PM: Govt agreed to raise threshold in Urban Renewal Bill
PETALING JAYA: The government has agreed to raise the consent threshold in the Urban Renewal Bill to 80% for all demographics, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Bill had to be put on hold and deferred to the next Parliament meeting on October after protests by both opposition politicians and civil society organisations.
The Bill had earlier proposed a consent threshold of 80% if the building is under 30 years old; 75% if it is over 30 years old and 51% if it is damaged or abandoned.
Many houseowners did not agree to a resettlement if only over half or even three-quarters of the residents consented.
The Prime Minister said yesterday the government has now agreed to raise the consent threshold to 80%.
However there must be efforts from all parties to develop (urban) areas and help the poor own comfortable homes, Anwar added.
“Those who have been criticising the Bill probably have never seen what its like for families with six children living in a one-room flat.
“The people’s representatives too must go to the ground to see for themselves,” Anwar said while launching the Sungai Long Interchange-Ampang Interchange of the East Klang Valley Expressway (EKVE) yesterday.
He said the proposed the Bill looks after interests of the urban poor, regardless of race as there are not only poor Malays, but also poor Chinese and Indians.
Earlier, in his speech, Anwar said the government was determined to develop and renew urban areas despite opposition from those who play the race card.
“Just because a minority of 20% do not want to move, we will still make them move and yet they will receive the same benefits as the other 80%.
“The Opposition (in Parliament) have been told to visit the housing areas which are decades old and see for themselves.
“The structures may be standing but these houses are no longer suitable for living in.”
