Johari said he did not want a reoccurrence of the issues that plagued Kampung Sungai Baru, which developers treated as if they were “developing a squatter area”, the New Straits Times reported.

The plantation and commodities minister was referring to the long-delayed redevelopment of Kampung Sungai Baru, which had caused division among its residents.

“While we encourage development in Kampung Baru, developers have to take into account its history,” he was quoted as saying at an event to commemorate Kampung Baru’s 125th anniversary.

Apart from history, Johari said the preservation of Kampung Baru’s heritage is reliant on two other key factors.

The first, he said, involved maintaining the area’s cleanliness, as Kampung Baru was prone to flash floods. He urged residents and traders to be mindful of how they dispose of their waste, including cooking oil, to avoid any backflow that could lead to floods.

Johari also said it was important to ensure that Kampung Baru remains a Malay enclave, as decreed by the fifth ruler of Selangor, Sultan Alauddin Sulaiman Shah Raja Muda Musa.

“As its member of parliament, I am obligated to ensure that the land bequeathed by the fifth Sultan of Selangor remains a Malay enclave,” he said.