Speaking on a podcast hosted by TV3 tonight, Johari said that residents were generally familiar with the issue, but outsiders who “pretend not to understand this issue” were politicising the matter.

He said that five of his officers who rushed to the scene on Sept 11 found that many who were involved were outsiders, and said those who were not familiar with the issue were being lied to.

Asked by co-host Farah Nabilah Wazer whether he felt the issue was being politicised, Johari, who is also the plantation and commodities minister, said: “If you want to politicise it, go ahead … (but) how are you going to reverse (the redevelopment) when people who moved more than seven years ago are still waiting for (housing) units that are yet to materialise?

“If the construction of the units begins in the eighth year, they will still have to wait for another five years.

“That means they get nothing in 13 years. Forty per cent of them have already passed away,” he said.

On Sept 11, a stand-off occurred over the eviction of residents at Kampung Sungai Baru, when they began demanding that the authorities allow them to enter the housing area.

The situation escalated, with Dang Wangi police chief Sulizmie Affendy Sulaiman injured after being struck in the face by an object hurled at him. Three people were later arrested to assist in the investigation.

‘Kampung Sungai Baru issue should be a lesson for URA’

Johari said the incident should serve as a lesson for those working on the Urban Renewal Bill, which has been deferred to the next parliamentary meeting.

He said the proposed law must clearly spell out the government’s role in redevelopment projects, especially in dealing with scenarios where appointed developers go bankrupt halfway or shut down their businesses.

“This is why we have to be careful. I always say the (appointed) developers and contractors must be credible and with (solid) financial standings, so they can finish the projects regardless of whether (the units have) buyers or not,” he said.