PAS: Nga's dilapidated flat visit mere optics, doesn't address issues

Summary

• PAS declines Nga Kor Ming’s invitation to visit dilapidated flats, calling it political optics that do not address issues raised about the proposed Urban Renewal Act.

• Party’s Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden says these include the lowered consent threshold to redevelop dilapidated housing.

• Afnan adds PAS is planning a large-scale protest against the URA bill on June 14.

PAS has dismissed Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming’s invitation for opposition MPs to visit dilapidated flats in the capital as mere political optics by the Madani government.

The party’s Youth chief, Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden, said the initiative did not address the core objections raised by the public and residents towards the proposed Urban Renewal Act (URA).

“Efforts like this do not answer why the people or residents oppose the URA bill proposed by the DAP lawmaker,” he said at a press conference at PAS’ headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

Afnan questioned the effectiveness of the site visit in explaining the government’s rationale behind lowering the consent threshold for property owners under the bill.

“We decided not to participate in the visit because, in our view, it was merely cosmetic.

“If the point is to highlight old, rundown buildings - well, we’ve long had such buildings, and the government can simply refurbish them. There’s no issue whether at the state or federal level. These matters have already been and are being addressed,” he said.

“But what we’re questioning is why the consent threshold is being lowered from 100 percent to 70 percent.

“Does bringing us to visit these old flats answer the question of why the consent threshold needs to be lowered?” he asked.

“So far, this visit seems more like a school trip. Does he want to equate MPs with schoolchildren?

“Why not take us to visit villages that are more in need of development? Why just choose one or two locations?” he added.

Opposition’s absence ‘disappointing’

Earlier today, Nga criticised opposition MPs for not attending a special site visit aimed at raising awareness on the importance of the URA.

He said their absence, particularly those from Perikatan Nasional, was disappointing given that they had received formal invitations and previously agreed to attend.

The visit, attended by eight MPs and nine senators, involved inspections of two dilapidated flats and two successful urban renewal projects in the capital that transformed ageing housing into modern, liveable units.

Commenting on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s warning not to challenge the URA, Afnan said the opposition was merely following in the footsteps of Anwar during his own days as opposition leader.

On Feb 25, Anwar had warned against abusing freedom of speech to spread lies and slander regarding the proposed URA bill.

Anwar argued that the proposal was intended to redevelop urban areas largely inhabited by the urban poor, particularly the Malay community.

Protest against URA

Meanwhile, Afnan said PAS Youth plans to organise a large-scale peaceful rally in Kuala Lumpur on June 14 to protest the URA bill.

He said the movement would stand at the forefront in defending those increasingly burdened by the government’s marginalising policies.

“We’re not just protesting by rolling around in the streets like some have taught us before, or going up against the Federal Reserve Unit, that’s not what we’re planning.

“We want to engage in healthy discourse in a democratic setting and present alternative proposals. Part of this memorandum has already been mentioned in parliamentary debates, and I myself have raised the alternatives in Parliament.

“But when the minister (Nga) gave his winding-up speech, he didn’t address the questions we raised. He just talked about what he’s done at the ministry and ended it because time ran out,” he said.

“We urge all parties, including NGOs, students, and anyone who cares about this issue, to join us in firmly rejecting this bill - for the sake of urban justice and to protect the future of original communities in our major cities,” Afnan added.

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