Gerakan president Dominic Lau has called on the government to grant freehold land titles to residents of New Villages to reflect the Madani administration’s inclusive ideals.
In welcoming the commitment to develop these New Villages under the 13th Malaysia Plan, he said giving the residents freehold titles for their homes would increase the value of their properties and raise government revenue through higher taxes.
Lau, who acknowledged the legal limitations under the National Land Code, said this suggestion should still be seriously considered.
“If Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is truly committed to building an inclusive government, this step should be seriously explored,” he said in a statement.
He pointed out that housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming of DAP previously championed the idea of granting permanent titles while in the opposition.
“I still remember when he made this proposal. He said it was the result of thorough research and believed it could restore justice to elderly residents who were forced to relocate to these New Villages during the 1948 (Malayan) Emergency,” he said, adding that it was time to test Nga’s sincerity and commitment.
Last year, Nga drew brickbats from opposition parties and Umno for proposing that New Villages, which were initially established to curb the communist insurgency, be nominated as a Unesco world heritage site.
Umno had argued that it would impact the position, constitutional status and rights of the Malays.
Under the 13MP, the government plans to implement a New Village Development Master Plan which would involve upgrading hawker sites and financing schemes for entrepreneurs.
In January, Malaysian Chinese New Village secretariat chairman Khoo Poay Tiong said the areas would be developed as tourist attractions ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
