Govt MPs, opposition, residents continue push against URA ahead of debate

Government lawmakers, the opposition, civil society groups, and Kuala Lumpur residents are putting up a fight against the proposed Urban Renewal Act (URA), which is expected to be debated in Parliament this week.

Outside Parliament today, pro-Perikatan Nasional groups and Federal Territories residents’ associations turned up to submit memorandums objecting to the URA.

Government and opposition MPs, including Hassan Karim (Harapan-Pasir Gudang), Wong Chen (Harapan-Subang), Wee Jeck Seng (BN-Tanjung Piai), Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (PN-Kubang Kerian), and Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu), accepted the memorandums from the group.

The menteris besar of the four PN-led states - Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, and Perlis - also objected to the URA today through a joint statement.

PN and their supporters have argued that the URA risks upsetting the racial balance in cities to the detriment of Malays.

They also claim the proposed legislation lacks clear protection and compensation mechanisms.

Consent threshold

PKR lawmakers led by Wong argued that the consent thresholds proposed in the bill are too low.

Section 24 of the proposed Act seems to protect only interested parties, meaning those who have agreed to an urban renewal project.

It states that they must receive an offer or benefit not less favourable than what they were offered before the project, and are offered to remain in the renewal area unless they decide otherwise.

However, Section 21(4) states that when an urban renewal project is approved, the developer must carry out compulsory acquisition as per the Land Acquisition Act, which dictates that owners be compensated at market value.

The consent threshold for urban renewal projects under the Act is 80 percent for buildings less than 30 years old and 75 percent for buildings more than 30 years old.

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