Urban Renewal Act: DAP leader refutes Dr M's criticisms

Summary

• DAP Central Executive Committee member Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali refutes former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s criticisms against the Urban Renewal Act.

• Sheikh Umar described the criticisms as an attempt to discredit the government’s efforts.

DAP central executive committee member Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali has described former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s criticisms of the proposed Urban Renewal Act (URA) as an attempt to discredit the government’s efforts.

Contrary to Mahathir’s claims that the Act will disproportionately displace Malays and erode the community’s political power, Sheikh Umar said the proposed provisions intend to uplift the people’s standard of living.

“For example, various issues are faced by residents of high-rise flats in urban areas, such as building safety, sewage systems, a lack of parking spaces, elevator malfunctions, and so on.

“Through URA, it can enhance comfort, reduce maintenance costs, provide more comprehensive infrastructure facilities, and ultimately ensure the safety of residents,” said the former Paloh assemblyperson.

He also dismissed as inaccurate Mahathir’s statement that depicted the proposed law as an instrument of oppression and weakening the Malays.

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“In reality, the rights of every citizen in our country are protected by law.

“Article 13 of the Federal Constitution guarantees the people’s rights over their property, stating that no individual can be deprived of ownership except in accordance with the law and with fair compensation,” he said.

Mahathir noted that Putrajaya had used Singapore as an example in advocating for the proposed law but claimed that the island republic had evicted Malays in its redevelopment plans.

Further, Sheikh Umar refuted Mahathir’s statement that a higher number of Malays will not be able to afford the renewed developments, as the government had promised fair negotiations between project developers and owners who will be better protected.

Government leaders insist the bill is intended to improve or redevelop dilapidated and, in some cases, abandoned housing in major cities and deny that it would displace residents as they would retain ownership.

Among others, the bill would reduce the consent threshold for redeveloping old housing from 100 percent of unit owners to 80 percent or as low as 51 percent, depending on the age and condition of the housing.

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