KLANG: The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah (pic), has urged that the redevelopment of Kampung Sungai Baru in Kuala Lumpur be handled with caution, with priority given to the interests of the Malay community.
Sultan Sharafuddin stressed that he had no objection to Kampung Baru being modernised in line with the times, but said the fundamentals must remain clear and in favour of the Malays.
“The original history of Kampung Baru’s establishment and heritage must be taken into detailed consideration by all relevant parties in relation to this matter,” said the Ruler yesterday.
His Royal Highness recalled that Kampung Baru was established in 1899 as a Malay agricultural settlement, granted by his grandfather, Sultan Sir Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah, through a state gazette in 1900.
Kampung Baru, His Royal Highness said, has also been the site of many significant events for the Malay community and its history must be preserved.
“I myself once lived in Kampung Baru and went to school at Sekolah Kebangsaan Raja Muda, when my father, the late Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, was the Raja Muda of Selangor,” said Sultan Sharafuddin.
His Royal Highness added that Tengku Permaisuri Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin’s late father was also born in Kampung Baru, where she spent her early years.
Sultan Sharafuddin highlighted Kampung Baru’s role as a cultural and political hub, citing the Sultan Sulaiman Club, where the 1946 All-Malayan Malay Congress – that led to the formation of Umno – was held, and its use as a refuge for Malays during the May 13, 1969 tragedy.
“More nostalgic is the fact that Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru, officiated by the sixth Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah, must be maintained at its current site and cannot be moved elsewhere.
“Kampung Baru is a symbol of the Malay people’s rise since 1900. I would like to emphasise that it plays an important role in preserving the continuity and dignity of the Malays in Kuala Lumpur,” said Sultan Sharafuddin.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim welcomed the royal decree.
He said Sultan Sharafuddin’s views are fully aligned with the Madani government’s commitment to preserving national heritage while ensuring fair and balanced development.
“The government firmly believes that every decision must be rooted in the well-being of the people and the preservation of community identity.
“As chairman of the National Affordable Housing Council, I remain committed to ensuring that every development genuinely benefits the people, without compromising their dignity, rights and history, all of which are matters of national importance,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
