The Urban Renewal Act (URA), originally scheduled for its second reading in Parliament on Thursday, has been postponed until October following strong objections from multiple quarters.
UMNO Veterans secretary Mustapha Yaakub thanked BN lawmakers, saying the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) and the government must review provisions that have triggered public anxiety.
“BN MPs supported the call to postpone the second reading, allowing time for corrections and improvements. A key concern is the excessive powers granted to the minister, which could overlap with state governments’ authority over land. It must be remembered that the rulers and sultans are the ultimate landowners in the states,” he said.
He added that the postponement clearly shows BN/UMNO lawmakers are not ‘DAP’s subordinates’ but capable of speaking out. He credited BN deputy president Mohamad Hasan for his strategic role in persuading the government to delay the bill.
Mustapha stressed that the URA should undergo a comprehensive review to ensure no hidden agenda undermines Malay interests in urban areas.
Earlier reports indicated that BN MPs had urged the postponement, while Mohamad Hasan noted that broader engagement with stakeholders was needed before re-tabling the bill.
The URA, first tabled by Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming in early August, seeks to redevelop dilapidated housing and urban areas in a more structured, fair and inclusive manner.
