PETALING JAYA: The proposed Urban Renewal Act continues to be a source of concern for residents’ associations (RAs), with a group calling on Putrajaya to withdraw the Bill and review the consent threshold required by developers to take over redevelopment projects.
The associations felt that the current threshold is too low because, under the Urban Renewal Bill, 80% consent is needed for buildings less than 30 years old, 75% for buildings older than 30 years, and 51% for abandoned structures.
KL Residents Action for Sustainable Development (KLRA+SD) chairman Tan Booi Charn said on Monday (Aug 25) that her group, which represents 75 RAs in Kuala Lumpur, does not object to urban renewal, but any form of rejuvenation must have safeguards to protect house owners.
According to Tan, KLRA+SD has engaged with the Housing and Local Government Ministry in three official meetings since last year and submitted its recommendations to PLANMalaysia, but none were taken up.
“When the first reading took place in Parliament last week, we were shocked to find out that almost all our key points proposed were not taken into consideration.
“This is frustrating and upsetting to our working group, who spent a lot of time coming up with input and suggestions. We have also consulted affected residents,” she said.
Tan said the Bill should not proceed with further readings.
“Without important safeguards, we are doomed,” she added.
The RAs also criticised the Bill as being developer-centric, and some of them said they had been harassed by developers into accepting redevelopment deals, she said.
Tan was speaking at a joint press conference that also included Lawyers for Liberty (LFL), PJ Sejahtera, the National House Buyers Association, Taman Sri Endah Apartments Management Committee, Taman Segar Flat Rukun tetangga, Taman Cantek Apartment Residents rep, Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park Low-cost Flat Residents Action Committee and Kg Sg Baru Action Committee.
Taman Sri Endah Apartment management committee member Moksin Junaid said that in 2022, he was approached by a developer to surrender his unit for redevelopment purposes.
According to Moksin, the developer used various tactics to pressure people into accepting deals, and this had sowed distrust and disunity among residents.
“Some wanted to stay and some wanted to leave. So this made things very complicated.
“Even though the developers don’t enter our apartment lobbies, they are contacting residents individually so they can convince us.
“I’m not against urban renewal, but it must be fair and transparent, so they everyone can enjoy the benefits and a better quality of life,” he added.
National House Buyers Association secretary-general Datuk Chang Kim Loong said the consent threshold required to rejuvenate a building is too low, given that the lifespan of a building is between 70 and 80 years.
“So, why 30 years for the consent threshold?” he asked.
Chang also criticised Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming for citing 1 Razak Mansion and Kampung Kerinchi as successful urban redevelopment projects.
“Please don’t take credit for this. This was done by the previous administration,” he said.
LFL adviser N Surendran said poor residents without lawyers will be most at risk of being coerced by developers into giving consent to their homes.
“The question is how do you get the consent from residents and owners? We’ve seen how it’s done, they are bullied and harassed into giving consent.
“Our first demand is to withdraw the Bill. If you don’t withdraw it, at least remove the Parliamentary whip so that backbencher MPs can vote based on their conscience,” he said.
According to Surendran, this was because under the anti-hopping law, government MPs who do not toe the party line when voting in Parliament will lose their seats.
Kg Sg Baru Action Committee representative Rafidah Ibrahim said her group will hold a protest on Tuesday (Aug 26) morning, walking from the National Monument to the Parliament building at 9.30am to hand over a memorandum.
The Bill is scheduled for a second reading on Wednesday (Aug 27).
