A RESIDENTS group in Kampung Baru has demanded an explanation from relevant authorities on the status of a project on the land in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

Badan Bertindak Projek Pembangunan Semula Kampung Sungai Baru spokesman Mohd Adam Abdul Aziz said two letters were sent to the Federal Territories Ministry and the Land and Mines office on the update of the project, on hold since 2016.

“We want an explanation. We want to know why the project has not commenced. Everything was done accordingly and house owners have received their money from the developer,” Adam said.

“It has been a long time now and there has been no update, there should at least be some movements on the project site but so far we have seen nothing.”

On February 4, more than 260 residents sent a memorandum to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to intervene.

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

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

In April, The Malaysian Insight reported that residents in Selangor State Development Corporation flats in Kampung Sungai Baru were refusing to move out.

They wanted higher compensation than the RM250,000 offered for the high-value location facing the Petronas Twin Towers.

As the last Malay reserve village in the city, Kampung Baru is dear to its residents and conservationists who want to preserve it.

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.

Titiwangsa MP Johari Abdul Ghani had previously urged the government to immediately commence the stalled project.  

Reiterating claims that a majority of residents in the area have agreed to the continuation of the project spearheaded by private property developer Ritzy Gloss Sdn Bhd, Johari said residents who have taken the compensation money have “no right to make noise”. – November 7, 2023.