Cover image via Malaysiakini
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Earlier today, 11 September, an attempt to evict homes in Kampung Sungai Baru, Kuala Lumpur, turned violent when residents clashed with authorities carrying out a court-ordered demolition
Photos and videos showing blood streaming down the face of Dang Wangi police chief ACP Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman went viral. He was reportedly injured in the head during the scuffle when several disgruntled residents attempted to force their way into the area.
Here is an overview of the issue and why it matters.
What happened today?
The operation was led by a court bailiff and supported by several government agencies, including the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Federal Reserve Unit (FRU).
- Residents had been gathering since early morning in solidarity.
- Around 10am, after a series of speeches by their representatives, they attempted to push into the cordoned-off demolition zone.
- Police blocked them, sparking a scuffle. In the chaos, Sulizmie Affendy sustained head injuries and was seen bleeding.
- Police ordered residents to disperse.
- Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel were put on standby, while media personnel were barred from entering the site.
The eviction went ahead despite ongoing resistance from residents, who have repeatedly said they want the government to halt the demolition until all legal challenges are resolved.
Why is Kampung Sungai Baru being demolished?
- Project scope: The redevelopment covers 3.2 hectares and is meant to replace existing homes with 328 new residential units.
- Affected homes: The acquisition involves 67 terrace houses and 14 apartment blocks, totalling around 410 residential units and affecting more than 2,000 residents.
- Timeline: Talks with residents began in 2016, with negotiations stretching until 2020. Land acquisition and approvals were finalised in 2021, but actual redevelopment has been delayed for nine years.
(a) Location of Kampung Baru in the centre of Kuala Lumpur (ESRI ArcGIS base map); (b) traditional vernacular house; (c) modern vernacular house.
Image via ResearchGateWhy are residents resisting?
Many residents view the project not as progress, but as forced displacement under unfair terms.
For elderly residents in particular, it's not about the money. Their refusal to leave stems from their desire to remain in the homes where they have spent their lives.
"I want to live here, it's already been 76 years," shared Rugayah Said, a housewife, while speaking to Malaysiakini in March this year.
- Compensation: Authorities set the rate at RM400 per square foot, but residents argue this is far below the actual market value. In the surrounding Golden Triangle and KLCC area, land can fetch more than RM1,000 psf.
- Heritage: Residents describe Kampung Sungai Baru as part of Malay heritage in the capital. Losing their homes, they say, would erase more than just property value — it would erase community identity.
- Malay Agricultural Settlement (MAS) status: A 1932 colonial-era document identifies Kampung Sungai Baru as MAS land, which residents and their lawyers argue gives it legal protections against acquisition unless properly revoked. They maintain no such revocation has ever taken place.
In July this year, one resident told MalaysiaNow: "This is a do-or-die campaign, and we will defend this land, which is our heritage, until the end."
What are the legal challenges?
The government gazetted the acquisition on 21 June 2021 under Section 8 of the Land Acquisition Act 1960, fuelling the Kampung Sungai Baru redevelopment controversy.
Residents, through the Kampung Sungai Baru Residents' Rights Committee, have filed legal challenges. Their appeal hearing is scheduled for next year.
They argue that the government and the developer are ignoring due process by pushing demolitions before the case is concluded.
The committee has accused the government of failing to intervene to "find a solution" despite knowing that bulldozers have already entered the site.
Lawyer N Surendran, who is advising residents, has urged the administration to admit its error in using the Land Acquisition Act and instead negotiate a "new and better deal".
He has proposed:
- Replacement housing
- Market-value compensation reflecting the land's prime location
- Involvement of state agencies like PKNS to ensure residents are part of redevelopment plans
What other tensions have surfaced?
- Threats & intimidation: Some residents said they were harassed by "gangsters" telling them to vacate.
- Cash-for-crowd WhatsApp message: Ahead of today's eviction, a message circulated offering RM100, plus food and drinks, to anyone willing to attend a protest under the guise of being residents. The message asked for IC numbers, names, and phone numbers, and was signed off by a man named "Tony".
- Fear of provocation: Residents lodged police reports, saying they feared provocateurs might be planted to create disorder and pin blame on them. "We don't want any misunderstanding, as if we are the ones causing the chaos," said resident Syazrin Dinie Ibrahim.
- Prayers and solidarity: In the days leading up to the eviction, residents held nightly solat hajat (special prayers), framing the fight as not just legal, but spiritual.
Another resident, Rafidah Ibrahim, framed the issue in stark terms: "The real question is not only compensation, but the rights and dignity of the Malays in the centre of Kuala Lumpur. If they insist on using force, I am confident Malaysians will rise up because people will see clearly who is oppressing whom."
What is the government's stance?
- Federal Territories Ministry: Says the acquisition is legal, guided by the Kampong Bharu Development Corporation (PKB), and aligned with Kuala Lumpur's KL2040 plan.
- Heritage status: In March last year, FT Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa ruled out pursuing UNESCO heritage recognition for Kampung Baru, saying such a designation would obstruct redevelopment.
- Official narrative: The government insists the redevelopment will modernise the area while safeguarding Malay ownership.
Why does this matter?
The Kampung Sungai Baru controversy has become a flashpoint for bigger national debates:
- Urban development vs heritage preservation: Should KL's city centre be entirely modernised, or should historic Malay settlements be protected?
- Fairness in land acquisition: Are residents being compensated fairly for land in one of Malaysia's priciest zones?
- Trust in government: Is the state balancing development with people's rights, or simply siding with developers?
Today's violent scuffle shows the stakes are only getting higher — for residents who refuse to leave, for authorities enforcing the court order, and for a government trying to sell its development while facing accusations of forceful displacement.
What happens next?
The redevelopment is legally gazetted, but the residents' appeal is set to be heard next year. Until then, tensions are likely to persist.
