COMMENT | The government is pushing through the proposed Urban Renewal Act (URA) too hastily, to the advantage of property developers, with insufficient thought to those affected, low-cost home users, and the poor.

Solutions should include the setting up of a property commission for urban renewal and other land matters to help ensure the government preserves its valuable landed assets and protects the legitimate rights and aspirations of the people.

It’s no mystery why the government makes the URA, generally expected to be tabled in Parliament soon, a priority when there are serious outstanding issues. There is money in it, lots of it, as Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming told The Edge on June 27 last year. But for whom?

Nga says, “Imagine, if we can push for RM322 billion GDV (gross development value), how many jobs can be created, how much profit can be made?” he drooled in an article titled Urban Renewal Act: Finding a balance between progress and societal needs.

There is little that is known about the URA except some of its main recommendations. This KiniGuide gives some details.

The approval threshold for redevelopment is to be...