PAS Youth vows to continue URA fight despite postponement

PAS Youth has pledged to continue its campaign against the proposed Urban Renewal Act (URA) despite the bill being postponed to the next Dewan Rakyat sitting.

PAS Youth deputy chief Hafez Sabri said the postponement came after mounting pressure from opposition MPs, some government backbenchers, NGOs, and the public.

“Although the bill has been successfully postponed, that does not mean it is buried for good.

“Most likely, the URA will be brought back to the Dewan Rakyat in the next sitting. Therefore, this struggle is far from over,” said the Manjoi assemblyperson in a statement today.

The bill, which seeks to form the URA, was previously tabled for its first and second readings in the Dewan Rakyat by Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, who is also the Perak DAP chairperson.

Debates and voting on the bill are expected in October, with Nga saying his ministry will introduce some improvements to the proposed URA.

Hafez noted that the government had agreed to amend several provisions, including Clause 18 to take into account local demographics and Clause 19 to set a standard approval threshold of 80 percent, regardless of the building’s age.

He stressed, however, that the changes were only made due to public pressure.

“Rejection of the URA is not new. Since last year, various tours and awareness programmes have been organised across states to explain the dangers and major implications, especially for the urban poor.

“This bill clearly benefits big capitalists but threatens the rights of the urban poor who risk being evicted from their own land,” Hafez said.

‘Oppressive law’

BN deputy chairperson Mohamad Hasan previously said the coalition’s MPs want the bill, which seeks to redevelop ageing and deteriorating urban areas without having to get 100 percent approval from owners, to be postponed and reviewed.

Several PKR lawmakers had also expressed concerns over the bill’s consent threshold for urban renewal, while the opposition, civil society groups, and Kuala Lumpur residents had staged a protest outside Parliament to object to the URA.

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

Hafez added that PAS Youth had mobilised a broad rejection campaign, directing its divisions nationwide to submit memoranda of protest to MPs in their constituencies. The effort culminated in a mass rally opposing the legislation.

He reiterated that PAS Youth would continue to stand “firmly with the people” against what he described as an “oppressive law”.

“As long as this law is brought before Parliament, PAS Youth will not retreat,” he said.

Nga: PAS states earmarked 81 sites, now oppose Urban Renewal Act

Govt to improve URA to address concerns on demographic, consent threshold

Debates on Urban Renewal Bill pushed to October

KINIGUIDE | What is the Urban Renewal Act?