KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) Youth has accused PAS Youth of twisting facts about the Kampung Sungai Baru redevelopment, insisting that the controversial land acquisition took place under Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) watch.
The Youth wing of the ruling coalition claimed today that its Opposition counterpart’s attempt to link the unrest in the settlement with the proposed Urban Renewal Bill was politically motivated and “not based on facts”.
“It is a known fact that the land acquisition process in Kampung Sungai Baru took place during Perikatan Nasional’s administration,” PH Youth chief Woo Kah Leong said in a statement.
“The acquisition was gazetted on June 21, 2021 under Section 8 of the Land Acquisition Act 1960, when PN was in power and held the relevant ministerial portfolio.”
PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi had earlier blamed the unity government for the turmoil surrounding the project, drawing sharp criticism from PH Youth.
Woo, who is also the Pasir Bedamar state assemblyman, reminded PAS that even its deputy president, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, had once acknowledged that PN leaders needed to explain their role in the land deal.
“Instead of pointing fingers at the unity government, PAS Youth should be pressing PN leaders for answers, given that the decision was made during PN’s tenure,” Woo said.
The statement also condemned PAS Youth for remaining silent over the injury of Dang Wangi police chief Assistant Commissioner Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman, who was struck by stones during a clearance operation at the site.
“Not only did PAS Youth fail to show sympathy or defend the police officer who was attacked while on duty, they even issued distorted statements to twist facts and stoke racial sentiments,” Woo said.
He added that “slanderous politics of this kind will only harm social unity and erode public trust in national institutions”.
Woo said allegations levelled by PAS Youth over the Kampung Sungai Baru redevelopment were “baseless, irresponsible, and malicious”, urging Malaysians to reject what he described as divisive politics.
Tensions flared yesterday in Kampung Sungai Baru when Sulizmie sustained a head injury after being struck by a rock thrown by an unidentified individual while overseeing a court-ordered eviction exercise.
Police later confirmed that three individuals were detained in connection with the incident.
