MB: Prolonged court battles stalled Kg Papan settlement efforts

Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said the long-running land dispute in Kampung Papan spiralled into a legal mess after those involved took it to court instead of reaching a compromise.

He said this ultimately derailed the state’s settlement attempt.

“There are too many cases. Some were even advised to continue their court proceedings… This is a case that should have been resolved from the start, but some wanted to press on, those who were stubborn, and those who prolonged the court process, and in the end, it benefited no one.

“We tried our very best, but we must acknowledge that the land belongs to the company concerned, which has been proven to have purchased it from Bank Negara. It wasn’t bought from the state government. The state government only tried to help resolve the matter.

“What did the state government do? The state government provided rental homes for these people to stay in. That’s the story.

“So the solutions have been tried many times, including in the previous term. The developer was ready to provide a site, but neither side wanted to give in, and both wanted to continue with the court case,” Amirudin told reporters today, after tabling the 2026 Selangor state budget.

He stressed that while the state tried to mediate, both sides refused, and the court case then continued, with the ruling ultimately favouring the developer, Melati Ehsan Consolidated Sdn Bhd.

Earlier, the Selangor government reiterated that Melati Ehsan had committed to demolishing only vacant homes at Kampung Papan, amid reports that occupied homes were also being razed.

However, Selangor state executive councillor Borhan Aman Shah did not address the complaints and outrage of residents and activists over the alleged demolition of inhabited houses.

Instead, Borhan, who holds the housing and culture portfolio, said during a special meeting chaired by Amirudin on Oct 21, it was agreed that demolition should be carried out on vacant structures without occupants.

This was in line with the state government’s “prudent resolution approach”, he said.

The meeting also determined that the developer should surrender approximately eight acres of land to the state government.

Following the decision, the state government then issued an official letter to Melati Ehsan on Tuesday (Nov 11) to confirm the company’s commitment to surrender the land and ensure the demolition is postponed until the land handover is finalised.

In a statement today, Borhan said the company would surrender seven acres of land and several additional lots.

Protests and detentions

Earlier today, the court rejected the police’s remand applications for Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members and activists who were arrested while protesting the demolition of homes in Kampung Papan.

Following the development, PSM deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan told Malaysiakini that the group of 10 was expected to be released today.

However, any sense of reprieve was dampened by the arrest of another six today, with those hauled up by police including PSM central committee member Chong Yee Shan, as well as Suaram documentation and monitoring coordinator Jernell Tan.

While details on the latest round of arrests remain unclear, Arutchelvan said the group are likely being held under Section 186 of the Penal Code for allegedly obstructing civil servants from doing their duty.

Malaysiakini was later informed by another PSM representative, who preferred to remain anonymous, that as of 11.30am, the number of those arrested today increased to nine, which includes seven residents.

At around 5pm, the representative said all those targeted by the authorities today have since been released on police bail.

S'gor claims only vacant Kg Papan homes targeted for demolition

Just as 10 walk free, fresh arrests jolt Kg Papan

Kg Papan demolition enters third day, activists continue to protest

COMMENT | When development becomes betrayal