Kuala lumpur: The Urban Renewal Bill (URA) 2025 has been withdrawn to allow for comprehensive enhancements before being re-tabled in Parliament, said MADANI Government spokesperson Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. Fahmi, who is also the Communications Minister, stated that the Cabinet agreed in principle that the bill requires enhancements to more effectively and fairly address urban housing issues, particularly those affecting the urban poor.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Cabinet has agreed to withdraw the urban renewal bill to allow for amendments and enhancements. These changes will be presented, scrutinised, discussed, and decided by the Cabinet at a later date to be announced. The revised version will then be re-tabled in Parliament as a new bill, Fahmi explained at a weekly press conference.

The decision considered views expressed by Members of Parliament during the Dewan Rakyat debate, as well as feedback from UMNO and other Cabinet members. Fahmi indicated that the revised bill would incorporate feedback from various stakeholders, and Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming had noted that many proposals from UMNO would be included in the new draft.

Fahmi emphasized the intention to refine the process and improve the bill after considering extensive feedback, including from Members of Parliament. On the timeline for re-tabling the bill, he mentioned that the drafting of the new legislation would be managed by the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC), a process expected to take some time. The Cabinet will be briefed once the process begins and will discuss the draft before its submission to the AGC.

Fahmi also expressed appreciation to the Housing and Local Government Ministry and the Department of Town and Country Planning (PLANMalaysia) for their engagement efforts and initial proposals to improve the bill. On January 20, Nga was reported as saying that the ministry was prepared to re-table the URA for its second reading, citing its importance to residents affected by dilapidated, ageing, and unsafe buildings.

The bill's second reading was initially tabled on August 28 last year but was not debated and later deferred following concerns and objections raised, including by Barisan Nasional and PKR MPs. The bill is an initiative under the Housing and Local Government Ministry and PLANMalaysia aimed at renewing dilapidated, ageing, and unsafe urban areas in Malaysia.