Quickly resolve WCE land acquisition issue, urge hauliers

AMH executive secretary Azuan Masud said the delay in completing that key stretch of the WCE has affected thousands of hauliers nationwide.

“Section 3 is a vital connection expected to ease congestion along the Federal Highway and Shah Alam Expressway (Kesas), particularly for the movement of commercial vehicles between industrial zones and Port Klang.

“With the delay, hauliers are forced to use existing roads that are already congested, leading to longer travel times, increased fuel use and higher maintenance costs,” he said in a statement today.

In June, WCE Sdn Bhd said it had already paid 70% of the compensation for the land acquisition in Kampung Jawa as of Sept 30, 2023, in line with the Land Acquisition Act.

It denied claims of forceful evictions, saying that this came from a small number of landowners who refused to vacate the land despite the company acquiring it lawfully from Putrajaya.

The company also said these landowners have remained on the land for more than 20 months despite the compensation being paid.

It said this delayed construction of the key highway link, which is expected to connect major routes like the Federal Highway, Kesas and New Klang Valley Expressway.

Azuan acknowledged the complexities of land acquisition but urged all parties to work together for the greater good of economic development.

“The timely completion of this project is key to Malaysia’s logistics sector and economic competitiveness,” he said.

He called on the works ministry, the Malaysian Highway Authority and highway concessionaires to intensify efforts to resolve the land issues and keep the project on track.

“Delays like this are a major setback for transporters, especially those who depend on timely access to and from Port Klang, which remains a key gateway for Malaysian trade,” he said.