Housing and local government minister Nga Kor Ming said there were 534 areas in Peninsular Malaysia with potential for urban redevelopment, with an estimated gross development value of RM355 billion.

“The new law would be an important first step towards regenerating the ‘left-behind’ parts of our urban fabric,” Nga said in a statement today, adding that 139 areas, covering 3,206 acres, are in Kuala Lumpur, Bernama reported.

“In the most extreme cases, (buildings in) older parts of the city are abandoned, ‘sick’ and no longer sustainable. Yet, there is culturally and historically significant architecture worth preserving,” he said.

Nga said his ministry would propose an urban redevelopment bill, to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat by the first quarter of 2025, to govern urban renewal and redevelopment activities in the country.

“The bill aims to restore the vibrancy and attractiveness of old areas, provide affordable living spaces, enhance public facilities and revitalise architecture with national significance,” he said.

Nga said urban redevelopment would encompass seven aspects – legal provisions, public-private partnerships, capacity building and knowledge sharing, community engagement and inclusivity, sustainable and resilient design, technology adoption and innovation, and transparency and accountability.

“The most vital guiding principle to enact the law is always the people’s well-being, and nothing is more important than humanity, in line with the Madani aspirations,” he said.