KUALA LUMPUR – Tensions heightened during a meeting between Kg Sg Baru residents and private property developer Ritzy Gloss Sdn Bhd today over the redevelopment project in the area.
The apparently last-minute meeting at Temu Hotel was attended by, company director Abdul Hadi Ahmad and approximately 15 house and flat owners, among others.
While the meeting is believed to have been called to alleviate residents’ concerns about the project, the situation took a turn for the worse when Hadi seemingly lost his cool while engaging with an elderly resident.
Hadi slammed the table after he was persistently questioned by a resident, who responded in kind before standing up and loudly criticising the corporate man.
The resident accused Hadi of denying locals their right to fair compensation in exchange for their land titles, on top of refusing to address qualms over the questionable use of the Land Acquisition Act (LAA) 1960 to claim the land for the project.
In response, Hadi opted not to respond.
Amid the commotion, hotel staff and security personnel were seen attempting to subdue the situation, which eventually culminated in residents staging a walk-out 15 minutes after the meeting started.
The residents later told Scoop that they were only informed of the meeting a few hours prior when Hadi visited the area.
This morning, the water supply to the flats was cut, causing distress among residents who are still occupying their units.
Noting that water supply to terrace homes is expected to be cut in the next two weeks, residents also questioned the timing of the move as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who previously promised to look into the issues concerning the project, is currently on a working visit to Japan.
Located near the Saloma Link and the Kg Baru LRT station, Kg Sg Baru is made up of 98 leasehold terrace houses and 264 flat units in eight blocks.
Out of the total properties on the land, 27 terrace houses and 192 flat units willingly accepted an offer from the developer.
In 2021, following the Perikatan Nasional administration’s approval of Ritzy Gloss’ application for the government to take formal possession of land in the area under the LAA, 37 terrace houses and 72 flat units were compelled to undergo compulsory acquisition.
Landed property owners argue that as the acreage ratio of their lands is higher, their vote in the matter should take precedence over those of flat owners in strata housing.
Previously, local government expert Derek Fernandez told Scoop that Section 3(1)(c) of the LAA, which was used by the government to take over Kg Sg Baru land, must be read with other sections of the legislation for eviction orders to be legally viable.
He added that failure to do so would raise doubts over whether residents were compelled to adhere to eviction notices issued by the Kuala Lumpur land administrator on various occasions.
After becoming prime minister, Anwar postponed the project’s continuation in January last year, pending negotiations with residents and stakeholders.
Scoop also previously spoke to Kg Sg Baru residents, former Federal Territories minister Khalid Abdul Samad, and a lawyer representing the Kg Sg Baru Terrace Homes and Flat Owners Action Committee on issues affecting the area. – May 23, 2024