PETALING JAYA: Umno has welcomed the Cabinet’s decision to withdraw the proposed Urban Renewal Bill (URA) and suggested further refinement before it is tabled again in Parliament.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki stressed that the party is not against urban development but had concerns over the Bill in its current form.
He said the party maintains that the Bill needed refinements to several amendments as recommended by Umno’s special committee on the URA which is chaired by the party's treasurer-general Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
Dr Asyraf added that the special committee had carried out several engagement sessions, including the Urban Renewal Convention held on Oct 3 last year which approved 14 recommendations aimed at improving the Bill.
“We wish to emphasise that the Bill should only be tabled again in Parliament in a new form after all proposed improvements to it are taken into account,” he said.
Earlier on Friday, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the government had withdrawn the proposed URA and would table a new version in Parliament after further refinements are carried out.
He said the Cabinet agreed there was a need for a comprehensive law to address urban housing issues, particularly those affecting the urban poor, in a fair and effective manner.
However, Fahmi said the current Bill was withdrawn to allow amendments and additional provisions to be re-examined before it is presented again in Parliament.
