No Issue With Postponing Ura Bill To After Budget 2026 Nga

---

 


Amid hundreds of people taking to the streets to oppose the Urban Renewal Act (URA), Nga Kor Ming has expressed readiness to postpone the tabling of the bill on the proposed law. 
The housing and local government minister reportedly assured that the ministry is “ready and open” to receive more views and opinions on the URA, which is scheduled to be tabled for its second reading in the Dewan Rakyat next week. 
“As a government that cares for the people, the ministry always adopts an open heart, mind, and door approach.
“We are prepared and willing to hear from all parties’ views that are constructive and not destructive,” The Star quoted him as saying at a press conference after distributing Deepavali aid to students in Buntong, Ipoh, today. 
ADSThe minister also said that the main focus at the moment is Budget 2026, which is expected to be tabled in Parliament on Oct 10.
“Other matters, we can do after the budget. No issue… we welcome the room and time for the ministry to deliberate further on the URA,” he noted. 
Nga added that since the URA is meant to help the rakyat, especially those living in flats, any good suggestions for improvements to the bill will be “accepted with an open heart” as the ministry’s intentions are sincere.
Resistance from Umno, PAS
Yesterday, an Umno-led convention on urban redevelopment adopted three major resolutions, including calling for the government to postpone tabling the bill for the URA pending a comprehensive redraft to incorporate the views of all stakeholders.
Umno’s special task force chief for improvements to the bill, Johari Abdul Ghani, also said the party will request that the bill be referred to a special parliamentary committee.
Johari Abdul GhaniPAS is holding a protest today to voice its rejection of the URA, which PAS Youth deputy chief Hafez Sabri had previously described as a “DAP law.” 
The bill was tabled for its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat on Aug 21. It was widely panned, particularly by the opposition, who claimed that it would sideline the Malays.
As a result, the second reading of the bill was postponed, with the government promising a review.
On Sept 18, Nga announced that the bill would be tabled for a second reading on Oct 6.
The URA aims to make it easier for the government to initiate redevelopment projects, mainly by lowering the required consent threshold depending on the age of the building.
While the law spells out that residents need to be compensated, critics have argued that it is insufficient. - Mkini

---