KUALA LUMPUR — Local Government Development Minister Nga Kor Ming has welcomed the upcoming protest by PAS Youth but called for a rational discussion on the matter, stressing the importance of addressing the real issues surrounding the controversial Urban Renewal Bill.
“We respect the right to peaceful assembly, so long as it remains peaceful,” Nga said during a Concorde Club session with senior news editors at Hotel Pavillion this morning.
“From what we (the government) have done, including supporting the Turun Anwar campaign, I wish PAS Youth all the best. However, we must eventually talk some sense.”
The Concorde Club, an informal group of local and foreign journalists that meets monthly with Cabinet Ministers and policymakers, is headed by Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai.
Nga pointed out that the state government had already proposed and gazetted 534 urban renewal areas, including several in PAS-led states.
In Terengganu, there are 55 sites, while Kedah has 22, and Kelantan has four, all proposed by previous PAS administrations. He questioned whether PAS Youth was now opposing what it had previously proposed.
“I don’t know, but let the people judge. Some of these areas have been on the gazette since 2015, yet nothing has been done. Either there is a gap in the law that prevents action or a lack of political will to help residents in dilapidated flats. It would make sense to deal with these areas first,” Nga added.
He described the protests against the bill as politically motivated, accusing them of stoking sentiments without offering solutions.
“The pushback is purely political, with no real winners—only losers,” Nga said.
“I wish them all the best, but let’s talk sense.”
Asked whether he anticipated the bill’s passage in the upcoming parliamentary session, Nga reiterated that the government’s intentions were sincere and that the Ministry would follow the Cabinet’s decision.
“We will follow what the Cabinet has decided. If it decides to proceed, we will proceed because, as a responsible government, it is our duty to do the right thing,” he said.
“As a statesman, I am concerned about the next generation, not just the next election. I don’t want future generations to live in slums if we do nothing now.”
The Urban Renewal Bill aims to address issues surrounding the redevelopment of deteriorating urban areas, with the goal of improving living conditions. Without such reform, Nga warned, many of the current dilapidated buildings could become unsafe and uninhabitable in the next 20 years.
Earlier this week, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, the Titiwangsa MP and Minister of Plantation and Commodities, voiced concerns about the bill, especially regarding land acquisition and developer credibility.
He emphasised that the bill should not be rushed through Parliament, citing the lessons learned from the chaotic events surrounding the Kampung Sungai Baru redevelopment.
“Land acquisition for the URA cannot be rushed. We must first resolve issues like those in Kampung Sungai Baru,” Johari said in a recent interview. “If the rules are unclear, we cannot pass the law and think about the regulations later. We need to ensure that everything is thoroughly examined.”
The Urban Renewal Bill, initially set for its second reading in August, was postponed following strong objections from opposition parties and some government MPs.
The debate over the bill comes amid the recent unrest in Kampung Sungai Baru, where a violent eviction operation led to the injury of a police officer and multiple arrests.
Earlier this month, PAS Youth announced a protest against the bill on October 4, expressing solidarity with Kampung Sungai Baru residents.
The protest is expected to be a major point of contention within the broader political landscape, with PAS Youth Chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden accusing the government of instability, citing divisions within the ruling coalition.
Afnan further criticised the government’s handling of the Urban Renewal Bill, saying that it had sparked division within the ranks of the unity government. — September 19, 2025