Land grab: Explain to Kg Sg Baru folk, Tuan Ibrahim tells previous PN govt

Summary

• PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man believes ex-ministers during the PN administration should explain their actions regarding the land acquisition issue to Kampung Sungai Baru residents.

• This comes after residents claimed that several ex-ministers and elected reps sided with developers when negotiating compensation for their land.

• Tuan Ibrahim is among 23 opposition representatives who met the residents to listen to their grouses.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man believed that parties involved in the land acquisition at Kampung Sungai Baru, Kuala Lumpur when Perikatan Nasional was in power should explain themselves to its residents.

This came after residents claimed cabinet ministers from PN sided with the land developer instead of land owners during compensation negotiations.

Tuan Ibrahim said a proper explanation is needed to address the longstanding problem.

"This (issue) has been going on for a long time, so I think it requires an explanation from the related parties during that material time.

"Because this is a legacy issue which had been going on for many years before that.

"I personally feel that we need to hear the explanation to the issues (raised), on what happened," he told Malaysiakini yesterday.

Tuan Ibrahim said this when asked if PN’s mistakes caused the land dispute at Kampung Sungai Baru as it started when the coalition was leading the country.

The Kubang Kerian MP was among 23 opposition representatives who attended a briefing session with Kampung Sungai Baru residents affected by the land grab.

During the meeting, Kampung Sungai Baru pro-tem committee chairperson Zainab Alias claimed that several former ministers and MPs sided with the developer - including Annuar Musa, Shahidan Kassim, and then-Titiwangsa MP Rina Harun.

"We’ve given so much time, and no elected representative came to meet us. What saddens me is that Rina could also side with the developer - it’s our land, and she supported (the developer) - I’m angry.

"I’ll name another one, the then-federal territories minister, Annuar, and after that, I met with Shahidan," she said.

Malays losing right

Tuan Ibrahim further said the Kampung Sungai Baru issue is an oppression that should not have been allowed to happen.

"This is also about the Malays losing their right to this land area. If they agreed, perhaps they could get another house as compensation, but they were forced.

"(If) they reject (the officer) and go to court, they would have to settle for whatever the court decides. The amount between RM250,000 and RM300,000 does not reflect their land value.

"The houses here should reach between RM800,000 and RM1 million per unit. This is a cruelty that should not have been allowed to happen in our country," he added.

Previously, Malaysiakini reported that some Kampung Sungai Baru residents refused to relocate not because of compensation but to protect family heritage homes.

According to The Vibes, the redevelopment began in 2016 with the consent of 260 residents but was halted when 37 objected.

The developer then invoked the Land Acquisition Act 1960 to proceed.

A total of 219 owners have since relented, while 109 continue to defend their rights.

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