Bukit Kiara longhouse redevelopment to give 98 families free homes, part of land to be gazetted as public open space, says FT minister

KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said several key principles have been agreed upon by all parties involved in the Bukit Kiara longhouse resettlement and redevelopment project.

Among the key terms, she said residents of the longhouse will receive replacement housing as previously promised, while development at the site will be strictly limited to 2.33 hectares.

“The remaining land will be returned to the government to be gazetted as public open space.

“The replacement housing will be constructed and completed first before residents are relocated. This means the new housing blocks will be built ahead of time, allowing residents to move directly into their new homes,” she told reporters after the groundbreaking ceremony for permanent housing for Bukit Kiara longhouse residents here today.

Yeoh said demolition of the existing longhouse will only take place after relocation has been completed, to make way for further development.

She added that the existing temple site will also be preserved and officially designated as a non-Muslim place of worship, with RM100,000 allocated for its upkeep.

Parking capacity at Taman Rimba Kiara will also be increased from 80 to 150 bays under the scheme.

On the original agreement with the developer, Yeoh said the first housing lot is provided free of charge, while the second lot was initially to be offered to 98 families at a cost of RM175,000.

However, following prolonged court proceedings and given that the families fall under the B40 income group, the government has agreed, after discussions with all parties, that the second unit will also be provided free of charge.

The project, which involves 98 families, is expected to be completed within three years.

Yeoh added that once residents move into their new homes, maintenance charges will apply but will be subsidised through a RM1 million government grant channelled via DBKL over three years.

She said this will help ease the financial burden during the transition period.

She noted that the dispute has lasted more than 44 years, originating from the excision of Taman Rimba Kiara land for development, which led to prolonged legal and policy disputes.

In response, a special task force has been established under the Federal Territories Department to protect and gazette green spaces, ensuring that similar disputes involving public parks and developers do not recur.

“This initiative aims to safeguard more green areas moving forward, in line with ongoing government efforts to protect urban public spaces,” she said.