Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim emphasized that urban renewal is not a new initiative under the MADANI Government, as efforts have been underway since 2012 with the establishment of the Urban Renewal Guidelines. He highlighted that initial discussions were held to draft a specific urban renewal act to propel development in Kuala Lumpur as early as 2013, with the act's drafting process announced in 2015.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar noted that in 2020, former Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa led the Urban Renewal Programme under Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), focusing on flats over 40 years old. In 2021, Minister of Housing and Local Government Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin initiated the drafting of the Urban Renewal Bill (URB), which was further pursued by Housing Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican in 2022. Additionally, in September 2022, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, then Minister of Federal Territories, identified 30 areas for renewal.
Prime Minister Anwar, during the Minister's Question Time at the Dewan Rakyat, responded to a query from Tan Kar Hing (PH-Gopeng) regarding the government's commitment to the proposed URB. He assured that the drafting of URB would adhere to Article 13 of the Federal Constitution and existing legal principles, ensuring no owner, regardless of race, would be forcibly evicted from their property.
Anwar clarified that the URB would respect property ownership, including ethnic composition and land status. He cited the example of the Sri Perlis Flat, where Malay ownership would remain unchanged under the new law. He assured that there would be no forced eviction of original property owners based on race.
Regarding the requirement for a threshold of 51 to 80 percent agreement from property owners for the proposed bill, Anwar explained that it is essential to facilitate the renewal process. He noted that this threshold helps resolve disputes efficiently, preventing prolonged delays and ensuring fair valuation of properties.
Anwar reiterated the MADANI Government's commitment to urban renewal despite controversies surrounding Malay reserve land. He stated that no previous administration, including Perikatan Nasional (PN), declared 20.2 hectares of land as Malay reserve land. Through the 2025 Budget, the government allocated 20 hectares of the Bandar Malaysia project as Malay Reserve Land, marking a historic first since Malaysia's independence in 1957.
He emphasized that the government's decision to declare 50 acres of Bandar Seri Malaysia as a Malay reserve was unprecedented, as no prior government had taken such steps in Kuala Lumpur. Anwar highlighted that this move was made despite potential controversies and opposition related to Malay land issues.