KUALA LUMPUR: The Housing and Local Government Ministry is ready for the proposed Urban Renewal Act to be voted on in the Dewan Rakyat, says Nga Kor Ming.
He said the ministry is fully prepared to retable the URA for its second reading next week.
“However, this is subject to the approval of the Leader of the House, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,” said the Housing and Local Government Minister.
He said a suitable time must be found in the Dewan Rakyat proceedings next week.
Nga told reporters this after a dialogue session on urban renewal on Sunday (Nov 30).
On Aug 21, the Bill to introduce the URA was tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat.
Debate and voting were deferred to the current meeting, which ends on December 4.
The second reading was listed on Aug 28 but was not taken for debate.
The decision to postpone voting followed calls for further scrutiny of the proposed law, and the Bill contains 31 clauses to provide for urban redevelopment, regeneration or revitalisation.
Concerns include the 80% residents’ consent threshold and the 30-year age threshold for buildings.
Earlier, Nga said the nation needs a specific urban renewal law due to rapid urbanisation.
He said this could otherwise lead to a “double standard urban” phenomenon.
Nga described a divide between rapidly developing areas and those deemed old, dilapidated and unsafe.
“We are lagging behind Japan, South Korea and Singapore, which have urban renewal laws,” he said.
He said the urbanisation rate was 75.8% in 2024 and is expected to increase to 85% by 2040.
“As such, urban renewal is no longer an option but a necessity for safety and well-being,” he added.
Nga said the ministry has held 128 engagement sessions on the URA over three years.
He added that these involved more than 6,500 individuals, experts and academicians.
Nga then said this includes 14 proposals submitted by Umno in a memorandum after its URA convention on October 9.
He said 13 proposals were accepted, adding that the proposal to review the residents’ agreement threshold needs further scrutiny.
Nga added that this is crucial to balance the rights of the majority and the minority.
An 80% residents’ consent threshold was proposed for negotiations to begin.
Currently, 534 areas nationwide have been identified as potential urban renewal sites.
These were proposed and gazetted by the respective state governments.
Meanwhile, Nga said the dialogue session on Sunday was the largest engagement session ever held by any ministry, with over 2,000 participants.
He said this was a positive indication of the acceptance of the URA by residents and stakeholders.
