Residents of Kampung Sungai Baru, a Malay enclave in the heart of the city at risk of losing their land to the government and developers, are becoming increasingly vocal in their protest with the help of a group of rights lawyers who have come forward to help them defend their legal claim to their homes.
Checks by MalaysiaNow found that banners expressing the residents’ anger have been put up throughout the area, which resembles a war zone thanks to the rubble and ruins left after the demolition of several flats.
This follows a meeting on Monday between the residents and lawyers from Lawyers for Liberty (LFL), the group that has been vocal against the abuse of power and human rights violations.
At the meeting, lawyers N Surendran, Latheefa Koya and Zaid Malek fielded various questions about the case which had been filed in court.
“The right to housing is a very important and basic human right,” Surendran said in his speech.
He added that he had studied a number of documents and was shocked by what was happening.
“It is clear that this is Malay reserve land, and the ongoing land acquisition and development, all of it, is against the law.
“You need to be confident about your rights in this struggle,” he said.
Surendran also confirmed that Kampung Sungai Baru had been categorised as a Malay agricultural settlement (MAS) for more than 120 years.
MAS was a category introduced long before the concept of Malay reserve land.
Meanwhile, LFL has also called for a press conference tomorrow.
Kampung Sungai Baru entered the spotlight due to the impasse between the developer and the residents who have refused to relocate.
These residents have declined the compensation offered by the developer and are opposing the government’s use of the Land Acquisition Act 1960 for the development of the area under the Kampong Bharu Development Corporation.
They also disagree with the amount of compensation offered, saying it is not in line with market prices given that the area is just minutes away from the Golden Triangle and KLCC – some of the most developed areas in the capital city with a property value of more than RM1,000 per sq ft.
They say that the government must have the unanimous agreement of all landowners before it can take over a given plot of land.
Safety and health concerns
But demolition by the KL City Gateway developer continues despite the fact that the case brought by the residents is still pending in court.
They also claim that the contractor violated the conditions set by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).
It is understood that these conditions include a requirement for the developer to ensure that the building has been completely vacated.
It is also prohibited from using heavy machinery that causes a lot of noise.
Zainab Alias, chairman of the Kampung Sungai Baru residents pro-tem committee, said such noise was nevertheless a regular occurance in the area.
“The contractor also puts up ‘foldings’ before residents have received the evacuation order. This violates the conditions set.”
Zainab, who is among the residents who have refused to leave their homes, added that their houses were thick with dust from the demolition works as the contractor did a poor job of cleaning.
The effects of the demolition works and the destruction of the buildings have raised health concerns among the residents and fears of the spread of disease.
One of them contracted dengue fever in February.
“I had to take a blood test in hospital every day,” the resident, who asked to remain anonymous, said.
“I was quarantined at home for seven days.”
When questioned, he said the contractor did not provide a satisfactory response.
DBKL aside, the residents have also contacted the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) and the Construction Industry Development Board of Malaysia with their complaints.
In a response sighted by MalaysiaNow, DOSH said the complaint lodged by Zainab was baseless.
“All of the nearby houses, including that of the complainant, had been vacated for construction purposes (during the inspection, there was only one house that remained occupied, believed to be by residents who refused to move).
“Therefore, any demolition activity carried out beside or facing the complainant’s house should pose no threat to safety given that all of them were ordered to move,” DOSH said in an email.
However, a resident said that DOSH had come for site inspections during the festive season.
“They said no demolition activity would be carried out, perhaps because of the festive holiday.
“The problem is, why did they come during the celebration itself? Why not come while the demolition works are being carried out?”
MalaysiaNow understands that DBKL had said that it could not cancel the demolition permit as there was no notice yet from the court for a stop to the demolition works.