The Federal Territories Director of Lands and Mines Office (PPTGWP) will continue land acquisition matters for the Sungai Baru, Kampung Baru redevelopment project in Kuala Lumpur.
The majority of the locals in the area have approved the redevelopment project, according to Datuk Muhammad Yasir Yahya, the director for PPTGWP.
He said that partnerships had been established with the developer for 192 apartment lots and 27 terrace homes.
"Currently, land acquisition has been completed for 72 apartment lots for redevelopment purposes. The acquisition is also implemented for landowners who did not sign partnership agreements with the developer. Only 37 terrace units have yet to complete investigation," he said in a statement.
According to Muhammad Yasir, the purchase was supported by explicit legal provisions, and sufficient compensation was given based on the evaluation offered by the Property Valuation and Services Department.
However, he pointed out that some parties are appealing to the courts because they are unhappy with the compensation.
"The courts will reevaluate the suitable compensation," he said.
Meanwhile, according to a statement by Kampong Bharu Development Corp (PKB), RM80 million in damages will be incurred by the government, if the land acquisition process for the Kampung Baru redevelopment project is abandoned.
Despite the opposition of some landowners, PKB stated that the land purchase for the project must proceed as it has complied with the legal criteria under the Land Acquisition Act (APT) 1960.
According to PKB, the losses include RM50 million in land acquisition deposit payments to the Director-General of Lands and Mines (JKPTG), RM30 million in relocation expenses for residents returning to their original homes, and expenses for repairing properties that have been neglected for six years. These expenses are in addition to the cost of providing transit and rental homes to residents until the replacement homes are completed.
The government must be ready to cover all damages incurred by the developer and the concerned owners if the land acquisition procedure is abandoned, it stated.
The number of units that have completed the acquisition process and are prepared for development rose to 291 units from 219 units (27 terrace lots and 192 flat units), this is according to a statement released by PKB this week.
"It involves 264 flat units and 27 terrace lots or 88.72 per cent. The increase involves 72 flat units after the K form was issued while the investigation for the acquisition session has been postponed and has yet to be awarded for the remaining 37 terrace lots (11.28 per cent). Land acquisition for the terraced lots has yet to be completed," it said.
PKB denied allegations by the Sungai Baru Flat and Terrace House Owners Action Committee that the corporation had silenced 34 terrace lot owners.
"We would like to address the status of 34 terrace lots, (whereby) 32 lots owned by individuals and two terrace lots involved in the land acquisition for the Kuala Lumpur Light Rail Transit (LRT) 2 Project Pasar Seni to Jalan Damai alignment is not related to the redevelopment project in Sungai Baru here," it clarified.