TITIWANGSA MP Johari Abdul Ghani now wants to emerge as the hero of the Malays after the last remaining residents of Kampung Sungai Baru were evicted under a court order.
The UMNO vice-president announced that he would meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa to ensure the re-development of the 3.2 hectares of land in Kg Sg Baru would benefit the Malays.
He also expressed dissatisfaction with the way the court order was enforced, particularly the injury sustained by the Dang Wangi police chief during the eviction.
It is true that the area – originally designated as a Malay Agricultural Settlement – carries cultural and historical weight.
While Johari insists that the re-development should preserve its Malay character, can he guarantee that the original Malay residents along with their children and grandchildren will truly benefit from the project?
Or will the re-developed area instead be populated by wealthy Malays who can afford properties priced far beyond the reach of poorer families?
Elite Malays vs poor Malays
Malay nationalism rings hollow when the narrative of protecting the community results only in the displacement of poorer Malays by richer ones.
Johari’s stance is less about ethnicity than about preserving the optics of ethnic exclusivity – even if that means replacing struggling families with the rich and powerful.
As an UMNO leader, Johari seems unbothered by the social injustice so long as the new occupants remain Malay.
This is a shameful reflection on the Madani government in which UMNO is a partner. By standing up for the wealthy elite, the government reveals its true priorities.
An improved Urban Renewal Bill (URA) is still pending yet even without it, the authorities have resorted to the Land Acquisition Act of 1960 to evict Kg Sg Baru residents by handing land over to private developers under the guise of public interest.
But here lies the fundamental question: if the government already uses the Land Acquisition Act to compulsorily acquire land for developers, what real purpose does the URA serve?
Isn’t the 3.2-hectare land grab in Kg Sg Baru a clear abuse of state power? Land acquisition is meant to serve genuine public purposes, not private profit.
It remains uncertain whether the lawyers for Kg Sg Baru’s former residents have challenged the legality of this acquisition. What is certain, however, is that the eviction has exposed the government’s betrayal of its people – where the poor are sacrificed so that the rich and powerful can thrive. – Sept 12, 2025
Former DAP stalwart and Penang deputy chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image credit: TV3
