KUALA LUMPUR – KHK Group has rejected claims that the Sungai Lalang Bypass project involves the surrender of Malay Reserve Land or the unlawful acquisition of private land, describing the allegations as inaccurate and misleading.
The company was responding to renewed concerns raised by residents of Kampung Sungai Pening over the implementation of the project, including questions about land ownership, the status of Malay Reserve Land and claims that the road alignment cuts through cemetery areas.
Some residents have also alleged that they did not receive formal notices regarding land acquisition and disputed claims that consent from landowners had been secured.
Addressing the concerns, KHK Group Deputy Chairman Datuk Zainol Abidin Mohamed said the project has been carried out strictly within the legal framework and with approvals from all relevant authorities.
He stressed that at no point has Malay Reserve Land been lost or compromised.
“There is not even an inch of Malay Reserve Land being given up. Any land affected has been fully replaced on a one-for-one basis, and this replacement was approved by the Selangor state government,” he said.
Datuk Zainol explained that 39 acres of Malay Reserve Land involved in the project were replaced with an equivalent 39 acres of land in nearby locations, in line with statutory requirements.
“All land acquisition and replacement processes were conducted according to the law and established procedures. There were no shortcuts,” he added.
He also refuted claims that as many as 60 privately owned land lots were affected, saying the actual figure is significantly lower.
“Only 35 privately owned lots are involved. The alignment of the Sungai Lalang Bypass was not decided overnight. It was first planned in 2016 by the Kajang Municipal Council, approved by the Selangor State Planning Committee and later finalised through the Selangor State Executive Council,” he said.
Datuk Zainol further dismissed suggestions that the bypass is a private project or one intended to benefit specific developers.
According to him, the 4.3-kilometre road is a public infrastructure project, to be constructed by the Federal Government after land vesting by the Selangor state government, and will eventually be handed over to the Selangor Public Works Department for maintenance.
“This is a public road meant to serve the wider community, especially residents in Semenyih who have endured severe traffic congestion for decades,” he said.
“Once completed, the bypass is expected to reduce travel time to Kuala Lumpur by up to 25 minutes.”
On concerns over private land acquisition, Datuk Zainol said the narrative of land being ‘seized’ is incorrect.
“There is no such thing as land being taken without compensation. All affected landowners will be compensated based on valuations by the Valuation and Property Services Department, through processes clearly provided for under the law,” he said.
He added that claims the project was rushed are also unfounded, pointing out that planning, approvals and inter-agency coordination have been ongoing for nearly a decade.
The project involves multiple state and federal agencies, including local authorities, land offices, public works departments and infrastructure regulators.
Beyond the bypass road, the development also includes a Federal Public Muslim Cemetery comprising approximately 104,000 burial plots, together with a surau and supporting facilities to meet long-term burial needs.
“This project is about solving real public issues traffic congestion and the shortage of burial space not about private gain,” Datuk Zainol said. -MalayaDailyToday
