SEREMBAN: DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke has dismissed claims that theUrban Renewal Bill is a DAP agenda.
Loke said the bill, tabled by Housing and Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming, was part of the Madani government’s agenda for the people.
“Why say it is a DAP agenda? This is the Madani government’s agenda. Any bill brought forward by a minister is not a party agenda.
“This bill was decided by the cabinet, so the question of it being a DAP agenda does not arise. If a bill is brought by Umno or PKR, does that mean it only belongs to those parties? Of course not.
“When a bill is tabled (in the Dewan Rakyat), it represents the collective decision of the Madani government, as everything presented in Parliament has already been agreed upon collectively,” he said today.
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Earlier, he presented parliamentary allocation cheques for schools in the constituency at SK Sikamat.
Loke, who is Seremban member of parliament, handed over RM747,409 in aid to 13 primary and secondary schools.
Loke also expressed regret that some quarters had singled out DAP.
He said the real agenda was to support Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s vision of ensuring the bill benefits the people.
“The prime minister does not want to see the people living in dilapidated homes. Old housing or flats need to be redeveloped to provide better facilities and comfort for the people.
“That is the real agenda, to help the people and redevelop housing, especially in urban areas
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“I heard the opposition leader said he supports it, with no objections, only that some matters need further discussion.
“I think that’s fine, so I hope good initiatives like this are not turned into a polemic.”
It was reported on Thursday that the second reading of the Urban Renewal Bill would continue in the next parliamentary sitting.
Nga, who was halfway through presenting the bill for its second reading, was interjected by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, who said 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 Clauses 18 and 19 of the bill.
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