Before Bulldozers Arrive Lesson For Urban Renewal Act


 


As the government prepares to table the long-anticipated Urban Renewal Act (URA) in Parliament this year, it is crucial to pause and ask: Who truly benefits from redevelopment?
While the Act aims to rejuvenate decaying urban areas, streamline land use, and facilitate en-bloc redevelopment with lower consent thresholds, its human implications remain deeply underexplored.
A case study from a historic district of Padang Pahlawan (Field of Heroes) in Malacca, one I conducted in 2008, serves as a vital cautionary tale. Through surveys and interviews with 180 respondents, including small vendors and residents, the findings paint a compelling picture of what happens when renewal is imposed without thoughtful engagement, historical sensitivity, or inclusive planning.
Padang Pahlawan (above), once a vibrant, open space rich in cultural and historical value, was the site where Malaysia’s independence was first proclaimed in Malacca.
ADSFor decades, it functioned as a communal heart, an intergenerational space for recreation, bull cart rides, open-air games, festivals, and everyday gatherings. That changed when the area was redeveloped into a modern commercial complex.
The redevelopment was swift and ambitious, but also deeply alienating for those who depended on the padang, not just economically, but emotionally and socially. I still kept a record of remarks lamented by a tour guide in his 30s during the interviews.
“Now everything is gone. The padang used to be our soul. All that’s left now is just a shopping mall.”
The forgotten casualties
Among those most affected were the small vendors and hawkers who had long operated around the padang. They were part of its social fabric, offering art, food, and souvenirs under the trees, engaging with tourists, locals, and children alike.
Under the new development, many of them were relocated to hard-to-reach corners or basement lots, far from tourist views and foot traffic. Monthly stall rental skyrocketed from RM30 to as high as RM550. Business plummeted. The psychological toll was immense, as posted by the vendor who was placed at a temporary stall, which has now become the site of the Hatten Hotel.
“We are disappointed... very disappointed indeed. We might even end up doing dirty jobs, but you can’t blame us.”
Their experiences reflect one of the core concerns raised by critics of the URA: that lowering the consent threshold for redevelopment down to 75 percent for old buildings or even 51 percent for unsafe ones may pave the way for mass displacement, especially of lower-income communities who lack the means or voice to resist.
An urban area that the URA intends to target.Loss memory, identity
More than just physical displacement, what occurred at Padang Pahlawan was a cultural and psychological rupture, which scholars refer to as “placelessness” and “discontinuity of experience”.
Residents described feeling lost, disoriented, and heartbroken. Many no longer visited the area, now saturated with commercial noise and modern structures, which they could not relate to. One elderly man, overcome with emotion, likened himself to a “chicken trapped in a coop”.
The redevelopment erased not only physical features but entire ways of life, childhood routines, community rituals, and personal histories that had long been grounded in the padang. A middle-aged Indian lady explained:
ADS“It’s not fun anymore, people come just to shop now, not to feel the history. The aura is gone.”
Ironically, even with the presence of security guards, the new space was not perceived as safer. Residents and vendors expressed fear of crime, loitering, and a breakdown in social norms, issues that rarely existed in the old Padang Pahlawan, where familiar faces and a strong community presence maintained informal order.
The old padang, despite being unguarded, offered a sense of comfort and security rooted in trust and shared ownership. This was lost in the hyper-commercialised, impersonal space that replaced it.
What URA must learn
Padang Pahlawan’s redevelopment was not carried out under the URA, but the consequences borne by its community mirror exactly what could happen should the URA be implemented without comprehensive safeguards.
While the Act’s objective to streamline and accelerate urban redevelopment is understandable, especially in areas marked by ageing infrastructure and declining utility, this urgency must not come at the cost of social disruption, cultural erasure, and economic marginalisation.
The story of Padang Pahlawan teaches us that redevelopment, when pursued without holistic planning, can fracture communities, displace livelihoods, and erase historical memory.
Therefore, any future legislation must embed deep protections within its framework. Social Impact Assessments must be made a prerequisite before any redevelopment can proceed, ensuring that the voices and vulnerabilities of affected communities are fully understood.
Provisions for the right of return must be guaranteed so that displaced residents and small vendors are not permanently excluded from the new developments replacing their former homes and trading grounds.

Additionally, policies must be introduced to ensure affordable stall rental and housing options within redeveloped spaces to prevent gentrification and exclusion. Legal support and representation should be provided for lower-income groups to navigate negotiations and resist unfair displacement.
Finally, any redevelopment must incorporate heritage-sensitive design approaches that acknowledge and preserve the cultural and emotional fabric of the space, ensuring that progress does not come at the expense of identity. Without these built-in protections, the URA risks repeating the disruptions it hopes to correct.
The URA intends to redevelop and revitalise buildings or land parcels, or carry out regeneration projects.A final plea
As policymakers debate the URA in Parliament, let Padang Pahlawan be more than just a memory. Let it be a lesson.
Urban development must be people-centred, not profit-driven. It must celebrate, not displace, those who make our cities vibrant, meaningful, and alive. The padang was once a breathing space for Malaccans, it must not become a cautionary footnote in Malaysia’s rush toward modernisation. In crafting the URA, we have a choice: repeat past mistakes, or learn from them and build a future where renewal uplifts, not uproots. - Mkini
NOR ZALINA HARUN is an associate professor at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, specialising in urban studies and human settlements.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.


Artikel ini hanyalah simpanan cache dari url asal penulis yang berkebarangkalian sudah terlalu lama atau sudah dibuang :

http://malaysiansmustknowthetruth.blogspot.com/2025/06/before-bulldozers-arrive-lesson-for.html

Kempen Promosi dan Iklan
Kami memerlukan jasa baik anda untuk menyokong kempen pengiklanan dalam website kami. Serba sedikit anda telah membantu kami untuk mengekalkan servis percuma aggregating ini kepada semua.

Anda juga boleh memberikan sumbangan anda kepada kami dengan menghubungi kami di sini
Pmx Putin S Second Wife Joke A Lesson In Humility For Pmx No Harm Admitting I Don T Know

Pmx Putin S Second Wife Joke A Lesson In Humility For Pmx No Harm Admitting I Don T Know

papar berkaitan - pada 19/5/2025 - jumlah : 145 hits
PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim deserves to be credited for making a person who rarely laugh like Russian President Vladimir Putin to display his humorous side However in his zest to show off his knowledge prowess he made a costly w...
Accused Of Driving Malays From Cities Under Guise Of Urban Renewal Nga Kor Ming Says It S About Rescuing The Poor

Accused Of Driving Malays From Cities Under Guise Of Urban Renewal Nga Kor Ming Says It S About Rescuing The Poor

papar berkaitan - pada 25/5/2025 - jumlah : 129 hits
Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming inspects the dilapidated condition of flats during the Urban Renewal Expedition with MPs at the Kuchai Jaya Flats in Kuala Lumpur Bernama picKUALA LUMPUR May 25 Housing and Local Government...
Ensure Urban Renewal Is Meaningful

Ensure Urban Renewal Is Meaningful

papar berkaitan - pada 21/5/2025 - jumlah : 132 hits
Rehabilitate instead of redeveloping to preserve the area s urban history and heritage was replied to by Boo Jia Cher titled The title of Boo s response hinted as to what to expect a rebuttal to my points about the proposed Urban Renewal Ac...
What To Ask Before Hiring A Malibu Architect For A Hillside Build

What To Ask Before Hiring A Malibu Architect For A Hillside Build

papar berkaitan - pada 4/6/2025 - jumlah : 101 hits
Building on Malibu s hillsides brings stunning views and serious challenges Before hiring an architect ask the right questions about terrain permits design compromises team coordination and contract clarity to ensure a smooth and successful...
Dolphin Square By Grid Architects And Interiors A Landmark Reimagined For Contemporary Living

Dolphin Square By Grid Architects And Interiors A Landmark Reimagined For Contemporary Living

papar berkaitan - pada 24/5/2025 - jumlah : 124 hits
Dolphin Square the iconic 1930s residential estate in Pimlico London has been meticulously revitalized by GRID Architects and Interiors This restoration not only safeguards its architectural legacy but also redefines it for modern urban liv...
Inappropriate For Pm To Make Second Wife Joke

Inappropriate For Pm To Make Second Wife Joke

papar berkaitan - pada 24/5/2025 - jumlah : 123 hits
It is not anyone s place to teach senior citizens good manners or how to behave in public so what came over Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim when he joked about second wives with Russian President Vladimir Putin One should not have to remind th...
Sarawak Urged To Push For 30 Equity Stake In Petronas

Sarawak Urged To Push For 30 Equity Stake In Petronas

papar berkaitan - pada 24/5/2025 - jumlah : 131 hits
DAP s Chong Chieng Jen says the bulk of the gas produced comes from Sarawak Sarawak DAP chairman Chong Chieng Jen said Sarawak has leverage over the federal government given the fragmented political landscape in Peninsular Malaysia PETALING...
Police Arrest 11 Men For Cockfighting In Terengganu

Police Arrest 11 Men For Cockfighting In Terengganu

papar berkaitan - pada 24/5/2025 - jumlah : 110 hits
Police arrested 11 men including an Indonesian national in Op Dadu for alleged gambling during a cockfighting raid yesterday Bernama picKUALA TERENGGANU May 24 Police arrested 11 men including an Indonesian national in Op Dadu for alleged g...
Wan Fayhsal Defends Pas Over Hate Speech Claim Blames Dap Instead

Influencer Sounds Alarm After Paedophile Fb Group Uses Her School Pics

Saya Tercampak Keluar Mayat Menimpa Saya Mangsa

Hiburan Penyanyi Lagu Basstamam Dedah Kini Bergelar Duda Setelah Setahun Bernikah

Lokomotif Pertama Beroperasi Di Tanah Melayu

Investor Partnering Benefits Risks

Family Insurance In Malaysia How To Protect What Matters Most

Hari Lautan Sedunia Bukan Sahaja Ombak Kini Lautan Bersuara Melalui Kelunturan Karangnya


echo '';
Info Dan Sinopsis Drama Berepisod Dendam Seorang Madu Slot Tiara Astro Prima

10 Fakta Biodata Amira Othman Yang Digosip Dengan Fattah Amin Penyanyi Lagu Bila Nak Kahwin

5 Tips Macam Mana Nak Ajak Orang Kita Suka Dating Dengan Kita

Info Dan Sinopsis Drama Berepisod Keluarga Itu Slot Lestary TV3

Bolehkah Manusia Transgender Mencapai Klimaks Selepas Bertukar


Adik Dah Pergi Tapi Nama Tetap Disebut Luahan Abang Meruntun Jiwa

Nutrisi Wajib Dalam Makanan Setelah Sakit Agar Tubuh Cepat Pulih

Realme P3 Ultra Akan Tiba Di Malaysia 16 Jun Ini

Waspada Taktik Penipuan Jualan Anak Pokok Buah Ceri Dan Tembikai Yang Menyalahgunakan Nama Serta Logo Mardi

Kurung 3 Lelaki Dalam Pangsapuri Empat Penjaga Ditahan

Ha Ha Ha Tiba Tiba Ada Line Jalan Di Lokasi Pelajar Upsi Maut