He said compulsory acquisition would be an act of cruelty against the landowners because it should be up to them to decide on the development of their land.

Ismail was referring to a statement by Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad that the government may carry out compulsory acquisition of the land under the Land Acquisition Act if the landowners refuse to accept what was described as “the final and best offer”.

“I don’t understand how he (Khalid) could say he would make a compulsory acquisition if the landowners disagree.

“Section 3(1)(a) of the Land Acquisition Act clearly states that the government can only take back a territory for public purposes, for example, a hospital,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

In the Kampung Baru case, he said, the government wants the land for commercial purposes, “which the Act does not permit”.

“If you give them RM1,000 per sq ft and they don’t accept it, it is within their rights as it is their ancestral land.”