THE drafting of the upcoming Urban Renewal Act has involved a record-breaking 101 stakeholder engagement sessions, making it the most inclusive legislative effort in Malaysian history, according to Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.
Speaking at a press conference following the 2025 National Landscape Day celebration in Johor Bharu today, Nga emphasised the unprecedented scope of consultation in shaping the proposed law.
“No ministry has ever conducted 101 engagement sessions. We uphold the principle of leaving no one behind. We involve all parties because we do not want our cities to turn into slums,” he said.
Stakeholders involved in the sessions included property developers, homeowners’ associations, academics, community advocates, Members of Parliament and political parties.
“This Act is a step forward in revitalising old and dilapidated urban areas to become more sustainable and modern,” Nga added.
The new legislation, expected to be tabled in the upcoming parliamentary session, is intended to serve as a catalyst for planned and systematic urban regeneration. It will replace the current dependence on provisions under the Strata Titles Act 1985, which requires unanimous consent from all property owners before redevelopment can proceed under Section 57.
Under the proposed Urban Renewal Act, the Ministry has recommended a tiered consent mechanism: 75 percent approval for buildings over 30 years old, 80 percent for those under 30 years, and just 51 percent for buildings deemed dilapidated or unsafe for habitation.
Nga said the new framework is designed to ensure urban transformation efforts are both effective and sensitive to the rights and needs of all parties involved. - June 26, 2025
