Zaliha leads panel to manage talks, guard Malay interests in Kg Sg Baru

PARLIAMENT | Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa said she is leading a special task force to coordinate negotiations to protect the interests of the Malay community in Kampung Sungai Baru, Kuala Lumpur.

She told the Dewan Rakyat today that this follows a cabinet directive regarding negotiations between developers, government agencies, and local community representatives.

During her ministry's winding-up speech for the Supply Bill 2026, Zaliha also touched on the government's interventions to increase bumiputera ownership in Kampung Sungai Baru.

She said government-linked companies (GLCs) such as UDA Holdings Berhad and Perbadanan Usahawan Nasional Berhad will be actively involved in the redevelopment of strategic Malay areas.

Replacement houses only for Malays will be designated in the area, she added.

She said the area will also see a diverse array of development components, including affordable Malay-owned condominium units, small offices/home offices, shophouses, and offices.

Besides that, she said the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will monitor compliance with the area's bumiputera quota through a quarterly reporting mechanism.

Different status

During her speech, Zaliha appeared exasperated with some opposition MPs, saying that they regularly conflated Kampung Baru and Kampung Sungai Baru.

"Although Kampung Sungai Baru is actually part of Kampung Baru, its status is different.

"As I have said before, Kampung Baru is not a Malay agricultural settlement and has never been gazetted as Malay reserve land," she stressed.

The village was recently the focus of discussions on land rights after a group of its residents protested against planned redevelopment there.

Tensions escalated during the eviction operation on Sept 12, which saw Dang Wangi district police chief Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman sustain injuries to his head.

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

Earlier this month, Zaliha explained that Kampung Sungai Baru's establishment came in 1967 after the Selangor government undertook a river straightening project, forming around 6.47ha of new land that went on to form the urban settlement.

Before that, the Selangor Royal office shared a statement by former auditor-general Ambrin Buang, who asserted that Kampung Sungai Baru is part of a MAS and cannot be converted into a non-Malay area.

Reporting by Zarrah Morden, N Faizal Ghazali, Alyaa Alhadjri

YOURSAY | Most people oppose URA's current iteration, not in principle

Only capitalists will benefit from URA, says lawyer at rally

High Court dismisses Kg Sg Baru residents' eviction appeal

Umno urges URA be referred to special parliamentary committee

Wan Fayhsal seeks Unesco recognition for Kg Baru, Malay villages

Police submit probe paper on Kg Sg Baru commotion, 67 questioned

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