KAJD has paid out more than RM3m in compensation over Melaka Gateway

KUALA LUMPUR (July 21): KAJ Development Sdn Bhd (KAJD) paid out RM3.09 million in compensation to the Melaka government in 2014 for the fishermen impacted by reclamation work at the Portuguese Settlement, reported Bernama yesterday.

KAJD is the developer of Melaka Gateway.

Bernama also reported that KAJD director Datuk M. Yahya A. Hamid denied an allegation that the company did not compensate the fishermen.

"The amount is set by the (previous) state government based on the land area, and they had been identifying the number of affected fishermen. In addition, we have organised various CSR programmes to build good relationships with the locals and fishermen," he told the media in Melaka yesterday.

Yahya also said that Melaka Gateway “will create more than 45,000 jobs over the next 10 years and local companies are expected to generate RM1.188 trillion once the project is fully completed,” reported Bernama.

Portuguese Settlement and Parit Cina Fishermen Development Committee chairman Joseph Periera also denied the allegation of non compensation.

Earlier, Melaka chief minister Adly Zahari said that the Portuguese heritage village will be protected and preserved.

He said that the Portuguese Colony will not be uprooted by the reclamation work for the Melaka Gateway project.

“Question does not arise whether the Portuguese Village will remain intact or disappear as the project only involves land reclamation and does not interfere in the lives of its residents. Instead, it will have good economic impact on them in the future.

"Instead, it involves different issues such as fishermen's protest on the impact of the project on their socio-economic condition," Bernama reported Adly telling the media.