Kg Sg Baru residents demand land inquiry, warn of protest on May 7

Summary

• Kampung Sungai Baru residents demand an inquiry into its land status, claiming the area is on Malay reserve land.

• They threaten a protest at the Federal Territories Ministry on May 7 if their demands aren’t met.

• Lawyers for Liberty argue the land acquisition is invalid and violates Malay reserve status, calling for a review of the Land Acquisition Act.

The Kampung Sungai Baru Residents’ Rights Committee has submitted seven demands to the federal government, including an immediate inquiry into the land status in the area under Chapter 4 of the National Land Code.

Speaking at a press conference with Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) in Petaling Jaya today, committee chairperson Zainab Alias said official documents and maps show the land falls within a Malay Agricultural Settlement (MAS), and is therefore categorised as Malay reserve land.

“This land should be protected from arbitrary acquisition.

“The inquiry by the land administrator must be conducted to determine the land status and land titles of Kampung Baru. Official records and maps clearly show that Kampung Sungai Baru is a Malay Agricultural Settlement,” she said.

Zainab added that all ongoing development in the area should be halted pending the outcome of the inquiry.

“If it is confirmed that the land is a Malay reserve, the residents demand that it be returned to them, and any future development must involve the community and be led by the government,” she said.

She also urged the government to conduct proper negotiations with the developer on behalf of the residents.

“If the government fails to initiate the inquiry as demanded, residents of Kampung Sungai Baru will gather at the Federal Territories Ministry on May 7 to demand justice,” she warned.

‘Govt documents show reserve status’

Meanwhile, LFL adviser N Surendran said the committee is also demanding a review of the Land Acquisition Act 1960, particularly Section 3(1)(c), which he described as “oppressive” and a “form of bullying” against the rakyat.

Surendran (above, centre) claimed the land acquisition by the federal government was invalid, as government documents show that the land is still under Malay reserve status.

“The investigation and review conducted by the Kampung Sungai Baru Residents’ Committee clearly prove that the area is part of an MAS, gazetted as Malay reserve land since 1932 via Government Gazette No 1550.

“We have official documents and government maps clearly stating that Kampung Sungai Baru lies within an MAS.

“This gazette is still in force and has never been lawfully revoked by any state authority or the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” he said.

Surendran argued that if the Malay reserve status remains intact, the acquisition under the Land Acquisition Act is unlawful and must be cancelled immediately.

“We consider this a serious violation of the original landowners’ rights. The Land Acquisition Act cannot be applied arbitrarily to reserve land that has not been officially degazetted,” he said.

He also cited a 2007 Federal Court ruling, which held that Malay reserve status remains valid unless legally revoked, even if the land has been acquired for development.

Surendran further alleged that the federal government failed to conduct due diligence before initiating the acquisition process, and has not responded to public disclosures made since December 2024.

“This is not just about compensation - it’s about rights and preserving the heritage of Malay reserve land in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.

“We urge the government to launch an official inquiry under the National Land Code and take immediate action to correct this injustice,” he said.

The Kampung Sungai Baru redevelopment project - involving terrace houses and flats - has been mired in controversy, with some residents rejecting the compensation offered.

Federal Territories Minister Zaliha Mustafa told Parliament last December that the redevelopment was the result of voluntary negotiations between owners and the developer.

Compensation was disbursed by the Federal Territories Department of Lands and Mines in stages from February 2022 to January 2023.

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