KUALA LUMPUR: The second reading of the Urban Renewal Bill 2025 will continue in the next sitting.
Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming who was halfway through presenting the bill for its second reading, was interjected by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, who said that in the motion submitted earlier under Standing Order 12(1), it was not stated that the bill had to be completed today.
Johari then asked Nga to continue presenting the bill in the next sitting, to which Nga agreed, stating that it would be continued in the next session.
Earlier, during the tabling, Nga said the ministry will amend Clause 18 and Clause 19 of the bill.
“Clause 18 outlines the requirement for a proposal report on proposed urban renewal. The ministry is aware of public concerns regarding the population composition in areas affected by urban renewal initiatives.
“In response, the ministry will amend this clause accordingly to safeguard the demographics of the affected areas, subject to further details that will be discussed with the Attorney General’s Chambers.
“This amendment will ensure that local demographic information in urban renewal project areas is taken into account by both the federal and state executive committees so that it is managed properly and drastic changes to the local population composition can be avoided,” he said.
He added Clause 19 of the bill would also be amended to raise the threshold value for consent, in recognition of and in response to the views of the Special Select Committee on Infrastructure, Transportation and Communication, conveyed during a special discussion session on Aug 21.
“All threshold values will be standardised at 80 per cent, regardless of the age of the building. This increase from the previous 75 per cent remains within a reasonable range to allow for careful consideration in implementing urban renewal projects with integrity and fairness for all parties involved.”
Meanwhile, Nga said the areas identified for urban renewal implementation come from proposals by the state authorities and are gazetted by the respective state governments themselves.
“They are not determined by the federal government through the Department of Urban and Rural Planning (PLANMalaysia) under the ministry.”
He said the Terengganu government has identified 225 sites, while the Kedah government has identified 55 potential sites for urban renewal implementation.
“What right do we have, including Members of Parliament living in comfort, with large houses and luxury cars, to deny the urgent need for urban renewal to replace dilapidated, damaged, and even unsafe public housing.
“Especially when these residents are from low-income or vulnerable groups,” he said.
Earlier, a source said the debates of the bill would be postponed to the next sitting.
The next Dewan Rakyat sitting will be held from Oct 6 to Dec 4, lasting 35 days.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
