Owners and beneficiaries of Kampung Baru land today agreed on the plans to redevelop the area which will retain 100 per cent bumiputera ownership.

The decision was made during a discussion between Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Minister Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin and 50 representatives for the owners and beneficiaries.

"Now, we're speaking in one voice (on the redevelopment of Kampung Baru)," said Raja Nong Chik at a news conference after the three-hour meeting.

He said those involved in the meeting had agreed on the redevelopment plan and wanted it to be carried out comprehensively without affecting the bumiputera ownership involving 222 Malay Agriculture Settlement (MAS) areas and 80 acres of government-owned land.

He said the Kampung Baru Development Corporation would be established next year after it was approved in Dewan Rakyat, which is responsible for implementing and supervising the redevelopment.

He added that several government-linked companies, such as Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), Lembaga Tabung Haji and Pemodalan Hartanah Berhad have been enlisted for development purposes.

Gov’t to help with payment

"Among other proposals agreed upon was the MAS land awarded by the Sultan of Selangor will remain as being owned by the Malay, and any development on the land will be leased to any quarter for any period depending on the developer.

"We will also consider using the corporation established to help developers and owners obtain a fair price based on the development carried out, whether built in an open area or involving a skyscraper," he said.

Besides that, a special main development plan for Kampung Baru will be prepared by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and may be launched by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak next year.

On matters regarding land titles, Raja Nong Chik said it would be expedited with the existing status, whether from agricultural to commercial, while MAS land ownership would remain under bumiputera status.

In addition to that, Raja Nong Chik said payment on land premiums were still being studied but the government had consented to help matters on the payment at the developers or land owners stage.

More than five years

He added the ministry would also set up a special committee to focus on redevelopment works in Kampung Baru which would be carried out over a period of more than five years.

Also present at today’s meeting were Kuala Lumpur Mayor Ahmad Fuad Ismail, Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Ministry Secretary-General Bakaruddin Othman and Kampung Baru Development Association President Raja Wan Mahmood Pawanteh.

– Bernama