IPOH: Converting idle office spaces into residential units is a good idea, but it would be difficult without the proposed Urban Renewal Act (URA), says Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming (pic).
He said existing laws would involve land acquisition and eviction matters, which could complicate things.
“Under the current legal framework, Section 57 of the Strata Management Act stipulates that 100% stakeholder agreement is required.
“If there are 900 units and 899 agree but one does not, nothing can be done,” he told reporters after opening the Taman Westpool Madani Recreational Park here yesterday.
“The government wants to help, but the legal framework makes it hard.
“With the URA, the government can even make rulings to give incentives to developers to revitalise dilapidated buildings,” he added.
There have been suggestions, as reported in a Malay daily, that idle office spaces in Kuala Lumpur should be converted into residential premises.
The issue arises from about 30 million square feet of unused office space in the capital, much of which is becoming dilapidated.
The proposed Act was tabled for second reading at the Dewan Rakyat on Aug 27, but it was neither debated nor voted on, and discussions were deferred to next month.
The URA is intended to replace outdated laws governing the redevelopment of such buildings in urban areas.
However, there are concerns over issues including compensation, transparency, accountability, the impact on lower income groups and the displacement of smallholders with below-market compensation.
Nga said the ministry welcomes the suggestion to convert unused office buildings into residential units, as it could help reduce traffic congestion.
“When people move into these buildings, they can walk to work,” he said, adding that the buildings would also no longer be an eyesore.
“To convert these buildings, approval is needed from the Fire and Rescue Department. There is no compromise on safety.
“We always welcome good, honest and sincere suggestions and ideas, and are open to discuss them as we want to create the Act to help the people,” he added.
Separately, Nga said his ministry has recommended 13 new initiatives to the Finance Ministry for consideration in Budget 2026.
Among them is a plan to complete 10,000 public facility projects.
“These projects include Madani recreational parks, markets, hawker centres, community halls, public parks and food courts that can benefit the people.
“The ministry completed 6,611 projects last year, which is the highest record in history,” he added.
