The fracas in Kampung Sungai Baru on September 11, which left a senior police officer bloodied after being struck during a chaotic eviction, has now even drawn the attention of none other than the Selangor Sultan, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who has reminded all parties that redevelopment of the historic Malay enclave must prioritise the Malays.
This is no small intervention. By stressing that “any redevelopment in Kampung Baru must take into account the interests of the Malays, both now and in the long term,” the Sultan is, in essence, setting down a marker: this is not merely a property dispute, it is about dignity and survival.
Kampung Baru has been a symbol of Malay awakening since 1900. The original history and heritage of Kampung Baru must be taken into account in any consideration made by parties involved in this matter,” Sultan Sharafuddin said in a statement .
The Sultan’s statement carried both historical weight and personal resonance. He recalled that Kampung Baru was officially gazetted as a Malay agricultural settlement in 1900, and reminded Malaysians that it later became the stage for pivotal national events: the 1946 Malay Congress at the Sultan Sulaiman Club that birthed Umno, and a refuge for Malays during the traumatic May 13, 1969 riots. The Sultan even shared his own connection to the area, having studied at SK Raja Muda when his father was Raja Muda of Selangor. These reminders were not incidental; they were meant to reinforce the fact that Kampung Baru is more than bricks and mortar — it is heritage and history.
That the eviction drama has invited the attention of the Selangor sultan indicates that the issue in Kampung Sungai Baru likely has a greater significance that an ordinary developer- resident tussle, that is not unusual in the field of property development. While the authorities insist they were merely carrying out a court-order writ of vacant possession, the sight of police clashing with residents — some of whom refused to vacate their ancestral homes — has struck a nerve in the country. Not only has it fed into the perception that the interest and prospects of the rich and well connected might be prioritized over the rights and needs of ordinary citizens, people, it is even begging the question as to whether even historical areas are now vulnerable to the relentless march of development.
That is why the Sultan’s words matter. They serve as both a caution and a reminder: caution, that any redevelopment plan must be “carefully and prudently” handled, lest it triggers racial or class dissatisfaction, and reminder, that Kuala Lumpur’s history cannot be written without Kampung Baru’s story at its heart.
Yet, this intervention also raises difficult questions. Can a middle ground be found between heritage and progress? Will developers, eager to unlock the billions in land value, be willing to bend to the cultural and historical sensitivities highlighted by the Sultan? And crucially, can policymakers resist the temptation to treat Kampung Baru as just another real estate commodity?
For now, the Sultan has drawn a clear line: the Malays must remain at the centre of Kampung Baru’s future.
“Therefore, I wish to stress once again that Kampung Baru plays an important role in the survival and dignity of the Malays in Kuala Lumpur,” His Majesty said, to state unequivocally his position on the subject.
Whether this principle will guide actual policy, or be swallowed by the machinery of profit and politics, is a question that remains unanswered.
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