KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani is urging the relevant authorities to grant the remaining Kg Sg Baru residents here another six months to look for new homes, as they are running out of time to move out.
The homeowners currently have until the middle of next month to relocate after being served with a Form K notice by the director-general of the Lands and Mines Department (Land Office) on December 19.
The land in the historic Malay enclave is currently being obtained by the government through the Land Acquisition Act 1960 to make way for a proposed redevelopment project.
Johari, who is Titiwangsa MP, was quoted by Free Malaysia Today as saying today that the authorities ought to provide more time for residents to move out, urging those affected to appeal to the Land Office and the developer for a grace period.
He said he would provide his backing should any such application be made.
According to the report, Johari had also met with mayor Datuk Seri Mahadi Che Ngah recently to seek assistance for the remaining residents to be temporarily placed in units owned by Kuala Lumpur City Hall until they find new homes.
Last week, The Vibes had reported that close to 30 Kg Sg Baru homeowners have been issued a one-month eviction notice which they described as unreasonable.
Yesterday, a spokesman for the group of remaining residents, Johari Zakaria, said they were distraught with the decision as the redevelopment project planned on their existing homes will only be completed in three years.
He noted that this would force them to either rent or buy new homes with whatever “inadequate compensation” that has been offered to them.
“Some have not even received any compensation (yet) after being served with the eviction notice,” he had said in a statement.
According to Free Malaysia Today, Johari said he would also provide a lawyer for the 90% of residents who have already moved out to ensure the units promised to them by the developers will be provided accordingly.
He said homeowners who had been compensated by the developers should also be offered new units if they expressed interest in the homes once the housing project was completed.
The article also quoted the Umno man as blaming the lack of coordination among developers, elected representatives and the Federal Territories Ministry for causing the current complications. – The Vibes, December 27, 2022
