FOLLOWING reports that about 40 families at the Malay settlement, Kampung Baru, had received eviction notices during Ramadan, a former minister hurled brickbats at UMNO and PAS leaders for their silence on the matter.
[Where are the Malay-Muslim champions from UMNO and PAS? Why Pekan MP (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) has gone silent? Is he finally feeling embarrassed now?
[During Pakatan Harapan’s administration, you guys said our offer for the community was too low and it should be RM3,000 per square feet. What say you now? This is fasting month, where are the people going to celebrate Hari Raya?] queried former federal territories minister Khalid Samad, in a tweet.
Two days ago, it was reported that about 40 families in a block of PKNS flats in Sungai Baru, which is within Kampung Baru were slapped with eviction notices by the Land and Mines Department.
It was said that the flats are make way for a major redevelopment which will affect 328 homes, 264 of which are flats, on a 6.8ha site.
Compensation payments had begun in stages since February, the department stated, adding that it ranged between RM198,000 to RM350,000.
“We are very upset, because those issuing these notices are Malay and Muslim. Don’t they know it is Hari Raya next month and Ramadan now? So where will we live then?” Free Malaysia Today reported a resident as saying.
It is learnt that the offer is equivalent to about RM400 per sq ft in land value alone, compared to the market value of RM1,500 per sq ft.
In 2019, it was reported that Khalid had offered RM850 per square feet to the residents.
Why invoke Land Acquisition Act?
Earlier today, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim assured the residents that they could stay until July 31.
“The developer and residents’ representatives are negotiating to find the best solution for this and there will be no eviction during the fasting month, it is not possible to move after Raya,” he was reported as saying.
On that note, Khalid questioned on why the Land Acquisition Act (APT) was being invoked for this, with no regard given to the residents’ plight.
Shah Alam MP jested:
(The Government invoked APT to force residents out for the benefit of developers. The residents’ rights are not respected and the compensation is very low too. Where is Pakej Harmoni announced by the Government? Is it only for the developers?) – April 12, 2022
Main photo credit: Edge Prop
