KUALA LUMPUR: Former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli has taken a swipe at Pas for exploiting the Kampung Sungai Baru issue for political mileage, saying the eviction process began under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government in 2021.
The Pandan member of parliament said the then Titiwangsa MP, Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun, whose constituency covers Kampung Sungai Baru, should have acted on the matter before any decision was made by the court.
“Kampung Sungai Baru has a long history, and under the Land Acquisition Act 1960, the order for eviction was in fact issued in 2021.
“The government that authorised and initiated the mandatory process of acquiring the land was the PN government, in which Pas is part of.
“The best approach is to resolve the issue before it reaches the courts and before a land acquisition order is granted. That was the responsibility of MPs at the time.
“Back then, it was Bersatu’s Rina, and the government was Pas and Bersatu,” he said in his Yang Berhenti Menteri podcast.
Rafizi was responding to Pas information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari’s statement, in which the latter described the eviction of Kampung Sungai Baru residents as inhumane.
Meanwhile, he said PN had failed to resolve the issue during its administration, which has since escalated into the current dispute involving residents.
“What happened in Kampung Sungai Baru should not be reduced to stirring up public sentiment. It is (a) difficult (situation), but unless you live there, you cannot fully feel it.
“What is clear is that PN failed, because this happened under their watch.
“If we trace it further back, the problem actually started with Umno, but the process has already taken place,” he said.
Responding to Ahmad Fadhli’s remarks that the situation in Kampung Sungai Baru was a preliminary indication of what would take place with the passing of the Urban Renewal Act (URA), Rafizi said Pas could also reverse its stance if it were in government.
He pointed out that the party had already shifted its position on Kampung Sungai Baru, which was approved during its time in power.
“If suddenly Pas is the government of the day and they continue enforcing this URA, will they then still be speaking the same way?
“It would be better for political parties not to exploit the hardships of Kampung Sungai Baru residents just to provoke sentiment and anger.
“If you look at the record, whatever Pas says today, Pas must also explain what it did when it was in government.”
On Sept 12, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa said negotiations concerning the eviction of Kampung Sungai Baru residents in Kuala Lumpur must be held directly with the developer, not the government.
Discussions on the redevelopment began in 2016, with negotiations continuing until 2020. This was followed by land acquisition and approvals, which were finalised in 2021.
However, problems arose when a minority group expressed dissatisfaction with the developer’s joint venture agreement and compensation.
Some residents have since refused to vacate the area, stalling the redevelopment works.
On Thursday, Dang Wangi police chief, Assistant Commissioner Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman, was injured during a scuffle with a group of people who claimed to be residents.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
