KUALA LUMPUR: The Urban Renewal Bill aims to address deteriorating living conditions in urban areas and is not intended to undermine Malay rights, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said the government is open to suggestions to improve the legislation but stressed it must move forward.
"If adjustments are needed, I’m open to them. I’m not saying the proposed legislation is perfect. We can always make changes. But let’s not make it seem like we’re trying to sideline the Malays or oppress them. That’s not true.
"I feel one of my duties in emphasising this is to save the Malays in urban areas. I don’t want to see Malays living in deplorable conditions," he said in reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin during Prime Minister's Question Time.
Hamzah asked if the government was prepared to delay the Urban Renewal Bill to gather more feedback from all quarters.
Anwar said the Bill will be tabled for its second reading and the government is open to suggestions from the Opposition.
"If there are good suggestions, we’ll accept them, no problem," said Anwar.
But don’t assume this is a Chinese strategy to seize Malay rights. I don’t agree with that.
"I’m not a puppet. I’m here because I’ve been given a mandate. I must defend the interests of the Malays and Bumiputera, who are the majority, and their basic rights," he added.
However, Anwar said that "this has to be done."
"We need legislation. Whether we set it at 30, 40, or 80% for any of its thresholds, those are details we can discuss. But it must be done.
"We cannot allow a situation where there are skyscrapers, like the Twin Towers, and all kinds of development, but Malays are still living in deplorable conditions. That cannot be allowed," said Anwar.
He appealed for space to allow the government to build better, more comfortable homes to meet the current needs of the majority, who are mostly Malays.
