KUALA LUMPUR – Kg Sg Baru residents should not be forced to leave their homes until the private developer spearheading a contentious project in the area secures a development order from authorities.
Asserting that developer Ritzy Gloss Sdn Bhd has yet to acquire the necessary requirements to proceed with the project, former federal territories minister Khalid Abdul Samad appealed for residents in the Malay enclave to be allowed to remain in their homes pending such approvals.
“There is still a lot of work to be done (by Ritzy Gloss). Among others, they have to amalgamate all the landed property and strata housing titles into one common title,” he told Scoop.
“(Ritzy Gloss) hasn’t even gotten a development order yet, so there’s no need for them to push for residents to be evicted. Why should they (residents) leave their homes now when (developers) can’t do any work until they have obtained a development order?”
Khalid, who is also Federal Territories Amanah chief, earlier today called a press conference to address issues concerning the redevelopment project, which is believed to be proceeding despite concerns previously raised by some residents.
Among grouses consistently aired by locals are inadequate compensation and the government’s use of the Land Acquisition Act (LAA) 1960, which allowed the then-Perikatan Nasional administration to take formal possession of land in the area in 2021.
“No one is seeking for the project to be cancelled (as) everyone agrees that developments are needed in the area. Residents just want proper and fair compensation (for their land in the project),” he said during the press conference at Kg Sg Baru.
“I have objected to the use of the LAA from the start, but in the end, the government insisted on interfering (by utilising the act). Now, the government has a responsibility to defend the people’s fate.”
Confirming that certain residents have had their water supply disrupted as part of Ritzy Gloss’ move to evict them from their homes, Khalid said Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) will not cut electricity supply to residents “until the project has started”.
On May 23, Scoop reported that the Kg Sg Baru redevelopment saga might be edging closer to a conclusion as Ritzy Gloss intends to push forward with demolition plans in the locality.
Ritzy Gloss director Abdul Hadi Ahmad told Scoop that the company has received all the necessary approvals to proceed with demolition works, including “permits” to execute a demolition.
He also said Kg Sg Baru land involved in the project now belongs to Ritzy Gloss, as the Lands and Mines Office, as well as the Kg Baru Development Corporation (KBDC), have handed over their ownership of the plots.
KBDC is a government entity created under the KBDC Act 2011 with the mandate of implementing policies, directives, and strategies for the development of Kg Baru, where Kg Sg Baru is located.
In a legal letter dated May 9, from law firm Messrs Zulpadli & Edham, Kg Sg Baru residents who are still occupying their homes in the area were instructed to vacate their homes within 14 days of the notice.
The letter sighted by Scoop added that if residents fail to vacate their homes within the stipulated time, legal representatives have been instructed to initiate legal proceedings, including fencing off the area, demolition works, and cutting off water and electricity supply.
Located nearby the iconic 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.
Out of the total properties on the land, 27 terrace houses and 192 flat units willingly accepted an offer from the developer, which had first entered into a memorandum of understanding with a Kg Sg Baru residents’ association to develop the area through joint venture agreements in 2016.
The Kg Sg Baru Terrace Homes and Flat Owners Action Committee had previously met with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, appealing for his intervention in ensuring fair compensation.
This followed news of a developer offering RM950 per sq ft for the properties, significantly higher than the RM450 per sq ft valuation by the Valuation and Property Management Department. – June 5, 2024