KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has sent a letter to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob asking the latter to address the grievances of the folks in Kg Sg Baru.
Pejuang president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir told a press conference that the letter was sent to the Bera MP on May 9 and among the issues raised were the rights of the residents and how they have been unfairly treated.
Mukhriz expressed his party’s views that the government should preserve the presence of Malay communities in urban areas, especially in Kuala Lumpur.
“There have been so many injustices that should not have taken place and we ask for the residents to be treated as fairly as possible,” he said when met by reporters after attending a meeting with residents of Kg Sg Baru.
“The party is of the view that urban areas occupied by Malay communities should not be touched.
“Therefore, we hope the government will intervene in this matter and do its best to safeguard the interests of the Malays.”
Mukhriz, who is also the Jerlun MP, said that his father, Dr Mahathir, had also requested for resident representatives to meet with the prime minister.
However, he said, Ismail Sabri has yet to respond on the matter.
Elaborating on the matter, he said Pejuang had appointed lawyers to ensure negotiations between the developer and the residents can be carried out in accordance with the law.
Following a meeting with local residents and the Malay agricultural settlement, he said it appears that many issues have arisen that seem to point to representatives from the government and developers wanting to take advantage of the situation.
“One of the things that we need to strengthen is the law itself. I am confident that the law is in favour of the residents.
“Therefore, there had better not be anyone who wants to deny the right of the residents to demand compensation deemed appropriate. If there is any offer, it has to be reasonable based on the current market rate.
“To create a win-win situation, any decision made should always involve consultation with the residents, including on the development plans.” – The Vibes, May 29, 2022
