KUALA LUMPUR – There are still ways to protect the remaining homeowners in Kg Sg Baru and Kg Baru, who refuse to move, from legal action under the Land Acquisition Act 1960, Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Titiwangsa hopeful Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said.
The crisis can be solved, and those who do not understand the matter will resort to accusing others, he added, hinting at his Pakatan Harapan (PH) rival for the seat Khalid Abdul Samad.
“If you do not understand this issue, then you resort to accusing others,” Johari said in response to accusations by Khalid that he had been silent on residents’ concerns about development projects in Kg Baru and their relocation.
“Can we not question an (elected) representative, can we not question a federal territories minister for 22 months?” Johari asked in a video posted on Facebook. However, he did not specify the solutions he alluded to.
Johari, who was Titiwangsa MP for one term from 2013 to 2018, said the issues Kg Baru and Kg Sg Baru face today began when Khalid was federal territories minister in the PH government.
The Selangor State Development Corp (PKNS) flats in Kg Sg Baru are more than 40-years-old, and the area is slated for redevelopment, but around 11% of residents refuse to vacate their homes and could be subject to legal action under the Land Acquisition Act – which can evict residents, although the developer must also compensate them.
“The PKNS flats were bought for RM17,000, 40 years ago, so many people are having trouble. Toilets are broken, there are cracks in the wall.”
Johari, who is also an Umno Supreme Council member and corporate figure, said 89% of residents agreed to move out and to have the flats redeveloped.
“You can’t blame them for that because they have been suffering living in dire conditions all this while.”
Johari had earlier promised voters in the seat good legal representation to protect their interests in the redevelopment.
While 89% of them agreed to move out and signed agreements voluntarily, the developer used the Land Acquisition Act 1960 to take the land of the remaining 11% who disagreed.
According to the act, the developer has the right to take the homes or units with the court’s approval but is required to fully compensate homeowners according to the current value of their premises.
Johari insisted that these issues began after he lost the Titiwangsa seat.
Currently, the land acquisition procedure is reportedly delayed, on instruction of caretaker federal territories minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, to allow for more discussions to take place.
In the coming national polls, Johari will face Khalid as well as two other candidates – Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan from Gerakan Tanah Air-Pejuang, and dentist Dr. Rosni Adam from Perikatan Nasional-PAS.
The seat was previously won by caretaker women, family, and community development minister Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun on a PH-Bersatu ticket in 2018, by a majority of 4,139 votes. Rina then quit PH in the Sheraton Move in 2020 and joined Bersatu. – The Vibes November 15, 2022
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