At Kampung Baru, residents fed up with sweet promises

As the campaign period for the 15th general election (GE15) reaches the halfway mark, at one hot spot in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur, the candidates from Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) are busy trading blows.

But as the back and forth continues between Amanah's Khalid Samad and Johari Abdul Ghani of Umno, in the enclave itself, it's business as usual for the residents. 

Speaking to MalaysiaNow, Samsuri Suradi, vice-chairman of the Malay Agricultural Settlement Administrative Board, said the government had been intending to develop Kampung Baru since 1975. 

After 45 years, little appears to have moved. 

"Throughout the process, we saw many ministers who wanted to develop Kampung Baru," Samsuri said. "None of the efforts bore any fruit."

In his opinion, the ministers in question were all unfamiliar with the issues at hand. 

"Developing Kampung Baru is not the same thing as developing Iskandar Shah or Putrajaya," he said. 

"That is government land. But this is our land." 

Kampung Baru, famous for its bubur lambuk and Ramadan bazaars, is also a major tourist attraction for those looking to experience village life in the middle of the capital city. 

Its history can be traced as far back as 1899. 

In 2019, reports said that Kampung Baru was being eyed by real estate brokers who wished to develop the land. 

Kampung Baru has witnessed several development projects, including the Uda Legasi condominium, Tamu Hotel and most recently, the Jalan Raja Uda MRT.

Samsuri said all manner of plans had been launched for Kampung Baru, at the cost of millions of ringgit. 

But none of these had taken into consideration the wants of the people, he said. 

For example, he said, cycling routes had been established that looked good but did not take into account the underground waterways. 

As a result, the problem of floods continued. 

"They tried to act smart but all of their plans failed – from Raja Nong Chik, to Khalid Samad, to Annuar Musa and Shahidan Kassim," he said, referring to those who had at one time or another held the federal territories portfolio. 

Khalid, for his part, has been banking on his record as federal territories minister under the PH administration in order to win the support of voters in the wider constituency of Titiwangsa. 

Nevertheless, his remarks on land value had upset many and may come back to haunt him on the campaign trail for the Nov 19 polls. 

Khalid, the Shah Alam incumbent, accuses Johari of staying mum even as the government took the land of the residents in Kampung Baru. 

Johari, meanwhile, says that Khalid failed to resolve the problems of the people during his time in the Cabinet. 

During Khalid's time, the government had offered RM1,000 per sq foot, but the residents had said that this was not enough. 

At Kampung Sungai Baru near Kampung Baru, the villagers say that they too are unhappy with the amount offered by the government. 

Yusuf Sukaruman, an heir to some of the land in the village, said the matter had become a political tool. 

"It's not a reasonable offer," he said. "We already discussed the private appraiser who was appointed, but the land and mines office is not interested in that value. 

"This is what we are still protesting today." 

Resident Syed Putra Syed Abdul Rahman said he wanted locals to be appointed as federal territories minister and mayor, not "outsiders". 

"We want a minister whose heart is here, and who knows the problems in Kuala Lumpur. Don't appoint a minister from somewhere else." 

Samsuri meanwhile said that Umno and PAS appeared to have the upper hand in the village. 

He said other parties that wished to win the support of the residents would need to understand their wants. 

"Don't waste time like Khalid," he said. "You have to win hearts and minds, not just come and put up some flags.

"Make sure that your fight isn't just for one day."