four families allotted land at Tampenis have accepted the offer. None have moved.

With regard to the last part of the question, Sir, I am aware that there was some reluctance to move in the early stages owing to what was claimed to be inadequate payment. I am satisfied that the ex-gratia payment offered is of a generous nature.

Mr Lee Choon Eng: Sir, can the Minister tell us if he is aware that there is a difference of compensation paid to squatters in the Queenstown area?

Inche Abdul Hamid Bin Haji Jumat: Mr Speaker, Sir, I shall require notice of that question.

Mr John Ede: Sir, is the Minister aware that the Jurong plots will require months of hard work before they can become productive, and will he consider the advisability of giving some kind of subsistence allowance to farmers until such time as the land can yield an adequate crop?

Inche Abdul Hamid Bin Haji Jumat: Mr Speaker, Sir, subsistence allowances are already being offered to farmers at the Jurong resettlement area.