A LONG-running land dispute in Kampung Jawa, Klang, is holding back the full completion of the West Coast Expressway (WCE), a RM7.07bil project meant to provide an alternative to the congested North-South Expressway.
Originally slated for completion in 2019, the 233km highway linking Banting in Selangor to Taiping in Perak is about 95 per cent finished. But a 150m stretch in Klang remains stuck in legal battles over compensation for 1.8ha of acquired land.
Nineteen landowners are contesting the RM9.8mil compensation awarded by authorities, arguing that valuations do not reflect market prices, which independent valuers placed as high as RM32mil.
Some residents said their family homes were demolished in June despite disputes over compensation, as they insist the offer is not enough to buy properties nearby, the Singapore Straits Times wrote.
The delay is affecting industries reliant on Port Klang, one of South-East Asia’s busiest container hubs. The Association of Malaysian Hauliers warned that thousands of heavy vehicles must still use congested alternative routes, pushing up fuel costs, accident risks, and delivery times.
The case is now set to be heard at the Shah Alam High Court in January, further delaying the expressway’s completion, now targeted for 2026. — Focus Malaysia
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