PUTRAJAYA, Sept 10 — The National Council for Local Government has agreed to implement the Urban Renewal Act, which will prioritise the rights of original owners and ensure sustainability in urban development.
Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said the matter was decided during the council’s 83rd meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, today.
Cabinet members and representatives from various ministries and state governments attended the meeting.
Nga said the law must be enacted to address the risk of obsolescence and deterioration of urban areas.
“We are several decades behind other countries in urban renewal.
“Malaysia’s urbanisation rate has already reached 75 per cent and it places pressure on the risk of obsolescence and deterioration of the urban structure. With the enactment of this law, we can ensure our urban development is sustainable and safe to live in,” he said in a statement.
According to Nga, without the law, the government must get full consent from residents if it wants to redevelop dilapidated buildings.
Therefore, he said, the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) plans to establish an approval threshold of 80 per cent for buildings less than 30 years old and 75 per cent for buildings older than 30 years.
For unsafe and abandoned buildings, KPKT proposed a 51 per cent approval threshold to speed up the renewal process.
Nga said the Kuala Lumpur City Hall has identified 139 potential sites to be redeveloped, with a total gross development value of RM355.5 billion.
— Bernama
