KUALA LUMPUR — The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has expressed his desire for the redevelopment issue in Kampung Baru to be handled carefully and prudently, with priority given to the interests of the Malay community.
Sultan Sharafuddin stated that while he has no objection to the development of Kampung Baru to keep pace with modern times, the conditions must be clear and favourable to the Malays.
Therefore, he emphasised that any considerations made by relevant parties regarding the matter should take into account the historical origins and heritage of the Kampung Baru area.
“Any decision or efforts related to the development in Kampung Baru must take into account the interests of the Malays, both for the present time and the long term,” His Majesty said in a post on Facebook today.
Sultan Sharafuddin also reflected on his time living and studying at the Raja Muda National School in Kampung Baru when the late Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah was the Raja Muda of Selangor.
“His late Majesty, the father of Her Royal Highness Tengku Permaisuri Hajah Norashikin, was also born in Kampung Bharu, where Tengku Permaisuri and her family grew up,” the Sultan added.
According to His Majesty, Kampung Baru was established in 1899 and recognised as a Malay settlement for agricultural purposes, a gift from His Majesty's grandfather, Sultan Selangor the 5th, Almarhum Sultan Sir Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah Ibni Almarhum Raja Muda Musa, through a Government Gazette dated January 12, 1900, as a Malay Agricultural Settlement (M.A.S).
Once the heart of Kuala Lumpur’s development, Kampung Baru housed the Sultan Sulaiman Club, the venue for the Malay Congress of Malaya in 1946, which led to the formation of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).
“During the May 13, 1969 tragedy, the Sultan Sulaiman Club was also used as a refuge for the Malays. The Sultan Sulaiman Club's field was also used for training the Selangor football team before the Merdeka Stadium was built. Today, the Heritage Building of the Sultan Sulaiman Club still remains the property of the Selangor State Government.”
“Not only that, before Kuala Lumpur was handed over to the Federal Government, the official residences of the Selangor Menteri Besar and the Selangor State Secretary were also located in Kampung Baru.”
“More nostalgically, an agreement was once reached to preserve the Kampung Baru Jamek Mosque, which was officially opened by the 6th Sultan of Selangor, Almarhum Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah, and should not be moved elsewhere.”
“Indeed, Kampung Baru is a symbol of the Malay resurgence since 1900,” His Majesty emphasised. — September 18, 2025
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