KAMPUNG Sungai Baru residents would not be evicted until further talks about compensation are held, Amanah’s Khalid Samad said.

Khalid, who is former Federal Territories minister, has been defending the residents since 2020. He said despite eviction notices, residents would not be forced to leave their homes.

He said negotiations would cover the current value of the land as well as residents’ next placement should they agree to sell their houses.

“The October 5 notice said residents have to leave on October 19, and were served with another notice telling them to leave by October 29.

“However, I have been given assurance they won’t be forced to leave until negotiations take place. The time and place for the negotiations will be announced soon,” he said.

On February 4, more than 260 Kampung Sungai Baru residents sent a memorandum to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim asking him to intervene in a redevelopment project in the area.

The redevelopment of Kampung Sungai Baru began in 2016 with the consent of 260 villagers, but the project could not proceed as 37 residents were against it.

The 37 people had tried to get Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s attention when the Bera MP was prime minister.

In April, The Malaysian Insight reported residents in Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) flats in Kampung Sungai Baru were refusing to move out after getting eviction notices from a developer.

Those who refused the order said they would fight for higher compensation than the RM250,000 offered per household in the high-value location facing the Petronas Twin Towers.

The last Malay reserve village in the middle of the city, Kampung Baru is dear to its residents and conservationists who want to preserve the area’s cultural and historical significance.

Plans for its redevelopment have been controversial, involving disputes over compensation amounts from developers and project aesthetics that alter the area’s traditional Malay appearance.

The eight-block PKNS flats, located near the Saloma Link, sit on a 1.4ha plot.

The issue of land acquisition in the area started in 2016 when the developer, Ritzy Gloss Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Suez Capital Sdn Bhd, offered to develop the area via a joint venture with the residents. This was meant to give the residents a say in their relocation and development plans.

Plans for the area include resettling all flat and terrace house residents in new apartment blocks developers promised would be of high value. Luxury condominiums, offices and retail space would be built on the land.

Ritzy Gloss said the new apartments in which the residents would be resettled would be between 84sq m and 111sq m large and worth between RM850,000 and RM1.2 million eacg.

Despite the promise of being resettled in high-value homes, 38 flat owners and 71 terrace house owners refused to accept the deal because the developer failed to provide official documents to back its claims.

In an earlier interview with The Malaysian Insight, residents said they would only move if they receive reasonable compensation from the developer.

They claimed their efforts to reach the developer for negotiations were rejected.

PM must revoke Land Acquisition Act 

Khalid told The Malaysian Insight trouble started when ex-Federal Territories minister Annuar Musa allowed a developer to begin a project in Kampung Baru, and Anwar must find a solution for the residents.

Khalid, who was appointed Federal Territories minister during Pakatan Harapan’s first reign, said Anwar has to meet with landowners.

“This conundrum started after the fall of Pakatan Harapan and when Annuar was appointed Federal Territories minister. Annuar sanctioned the Land Acquisition Act (1960) to allow a developer to start a megaproject here, and from day one, I opposed the deal because it is unfair to landowners here,” Khalid said.

“After another government took over, Shahidan Kassim replaced Annuar, but the problem was not solved. Then in came Anwar with his unity government. As soon as Anwar was appointed prime minister, I told him he must revoke the act and allow another round of negotiations between owners and the developer.

Khalid said Anwar must revoke the Act.

He said Kampung Sungai Baru residents were not against the development, but they want their wishes respected.

“Give them a fair offer. They want justice and they want a reasonable price for their land, if they do sell their land, where would they go?

“They can’t just be thrown out,” he said.

Higher offers from new developers

Kampung Sungai Baru action committee head Lele Suzana told The Malaysian Insight a new developer offered residents higher compensations.

Lele also slammed Land and Mines Office personnel for acting like thugs when issuing the second eviction notice on October 5.

“They came in a group with auxiliary policemen, including men from the developer, to issue the second notice.

“Why bring (that kind of) group to the area? Have we ever acted in a hostile manner before? They could have just handed the notices over.

“There was no need to hand us the notice when the developer had yet to come up with a plan,” said Lele.

She reiterated Khalid’s call for Anwar’s intervention.

“We hope the prime minister can reevaluate the offer given to us and hope he can summon every agency, including the developer, to discuss the land deal,” she said.

Resident Hashim Salleh, a retiree, said all the residents wanted was their fair share.

“It has been close to three years since the takeover. From one government to another, we have yet to get the justice we deserve.

“Some elderly people have died and not received the treatment they deserve.

“Why can’t we work on a win-win situation?” asked Hashim. – November 1, 2023.