Do You Want Urban Malays To Remain Poor Anwar Challenges Urban Renewal Critics

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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has criticised critics of the upcoming Urban Redevelopment Act, questioning whether they would prefer urban Malays to remain trapped in poverty. NSTP/WAN NABIL NASIR.ALOR STAR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has criticised critics of the upcoming Urban Redevelopment Act, questioning whether they would prefer urban Malays to remain trapped in poverty.
Citing the decades-old Sri Perlis Flats in Kuala Lumpur, he highlighted that many low-income Malay families continue to live in cramped, one-bedroom units despite Malaysia's economic progress.
He also vowed to take to the streets himself if necessary to counter protests against the urban redevelopment efforts.
"They claim that using Malay reserve land for urban development will destroy Malay ownership. That is a lie.
"Look at Kuala Lumpur— Sri Perlis Flats. I remember visiting the area. Built in 1966, it has been almost 50 years, and yet, people are still living in one-bedroom units. They are among the poorest.
"Should we leave things as they are? Or should we redevelop and ensure they have better homes?" he said during his speech during the closing ceremony of the Kedah Federal Village Development and Security Convention here today.
Anwar dismissed accusations that the government was eroding Malay land rights, stressing that state-owned reserve land would remain intact.
"If it's Malay reserve land, it stays Malay reserve land. If it's state government land, it remains state government land. If it's private-owned strata property, it remains as is.
"But if we sit back and do nothing, we fall victim to manipulation," he said, adding that some groups were using racial sentiments to resist urban renewal projects.
"We see large-scale protests claiming to defend Malay rights. But what rights are they talking about when urban Malays are left to suffer in poverty?" he added.
Anwar said the government's objective was to improve living conditions by providing larger, more comfortable homes for urban Malays.
"We want them to have three-bedroom homes with two bathrooms. But some accuse us of betrayal. What do they want? To let Malays continue living in hardship?"
He warned that he would not hesitate to push back against those blocking progress.
"I don't care about others. If I have to, I will go to the city centre and fight them head-on.
"If the intention is to seize land for personal gain, then of course, it should be opposed. But that is not what we are doing. The problem is, these critics have no real arguments left," he added.
Yesterday, the media reported that Pas Youth is planning a rally against the Act, claiming it will displace "minorities" and comparing it to the plight of Palestinians. - NST

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