PUTRAJAYA: Claims that the proposed Urban Renewal Act will victimise the Malays are unfounded, says Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.
Nga said the Urban Renewal Act is aimed at ensuring sustainable development and redevelopment.
He was responding to a claim made by Kuala Terengganu member of Parliament Datuk Ahmad Amzad Mohamed @ Hashim who cautioned the Urban Renewal Act could lead to Malays being pushed out of urban areas.
Amzad claimed Malays were the minority in urban areas and that the plans to remove the 100 per cent residents' approval rule for redevelopment under the proposed act could affect them,
Nga said the Urban Renewal Act would benefit all parties, particularly the urban poor community living in older buildings.
He said the Public Works Department has said that buildings are only safe for occupancy for a 70 to 80 years.
"When a building is deemed dangerous, does the MP want the residents to die as a result of the building collapsing?
"That is why I want to ask, what is the true intention behind this (Amzad's claim)?
"Why make statements that are racially charged? This is highly regrettable and clearly unfounded."
Nga was speaking to reporters after witnessing the handover of planning permission approval for the Harmoni Madani People's Residence Programme (PRR).
The PRR will be built in Bestari Jaya, Tanjung Karang.