'They are not squatters, you turned them into one'

Former Federal Territories minister Khalid Abdul Samad has slammed the authorities for cutting the electricity and water supply to 37 families facing eviction in Kampung Sungai Baru, Kuala Lumpur.

He said the government should listen to the residents’ grievances instead of siding with the developer.

“How can they be treated like this? Water and electricity supply cut, and (they are) chased out. They (the residents) are not squatters; you are turning them (into squatters) because you prioritise the developers.

“This especially when the Kampong Bharu Development Corporation (PKB) was established to look after the residents, and not developers,” Khalid (above, centre) told a joint press conference with the affected residents at Kampung Sungai Baru today.

The 37 families had their electricity and water supply cut yesterday morning.

They are among those who had received notices under Section 8 of the Land Acquisition Act 1960, which compels them to vacate the land with compensation.

Utilities cut without notice

Khalid claimed that some residents had their water and electricity supply turned off without notice.

The land acquisition process at Kampung Sungai Baru started in 2016, involving 64 terrace houses and 14 apartment blocks known as Pangsapuri Sungai Baru.

The residents were served notices in July 2022 but the group, particularly the terrace house occupants, disagreed with the compensation rate of RM400 per sq ft set by the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory’s Department of Lands and Minerals.

To date, 37 terraced house lots have not agreed to the compensation offered, while another 27 have agreed. Another 34 terraced house lots in the area are not subject to gazetting.

Since then, residents have received two eviction notices, which Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim ordered that it be postponed.

Among others, the residents are demanding the compensation amount to be increased from RM400 per sq ft to between RM950 and RM1,000 per sq ft.

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