KUALA LUMPUR, June 16, 2026 — After more than four decades of broken promises and bureaucratic delays, 98 families from the Bukit Kiara longhouses in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) finally saw the start of construction on their long-awaited replacement homes yesterday.
Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim officiated the groundbreaking ceremony on June 15, 2026, for the replacement housing project, which will provide permanent homes while preserving parts of Taman Rimba Kiara as public open space.
Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh, who has championed the issue as Segambut MP and now as minister, delivered an emotional speech at the event, visibly moved as she reflected on the prolonged struggle. In the shared video clip, Yeoh spoke with clear emotion, crediting Anwar’s leadership for resolving a problem that had persisted across multiple administrations.
The residents, primarily from the Indian community, were displaced decades ago when their land was acquired for development. Successive governments had promised replacement housing, but the issue remained unresolved for 44 years.
Under the current agreement:
- New housing blocks will be fully constructed and completed before the existing longhouses are demolished, ensuring residents are not displaced during the transition.
- Each family will receive two apartment units.
- Development is limited to 5.76 acres, with the remaining land gazetted as public open space to preserve the park.
- The government has allocated RM1 million as a sinking fund to subsidise maintenance costs for the new homes for at least three years.
Anwar described the project as “historic” and a model for governance that balances development with people’s welfare, stating that the urban poor should not be sidelined in the pursuit of profit.
Yeoh has publicly urged Malaysians to support leaders who deliver results, hoping Anwar will secure a second term to continue such efforts. She highlighted the cross-community and cross-party cooperation that made the resolution possible — residents (mainly Indian), a Chinese minister, and a Malay prime minister working together.
The development also includes protection for a temple site and additional parking facilities, following consultations with residents and environmental considerations.
This resolution has been welcomed as a rare success story of persistence by the affected community and effective governance under the Madani administration. Construction is now underway, with hopes that the families will move into their new homes within the coming years.
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