Yes Police Chief Injured In Eviction Turned Bloody Clash But What About Fate Of Kg Sg Baru Residents

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DESCRIBING yesterday’s (Sept 11) ugly clash between Kampung Sungai Baru homeowners and the authorities as a preview of what may happen when Urban Renewal Bill (URA) becomes law, human rights activist Charles Hector has asked what if the affected residents are victims of land acquisition for re-development?
The Temerloh-based lawyer further berated Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail for attempting to divert attention away from the real issue by using the head injury sustained by Dang Wangi OCPD Asst Comm Suzilme Affendy Sulaiman to vilify residents who protested against their eviction.
“How many of the residents were injured or assaulted by the police or authorities? EVERY victim must be accorded equal importance,” he reacted with furore on his blog.

“Was the government’s action JUST? Are there still not court actions and appeals pending on this issue? Isn’t this a contempt of court then.
“Shouldn’t status quo be maintained until all cases are finally disposed of? What if the affected people ultimately WIN in court? Wouldn’t that render their efforts through court useless now that their homes are already gone?”
In condemning the assault on Sulizmie as “vile, uncivilised and wholly unacceptable”, Saifuddin further described the injury sustained by a public servant as reflecting a serious breach of lawful conduct and social norms.
Although the majority of residents have moved out after accepting a buyout deal from the developer KL City Gateway Sdn Bhd, those who resisted the compensation/eviction are still deemed “legal owners” and “not illegal squatters on someone else’s land”.



















“Still living in their homes, they suddenly found their electricity supply cut off and then the police/authorities are preventing them from getting back to their homes,” asserted Hector who is also the co-founder of NGO Malaysians Against Death Penalty & Torture (MADPET).
“Can we really blame the people for their actions or should the blame lie on the Madani government noting also that this is happening in Federal Territory which is under the control of the Federal government?
“Have all the cases and appeals relating to this issue done? As I believe there’re still pending cases, why has the court given an eviction order in this situation?
Charles Hector“There should be no eviction and the development (or re-development) shouldn’t start and continue, especially in the areas which houses the homes of residents opposing the re-development.
On that note, Hector also took a jibe at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who – like Saifuddin – is more concerned about the cops’ well-being than the interest of the affected residents.
“Sad that PMX is so concerned about the policeman but at the same time is not so concerned with remand prisoners (not tried and convicted) who have been assaulted, tortured, injured or killed. Kindly care for the people – not just your public officers and big business.”
For the record, PMX has urged authorities to immediately launch an investigation into the injury sustained by Suzilme and “swiftly apprehend” the supposed assailants responsible.
“Violence fuelled by incitement, hatred and false information must never be allowed to take root in society,” he penned in a social media post. 

Editor’s Note: Covering 3.2 hectares, the proposed Kampung Sungai Baru re-development is intended to replace existing homes with 328 new residential units.
The acquisition involves 67 terrace houses and 14 apartment blocks, totalling around 410 residential units and affecting more than 2,000 residents.
Talks with residents began in 2016 with negotiations having dragged on until 2020. Land acquisition and approvals were finalised in 2021 but actual re-development has been delayed for nine years.



















The authorities have set the rate at RM400/sq ft but residents argue this is far below the actual market value given land in the surrounding Golden Triangle and KLCC area can fetch more than RM1,000/sq ft.
‘Defiant’ residents have further described Kampung Sungai Baru as part of Malay heritage in the capital. As such, losing their homes would erase more than just property value – it would erase community identity.
Above all else, a 1932 colonial-era document identifies Kampung Sungai Baru as a Malay Agricultural Settlement (MAS) land which residents and their lawyers argue gives it legal protections against acquisition unless properly revoked. In this regard, they maintain no such revocation has ever taken place.
- Focus Malaysia

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