Before bulldozers arrive: Lesson for Urban Renewal Act
COMMENT
| As the government prepares to table the long-anticipated Urban Renewal Act (URA) in Parliament this year, it is crucial to pause and ask: Who truly benefits from redevelopment?
While the Act aims to rejuvenate decaying urban areas, streamline land use, and facilitate en-bloc redevelopment with lower consent thresholds, its human implications remain deeply underexplored.
A case study from a historic district of Padang Pahlawan (Field of Heroes) in Malacca, one I conducted in 2008, serves as a vital cautionary tale. Through surveys and interviews with 180 respondents, including small vendors and residents, the findings paint a compelling picture of what happens when renewal is imposed without thoughtful engagement, historical sensitivity, or inclusive planning.
Padang Pahlawan, once a vibrant, open space rich in cultural and historical value, was the site where Malaysia's independence was first proclaimed in Malacca.
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Before bulldozers arrive: Lesson for Urban Renewal Act
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