Protect Malay residential quotas, S'gor Umno Youth says on URA
SHAH ALAM : Umno Youth's Selangor chapter has urged the federal government to outline a specific ratio for Malay residents in any development under the contentious Urban Renewal Act (URA).
Its chief Imran Tamrin said the youth wing in the state had established a special committee to discuss and provide feedback on the URA.
'We are concerned about the ongoing debate on the URA, particularly topics related to the interests and position of the Malays and Bumiputeras in urban areas.
'We call for a clear guarantee to be included in the amendment to the URA that provides protection to the composition of Malay and Bumiputera population in any development made under the URA,' he said in a press conference at the Selangor Umno building yesterday.
Imran said he supported the idea of urban renewal, especially in terms of improving the quality and facilities of urban low-cost flats.
However, he said a legal guarantee was needed in the proposed URA to protect Malay and Bumiputera holdings.
'A low-cost flat usually has five storeys and the residents are mostly Malays, but if it's redeveloped under the URA, it might become a building with 20 to 30 storeys.
'Our Housing Development Act only stipulates that around 30% of the units should be allocated to the Malays (or Bumiputeras), meaning that 70% of the new units are for the open market. This might dilute the overall Bumiputera holding in the area,' he said.
The URA is a proposed law that would allow the redevelopment of land without the consent of all its owners. The bill is expected to be tabled in the next parliamentary session between July and August.
Spearheaded by the housing and local government ministry, the proposed legislation has been touted by its minister, Nga Kor Ming, as necessary to replace outdated laws and regulations governing the redevelopment of dilapidated urban areas.
However, opponents argue that it will displace poorer citizens who may be unable to continue living in the area once it is redeveloped.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the Act would not force property owners to give up their homes or alter the ethnic composition of residential areas, contrary to allegations by PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man that it is aimed at pushing the poor Malays and Indians out of urban areas.
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