Withdraw Kg Baru 'lies' claim or face court action, Khalid tells Johari
Shakira Buang
Published: Sep 17, 2025 6:10 PM
Updated: Sep 18, 2025 1:32 AM
Summary
- Former FT minister Khalid Samad wants Titiwangsa MP Johari Abdul Ghani to withdraw accusations he had lied about the Kampung Baru and Kampung Sungai Baru redevelopment.
- Failure to do so, Khalid says, leaves him no choice but to take legal action.
- Johari claims Khalid made the statement about three years ago, during campaigning for the 15th general election.
Khalid Samad has demanded that Titiwangsa MP Johari Abdul Ghani withdraw his accusation that the former federal territories minister had lied about the Kampung Baru and Kampung Sungai Baru redevelopment issue.
According to Khalid (above, left), he had never conflated the development issues of Kampung Baru with those of Kampung Sungai Baru, as Johari had previously alleged.
“I want to ask Johari to retract the statement in the video claiming that I lied. This was during the campaign when I contested against him in Titiwangsa, where he said Khalid went to Kampung Baru and Kampung Sungai Baru and twisted the facts, that I lied. Retract it.
“If not, I have no choice. Whether you are a minister in the unity government or not, whether you are the Titiwangsa MP or not, I will have no choice but to take legal action,” he said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.
Johari was reported as alleging that Khalid had misled the public in his explanations on the area’s redevelopment. The statement was made about three years ago, during campaigning for the 15th general election.
A past video of Johari alleging that Khalid misled the public in his explanation of the Kampung Sungai Baru redevelopment has recently resurfaced.
He was also reported as saying that during Khalid’s tenure as federal territories minister under Pakatan Harapan and as the former MP for Shah Alam, Khalid had “twisted the narrative” on the said matter.
Inconsistency
Khalid said Johari accused him of inconsistency, claiming he failed to stop developers from relocating residents before Johari became MP, but opposed the project once Johari won the seat.
A demolished house at Kampung Sungai Baru
“My response is this: regardless of whether he was an MP or not, if he truly cared about the residents and the people of Kampung Baru and felt something was wrong, he should have spoken up, even if he was not their MP.
“Secondly, when he labelled the developer as incompetent (‘cap ayam’), we understood that he was not opposed to development itself, but only felt the developer lacked financial strength.
“But now it has been proven that this objection was unfounded, as the developer has fulfilled its obligations and paid all compensation,” Khalid added.
Let’s debate
Khalid, who is also Amanah communications director, said he was prepared to debate the matter with former ministers as well as Johari.
He said that the offer was being made on condition that the debate be conducted in a controlled and fair setting.
“I am ready to debate with former federal territories ministers, including Annuar Musa and Shahidan Kassim.
“And bring Johari as well, since this is his constituency. I want to know everything that has been done.
“The debate can be held anywhere, but it must be live and moderated by someone impartial,” he added.
Malaysiakini has also contacted Johari for a response and is awaiting a reply.
“My response is this: regardless of whether he was an MP or not, if he truly cared about the residents and the people of Kampung Baru and felt something was wrong, he should have spoken up, even if he was not their MP.
“Secondly, when he labelled the developer as incompetent (‘cap ayam’), we understood that he was not opposed to development itself, but only felt the developer lacked financial strength.
“But now it has been proven that this objection was unfounded, as the developer has fulfilled its obligations and paid all compensation,” Khalid added.
Let’s debate
Khalid, who is also Amanah communications director, said he was prepared to debate the matter with former ministers as well as Johari.
He said that the offer was being made on condition that the debate be conducted in a controlled and fair setting.
“I am ready to debate with former federal territories ministers, including Annuar Musa and Shahidan Kassim.
“And bring Johari as well, since this is his constituency. I want to know everything that has been done.
“The debate can be held anywhere, but it must be live and moderated by someone impartial,” he added.
Malaysiakini has also contacted Johari for a response and is awaiting a reply.
Dang Wangi district police chief Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman
The eviction process at Kampung Sungai Baru on Sept 11 turned bloody after Dang Wangi district police chief Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman sustained injuries to his head.
Nestled near the iconic Saloma Link Bridge and the Kampung Baru LRT station within clear view of the Petronas Twin Towers, Kampung Sungai Baru has seen its redevelopment project delayed for nearly a decade due to disagreements over compensation.
Some residents had also decried how their lands were subjected to compulsory acquisition under the Land Acquisition Act 1960.
The eviction process at Kampung Sungai Baru on Sept 11 turned bloody after Dang Wangi district police chief Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman sustained injuries to his head.
Nestled near the iconic Saloma Link Bridge and the Kampung Baru LRT station within clear view of the Petronas Twin Towers, Kampung Sungai Baru has seen its redevelopment project delayed for nearly a decade due to disagreements over compensation.
Some residents had also decried how their lands were subjected to compulsory acquisition under the Land Acquisition Act 1960.
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