KUALA LUMPUR: The government has agreed to raise the consent threshold under the Urban Renewal Bill to 80%, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said that the Bill looks after the interests of the urban poor, regardless of race.
"We have agreed to raise the consent threshold to 80% but there must be efforts from all parties to develop (urban) areas and assist the poor to own comfortable homes," said Anwar after officiating the Section 1: EKVE Sungai Long Interchange-Ampang Interchange in Ampang here on Friday (Aug 29).
"Those who have been talking (against the Bill) probably have never seen how families with six children live in a one-room flat. The people's representatives too must go down to the ground to see for themselves, so that their hearts are open (to accept the Bill)," he said.
On Thursday (Aug 28), the Bill was deferred to the next Dewan Rakyat meeting in October, after much opposition from various parties and the public, especially on the initial consent threshold of 75% and consideration of demographics.
Earlier in his speech, Anwar said that the government is determined to develop and renew urban areas despite opposition from those who play the race card.
On Thursday, Housing and Local Government minister Nga Kor Ming said that the Clause 18 of the Urban Renewal Bill, which had been tabled for second reading in Dewan Rakyat, would be amended to ensure demographic data is factored into the planning of urban renewal projects, following concerns that redevelopment could drastically change local communities.
