I tried to postpone Kampung Sungai Baru development, Shahidan says

Summary

• Former Federal Territories minister Shahidan Kassim claims he had tried to postpone the development plan on Kampung Sungai Baru to ensure residents were fairly compensated.

• This comes after one resident accused Shahidan, among others, of supporting the developer.

• Shahidan also mentions that land under the Federal Territories comes under the jurisdiction of the prime minister and the chief secretary to the government.

Former Federal Territories minister Shahidan Kassim claimed he had tried to postpone the development plan on Kampung Sungai Baru.

This comes after one resident alleged the Arau MP had backed the developer with several other Perikatan Nasional leaders in the controversy.

“I was directly involved in postponing it to ensure the compensation received (by the residents) is based on current valuation.

“I also appointed Rahim & Co to do the evaluation. I think that’s enough. Let the court decide the rest,” he said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

Land controversy

On April 9, several residents of Kampung Sungai Baru had a meeting with 23 Perikatan Nasional leaders who visited them following an ongoing land acquisition controversy in the area.

During the meeting, one resident, Zainab Alias, claimed that several previous leaders had backed the developer instead of being on their side.

She had named former minister Annuar Musa, ex-Titiwangsa MP Rina Harun and Shahidan during the meeting.

“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 - 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.

Under PM, chief secretary’s purview

Earlier, Shahidan told the press that land issues involving the Federal Territories come under the jurisdiction of the prime minister and the chief secretary to the government.

The chief secretary to the government, who chairs the Federal Territories Land Working Committee, decides on any acquisition or sale of land in the stipulated area.

“When it comes to land acquisition or sale, it's done by the committee and the money goes to the federal coffers… all handled by the chief secretary to the government.

“The Federal Territories minister only gets involved after the land reaches the hands of the private sector players and when development works start,” he added.

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