KUALA LUMPUR: It was Kampung Sungai Baru residents themselves who selected the developer, with no interference from the government, says Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) said the residents who had agreed to redevelop Kampung Sungai Baru also formed a management association in 2010.
She was responding to claims from certain parties that the government was involved in selecting the developer.
"It was the residents themselves who found, selected and appointed their preferred developer – without any government interference," she said when delivering a ministerial briefing on the issue in Parliament on Thursday (Oct 9).
She also dispelled claims that the appointed developer was based in Singapore.
"Checks with the Companies Commission of Malaysia revealed that this is baseless. The company is fully owned by Malaysians," she said.
Dr Zaliha also said residents who did not agree with the redevelopment received compensation.
Owners of terrace landed units received compensation of RM800,000 to RM2.9mil while those in flats received RM198,000 to RM350,000.
She said the compensation provided took into account the market value determined by the Valuation and Property Services Department, relocation costs as well as rental and evaluation fees, among others.
"All payments were successfully made between February 2022 and January 2023.
"This dispels allegations that some residents have yet to receive compensation," she said, adding that some renting units were also given compensation to cover the cost of moving.
She also said Kuala Lumpur City Hall also offered temporary homes for those that did not agree with the move.
"Developers also provided logistics assistance to those who agreed to temporarily relocate," she said.
Dr Zaliha added that those who were unhappy with the compensation amount could resort to legal recourse.
"We respect any decision made by the courts. If the courts decide that the developer must increase the compensation or if it is fair, the decision must be followed.
"However, court proceedings will not halt Kampung Sungai Baru redevelopment efforts," she said.
