KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Institute of Architects (Pam) has welcomed the government’s introduction of the Urban Renewal Bill 2025 but urged several refinements to ensure the law better protects public interest and empowers communities.
Pam president Adrianta Aziz said that while the bill provides a much-needed framework for rejuvenating cities, several areas require strengthening.
Among the key recommendations, he said, is that the role of the “approved developer” be reviewed.
He warned that giving developers the power to secure consent, obtain engineering reports and determine building conditions could lead to conflicts of interest.
“As an interested party with a direct financial stake, this may create a perception of bias and conflict of interest.
“Pam recommends that these functions be entrusted to an impartial body to ensure objectivity, fairness and protection against undue pressure on owners,” he said in a statement today.
He also called for clarity on the use of “consent thresholds”, stressing that they should trigger structured negotiations rather than lead to automatic compulsory acquisition.
“Compulsory acquisition is intended as a last resort to resolve a deadlock, not an immediate consequence of meeting the threshold.
“Thus, the bill should determine the minimum final percentage that must be achieved before the Land Acquisition Act is invoked; otherwise, redevelopment should not proceed.”
Adrianta said there is an absence of an appeals mechanism, noting that the bill does not provide a statutory avenue for affected owners to challenge key decisions.
He recommended that property owners be allowed to appeal at two critical stages: after an area is declared for renewal and before compulsory acquisition is enforced.
He also proposed embedding a collaborative co-design process, led by architects, within the mediation stage to ensure equitable and sustainable outcomes that reflect local needs.
On community-led initiatives, he said requiring 100 per cent consent creates an imbalance compared to the lower thresholds for government- or developer-driven projects.
He urged harmonised rules that empower management corporations and residents to take the lead.
He added that there is also a lack of mandated architectural expertise on federal and state executive committees.
“We recommended reserving at least one seat for an experienced architect to ensure decisions are technically sound and aligned with the public good.
“It is crucial that the law fully safeguards public interest, empowers communities and upholds the highest standards of professional practice.
“By refining the bill at the committee stage before its passage, Malaysia can establish an urban renewal framework that is fair, transparent and capable of building better, more inclusive cities for all.”
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