Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has hit back at those opposing the Urban Renewal Bill 2025 that aims to address deteriorating living conditions in urban areas, saying critics shouldn’t just accuse the government of wanting to take people’s homes for redevelopment.
According to Berita Harian, Anwar admitted the bill may have some shortcomings, but stressed that this shouldn’t be an excuse for certain groups to reject it outright without offering any solutions.
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“Don’t accuse us of trying to take people’s homes”
Anwar was responding to a question from Kuala Terengganu Member of Parliament (MP) Datuk Ahmad Amzad Mohamed on the reasoning behind the threshold value in the Urban Renewal Bill 2025 for urban redevelopment.
“The threshold value (one of the main points of debate in the bill) can be discussed further, but let me share my own experience. I think Honourable Members can see for themselves the state of houses like those in Sri Perlis, one-room units that are in very poor condition.”
The Urban Renewal Bill 2025 was re-tabled by the Prime Minister yesterday (August 27) and debated by 20 MPs, with the winding-up today (August 28) handled by Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
Anwar assured that the government is open to suggestions to improve the bill, but stressed that it must be done through proper channels, as the country needs clear legislation for urban redevelopment.
“If you have ideas to make the bill better, bring them up. But don’t accuse us of trying to take people’s homes. I’ve seen with my own eyes one-room flats where two families are squeezed in with six kids. We can’t let our people keep living in slums when our country has the Petronas Twin Towers.”
“It’s not a strategy for the Chinese to seize Malay rights”
Anwar said amendments to the threshold value in the Urban Renewal Bill 2025 can be made if necessary, but reminded that it’s not some hidden agenda for the Chinese community to take away Malay rights.
“If needed, we’ll make changes to the threshold value in the Urban Renewal Bill 2025. But don’t think this is a strategy for the Chinese to seize Malay rights; I strongly reject such claims. I’m not anyone’s puppet. I’m here as Prime Minister with a mandate to defend the Malays and Bumiputera, who are the majority in this country, and to safeguard their fundamental rights,” he stressed.
He also said public housing is an issue close to his heart and the government won’t neglect it, especially with the country’s economy performing strongly.
“As for the redevelopment in Sungai Besi, apart from Phase I projects, priority is being given to Royal Malaysian Air Force veterans. They’ve sacrificed and served for decades, so they deserve to be prioritised. This is being managed by a special company under PETRONAS and other government-linked companies,” he added.
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