IPOH: The second reading of the Urban Renewal Bill should be delayed as unresolved flaws in the draft could jeopardise housing security and erode public trust, says an MCA grassroots leader.
Perak MCA New Village Affairs Bureau chief Jimmy Loh said while the party is not against development or urban renewal, it opposes the hasty tabling of a Bill that could harm small property owners if passed in its current form.
He warned that if Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming insists on pushing the Second Reading without addressing key concerns, the consequences could be dire.
“Postponing the Bill is not about obstructing progress, but about giving the government time to engage with state governments, local councils, property owners, associations and grassroots communities.
People deserve to know the details and consequences before their livelihoods are put on the line,” he said in a statement on Thursday (Aug 28).
Loh said that forcing the Bill through without addressing its weaknesses could lead to forced relocations, inadequate compensation and public backlash.
“Ordinary smallholders could face displacement with compensation far below market value.
This would not only spark outrage and legal disputes but also erode public confidence in the government if the law is seen to benefit developers rather than protect citizens,” he said.
Loh said among the flaws were a low consent threshold that could allow major landowners to override smallholders, unclear compensation mechanisms and weak relocation measures that might leave vulnerable groups, particularly the elderly and low-income families, at risk.
“These are not minor technicalities but matters of justice and basic living rights. If not resolved, the Bill will create more conflict than solutions,” Loh said.
He added that with the country already facing economic uncertainties and high living costs, pushing through a controversial Bill would further divide society.
“What Malaysians need is a fair, transparent and sustainable urban renewal framework, not a law that benefits a handful of developers at the expense of the people,” he said.
