Mohd Hairi (second from right) with a member of Johor Baru Tiong Hua Association after eviction notices were handed to residents of a village in Jalan Kebun Teh.
Johor government has granted residents of a squatter village in Jalan Kebun Teh, Johor Baru, an additional 30 days to relocate.
This is in response to a two-week notice to vacate given by the district and land office, following demolition of 11 houses on Oct 15 after the state Immigration Department operation a couple of days prior that saw illegal immigrants arrested.
Larkin assemblyman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah said the state decided this after meeting community leaders and local representatives on-site.
“After discussing with the state executive council, we agreed to extend the notice period by 30 days from Oct 22,” he said after a meeting with villagers.
Mohd Hairi, who is also state youth, sports, entrepreneur development and cooperatives committee chairman, said the area was on state land that had been gazetted as a “malaria reserve” and was later placed under the management of Johor Baru Tiong Hua Association.
“Over time, this land was occupied and additional structures were built and sublet, including to foreign nationals.
“The Immigration Department’s enforcement team has since confirmed that over 100 foreigners were detained,” he said.
Mohd Hairi said the state government did not want to act harshly against long-term residents, some of whom had lived there for decades, but wanted to regularise settlements and ensure safety in the fast-developing urban area.
“We are not without compassion in evicting people,” he said.
“Many of these families have lived here for over 60 years.
“However, as Johor Baru rapidly develops, we cannot have informal settlements in the heart of the city, especially where there are security and cleanliness issues,” he said.
Mohd Hairi said the government, via Johor Housing and Property Board and state housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor, would assist eligible residents in applying for Johor Affordable Homes.
The state will also work with Johor Immigration Department to prevent further misuse of land and to ensure that residents do not sublet to foreigners.
The state’s broader resettlement initiative aims to achieve “zero squatters” through coordinated land-use restructuring.
“This process is not unique to Larkin,” said Mohd Hairi.
“Similar relocations have taken place in areas such as Seri Paya and Kampung Kangkar Tebrau, where residents were moved into affordable housing projects.
“The state is committed to improving living standards and ensuring that every Johorean benefits from development.
“We are providing space, time and assistance, not acting cruelly,” he reiterated.
Meanwhile, state health and environment committee chairman Ling Tian Soon said the decision to extend the relocation period gave residents time to find alternative housing.
“We want to ensure the relocation process is fair and humane.
“The state government’s goal is not to punish anyone, but to ensure planned development for all,” he said.
Ling clarified that 36 families remained and that demolitions were limited to vacant homes and structures believed to be used by undocumented foreigners.
