KUALA LUMPUR – The plight of Kg Sg Baru residents has worsened after water and electricity were abruptly cut yesterday to facilitate a private redevelopment project.
This move, reportedly prompted by a private company and a government-linked entity, has left many families without basic necessities.
Long-time residents, some spanning three generations, were not warned of the “heartless” action and were shocked by the sudden loss of utilities. They said the utility cuts were executed with a heavy police presence.
One resident, Rafidah Ibrahim, a 38-year-old content creator who is currently staying in a flat inherited from her deceased parents, expressed distress for her 4-month-old son, who struggled to sleep in the heat.
“The weather is now extremely hot. How are we supposed to live once they’ve taken away our basic needs, like water and electricity? We have a small generator set, but it’s nowhere big enough to even power our fridge,” she said when met at a press conference in the locality today.
Expressing concerns over a potential spike in robbery cases, she also appealed for the relevant authorities to consider the plight faced by nearly 50 families who refused to leave the area due to unfair compensation.
“They (developers) clearly want us to move out. If they’re willing to give us what’s rightfully ours and what we’ve been demanding, then the matter can be settled. Discussions should benefit both sides instead of only siding with one party.”
She also said a lawyer representing residents appealing for higher compensation informed homeowners that the supply cuts yesterday did not receive a court order.
Nestled near the iconic Saloma Link Bridge and the Kg Baru LRT station within clear view of the Petronas Twin Towers, Kg Sg Baru has been embroiled in a land dispute due to a disagreement over the compensation offered by Ritzy Gloss Sdn Bhd, the property developer spearheading the project, to homeowners in exchange for their land titles.
It was previously reported that the Valuation and Property Services Department had assessed Malay-reserve land adjacent to Kg Sg Baru to be worth RM850 per sq ft in 2019. Three years later, the figure dropped to RM500.
Both amounts are a far cry from private assessors’ valuation of Kg Sg Baru’s leasehold land, which was priced between RM1,500 and RM2,000 per sq ft.
Terrace house owner Shamsiyah Masud, 63, similarly bemoaned the supply cuts, pointing out that the courts had yet to decide on some residents’ legal appeal for a higher compensation.
“When they (developers) brought police along with them yesterday, we (residents) wondered who they think they are at war with since we have never acted aggressively during our discussions (with the developer or other authorities),” she told reporters.
“They are Malay people fighting against other Malays. You are taking my rightfully owned land and forcing me to vacate my home through the use of the LAA (Land Acquisition Act 1960).
“This is something which will leave a black mark on our history (as) Kg Sg Baru is the only Malay village located in the middle of the city centre.”
The redevelopment project involves the compulsory acquisition of 37 terrace houses and 72 flat units, approved in 2021. Although 27 terrace houses and 192 flat units accepted the developer’s offer, others continue to resist due to perceived unfair compensation.
The residents’ legal fight continues, with some awaiting a court decision.
Despite the developer’s threats of legal action and further utility cuts, the community seeks intervention from higher authorities, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, to secure fair compensation. – June 11, 2024