KG Baru landowners and residents have their development models for the settlement that they say will retain its Malay identity and legacy.

This is why they are not too keen to accept Putrajaya’s offer to buy their land for a proposed mega-project of the area.

They fear the government’s development project will be too drastic and simultaneously cause Kg Baru to lose its identity as a historic Malay settlement in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

The government’s development proposal only looked into the area’s modernisation, Kg Baru Landowners and Beneficiaries Group (Pewaris) secretary Zainudin Ismail told The Malaysian Insight.

The proposal does not consider the social and cultural aspects of the place, he said.

The landowners, however, still need the government’s backing to go ahead with their own developments plans.

Pewaris said it will need the government’s financial muscle to develop Kg Baru.

“Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad said there is a RM10 billion fund to buy over land in Kg Baru. Instead of using the fund to buy our land, the government should use the money to work with us to develop Kg Baru.

“And when landowners apply for extra loans to develop their respective lands, the government can be the guarantor,” said Zainudin.

Under the landowners’ development plans, they will continue to own the land, he said.

Under the government proposal, they will have to sell their land to Putrajaya.

“The landowners will lose their land and their connection with Kg Baru if they accept the government’s offer. The only way for them to own something here is to buy the completed residential units built through the government’s project.”

Pewaris, too, has its own proposal to develop Kg Baru but with through a partnership with landowners.

Under that proposal, a group of landowners can develop their parcels of land by forming joint venture companies among themselves.

“We want to use a balanced development model. We want physical development as well as retain Kg Baru’s cultural heritage.

“Minister Khalid, meanwhile, is only interested in physical development of this place. He is not bothered about the fate of Kg Baru folk.”

He added that their proposal will see Kg Baru folk and their descendants own residential units in the area.

The government’s proposal will see 45,000 residential units being built with only one allocated to each landowner.

Last month, Putrajaya offered landowners RM850 per sq feet in return for four options as compensation so Kg Baru can be developed, which the government assured would retain the area’s Malay identity.

The four options offered to the landowners were cash, house at the new project (at the site), a combination of cash and house, or become a shareholder of the new project.

Khalid has been looking to seal the deal by having all landowners on board to finalise the redevelopment in the ministry’s self-imposed deadline of June next year.

The ministry is also seeking to get titleholders to sign sales and purchase agreements by September next year.

Kg Baru was gazetted on January 12, 1900 and administrated under the Malay Agricultural Settlement.

It covers a 120ha area that is three times the size of the land of KLCC, with six integrated kampung.

They are Kg Periuk, Kg Masjid, Kg Atas (A and B), Kg Hujung Pasir, Kg Paya and Kg Pindah.

There are 5,359 landowners who own the 825 private parcels earmarked for the redevelopment.

Zainudin has expressed disappointed with Khalid’s plan to incorporate a green zone in the area.

“The minister says the land price is high but he has allocated 28 acres for a green zone.”

He said the landowners’ plan makes use of expertise of the people in Kg Baru. – October 16, 2019.