KUALA LUMPUR – Multiple police reports have been lodged against former federal territories minister Khalid Samad for allegedly making slanderous and false statements concerning the contentious redevelopment project in Kg Sg Baru here.
A source, who is part of an action committee claiming to represent the interests of a majority of landowners in the area, told Scoop that “more than 10” police reports have been lodged against the former Shah Alam MP as of Thursday (November 2).
A copy of one of the police reports lodged by a Kg Sg Baru landowner yesterday stated that Khalid is being accused of issuing false and slanderous statements that could provoke certain quarters involved in the project in the Malay enclave.
The complainant claimed that the statements were published by a local news portal in a November 1 article, in which Khalid was quoted as saying that Kg Sg Baru residents would not be evicted from their homes until additional discussions were held regarding their compensations.
It was previously reported that Kg Sg Baru residents were dissatisfied with the approximately 310% disparity in compensation offered by the Lands and Mines Office as compared with private valuations.
“Khalid’s statements are a slanderous lie that could be incendiary to anyone who reads the article. Khalid is not even the elected Titiwangsa MP.
“The false statements have given a big impact to not only me, but also the majority of Kg Sg Baru residents who have agreed to the project since 2016 and have moved out of our homes in stages,” the complainant said in the report, which was shared with Scoop.
When contacted by Scoop, Khalid confirmed that he is aware of the reports and will provide his cooperation if police decide to summon him, saying: “No hal (no problem).”
Scoop reported yesterday that Titiwangsa MP Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, who defeated Khalid for the parliamentary constituency during the 2022 general elections, has 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”.
For the record, during his election campaign last year, Johari had promised to provide legal representation for Kg Sg Baru residents “victimised” by Ritzy Gloss’s supposed refusal to address concerns on its offered compensation.
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 terraces and 72 flats were subjected to the Land Acquisition Act (LAA) 1960, which the company applied for the government to use to take formal possession of the land 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.
The “majority versus minority” issue has been a longstanding debate in the Kg Sg Baru redevelopment saga, with defiant residents who insist on remaining in the area claiming that the developer and government bodies have misinterpreted the figures for their own interests.
Yesterday, Scoop reported that Ritzy Gloss’ application to erect wire fencing around properties in Kg Sg Baru involved in the project was rejected by the Prime Minister’s Department, which oversees federal territories matters after restructuring measures under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership.
Scoop previously spoke to Kg Sg Baru residents, Khalid and a lawyer representing the action committee on the ordeal in the area. – November 4, 2023