THE Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) will be hosting a visit on 29th April to various dilapidated flat sites that are in urgent need of redevelopment.
Minister Nga Kor Ming announced that the ministry would invite Members of Parliament (MPs) and Senators, especially from the opposition, to witness the dire conditions firsthand and gain a deeper understanding of the significance of the Urban Renewal Bill (PSB).
“We will invite all interested parties and arrange a bus from Parliament to visit four sites—two in extremely poor condition and two that have already undergone successful redevelopment,” Bernama cited Nga saying. “This will allow them to see the before-and-after transformation and make their own assessment on why this Act is so essential.”
Nga made these remarks after the Sembang Kopi programme yesterday, where he was joined by Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj, Sinar Harian Group editor-in-chief Zamri Rambli, and RTM Current Affairs News deputy director Md Shahri Saripan.
The Minister emphasised that redevelopment would not only provide better housing for homeowners but also increase property values. He cited the example of Razak Mansion, where a 421-square-foot unit previously valued at RM70,000 saw its price surge to RM418,000 after redevelopment, with the new unit expanding to 820 square feet.
Nga further revealed that a total of 534 sites across the nation have been identified as suitable for redevelopment, including iconic locations such as the Sultan Abdul Samad Building.
Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had assured the public that the Bill would not alter the status of the affected land, dismissing concerns that it could lead to the seizure of Malay reserve land as "outright misinformation."
In a separate matter, Nga reminded travellers heading back to their hometowns for Aidilfitri to avoid littering while on the road in order to preserve cleanliness.
He also highlighted that the ministry had tabled amendments to the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Act, the Local Government Act, and the Streets, Drainage, and Building Act for their first reading in the Dewan Rakyat.
“Among the amendments is a provision allowing courts to impose up to 12 hours of community service for minor littering offences,” he added. – March 20, 2025