A GROUP of Kampung Sungai Baru residents are urging Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to proceed with the redevelopment plan at the site without delay.
More than 260 residents gathered on Saturday (Feb 4) to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister's political secretary Azman Abidin, urging Anwar to intervene and expedite the project.
Mohd Adam Abdul Aziz, who spoke on the group's behalf, said the issue has dragged on for more than six years without a solution in sight.
"We urge the Prime Minister to step in and help the residents, who want to see the redevelopment realised as soon as possible," he said during a press conference after the gathering.
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He added that the developer, Ritzy Gloss Sdn Bhd, had followed the proper legal process and already paid out the compensation.
Ritzy Gloss is the parent company of Suez Capital Sdn Bhd, which is undertaking the redevelopment project.
Earlier this year, it was reported that Anwar had announced the redevelopment would be halted pending further negotiations between the developer and another group of residents who opposed the project.
Kampung Sungai Baru Property Owners Welfare Association chairman Zulfakar Wahid said the gathering was to highlight that the majority of residents supported the redevelopment plan.
"More than 90% of homeowners have agreed and the government's decision to postpone the project has given an impression that our voice is not heard," he added.
Anwar's aide Azman said he had met with all the stakeholders including the opposing residents, developer and Titiwangsa MP Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
"All the information will be presented to the Prime Minister soon for him to review and make a decision," he said.
Azman did not offer a deadline for the completion of this process when pressed for details.
Kampung Sungai Baru is sandwiched between the Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway (Akleh) and Kampung Baru.
It hosts 264 units of PKNS flats and 64 terrace houses located on 5.23ha of leasehold land owned by the Kampung Baru Development Corporation.
Early last year, controversy erupted after a group of residents protested the redevelopment plan, citing the low compensation value as their reason.
The plan began in 2016, after which some 60 engagement sessions were held until Oct 7, 2020, which saw 67% or 219 owners giving their agreement.
But the project stalled as some residents refused to cooperate, which prompted the developer to use the Land Acquisition Act in 2021.
Last year, the Lands and Mines Director-General's Department issued a notice explaining this process, after which 72 more flat owners gave their agreement.
This left 37 terrace homeowners who had yet to come on board.
On Dec 27, 2022, StarMetro reported that this last batch of owners already received between RM3mil and RM800,000 in compensation.
