Former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has once again criticized the government’s plan to introduce the Urban Renewal Act (URA), claiming that if passed, it would only worsen the situation for landowners in Kampung Sungai Baru, Kuala Lumpur, who are already in a struggle against developers under existing laws.
Mahathir argues that the proposed law is designed to seize land from the poor for development, particularly targeting land owned by Malays, who are generally impoverished. He emphasized that there should be no more laws that take away land reserved for Malays.
“There should be no more laws to take land reserved for the Malays, who are generally poor,” Mahathir stated, after meeting with Kampung Sungai Baru residents who have refused to vacate their homes for private development.
The residents’ land, located in a prime area of Kuala Lumpur, is estimated to be worth millions of ringgit. Mahathir also criticized Members of Parliament (MPs) who have failed to raise the issue in the Dewan Rakyat, claiming they are silent on the sale of Malay reserve land.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, in defense of the URA, has stated that the initiative aims to restore dilapidated areas predominantly inhabited by poor Malays. He rejected accusations that the law would infringe on Malay landowners’ rights, calling the criticisms baseless. Anwar dismissed Mahathir’s remarks as driven by jealousy, accusing critics of being envious of development projects.
However, Mahathir has strongly rejected Anwar’s defense, asserting that the URA would forcibly remove poor residents from their homes. He pointed to Singapore’s destruction of Malay villages as a cautionary tale of what could happen in Malaysia under such laws.
Anwar had previously assured the public that the URA would not allow for the forced eviction of landowners, claiming that there were no provisions in the act permitting such actions. Yet, Mahathir dismissed Anwar’s assurances, calling them lies. “This person is forever lying,” Mahathir remarked. “He promises this and promises that.”
The Kampung Sungai Baru residents have already seen the demolition of several low-cost flats to make way for development, and many have rejected the compensation offered by developers. The residents argue that the compensation is far below the market price, particularly given the area’s proximity to Kuala Lumpur’s central business district, where property values are soaring.
In the past, Mahathir’s administration had advocated for fair compensation for the landowners, suggesting RM3,000 per square foot. However, compensation offers under the current government were significantly lower, with former federal territories minister Khalid Samad stating that the land was being compensated at only RM450 per square foot.
Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng has criticized Mahathir’s attacks, suggesting that the former prime minister’s animosity towards Anwar has clouded his judgment. Lim argued that Mahathir’s criticisms of the URA are baseless, claiming that the initiative will help improve the lives of urban Malays, not marginalize them as Mahathir suggests.
Lim further pointed out that the new law would offer improved compensation for affected residents, citing an example where RM200,000 was provided to 11 Kampung Sungai Baru flat owners for land acquisition. He also dismissed the claim that urban development would erode Malay land ownership, asserting that revitalizing urban centers with better planning and infrastructure would only benefit local communities.
Highlighting the broader context, Lim stressed that 78% of Malaysians live in urban areas, and that the URA aims to resolve issues related to aging buildings in cities like Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Penang. Lim also noted that many low-income Malay families continue to live in poorly maintained housing, a situation that has been exacerbated by Mahathir’s past policies.
Moreover, he pointed out that the Malays in Singapore generally enjoy a higher standard of living than those in Malaysia, which contradicts Mahathir’s narrative. Lim also referred to the 139 land parcels identified for redevelopment in Kuala Lumpur, which could generate billions in development value and provide substantial benefits to lower-income families.
The question remains whether Mahathir’s opposition to the Urban Renewal Act is truly about protecting Malay landowners, or if it is simply driven by his personal animosity toward Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
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