KUCHING, Feb. 22 -- Landowners affected by the Batu Kawa second bridge project have begun receiving compensation, with some payouts reaching nearly RM1 million, ahead of the groundbreaking ceremony tentatively scheduled for April.

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the compensation process is already underway following the award of the project contract.

"Many people may not realise that for the second bridge, a lot of the landowners are already receiving compensation. Just now, you saw one of the cheques (shown on screen), it was almost RM1 million.

"The contract has been awarded and once the contract is awarded, the land acquisition and compensation have started. What you saw just now was just one example of the compensati...