KG Baru residents have no confidence that the Federal Territories Ministry can roll out its development project for the Malay settlement in June as announced.

They also accused Federal Territories Minister Khalid Samad of lying when he said 50% of the 5,374 landowners have agreed to hand over their land to be developed by the government.

“The minister said 50% of us had agreed. This is inaccurate. The landowners want to see the terms stated in the sales agreement first. Only then will they make a decision.

“Who knows, after looking at the sales agreement maybe only 10% may agree to the deal,” said Kg Baru Landowners and Heirs (Pewaris) secretary Zainudin Ismail.

He said Khalid used the 50% figure to get the rest to agree to the government’s development deal.

“It is just propaganda to get the buy-in of the people of Kg Baru, just to show that half of them have agreed to the development proposal and are ready to hand over their land to the government.

“Khalid is just using psychology to win over the folk here,” Zainudin told The Malaysian Insight.

There has been no new development on the matter except for small-scale briefings conducted by the Kg Baru Development Corporation (PKB), he said.

“The landowners and heirs want to see the terms of the sale. PKB is just recycling whatever Khalid had said before. Nothing new at the briefings.”

The government has yet to sort out many other issues, including the distribution of sale proceeds to the heirs.

“Does Khalid think the government can solve the property inheritance issues within six months?

“I can guarantee you that this matter won’t be solved by June,” he added.

Last October, following complaints and unhappiness from Kg Baru landowners and heirs, Putrajaya made an improved and final offer to buy their land at RM1,000 psf from RM850 psf.

Khalid said the additional RM150 psf offered will be in the form of equity in the special purpose vehicle overseeing the development of Kg Baru, which is the last Malay reserve enclave in Kuala Lumpur.

The sellers will get a 15% discount when they purchase property in the new development.

In January, he said a large majority of the landowners and heirs agreed to the government’s deal and projected the deal can be finalised in June this year.

Zainudin, however, remained unconvinced, saying that only Pewaris’ proposal will work to develop Kg Baru.

Pewaris will arrange for a meeting involving all landowners and heirs at Kelab Sultan Sulaiman on February 1.

“In the meeting, we will get the agreement of everyone for the government to use Pewaris’ proposal for the development of this area. After that, we will bring it up to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.”

Meanwhile, a landowner who only wants to be known as Khairul, 48, agreed that the government proposal to develop Kg Baru will continue to be delayed.

“I don’t think 50% of the people here have agreed to the new deal. I am sure the number is smaller.

“Even in my family, we have discussed the matter but have yet to agree to it. We want to see how things pan out first.”

Among the concerns, he said, was what will happen to the land if the development project is halted for whatever reason.

“And if there is a change of government in the next general election, what will happen to this deal which we signed with this government?

“We will lose our land forever in that case. This is why the people here are taking a wait-and-see approach,” he said. – January 23, 2020.