TITIWANGSA MP Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani plans a special press conference next week to clarify the complex redevelopment situation in Kampung Sungai Baru, stating that many NGOs have misunderstood the issue.
According to Johari, who also serves as the Minister of Plantation and Commodities, various non-governmental organisations that have visited Kampung Sungai Baru do not fully grasp the facts surrounding the redevelopment project.
“Many NGOs have come here (Kampung Sungai Baru) without understanding the real issue, so I will explain everything clearly to ensure both sides are on the same page,” he said.
He also confirmed that during his first term as an MP, he had advised residents not to sign the previous redevelopment agreement.
“Back when I was in my first term before I was 'put on leave', I told the people of Kampung Baru not to sign the agreement, but they went ahead anyway,” he said.
Johari made the comments during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house hosted by his ministry and the Titiwangsa parliamentary office. The event was held near the iconic Kampung Baru arch, where he and his wife, Datin Seri Zurwati Haslinda Zainal, welcomed guests from 10 am until 3 pm.
The Kampung Sungai Baru redevelopment project involves 382 units, comprising 64 terrace lots and 264 flat units.
The initiative has faced controversy, particularly from a minority group of original residents who are dissatisfied with the compensation offered.
In December last year, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories), Dr Zaliha Mustafa, told Parliament that the joint venture between homeowners and developers was based on mutual agreement, without coercion, pressure or undue influence.
Recent news reports reveal a total of 108 residents from flats and terraced homes in Kampung Sungai Baru have been ordered to vacate their properties within 14 days in March, following ongoing tensions over compensation related to a controversial redevelopment project.
The eviction notices, issued just days before the recent Aidilfitri celebration, have sparked renewed attention on the redevelopment of the historic Kampung Baru area. The project, which affects both flat and terrace house residents, has faced pushback from a minority group of homeowners dissatisfied with the compensation offered.
The dispute stems from the land acquisition process carried out under the Land Acquisition Act 1960 (APT 1960), involving 110 units in total – 37 terraced house lots, 72 flat units, and one Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) electricity substation lot. The process was officially completed in August 2023.
According to the Department of the Director-General of Land and Mines (JKPTG WPKL), compensation payments were disbursed in stages between February 2022 and January 2023.
In Parliament last December, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa stated that the joint venture between homeowners and the developer was reached through mutual negotiation, without coercion or pressure.
Despite assurances from authorities, tensions have persisted among some residents, particularly flat dwellers now facing imminent eviction. The redevelopment project is part of a broader effort to modernise Kampung Baru, but concerns remain over transparency and the handling of compensation. – April 19, 2025
