Urban Renewal Act needs hyper-localised approach
'It has to be a very hyper-localised approach depending on the area in question. The government is rightly consulting with all parties, trying to understand the nuances; that's commendable.
'We'll see how...
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malaysiakini
2 days ago
- Malaysiakini
URA needs community-centred approach
LETTER | The proposed Urban Renewal Act (URA), awaiting its first reading in Parliament, aims to establish a regulatory framework for the redevelopment of ageing and abandoned buildings, thereby mitigating urban decay. The 13th Malaysia Plan also reinforces this agenda by intensifying the provision of affordable housing through the redevelopment of dilapidated and abandoned areas, in line with the proposed URA legislation. It is agreed that rejuvenating ageing and underutilised areas is critical for unlocking local economic development. However, the current proposal appears to tilt more towards developers' interests than those of the communities it affects, privileging investment-driven renewal over a genuinely community-centred urban renewal. With guidelines such as only requiring 75 percent owner consent for redevelopment and using a 30-year benchmark to demolish old buildings, URA could potentially increase the risks of overdevelopment, gentrification and residents' displacement. Urban renewal is necessary, but it should not come at the expense of the very communities it is meant to serve. Anchored to households, not profit Redevelopment should not be driven by profit alone. It must prioritise protecting existing residents and delivering long-term benefits to communities living there. Therefore, the adoption of URA must be anchored to households, with a vision to improve the quality of life for households and neighbourhoods. If the URA is adopted, we must ask what kind of development it is encouraging. For example, will low-cost flats such as the walk-up flats be demolished and replaced with high-end apartments? If so, will these new homes remain affordable to the original communities over time, especially when it comes to maintenance? After all, poor workmanship and inadequate maintenance are what led many high-rise buildings to require renewal in the first place. We cannot afford to repeat this cycle. There are also other concerns. Will the original communities be retained or displaced? Are their voices and lived experiences being genuinely heard and respected? Most importantly, are we planning for what happens post-redevelopment, such as ensuring that there is adequate infrastructure to support increased population density? For the URA to create long-term value, it must be underpinned by robust regulation and genuine, early-stage community involvement. More must be done to safeguard residents' interests. Where redevelopment does proceed with full community consent, residents must receive fair compensation, viable relocation options, and clear guarantees that housing will remain affordable and maintainable in the years ahead. Local authorities, including mayors and councils, must also play a stronger role in identifying appropriate areas and projects and ensuring fair implementation. Without these protections, redevelopment risks benefiting mainly developers and leaving vulnerable communities behind. Return financial, societal gains to communities The social costs of urban renewal should never outweigh the benefits. Financial and societal gains from urban renewal should be retained or returned to the families and communities within the designated renewal areas. Past experiences have shown how things can go wrong, with cases of forced evictions, rising property prices and gentrification pushing long-time residents out of their neighbourhoods. For example, the redevelopment of the Kampung Kerinchi flats into Residensi Kerinchi in Bangsar and Flat Pekeliling into 1Razak Mansion has revealed some concerning post-redevelopment impacts. In several cases, residents were forced to vacate despite opposing the project. Those who agreed, on the other hand, faced long waiting periods (between six and eight years) to get their new units and increased maintenance fees. Surrounding property values and rental yields have surged, and areas like Bangsar have undergone gentrification, hence raising the overall cost of living. If urban renewal is to be just and sustainable, its financial and social dividends must accrue first and foremost to the communities that call these places home. Redevelop only when necessary This is why any redevelopment initiative must begin with a rigorous, needs-based assessment. Not every ageing building needs to be demolished. In many cases, a well-planned maintenance or refurbishment programme could be sufficient. Redevelopment should only be pursued when clearly necessary, when refurbishment is no longer cost-effective or safe. Importantly, it must be carried out in a way that places communities at the centre, treating residents as active partners in shaping the future of their desired neighbourhoods. The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
Daily Express
26-07-2025
- Daily Express
LIVE: I'm not attending rally, says Tian Chua
Published on: Saturday, July 26, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jul 26, 2025 By: Anne Muhammad, Natalie Chan, Nora Mahpar, Yee Suet Mun, FMT Text Size: Kuala Lumpur: What started as a protest against the planned Urban Renewal Act (URA) quickly shifted to a rally at Dataran Merdeka demanding for Anwar Ibrahim to step down as prime minister. According to the organisers, PAS Youth, 300,000 participants are expected today, but police estimates put it at 10,000 to 15,000. Stay tuned as FMT's Afizi Ismail, Andrea Edmonds, Anne Muhammad, Hizami Safri, Moganraj Villavan, Natalie Chan, Nora Mahpar and Yee Suet Mun bring you live coverage of the protest. 2.06pm – Tian Chua skipping rally Former PKR vice-president Tian Chua said he will not be attending today's rally, although he was slated to speak at Dataran Merdeka around 3.15pm based on a schedule sent by organisers. 'I'm not going to the rally although the organiser sent me an invitation,' he told FMT. 1.45pm – Gerakan leader addresses crowd in Mandarin At Dataran Merdeka, a rather amusing scene cropped up as a Gerakan leader started addressing the crowd, who are mostly Malay, in Mandarin. Malaysiakini reported that the protesters were in the dark as to what he was saying in his speech, but still shouted in support while all smiles. 1.38pm – Over 3,500 protesters at Sogo Policemen estimate that over 3,500 protesters are gathered at Sogo, though rally-goers claim that there are nearly 10,000 of them. They will begin moving towards Dataran Merdeka at about 2.30pm. 1.37pm – PN has capable leaders Gerakan secretary-general Wong Chia Zhen said no prime minister is 'irreplaceable'. He claimed that Perikatan Nasional, the coalition his party is a component of, has capable leaders, but did not name anyone in particular. 1.32pm – From Bersih to 'Turun Anwar' with kids in tow Zulaikha Zaidi, 29, from Muar, Johor, had brought her three children, aged four, eight and 11, to the rally but said this was not her first time bringing her child to such an assembly. She said she had also attended the Bersih 5 rally in 2016 with her eldest child, who was a year and a half at the time. Zulaikha acknowledged that the law did not allow parents to bring children under the age of 15 to rallies, but said this was to give them 'experience'. She said she had no one else who could look after them while she was at the rally. 1.25 pm – Organisers had no permission to set up stage at Dataran Merdeka Acting Kuala Lumpur police chief Usuf Jan Mohamad said the rally's organisers did not apply for any permit to set up a temporary stage at Dataran Merdeka. The stage has since been removed by DBKL. He said there were safety concerns over the stage's structure, adding that there was no indication as to how many people would be on the stage at any one time. 'The earlier agreement between the police and the organisers was that two Toyota Hiluxes would be used as a 'stage',' he said in a brief statement to the media. 1.10pm – Business opportunities at rally Under the scorching sun near Sogo, a group of teenagers found a way to show support and make some pocket money by selling cold drinks. The three friends, all aged about 17, set up a roadside stall with nine large jars of different beverages, selling the drinks at RM5 a cup. 'It's really hot today, so we thought people would definitely want a cold drink,' said one of the teenagers, known only as Aidil. Another group of friends – four to five men in their 40s – took the opportunity to sell t-shirts and headbands at RM20 and RM5, respectively. One of them, who introduced himself simply as AG, said they were here to 'do business and call for the prime minister to step down'. 12.58pm – I wasn't invited, says Anwar Met at an event in Putrajaya, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim quipped that he will not be attending today's rally as he was not invited by the organisers. 'I wasn't invited,' he said briefly when asked by reporters. 12:55pm – Former law minister Takiyuddin Hassan addresses crowd at Sogo Former law minister Takiyuddin Hassan reminded the protesters of their right to assemble and to free speech, which was guaranteed under the Peaceful Assembly Act and the Federal Constitution. Takiyuddin, who is the PAS secretary-general, also reassured the crowd at Sogo that today's assembly was legitimate as they had informed the authorities about the gathering much earlier. He thanked the police for facilitating the rally and for keeping the peace. Takiyuddin also called on the protesters to make citizen arrests if they come across those who incite violence and hand them over to the police. 'We need to ensure that the rally does not breach any law or violate the constitution,' he said. 12.54pm – Masjid Jamek protesters start marching to Dataran Protesters gather outside Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad have started marching to Dataran Merdeka, while those at Sogo are expected to start moving at about 2pm. 12.46pm – Family on holiday turns up for rally Met at the rally, Mohamad Zaini from Kedah said he and his family were supposed to be in KL for a short holiday and to attend his wife's convocation ceremony. 'It so happened that the rally is taking place while we are in town, so we decided to come and support,' said Mohamad, who was accompanied by his wife and their two children, aged 10 and eight. 12.42pm – Over 2,000 gather at Masjid Jamek More than 2,000 protesters have gathered outside Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, according to estimates by policemen. During the speeches, one protester on a megaphone said they were there 'not to terrorise anyone but for the rakyat's voice to be heard', drawing cheers from other rally-goers. 12.12pm – 'Hidup Rakyat', 'Turun Anwar' chants ring out Chants of 'Hidup Rakyat' and 'Turun Anwar' have started ringing out from Sogo and Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad. The protesters were informed that they will start marching to Dataran Merdeka at 1pm. Using a megaphone, one protester said they were all gathering 'from Melaka, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak to call for Anwar to step down'. Attendees were spotted wearing black t-shirts listing various grievances with the government, including the expanded sales and service tax, the URA, and the apparent lack of reforms implemented by the government. 11:55am – Crowd continues to swell The number of participants gathered continues to swell, with about 1,000 now gathered outside Sogo. The atmosphere remains lively, with traders selling 'Turun Anwar' merchandise like headbands, t-shirts, fans and stickers. Some protesters were seen with their children in tow too. The Peaceful Assembly Act prohibits bringing a child to protests. PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan was spotted outside Sogo briefing the party's volunteer corps, Unit Amal, which has been tasked with crowd control for the rally. At Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, more than 300 people have gathered. One participant who resides in Bangsar said the reason he was participating in the rally was to show the government that it 'cannot just do whatever it likes'. 'They made a lot of promises before this but they have not been fulfilled,' he said. 11.45am – DBKL seizes stage meant for rally Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has confiscated a stage and equipment that were set up at Dataran Merdeka this morning for the rally. In a Facebook post, PAS member Nurul Islam Yusoff criticised the authorities, saying party workers had started setting up the stage at 3am. PAS Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden claimed the authorities had agreed to allow them to set up the stage yesterday. 11am – Hundreds gather at 5 meeting points Hundreds of rally-goers have started to gather at five meeting points around the city centre, namely Masjid Negara, Pasar Seni, Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru and the Sogo shopping complex. The atmosphere at Sogo is more lively but there are fewer protesters outside Masjid Negara. PAS vice-president Amar Abdullah was among those spotted at the rally so far. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Free Malaysia Today
26-07-2025
- Free Malaysia Today
LIVE: Hundreds start to gather for ‘Turun Anwar' rally
KUALA LUMPUR : What started as a protest against the planned Urban Renewal Act (URA) quickly shifted to a rally at Dataran Merdeka demanding for Anwar Ibrahim to step down as prime minister. According to the organisers, PAS Youth, 300,000 participants are expected today, but police estimates put it at 10,000 to 15,000. Stay tuned as FMT's Afizi Ismail, Andrea Edmonds, Anne Muhammad, Hizami Safri, Moganraj Villavan, Natalie Chan, Nora Mahpar and Yee Suet Mun bring you live coverage of the protest. 11.45am – DBKL seizes stage meant for rally Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has confiscated a stage and equipment that were set up at Dataran Merdeka earlier this morning for the rally. In a Facebook post, PAS member Nurul Islam Yusoff criticised the authorities, saying personnel had started setting up the stage at 3am. Hundreds of rally-goers have started to gather at five meeting points around the city centre, namely Masjid Negara, Pasar Seni, Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Samad, Masjid Jamek Kampung Baru and the Sogo shopping complex. The atmosphere at Sogo is more lively but there are fewer protesters outside Masjid Negara. PAS vice-president Amar Abdullah is among those spotted at the rally so far.
