Kampung Baru
Encyclopedia
Kampung Baru is a Malay
enclave in the heart of Kuala Lumpur
, Malaysia.
It is also one of the most valuable tracts of land in the capital and is estimated to be worth up to US$1.4 billion. But so far Kampung Baru elders have turned developers away, saying they want to preserve their ethnic Malay lifestyle.
to retain their village lifestyle within the city.
Since then, Kampung Baru has become more than a village; it's glaring hold-out against development and modern-city living has turned it into a political symbol of Malay culture.
It already held a special place for Malay politics during the pro-independence movement that grew up after World War II
. Anti-colonial protests were held there, and founders of Malaysia's dominant political party, the United Malays National Organisation
, held their early meetings there.
New evidence revealed by the National Archives of Malaysia shows that UMNO has its origins at the Sultan Sulaiman Club in Kampung Baru. Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim
said the documents were unearthed recently when some work was being carried out at the club.
Kampung Baru, which sprawls over almost a square km (250 acres), also played a part in the May 13 Incident
in 1969, where bloody racial clashes occurred between ethnic Malays and Chinese. The riots started after Chinese-led opposition parties marched through the village to celebrate their good showing in general elections of that year. New propaganda (May 13: Declassified Documents on the Malaysian Riots of 1969
based on newly declassified documents at the Public Records Office in London, the book alleged that contrary to the official account which had blamed the violence on opposition parties, the riot had been intentionally started by the "ascendent state capitalist class" in UMNO as a coup d'état to topple the Tunku from power.
In recent years, Kampung Baru also played a central role in the Reformasi
protests of 1998, when former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim
launched protests against then premier Mahathir Mohamad, calling for reforms to government and the judiciary.
said the local plan for Kampung Baru in Kuala Lumpur
will be unveiled to the public in April 2008. The plan will present in detail the Government of Malaysia's development agenda for Kampung Baru.
According to the minister, much thought had gone into drafting the plan with the government taking into account issues like the Malay image and land ownership. He also said the plan was drafted after many rounds of discussions with various parties.
“A sum of RM100mil has been allocated under the Ninth Malaysia Plan
for four to five projects requiring the government attention pertaining to land development and the improvement of infrastructures. Some of the money will be channelled to Kampung Baru for similar purposes,” Zulhasnan said.
Malay people
Malays are an ethnic group of Austronesian people predominantly inhabiting the Malay Peninsula, including the southernmost parts of Thailand, the east coast of Sumatra, the coast of Borneo, and the smaller islands which lie between these locations...
enclave in the heart of Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, Malaysia.
It is also one of the most valuable tracts of land in the capital and is estimated to be worth up to US$1.4 billion. But so far Kampung Baru elders have turned developers away, saying they want to preserve their ethnic Malay lifestyle.
History
Colonial British administrators gazetted Kampung Baru as a Malay Agricultural Settlement in 1900 to allow the MalaysMalay people
Malays are an ethnic group of Austronesian people predominantly inhabiting the Malay Peninsula, including the southernmost parts of Thailand, the east coast of Sumatra, the coast of Borneo, and the smaller islands which lie between these locations...
to retain their village lifestyle within the city.
Since then, Kampung Baru has become more than a village; it's glaring hold-out against development and modern-city living has turned it into a political symbol of Malay culture.
It already held a special place for Malay politics during the pro-independence movement that grew up after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Anti-colonial protests were held there, and founders of Malaysia's dominant political party, the United Malays National Organisation
United Malays National Organisation
The United Malays National Organisation, is Malaysia's largest political party; a founding member of the National Front coalition, which has played a dominant role in Malaysian politics since independence....
, held their early meetings there.
New evidence revealed by the National Archives of Malaysia shows that UMNO has its origins at the Sultan Sulaiman Club in Kampung Baru. Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim
Rais Yatim
Dato' Seri Utama Dr. Rais Yatim is the current Malaysian Information, Communications, and Culture Minister. His ministry is considered a new ministry formed from the merger of three separate ministries in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's smaller cabinet...
said the documents were unearthed recently when some work was being carried out at the club.
Kampung Baru, which sprawls over almost a square km (250 acres), also played a part in the May 13 Incident
May 13 Incident
The 13 May Incident is a term for the Sino-Malay sectarian violences in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia, which began on 13 May 1969...
in 1969, where bloody racial clashes occurred between ethnic Malays and Chinese. The riots started after Chinese-led opposition parties marched through the village to celebrate their good showing in general elections of that year. New propaganda (May 13: Declassified Documents on the Malaysian Riots of 1969
May 13: Declassified Documents on the Malaysian Riots of 1969
May 13: Declassified Documents on the Malaysian Riots of 1969 is a book published in 2007 and written by activist and scholar Dr. Kua Kia Soong on the May 13 Incident of 1969. It was published by the human rights group Suaram on the 38th anniversary of the worst racial riot in Malaysian history,...
based on newly declassified documents at the Public Records Office in London, the book alleged that contrary to the official account which had blamed the violence on opposition parties, the riot had been intentionally started by the "ascendent state capitalist class" in UMNO as a coup d'état to topple the Tunku from power.
In recent years, Kampung Baru also played a central role in the Reformasi
Reformasi (Malaysia)
The Reformasi movement in Malaysia was initiated by Anwar Ibrahim and his supporters shortly after he was sacked as Deputy Prime Minister in 1998. It consisted of several mass demonstrations and rallies against the long-standing Barisan Nasional coalition government, and continued until Anwar was...
protests of 1998, when former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar Ibrahim
Anwar bin Ibrahim is a Malaysian politician who served as Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister from 1993 to 1998. Early in his career, Anwar was a close ally of Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad but subsequently emerged as the most prominent critic of Mahathir's government.In 1999, he was sentenced...
launched protests against then premier Mahathir Mohamad, calling for reforms to government and the judiciary.
Developments
At long last, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Zulhasnan RafiqueZulhasnan Rafique
Dato' Sri Zulhasnan Rafique is a Malaysian politician and the former Malaysian Minister of the Federal Territories. He is also the Member of Parliament for Setiawangsa in Kuala Lumpur and a supreme council member in the United Malay National Organisation, the main component party in the ruling...
said the local plan for Kampung Baru in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
will be unveiled to the public in April 2008. The plan will present in detail the Government of Malaysia's development agenda for Kampung Baru.
According to the minister, much thought had gone into drafting the plan with the government taking into account issues like the Malay image and land ownership. He also said the plan was drafted after many rounds of discussions with various parties.
“A sum of RM100mil has been allocated under the Ninth Malaysia Plan
Ninth Malaysia Plan
Ninth Malaysian Plan abbreviated as '9MP', is a comprehensive blueprint prepared by the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister's Department and the Finance Ministry of Malaysia with approval by the Cabinet of Malaysia to allocate the national budget from the year 2006 to 2010 to all...
for four to five projects requiring the government attention pertaining to land development and the improvement of infrastructures. Some of the money will be channelled to Kampung Baru for similar purposes,” Zulhasnan said.
Prime Minister visit
In February 2010 prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had visited this area.Notable Landmarks
- Sultan Sulaiman Club
- Kampung Baru LRT stationKampung Baru LRT stationKampung Baru LRT station is an underground rapid transit station, named after and serving Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur, in Malaysia. The station is part of the Kelana Jaya Line...
, part of Kelana Jaya LineKelana Jaya LineThe Kelana Jaya Line is a medium-capacity rail transport system and one of the three rail transit lines in the Kuala Lumpur Rail Transit System operated by RapidKL Rail network...
of Rapid KLRapid KLRapidKL, short for Rangkaian Pengangkutan Integrasi Deras Sdn Bhd, is a government-owned company which was formed in 2004 as part of the restructuring of the public transport system in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's capital.... - Kampung Baru Mosque
Notable residents
- Tan Sri S.M. Salim - Malaysian singer
- Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin SM Amin - NazaNazaNaza Group of Companies is a Malaysian business conglomerate associated with motor trading, automotive franchises and property development, which began operations in 1974...
Group Chairman