The residents of Kampung Sungai Baru made an official request today for an inquiry by the Land and Mines Office (PTG) into the status of their land, submitting a colonial era document proving its classification as a Malay Agricultural Settlement, or MAS.
More than 40 residents and landowners led by Zainab Alias, chairman of the Kampung Sungai Baru Residents’ Rights Committee, and accompanied by adviser Muzaffar Razman and lawyer N Surendran, gathered at the Federal Territory PTG to submit the application by two landowners.
They were also accompanied by lawyers Latheefa Koya and Zaid Malek of rights group Lawyers for Liberty, and outspoken resident and activist Rafidah Ibrahim.
The document which they submitted to Anuar Isa, the deputy director of land and mines, was a gazette dated 1932 which contradicted the claims of several ministers and government leaders that the land was held by lease.
“Their land hasn’t been taken yet, but they are residents of Kampung Sungai Baru, and they want to state their right to their land as Malay reserve land. This is why we are asking for an inquiry by the land administrator,” said Surendran.
Surendran previously urged the government of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to intervene in order to resolve the land acquisition issue in Kampung Sungai Baru, starting with an admission that the land is categorised as MAS, and therefore considered Malay reserve land.
Referring to Gazette No 1550 dated Feb 16, 1932, Surendran reiterated that Kampung Sungai Baru in its entirety was MAS land, a status that remains unrevoked.
Zainab meanwhile said that if the PTG probe finds that the land is indeed MAS land, what was taken over should be returned to the residents and the demolished homes rebuilt.
Latheefa urged the government and politicians to stop pointing fingers at the residents.
She said the residents were not against development, but were only demanding their rights.
“We ask you to listen to their demands. Don’t give excuses, saying they are against progress for the Malays,” said Latheefa, a former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner.
Also present in a show of support for the residents today was president of Malay-based political party Putra, Ibrahim Ali, who urged Anwar to use his authority to settle the impasse in Kampung Sungai Baru.
“This is my message to Anwar: if you don’t resolve this problem, you are a traitor to the Malays,” he said, adding that the residents deserved compensation of RM3,000 per sq foot, according to market prices.
“Everything is in the hands of Anwar, the prime minister. One stroke of his signature and everything will be solved..
“So Anwar, prove yourself as the prime minister for the people, that you are not a traitor or oppressor, but that you care about the future of the Malays in Kampung Baru,” he said.
Kampung Sungai Baru entered the spotlight due to the impasse between the developer and the residents who have refused to relocate.
Landowners have declined the compensation offered by the developer and are opposing the government’s use of the Land Acquisition Act 1960 for the development of the area under the Kampong Bharu Development Corporation.
They also disagree with the amount of compensation offered, saying it is not in line with market prices given that the area is just minutes away from the Golden Triangle and KLCC – some of the most developed areas in the capital city with a property value of more than RM1,000 per sq ft.