KUALA LUMPUR: The Malay Agricultural Settlement (MAS) Board acts as "co-partners" for Kampung Baru folk and the authorities, making them still relevant to the management and development of the area.
MAS honorary secretary Shamsuri Suradi described the statement made by Kampung Baru Development Corporation (PKB) as "baseless", adding that there was no provision in the Kampung Baru Development Corporation Act 2011 or the Federal Capital Act 1960 to nullify the board.
"There is no provision under the law that gives the power to the Federal Territories Ministry to dissolve and revoke MAS's powers," he said at a press conference today.
On June 6, PKB in a statement said the Federal Territories Ministry had sent a letter to MAS, informing them of their status on Feb 13.
It said that the Attorney-General's Chambers' standpoint was that MAS's role in administrative functions for the Malay settlement in the heart of the capital, including in planning and municipal management, was no longer relevant.
MAS has been in charge of overseeing the infrastructural development of Kampung Baru since it was established in 1900 through the Land Code Enactment 1896.
PKB said the decision to nullify MAS was made after Selangor Ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah agreed to hand over all matters regarding the status of MAS to the ministry, following present laws, on Dec 2 last year.
However, Shamsuri had claimed that the Federal Territories Ministry never proceeded with the necessary steps and only issued a statement on the matter.
He said the clause which allowed the nullification of MAS in the draft of the Kampung Baru Development Corporation bill (Section 57 (1) and (2)) had been abolished.
The act was passed on Oct 6, 2011, in Parliament, without both clauses, Shamsuri said.
"After a series of discussions and meetings on the draft, the Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry (in 2011) agreed to remove Section 57 (1) and (2) as MAS did not conflict with PKB's roles.
"MAS, PKB and the Kuala Lumpur City Hall have good relations in tackling issues in Kampung Baru.
"We are still relevant, and will be open for discussions with any party."