New twist in Kg Baru residents' fight against acquisition with discovery of rare land title

Residents in Kampung Baru embroiled in a dispute over the authorities' takeover of land by means of compensation have discovered an original land title, which could see a shift in their struggle over the only Malay village in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. 

MalaysiaNow understands that the land title is the only remaining document of its kind as the rest were destroyed in floods. 

It gives, among others, details on the status of the land which residents say is strong evidence in support of their fight against the acquisition plan in Kampung Sungai Baru, an area within the Kampung Baru enclave. 

It also shows that the area is categorised as a Malay Agricultural Settlement (MAS), despite the government's claim that Kampung Sungai Baru does not include MAS reserve land.

Resident Shahzemir Shahzulkarib, who has been actively opposing the land acquisition plan, said the rare land title was shown at a recent meeting. 

"Even we, the residents, never knew that we were categorised under MAS," he said. 

"All this time, the land was said to be lease-hold."

Residents in Kampung Sungai Baru who refuse to accept compensation for their land are protesting the authorities' use of the Land Acquisition Act 1960 to develop the area under the Kampong Bharu Development Corporation (PKB).

They say any move by the government to acquire land must obtain the full consent of all landowners involved. 

It is understood that about 10 families remain at the Kampung Sungai Baru flats despite the uncertainty about their future. 

They are also against the amount of compensation offered, which they say is not in line with the market price given the area's location in the heart of the capital city, a few minutes' drive from KLCC and the Golden Triangle where property values can exceed RM1,000 per square foot. 

About 270 residents have accepted the compensation while 74 remain opposed. In the area behind the flats, 27 terrace house owners have accepted the offer while 37 disagree. 

Federal territories minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa previously said that the government would continue with the development of Kampung Sungai Baru as most of the residents had agreed to leave. 

Shahzemir, whose wife, actress Rafidah Ibrahim, has been actively mobilising protests against the land acquisition, said the recently discovered land title had been certified as original copy by the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia.

Residents are also searching for records stored in the UK and Singapore on Kampung Baru's MAS status, which supposedly covers the entire Kampung Baru area until Jalan Campbell in Dang Wangi.  

MalaysiaNow understands that the gazette with the serial number 1550 was obtained from the UK, where records under the administration of the Federated Malay States dated Feb 19, 1932 identify Kampung Baru as MAS reserve land.

Writ of summons

Meanwhile, the residents have sent a writ of summons to two directors at the Federal Territories Land and Mines Office.

The writ, addressed to the state director and state registrar of titles, accuses them of negligence in failing to designate Kampung Sungai Baru as MAS reserve land. 

Shahzemir had raised the discovery of the original grant at a press conference with former federal territories minister Khalid Samad yesterday. 

He said the document rendered the use of the Land Acquisition Act and the provision of compensation irrelevant as the land involved was designated as MAS reserve land.

However, Khalid said Shahzemir did not understand the issue at hand.