Developers who undertake any project of public interest in Perak must inform the state government to avoid any problems to the people.

Menteri Besar Perak Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said this was necessary so that the state government would not be blamed if the people had problems with it while it would also prevent the project from becoming political fodder.

"We do not want to bear the political brunt if the project incurs problems and the people become angry with the state government.

"Any projects with public interest, the state government must be informed and should not be burdened, I do not want this to happen," he told reporters after the handing-over ceremony of compensation payment to the public for the Ipoh-Padang Besar Electric Train Double Tracking Project here today.

At the event, 57 residents of Taman Setia Jaya, Taman Damai and Taman Seri Wangsa received compensation payments of between RM2,000 and RM12,000 from MMC Gamuda Joint Ventures Sdn Bhd, handed-over by Zambry.

On the compensation, Zambry said the residents had been waiting for almost eight years after their homes were damaged due to the construction of the railway tracks.

A resident, Megat Abu Bakar Megat Abdul Latif, 63, from Taman Setia Jaya said the compensation of RM5,500 he received would enable him to repair his home.

"I am thankful that the wait of almost eight years ended with this compensation during the month of Ramadan," he said.

Another resident, Gan Kheng Seng, 57, from Taman Damai said the damage to the walls of his house could now be repaired with the RM3,000 compensation he received.

-- BERNAMA