THE Malay Agricultural Settlement (MAS) Board will sue the government after losing control over the town planning and management of Kg Baru.

MAS secretary Shamsuri Suradi told The Malaysian Insight any decision to terminate the board’s functions, which it had wielded since 1897, must be done through Parliament.

“We will file a court petition on the decision made against us,” he said.

The Kg Baru Development Corporation (PKB) on June 6 announced the end of MAS’ role on the grounds that it no longer had any function as most of its land had been transferred while remaining ones are just waiting acquisition.

PKB said the decision was made after Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah of Selangor gave his consent on December 2, after taking into account the views of the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Federal Territories Ministry.

Matters relating to MAS’ status have been submitted to the ministry for settlement.

This means MAS can no longer issue hawker permits, collect fees for parking and advertising space or other municipal functions.

It also can no longer approve development orders, building and engineering plans, building and land work permits, public road closures and building occupation permits.

The ministry has said there is no need to abolish MAS, Shamsuri said.

“But now the ministry has decided to abolish this board which we feel is unnecessary and if done, must be done after debating the matter in Parliament.”

He said the board met FT Minister Annuar Musa to rescind the decision, which was made by Pakatan Harapan’s Khalid Samad.

At that time, MAS had opposed Khalid’s plan to redevelop the Malay enclave in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Perikatan Nasional has now scrapped the development plan.

Happy to see end of MAS

But Kg Baru residents are happy to see the end of MAS.

Kg Baru Inheritors’ Group (Pewaris), which represents residents and landowners in the seven villages that make up the district, said MAS and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) have overlapping functions.

Pewaris secretary Zainuddin Ismail welcomed the end of MAS’ role, saying the board added no value to residents and landowners’ plans to develop the area.

“We don’t need MAS. In fact, DBKL should carry out the functions (done by MAS previously). MAS has to hand over its duties to DBKL as it has no function.

“For example, if someone wants to renovate his house, he should get the approval of MAS first and then from DBKL. It might as well just be the DBKL.

“We agree if they want to defend Malay rights but MAS only has self-interest. That is what we see,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Zainuddin said MAS has a negative image among residents and landowners.

“Recently they collected deposits from traders for a bazaar. But when the bazaar was cancelled due to Covid-19, they failed to return the deposit. They said they don’t have the money.” – June 10, 2020.