KUALA LUMPUR – The land administrator here has ordered Kg Sg Baru landowners to vacate their homes by October 19 to make way for a contentious multi-billion ringgit redevelopment project.
This is despite residents being told yesterday that their eviction date has been pushed back to October 31 – a date Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s political secretary Azman Abidin confirmed with Scoop.
The notice, issued today, said landowners have been found to be illegally residing on government land, and that it is an offence under Section 425(1) of the National Land Code.
Those found guilty are liable to a maximum fine of RM500,000 or imprisonment for up to five years.
A Kg Sg Baru resident alleged that representatives from Ritzy Gloss Sdn Bhd, the company seeking to redevelop the area, were seen putting up the notice on affected houses this morning.
A few houses, which are still being occupied by residents, were also “sealed” with some construction tape.
When contacted by Scoop, Azman insisted that the eviction date has been postponed to October 31, adding that he will be issuing a statement on the matter later today.
The two-week red notice comes on the heels of residents dodging the eviction deadline yesterday after they were informed that they have until the end of this month to pack up their lives and move out.
The eviction is in line with the Land Acquisition Act (LAA) 1960, the legislation that the government used to take formal possession of land in the historic Malay enclave in 2021.
This came after Ritzy Gloss’ application for the LAA was approved by then federal territories minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa under the Perikatan Nasional government.
The use of the LAA has been the target of certain residents’ ire, with some claiming that the interests of private developers have been prioritised over the welfare of citizens.
The compensation offered by developers to landowners is also said to be inadequate.
Residents had previously expressed their dissatisfaction with the approximately 310% difference in compensation offered by the Lands and Mines Office compared with private valuations.
Since the Prime Minister’s Department now oversees federal territory matters, residents have urged Anwar to issue a statement on their looming eviction.
Landowners also alleged that they have yet to be approached for supposed negotiations between residents and Ritzy Gloss – a meeting that Anwar had promised to hold when he put a halt to the project in January. – October 5, 2023