RESETTLED FAMILIES (Delayed payment)

Mr John Ede asked the Minister for Local Government, Lands and Housing the reasons for the delay in the payment of ex-gratia and other allowances to Queenstown families moved into, or about to be moved into, resettlement areas.

Inche Abdul Hamid Bin Haji Jumat: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not aware that there has been any real delay in the payment of ex-gratia and other allowances to Queenstown families moved or about to be moved into resettlement areas.

In view of the representations which were made in regard to the adequacy of the compensation of the first phase of the Queenstown resettlement, a reassessment has been made of the improvements. This has taken some time as a considerable number of improvement things are no longer in evidence on the land. The reassessment has, however, now been completed and revised offers, based on the reassessment, are now being made to persons affected.

Mr John Ede: Is the Minister not aware that this delay has been going on ever since he took office a year ago, and the falling-off in the rate of building of S.I.T. houses is an extremely serious matter entirely due to Government inaction?

Inche Abdul Hamid Bin Haji Jumat: Mr Speaker, Sir, representations with regard to the adequacy of payment were made to me only a few months after my taking office, and not from the very beginning.