PETALING JAYA: The postponement of the controversial Urban Renewal Bill 2025 to the next Dewan Rakyat meeting in October has been greeted with relief by the National House Buyers Association of Malaysia (HBA) while certain quarters have called for the Bill to be withdrawn.
HBA secretary-general Datuk Chang Kim Loong said there had been concerns that the government would bulldoze the Bill through Parliament despite opposition from several organisations.
“It is such a big relief considering that the government was initially hell-bent on passing the law in the Dewan Rakyat by this week.
“The government has heeded to public pressure and will now have to rethink the proposed law instead of forcibly going ahead with it,” he said when contacted.
He pointed out that his objections, which were posted on social media five days ago, had garnered over a million views.
Chang questioned several provisions under the Bill which he claimed would have sowed discord among communities living in over 90 residential buildings earmarked for redevelopment.
“Postponing the passing of the Bill will allow the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on infrastructure to reach out to concerned groups to get their feedback.
“We were informed that HBA was among several groups that would be called by the PSSC to give its views on the proposed law,” he said.
He added that it was good the government heeded calls for a dialogue.
“This shows that the government has kept its word of transparency, accountability and social responsibility,” he said.
Lawyers for Liberty adviser N. Surendran said postponing the Bill would not address the concerns of the public if it were to be retabled.
“They must withdraw the Bill and produce a different Bill.
“The new one must not hand over the whole process of urban renewal to developers,” he said in an interview.
To allay public concern, he suggested that the government announce an immediate withdrawal of the Bill, coupled with an assurance that the contentious provision would not be included in a new Bill.
“Consent for the threshold must be independently determined, otherwise houseowners will be threatened or coerced by developers,” he said.
The proposed provisions include one that would allow buildings older than 30 years to be demolished for redevelopment with the consent of between 75% and 80% of owners.
