SHAH ALAM, Sept 18 — Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj today issued a reminder that any Kampung Baru redevelopment must be done with care and prioritise the Malay community’s interests.
His Royal Highness said that while he does not object to Kampung Baru being redeveloped, the terms must be clear and favourable to the Malays.
“After reading feedback from various parties, I want this issue to be managed carefully and prudently, with priority given to the interests of the Malays,” he said in a statement published on the Selangor Royal Office’s Facebook page today.
Sultan Sharafuddin reminded policymakers and stakeholders to take into account the historic origins and legacy of Kampung Baru in any development within its area.
The Selangor ruler recalled Kampung Baru’s history, which was established in 1899 and gazetted on January 12, 1900, by his ancestor, the fifth Sultan of Selangor Sultan Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah, as a Malay Agricultural Settlement (MAS).
Separately, Kampung Sungai Baru, where a commotion broke out during the eviction of residents of 37 terraced houses last week, is not part of the MAS, as confirmed by the Kampung Baru Development Corporation in an FAQ released yesterday.
His Royal Highness also recalled that he had himself once lived and studied in Kampung Baru when his late father, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, was Raja Muda of Selangor.
The Sultan traced the deep historical significance of Kampung Baru, noting that it housed the Sultan Sulaiman Club, which hosted the 1946 Malay Congress that led to the founding of Umno, and served as a refuge for Malays during the May 13, 1969 riots.
“Indeed, Kampung Baru has been a symbol of the Malay awakening since 1900,” His Royal Highness said.
The club’s field was also the training ground for Selangor’s football team before Stadium Merdeka was built.
Sultan Sharafuddin also said the official residences of the Selangor Menteri Besar and state secretary were once located in Kampung Baru before Kuala Lumpur was ceded to the federal government.
Similarly, Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru, officiated by the sixth Sultan of Selangor Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah, has been preserved in its original location under a longstanding agreement, the Ruler said.
