00:00The Urban Renewal Act, a proposed law that would allow land redevelopment without full
00:06owner consent, is being regarded as a solution for revitalizing neglected areas and redeveloping
00:12abandoned buildings.
00:14But not everyone is on board.
00:16Certain quarters argue that it could result in forced evictions, unfair land acquisitions,
00:22and the displacement of poorer citizens unable to afford their homes once the area is redeveloped.
00:28All these concerns stem from the proposed amendments to the Strata Titles Act 1985,
00:33perhaps the biggest point of contention of the bill.
00:36Presently, the Strata Titles Act requires a unanimous resolution of owners before the
00:41strata titles of a subdivided building can be terminated.
00:45But the Urban Renewal Act wants to change that.
00:48If passed, the new law would lower the consent threshold to 80% for properties under 30 years
00:53old, 75% for those over 30 years old, and 51% for abandoned buildings.
01:00This specific provision was not welcomed by many, including Chang Kim Lung, Secretary
01:05General of the National House Buyers Association, who warned that it could potentially undermine
01:10Article 13 of the federal constitution.
01:13Article 13 stipulates that no law shall provide for the compulsory acquisition or use of property
01:19without adequate compensation.
01:21Chang argued that the concept of adequate compensation in Malaysian law is subjective
01:26and can often be contentious.
01:28Another critic of the Act, past Deputy President Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, alleged that the law
01:34is aimed at pushing poor Malays and Indians out of urban areas.
01:38But supporters such as Kepung MP Lim Lip Eng and Bukit Bundera MP Sherlina Abdul Rashid
01:44firmly believe that the law will benefit Malaysians living in deteriorating public housing.
01:49Lim said that under the Act, the original homeowners would be given new homes for free
01:54or at a discounted rate, regardless of their race.
01:58Sherlina also said the Act would improve the quality of life for thousands of Malaysians
02:03who currently live in deteriorating housing.
02:06On Tuesday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim also reassured property owners that it would not
02:11force them to give up their homes or alter the ethnic composition of residential areas,
02:16as Tuan Ibrahim had previously claimed.
02:18It is clear that there are strong opinions on both sides.
02:22And one thing's for certain, with the bill yet to be tabled in Parliament, the conversation
02:26is far from over, with parties on all sides continuing to fight for the common goal of
02:31sustainable urban renewal.
02:34Natasha Bust, FMT News.
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