OCTOBER 6 — Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki was reported to have urged the government to defer the Urban Renewal Bill 2025 and not table it in the current Dewan Rakyat sitting (Oct 6–Dec 4). 

Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, who is the party’s special task force chief for improvements to the Bill, however, was reported to have said that the party would refer the Bill to a parliamentary select committee to ensure the Bill could be improved by incorporating public feedback.

On Aug 21, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming tabled the Bill in Parliament for its first reading. Debates on the Bill, which was originally planned for Aug 28, was postponed to the current sitting.

Nga was open to receiving constructive feedback from Umno in efforts to improve the Bill. He said that any insightful and constructive views would be welcomed, not only from coalition parties such as Umno but also from the Opposition, as long as they were not politically destructive.

Should the Bill be deferred or referred to a parliamentary select committee (PSC) to consider a Bill?

I say it should be referred to the PSC rather than be deferred.

I have said recently that referring or committing the Bill to the PSC would be a better option to address public concerns over the Bill. 

Referring the Bill to the PSC, before its second reading of the Bill, will enable the details of the Bill to be discussed in a less formal manner but in a definite order, where each and every clause (in the order in which the clauses appear), and schedules and preamble (if any) will be reviewed.

In my humble opinion, the PSC would be best to consider, among others, concerns highlighted in the Urban Renewal Convention, held at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur on Friday (Oct 3), which saw panellists and around 800 people discuss the implications of the Bill.

The convention has recommended the government consider 14 specific proposals to address the Bill’s loopholes and weaknesses. These proposals can be considered when the PSC examines each and every clause of the Bill. 

The PSC can propose amendments to the Bill, which may significantly alter the Bill’s scope or content, resulting in a Bill with significant changes which will be reported to the Dewan Rakyat.

God willing, the reported Bill will be a better proposed law that when passed will protect the interests of property owners and the community specifically.

So, defer the Bill or refer it to the PSC?

I say it again: refer the Bill to the PSC.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.