Case offers cautionary tale for drafters of urban renewal law, says Johari
KUALA LUMPUR: The redevelopment deadlock in Kampung Sungai Baru must serve as a lesson to developers and the authorities on urban renewal efforts.
Titiwangsa member of parliament Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said many Kampung Sungai Baru residents may not have fully understood what was happening when the redevelopment process began after the 2018 general election.
"There was no one advising them before they moved out," said Johari, who is in his second term as MP.
He was the constituency's MP from 2013 to 2018 and was re-elected in 2022.
"We had many elected representatives at the time, but none took action." He said this on Podcast Utama Buletin TV3 with Mior Abdul Malik Raiyani and Azaria Tagaya last night.
"When I returned as MP (in 2022), I wished none of this had happened and that I could reverse everything. But it had already happened — valuations were done, gazettes issued, and the developer had paid money."
The Kampung Sungai Baru redevelopment has stalled as 33 per cent of the 328 households have refused to vacate their properties.
Johari said the government should draw lessons from the Kampung Sungai Baru case in formulating the Urban Renewal Act.
"These sensitivities must be addressed in the legislation.
"The area in question must be identified and factored in," he said.
"Kuala Lumpur has limited land. If a flat is 50 or 70 years old and requires redevelopment, then we do need an act (for that) — but one that considers the history and origin of the land.
"That must be a condition, so there's no large-scale displacement during any redevelopment," Johari said.
He added that urban renewal efforts must include detailed planning to benefit current residents and the next generation.
"A child who lived there aged 5 may now be married with children but can't get housing.
"Redevelopment — say, increasing from four to 30 storeys — can provide more units for original families. This way, their children can return and live nearby, caring for their parents. Even if the parents receive one unit free (on a one-to-one basis), the children could also benefit by living in the same area."
The proposed Urban Renewal Act will set a consensus threshold for redevelopment, requiring 80 per cent agreement from residents for buildings under 30 years old before negotiations can commence, 75 per cent agreement for buildings over 30 years old, and a simple majority (51 per cent) for abandoned or derelict housing.
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