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- Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming accused opponents of the bill of “playing with sentiment and engaging in destructive politics”.
KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 27): The debate session on the Urban Renewal Bill 2025 (URA Bill) has been pushed back by a day, as Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming confirmed it will not be withdrawn amid continued criticism.
The second reading of the much-awaited bill in the Dewan Rakyat is now scheduled for Thursday (Aug 28), as it will be preceded by two other bills on Wednesday.
“The tabling will be tomorrow,” Nga told reporters briefly at the sidelines after receiving a memorandum from residents supporting the URA Bill at the Parliament entrance.
He accused opponents of the bill of “playing with sentiment and engaging in destructive politics”.
The URA Bill, which was tabled for its first reading last week, faced opposition when lawmakers debated lowering the consent thresholds for property redevelopments—meant to speed up the process which at times got stuck for years due to opposition by a minority of owners.
The lower thresholds could undermine homeowners’ rights and displace lower-income tenants, particularly in urban centres, said critics, some of whom suggested that the bill be brought to a special select committee in Parliament for further review.
The bill proposes consent thresholds at 80% for buildings aged 30 years or less, 75% for buildings older than 30 years, and 51% for abandoned or structurally unsafe buildings certified by a professional engineer.
Another concern is that the bill empowers the federal minister or state authority to declare any property an “urban renewal area”, making it subject to compulsory acquisition under the Land Acquisition Act.
Ahead of the URA Bill, the lower house will resume the debate on the National Registration (Amendment) Bill 2025 on Wednesday and proceed to a vote, followed by the Government Procurement Bill, which aims to standardise and close the loopholes in procurement processes involving the federal and state governments and their agencies.
As Penang girds itself towards the last lap of its Penang2030 vision, check out how the residential segment is keeping pace in EdgeProp’s special report: PENANG Investing Towards 2030.
