The caretaker Johor government has rejected allegations that it has failed to address the Kampung Melayu Majidi land issue, insisting that concrete steps are already being carried out.
Caretaker Youth, Sports, Entrepreneurial Development, Cooperatives and Human Resources Committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah described claims that the state had ignored residents’ concerns as “untrue, baseless and misleading”.
He was responding to remarks made by Bersama de facto leader Rafizi Ramli, who had accused the state administration of neglecting the matter.
Hairi said he challenges critics to assess the issue based on official records and facts rather than election rhetoric.
He explained that the Johor government has implemented several initiatives, including the use of Section 90A of the National Land Code to simplify lease renewal processes and a 50 per cent premium discount to ease financial burdens on residents.
He added that outreach programmes had been conducted, involving 91 residents, with officials engaging directly with the community instead of waiting for formal applications.
According to him, 35 lease extension applications have already been approved, with approval letters previously handed over to residents by then Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi in May last year.
He said a second batch of approvals was issued in June, while remaining applications are still being processed.
Based on records from the Johor Bahru District Land Office, 938 houses in Kampung Melayu Majidi have leases with 30 years or less remaining, while 426 have between 31 and 60 years left, and 23 have more than 61 years remaining.
Hairi also noted that a special counter has been set up at Medan Niaga Kampung Melayu Majidi from June 29 to July 3 to facilitate lease renewal applications.
He said 77 applications were received within just two days, describing it as evidence that the process is active and trusted by residents.
The Larkin candidate also questioned why previous officeholders had not resolved the issue when they had the opportunity.
He stressed that Kampung Melayu Majidi should not be turned into a political issue for electoral gain.
Hairi added that protecting long-established urban Malay settlements remains a key priority under Barisan Nasional’s governance agenda, stressing that land represents not just ownership, but heritage, identity and family roots.
