Urban Renewal Act Pm Warns Opposition Not To Disrupt Plan To Help Malays

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Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim criticises the opposition for threatening to mobilise a rally to protest Putrajaya's Urban Renewal Act (URA) proposal.
He warns the government can mobilise a larger rally to defend the proposed law.
Anwar also describes the Malay leaders opposing the law as "hilang pedoman" (lost guidance) and "menyesatkan" (misleading).
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has lambasted the opposition for threatening to mobilise a rally to protest Putrajaya's Urban Renewal Act (URA) proposal.
Speaking at Mara's 59th Anniversary event in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon, he warned the opposition not to disrupt the government's plan which is aimed at helping the urban Malays.
Anwar said the government can mobilise even a larger rally to defend the cause.
"I want to tell them, do not test us. We are trying to help the poor, of which the majority are Malays and some Indians and Chinese.
"If you try to disrupt us, if you mobilise a rally, we can fill a stadium to defend this policy to help the Malays," he said.
Anwar was responding to URA’s critics, where some claimed it would drive out poor Malays from urban areas.
Among those who had been strongly opposing the new law was PAS Youth, which had threatened to mobilise a rally.
Its deputy chief Hafez Sabri had called the proposed law "modern colonialism" and would see the poor chased out of their land like Palestinians.
‘Misleading’
In his speech today, Anwar reiterated that URA would not in any way cause the Malays to lose out.
He chided the Malay leaders who had been opposing the proposed legislation as "hilang pedoman" (lost guidance) and "menyesatkan" (misleading).
"Those who had been opposing this (proposal) are Malays, who spoke in the name of Malay and Islamic parties.
"Have they contributed any suggestions on how to help the Malays? No. Have they made any suggestions on how to improve the living of the poor urban Malays? No.
"So, we suggested this. If they want to give advice or contribute with more input, please do.
"But do not sabotage our efforts," Anwar added.
It was reported that the government plans to table the URA bill in either June or July this year.
Lower threshold of approval
Under the proposal, the federal government seeks to lower the threshold for owners’ approval of urban renewal projects.
Currently, the Strata Titles Act requires a management corporation to obtain a "unanimous resolution" from the owners of a building or land parcel before it can execute such works.
Anwar previously told the Dewan Rakyat that the proposed law would not force property owners to surrender their homes or alter the ethnic composition of residential areas.
The prime minister also assured that the URA would not contain provisions which could lead to owners, irrespective of their race, losing ownership of their property.
PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man previously claimed the URA is a subtle method to displace poor Malays and Indians from urban areas as they would be unable to repurchase their homes due to increased costs.
The allegation was repeated by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who said the enforcement of the Act would see only the wealthy and business owners able to afford to live in urban areas, leaving the future of the Malay community uncertain. - Mkini

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