THE Urban Renewal Bill 2025 (RUU PSB 2025) faced immediate bipartisan backlash upon its first reading in the Dewan Rakyat, with both government and opposition lawmakers urging its delay and referral to a parliamentary select committee for further scrutiny.
Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN–Kota Bharu), rising under Standing Order 54, called for the postponement of the bill’s second reading scheduled for next week. He argued that the bill had become a matter of intense public discussion and lacked proper dissemination and explanation to lawmakers and stakeholders.
“This Bill has sparked considerable public debate. It has not been sufficiently communicated or explained, creating widespread controversy,” he said.
“I hold in my hand a letter from the Parliamentary Select Committee on Infrastructure, Transport and Communications to the Minister of Housing and Local Government, requesting that the second reading be deferred until all issues raised during stakeholder engagements are resolved.”
Despite the objections, the bill was tabled by Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming immediately following oral question time.
In a separate press conference at Parliament, Subang MP Wong Chen also urged the government to delay the legislation, citing inadequate time for MPs to review the draft in detail.
“The draft Bill was only made available to MPs on Thursday morning, just hours before it was tabled. We did not have sufficient time to properly scrutinise its provisions,” he said.
The proposed legislation seeks to reform urban renewal efforts in Malaysia, currently governed by the Strata Titles Act 1985. Under the existing law, full consensus from all property owners is required under Section 57 before a management body can act as trustee to undertake redevelopment projects.
The new bill introduces a tiered consent framework, allowing redevelopment to proceed with 75 percent owner approval for buildings over 30 years old, 80 percent for buildings under 30 years, and 51 percent for structures deemed dilapidated or unsafe.
The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) maintains that the changes will facilitate more practical urban redevelopment initiatives in line with current demographic and infrastructural realities. - August 21, 2025
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