The Johor state government has strongly denied claims that it has neglected the longstanding land lease crisis affecting residents of Kampung Melayu Majidi, with former state executive councillor Mohd Hairi Mad Shah dismissing such allegations as unfounded and politically motivated. Speaking in Johor Bahru on July 2, Mohd Hairi, the Barisan Nasional candidate contesting the Larkin seat in the July 11 state election, characterised the criticism as misrepresentative and lacking substance.
The defence comes as the state government attempts to demonstrate tangible action on an issue that has long frustrated residents struggling with the renewal of short-term land leases. According to Mohd Hairi's statement, the Johor administration has undertaken substantial reforms to address the problem, including the streamlining of lease renewal applications under Section 90A of the National Land Code. These procedural improvements were completed by May 31, with officials claiming the new system renders applications clearer and more methodical than before.
A significant component of the government's response involves financial relief designed to ease the burden on property owners required to pay renewal premiums. The administration has introduced a 50 per cent discount on premium charges, effectively halving the cost residents must bear when extending their land leases. This measure, alongside the reformed application process, represents an attempt to address both the practical and financial hurdles that have hindered many villagers from completing lease renewals.
The government has also mobilised resources to support residents through the process. Four community engagement sessions involving 91 villagers have been conducted to guide property owners through the revised procedures and help them complete applications correctly. Additionally, a specialised counter dedicated to processing lease extension applications opened at the Kampung Melayu Majidi Business Centre on July 1, scheduled to operate through July 2 and remaining available to assist residents navigating the system.
To date, 35 lease renewal applications have been received, approved, and issued with Form 5A notices confirming completion of the process. Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi formally presented the first batch of approved renewals on May 26 of the previous year, with a second batch presented on June 26 of the current year. Officials have indicated that remaining applications are progressing through the approval pipeline. The quick turnaround on initial batches signals the government's commitment to accelerating resolution of the issue.
Data compiled by the Johor Bahru Land Office reveals the scale of the challenge facing residents in the village. A substantial 938 houses currently have 30 years or fewer remaining on their land leases, creating urgency for those property owners seeking to secure their holdings. A further 426 houses have between 31 and 60 years of lease term remaining, while only 23 properties enjoy leases extending beyond 61 years. This distribution underscores why the land issue remains a critical concern for a large segment of the community.
The government cited preliminary uptake statistics to illustrate resident confidence in the new approach. During the first two days of operations at the dedicated processing counter, 77 residents submitted applications, which officials interpreted as validation of their strategy. This level of engagement suggests that despite previous concerns about the viability of solutions, villagers are prepared to participate in the formal renewal process when it is made accessible and affordable.
Mohd Hairi's statement contained a pointed political rebuke, challenging critics to justify their lack of action during previous periods when they occupied positions of authority. He argued that opposition figures who had publicly attacked the government's record on the issue had themselves proposed no comprehensive alternative solution when they held the opportunity to govern. His criticism specifically referenced the nature of political contestation around the land issue, characterising opposition rhetoric as opportunistic rather than substantive.
The controversy surrounding Kampung Melayu Majidi's land problems was reignited when former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli released a viral video on social media, in which he contended that UMNO representatives operating in the constituency had failed to prioritise or adequately address the leasehold land concerns of residents. Rafizi's intervention elevated the issue into the electoral debate surrounding the July 11 Johor state election, making the government's handling of the matter a central campaign topic.
Mohd Hairi framed the government's approach as genuine commitment to delivering solutions while maintaining transparency and prioritising resident welfare. He linked the effort to the broader political agenda of strengthening 'Bangsa Johor', the state-level nationalist concept promoted by the Johor administration. The framing suggests an attempt to position land lease resolution not merely as administrative problem-solving but as part of a larger vision of inclusive state governance.
The dispute illustrates how long-standing infrastructure and property issues can become entangled with electoral politics, particularly in state and local campaigns. Residents of Kampung Melayu Majidi face a genuine dilemma regarding their property holdings, but the solutions being proposed have become subject to partisan debate. The government's presentation of quantified progress—35 approvals, 77 applications submitted in two days, four community sessions—represents an effort to shift the narrative from one of neglect to one of active remediation.
For Malaysian voters considering the July 11 Johor state election, the land lease dispute in Kampung Melayu Majidi exemplifies the often-localised nature of state-level politics. While the issue may appear parochial compared to national concerns, it directly affects hundreds of property-owning families and their ability to secure their residential assets. The government's response, should voters find it credible, demonstrates responsiveness to grassroots concerns; conversely, if voters remain unconvinced by the evidence presented, it could reinforce perceptions of political neglect.
The broader implications for property holders across Johor and other Malaysian states with significant populations of leasehold properties remain significant. The reforms introduced in Kampung Melayu Majidi, particularly the premium discount and streamlined procedures, could serve as a template for addressing similar problems elsewhere. Whether other state governments and the federal authorities adopt comparable approaches may depend partly on the political reception these measures receive in the coming election.
