KUALA LUMPUR – Kg Sg Baru residents are once again pinning their hopes on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to ensure that landowners in the Malay enclave receive fair compensations in a contentious private redevelopment project.
Kg Sg Baru Terrace Homes and Flat Owners Action Committee chairman Lele Suzana said she, along with former federal territories minister Khalid Samad, had met with Anwar at the Parliament building yesterday.
“There have been a lot of misunderstandings in this issue. The prime minister was under the impression that landowners who have refused to move out of their homes are just being stubborn, but in actuality, we’re just seeking fair compensation.
“Since another developer has expressed interest to take over the project (from private property developer Ritzy Gloss Sdn Bhd), we pleaded with (Anwar) to ensure that negotiations arrive at a conclusion which benefits all residents,” Lele said.
Noting that Anwar appeared to be receptive to hearing out residents’ issues during yesterday’s meeting, Lele, who was speaking at a press conference here today, urged the prime minister to come to a decision soon so as to not prolong any longer the tribulations faced by residents.
“There wasn’t any discussion on a deadline, but we hope that (Anwar) will be able to address this matter as soon as possible.”
She also called on Titiwangsa MP Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani to do his part in protecting the interests of his constituents.
“As an MP who was a former finance minister II, he (Johari) knows very well how business works. He must look into the offer from the interested developer and be fair to landowners and flat unit owners.
“Remember that if our lands, which are on leasehold non-Malay Agricultural Settlement Land property, are valued at a low price, any firm wishing to develop surrounding areas in the future can take the opportunity to offer similarly low compensation to landowners.”
On October 29, Lele revealed that a developer keen to take over the project in Kg Sg Baru had agreed to provide a compensation of RM950 per sq ft to terrace house and flat owners, a much higher figure than the RM450 per sq ft valuation set by the Valuation and Property Management Department.
The compensation will extend to landowners whose homes were gazetted under the Land Acquisition Act (LAA) 1960, those whose residences were not gazetted and residents who have already accepted Ritzy Gloss’ initial offer.
Anwar’s political secretary Datuk Azman Abidin had previously confirmed with Scoop that the Prime Minister’s Department, which oversees federal territories matters, had received a letter of intent from the interested firm.
Meanwhile, Khalid, who also attended the press conference today, said that he is perplexed by Johari’s supposed insistence that Kg Sg Baru residents move out of their homes immediately to make way for redevelopment works.
“I don’t understand why the developer (Ritzy Gloss) and the MP (Johari) are asking residents to move out now. As far as I know, no applications for the development have been approved, and the conceptual plan has not even been submitted yet,” Khalid said.
“Before they can actually do any construction works, (Ritzy Gloss) will have to amalgamate all the lands under one land deed. This is a process that will take quite some time. Why are they pushing for residents to vacate their homes right now?
“If residents were to move out today, it’s not as if they can start the redevelopment process tomorrow. (Johari) must be aware of this and question the status of the development order… he must execute his role as an MP to ensure the welfare of his constituents is guaranteed.”
On November 2, Scoop reported that Johari had urged the government to immediately commence the stalled redevelopment project, reiterating claims that a majority of residents in the area have agreed to its continuation.
A few days later, Johari said he was informed by the Prime Minister’s Office last month that the project, which first came about in 2016, will not be delayed again.
Located just a stone’s throw away from the Saloma Link Bridge and the Kg Baru LRT station, Kg Sg Baru consists of 98 leasehold terrace houses and 264 flat units in eight blocks.
A total of 27 terrace houses and 192 flat unit owners took up Ritzy Gloss’s offer while 37 terrace houses and 72 flats were subjected to the LAA after the firm’s application for the government to take formal possession of land in the area using the act was approved by the then-Perikatan Nasional administration in 2021.
Landed property owners argue that since the acreage ratio of their lands should be considered of a higher value, their vote in the matter should take precedence over flat unit owners in strata housing.
In January this year, Anwar had postponed the project’s continuation, pending negotiations with residents and stakeholders.
Previously, local government expert Derek Fernandez told Scoop that Section 3(1)(c) of the LAA, which was used by the government to take control of Kg Sg Baru land, must be read with other sections of the legislation for eviction orders to be legally viable.
Failure to do so, he said, would raise doubts over whether residents are compelled to adhere to eviction notices issued by the Kuala Lumpur Land Administrator on various occasions, the latest of which ordered landowners to vacate their homes by October 19.
Azman has since told Scoop that since land in the area now belongs to the government under the LAA, eviction notices will be issued as part of “normal procedures,” but the government will not take any “enforcement action” against residents who continue to remain in their homes.
Scoop previously spoke to Kg Sg Baru residents, Khalid and a lawyer representing the action committee on the ordeal in the area. – November 8, 2023