PN urges East M'sia, Umno MPs to abstain on URA vote

Perikatan Nasional has urged MPs from Sabah and Sarawak not to participate in the vote on the Urban Renewal Bill expected to be debated today.

Opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin said this was because the bill only applies to Peninsular Malaysia and not to Sabah and Sarawak.

However, he said he allowed one Bersatu MP, Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran), to vote because he owns a house in the peninsula.

“We have friends from Sabah and Sarawak, but since this law does not apply to them, please don’t participate. We are all Malaysians, so let’s be fair to everyone.

“You are not part of this law, so you should not be involved. Please let us in the peninsula decide on this. Since we always think of Sabah and Sarawak, I ask MPs from there to abstain on this issue if possible.

“Kiandee said he wanted to abstain, but since he has a house in the peninsula, I told him to go ahead and vote,” he told a press conference with opposition MPs in Parliament today.

Hamzah was commenting on the government’s plan to proceed with tabling the bill.

‘Stand with rakyat’

The Larut MP also urged Umno lawmakers to abstain should a bloc vote be called.

“Umno MPs who have always fought for the B40, those who cannot afford such expensive houses, we ask that if they don’t want to reject (the bill), at least abstain.

“If they abstain, I will inform the people that Umno MPs are also standing with the rakyat to delay this bill.

“When we call for a bloc vote later, I will state how many Umno MPs voted or did not vote. We here will try to ensure the bill is not tabled again,” he stressed.

READ MORE: KINIGUIDE | What is the Urban Renewal Act?

PN whip Takiyuddin Hassan expressed the coalition’s readiness to debate the bill if it is tabled today.

However, the Kota Bharu MP added that PN has not yet been informed how many parliamentarians would be allotted debate slots.

“As of now, the Dewan Rakyat secretary has not asked me or informed me how many are allocated to PN to debate, but we are ready,” he said.

Reporting by N Faizal Ghazali, Hariz Mohd, Alyaa Alhadjri

'I'm not a puppet': URA to uplift urban Malays, says PM

Akmal, Wee call for URA rejection, Chow backs property upgrades

URA can revitalise run-down areas like Ampang, Gombak - S'gor MB

State stand on 'pro-developer' URA, PN reps dare S'gor MB