For more than 40 years, the redevelopment plans for Kampung Baru – amounting to billions of ringgit – continued to be an unrealised ambition.
A Malay village located on prime Kuala Lumpur land, Kampung Baru’s original name is Malay Agricultural Settlement (MAS).
MAS Honorary Secretary Shamsuri Suradi believes the latest development plans by the last government will likely meet the same fate as the previous plans crafted in 1975, 1985 and 1990, reported The Malaysian Reserve (TMR).
He said these plans have failed due to the lack of long-term solutions by the agencies following the changes in government leadership.
He pointed that even the purpose-built Kampung Baru Development Corp (KBDC) had also failed to develop a single piece of land since its establishment in 2012.
“At the beginning of the establishment of KBDC, the slogan at that time was to develop Kampung Baru as a township of Malays in the city of KL, but now it has changed. Now, it’s all land purchases and land acquisition,” he told TMR.
“The majority of Kampung Baru landowners are really confused about what the agency is really about. They are carrying out hastily drawn plans under pressure from the minister, not to help the people.”
Federal Territories (FT) Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim recently told the Dewan Rakyat that the new development plans for Kampung Baru will be “organic”, which will be carried out in phases based on 44 identified land blocks.
Shamsuri said the Land and Mines Office, FT minister, the Civil and Shariah Courts, KBDC, City Hall of Kuala Lumpur and MAS should work together to resolve land issues and create a workable plan.
The definitive list of landowners is one of the stumbling blocks to development. As such, it must be made the first priority, starting with landowners updating their claims, he said.
“This needs to be mobilised in a certain period until all owners are complete with the latest grants that will facilitate the process of buying and selling or development,” stated Shamsuri.
“During this period as well, one party needs to focus on phased development in Kampung Baru, where the ownership problem has been resolved. I believe this can be done.”
He suggested for the government or KBDC to convince landowners of the benefits of their plan, the land opportunities and the economic impact in Kampung Baru.
“It takes time and patience because at the end of the day, the owner will be satisfied if KBDC is really honest to carry out this task,” said Shamsuri.
“All members of KBDC need to be taught in the spirit of ‘to win the heart and mind’ of the people of Kampung Baru.”
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