Wednesday August 20, 2008
Residents worried development will spell death for heritage
By BAVANI M
ALTHOUGH the federal government has announced the setting up of a Kampung Baru Development Corporation with an initial funding of RM100mil to develop one of Kuala Lumpur’s oldest villages, most of Kampung Baru residents do not seem to be excited.
Obviously, they do not want outsiders to be involved in the development of their precious heritage and want the right to determine the future development of the area.
Sign of the times: The Selangor-built PKNS low-cost flats overshadowed by the KLCC Twin Towers. When StarMetro visited the rustic village recently and spoke to some residents, it was obvious that they were worried and concerned about the matter.
Many have expressed fear and distrust of the Kuala Lumpur authorities and have sought help from Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim. who is also the MP of Bandar Tun Razak.
Since the Draft Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020 was unveiled nearly three months ago, most of the Kampung Baru landowners have been having sleepless nights, worrying that their lands may be acquired by force under the Land Acquisition Act 1960.
As the Aug 31 objection period deadline for the draft plan draws near, many landowners are concerned and worried that the plan may be confirmed without due consideration of their rights, interests and welfare.
Most of the residents welcome development but are not very sure what the draft plan is all about, especially the matters concerning the mechanism for developing the land.
“It is so confusing. I’m afraid to lose my house. It’s all I have. I want to stay here forever,’’ 69-year-old Aishah Mohd Tawil said with a sob.
Dr Lo’ Lo’: They want to develop their land their own way. The poor woman has apparently been impressed by the pictures of mega projects printed in the draft plan but wondered just where her little kampung house was going to fit in all those beautiful but daunting pictures.
“Can you blame us for seeking help from our wakil rakyat (MP) because the DBKL (Kuala Lumpur City Hall) did not want to listen to us or come here to see us,’’ 62-year-old Zakaria Yahaya said.
“I don’t care what party the MP (Titiwangsa MP Dr Lo’ Lo’ Mohamad Ghazali of PAS) represents, but she is the only one who can present our views in parliament,’’ the Kampung Baru native said.
Resident Hashidah Abdul Razak said she would never trust anyone again when it concerned development affecting her home.
Hashidah, 50. said both her father Abdul Razak Syed and grandfather Mohd Sayed were cheated in the 1980s when a developer friend forged the S&P documents to swindle them of their land in Kampung Baru.
Hashidah has not recovered from the pain and anguish brought upon by endless court battles and an out- of-court settlement that was only half of what the property was worth.
“It makes no difference to me who develops Kampung Baru but I will not be cheated again,’’ she said.
“We want to make sure that outsiders are not involved in the development of Kampung Baru,’’ Hashidah said.
MP Lo’ Lo’ explained that the decision to ask for Khalid’s help was solely based on the Selangor Government State Economic Corporation’s (PKNS) track record in developing projects in Kampung Baru during the 1970s.
According to Lo’ Lo, the residents are now enjoying the benefits of the PKNS projects like the 17-storey PKNS flats in Jalan Sungai Baru, terrace houses in Kampung Padang, and other housing projects developed by the Selangor government in the past.
“These people-orientated projects by Selangor are what they know and want, but ultimately they want to develop their land in their own way and style,’’ Lo’Lo said.
“We want to maintain the heritage and traditions and rejecting this plan seems the only way out,’’ said Siti Zafur, a long-time resident of Kampung Baru.
However, former Titiwangsa MP Datuk Seri Suleiman Moahamed insists that Kampung Baru must move with the times to progress and modern development would help upgrade the lifestyle of the residents.
“Traditions and sentimentality are fine, but the residents must understand that for Kampung Baru to progress, the residents must embrace change,’’ he said.
Related stories
RM236mil to upgrade Kampung Baru
DBKL prefers landowners to develop area on their own
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