PKR leader urges Annuar to break silence over Kg Sg Baru issue

Former federal territories minister Annuar Musa has been urged to break his silence over the controversy surrounding the Kampung Sungai Baru land acquisition.

Titiwangsa PKR division chief Syed Badli Shah Syed Osman said Annuar (above) should take responsibility since the takeover under the Land Acquisition Act 1960 in June 2021 occurred under the former Umno leader's watch.

“It is cowardly if he (Annuar) continues to remain silent while opposition activists are mobilised to attack the government over this issue,” Syed Badli said in a statement today.

Annuar's predecessor from Pakatan Harapan, Khalid Samad, and his successor, Arau MP Shahidan Kassim, had both spoken up on their version of the incidents that culminated in the Sept 11 eviction operation, which ended in chaos.

The eviction was done through a court order meant to facilitate KL City Gateway Sdn Bhd’s redevelopment of the area.

Syed Badli questioned how the 2021 gazettement could have taken place when Malaysia was still under the movement control order and Parliament was suspended.

The PKR leader also took a swipe at Shahidan, who previously said neither he nor his predecessors had any executive power in approving the takeover of Kampung Sungai Baru land, as the power rested with the chief secretary to the government.

“It is rather odd if a minister did not know about this gazettement, as explained by Shahidan, who pointed fingers at the chief secretary.

“Surely every executive action - especially one involving the gazettement of a particular Act - would first be reported to the minister concerned to be brought to the cabinet’s attention,” said Syed Badli.

Come forward

According to Syed Badli, ministers cannot absolve themselves by blaming the executive since civil servants “merely carry out tasks and cannot overstep the minister’s authority”.

He further urged the opposition to stop using “certain figures” to push a narrative that blames the government, insisting that the crisis clearly originated during the Perikatan Nasional administration.

“Therefore, I urge Annuar to come forward and provide an explanation instead of continuously keeping silent like a coward,” said Syed Badli, who also serves as a member of the advisory council of the Kampung Baru Development Corporation.

Nestled near the iconic Saloma Link Bridge and the Kampung Baru LRT station within clear view of the Petronas Twin Towers, Kampung Sungai Baru has seen its redevelopment project delayed for nearly a decade due to disagreements over compensation.

Some residents had also decried how their lands were subjected to compulsory acquisition under the Land Acquisition Act 1960.

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