TITIWANGSA MP Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani has called on the developer of the long-delayed Kampung Sungai Baru redevelopment project to immediately resume construction and fulfil their obligation to return displaced residents to their original homes.
The project, stalled for nearly a decade, has left residents in limbo after being relocated for a development that has yet to break ground.
“The developer must take responsibility and ensure residents are returned to their original site. It has been eight years, and nothing has started,” Johari said during a recent site visit.
“If construction begins now, it will take at least another four and a half to five years. That means people will be waiting for 13 years — and that's assuming work starts immediately,” he added.
Johari, who also serves as Minister of Plantation and Commodities, stressed that further delays are unacceptable, especially given the anxiety among affected residents. He urged the developer to begin by completing at least one or two blocks to facilitate the return of relocated families.
“If they continue to delay or if they lack the funds, they should hand the project over to a capable party — even UDA (Urban Development Authority) — to complete it. At the very least, the first two blocks must be built,” he said.
The project has been marred by controversy since 2021, when the previous administration invoked the Land Acquisition Act 1960 to compulsorily acquire the land, later transferring it to the developer.
However, the remaining 14 residents refused to vacate their homes, citing dissatisfaction with compensation, relocation terms, and what they claimed was a lack of transparency in the acquisition process.
Johari said the prolonged delay was unjustifiable and urged swift intervention to resolve the impasse and restore the community.
“The developer must now demonstrate that they are capable of resolving this — otherwise, the government must intervene,” he said. - October11, 2025
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