S'gor Umno Youth wants bumiputera quota guarantee in URA

Summary

• Selangor Umno Youth urges govt to set a clear Malay-bumiputera quota in urban redevelopment projects under the URA.

• Its chief warns that without safeguards, redevelopments could dilute bumiputera presence in city areas.

• It has formed a special committee to study the bill and push for legal protection of bumiputera ownership.

The government should establish a specific ratio for Malay residents in development projects under the proposed Urban Renewal Act (URA), said Selangor Umno Youth.

Its chief Imran Tamrin stressed that any potential legislation should protect the position and interests of the bumiputera in urban areas.

“We urge for a clear safeguard to be included in the bill to preserve the demographic composition of Malays and bumiputera in any redevelopment carried out under the URA,” Imran told a press conference last night, as quoted by Free Malaysia Today.

The party’s state youth chapter has formed a special committee to study the proposed law and provide input.

Gentrification threat

While supporting the need to upgrade urban areas, especially those featuring underdeveloped low-cost flats, Imran said there must be a legal mechanism in place to protect bumiputera ownership.

He warned that redevelopment could lead to gentrification, citing the example of a typical five-storey flat - largely occupied by Malays - being replaced by a 20- to 30-storey building.

“Our housing law only requires around 30 percent of units to be reserved for bumiputera, which means 70 percent are open to the market.

“This could reduce bumiputera representation in redeveloped areas,” he added.

Push back persists

Previously, the government’s plan to introduce the bill sparked heated debate in the Dewan Rakyat.

The government has repeatedly stressed that the new law is needed to enable the redevelopment of old and dilapidated urban housing areas, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim insisting that the bill would not cause Malays to lose their place in cities.

However, the proposal has faced strong backlash from opposition leaders who believe the bill will marginalise certain communities, particularly low-income groups in urban areas.

PSM chairperson Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj had also highlighted several issues in the proposal law, including how there are no clauses in the URA mandating that the original residents will be resettled in the new development at the same site.

Neither are there specific clauses stating that the ethnic composition of the new residential properties will be the same as that obtained before the renewal project, he added.

The URA bill is expected to be tabled at the next parliamentary session starting in July.

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