Noting the bill’s silence on low-income families staying in dilapidated flats, PSM chairman Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj said the reports required for the approval of proposed redevelopments should include the data of such people, to better meet their needs.
“Perhaps state governments should consider putting up PPR flats in the vicinity of redevelopment projects, to be rented out to these families at rates affordable to them,” he said in a statement.
Jeyakumar said the current bill also does not provide for consultation for planned redevelopments with local communities, which “should include all people staying within 1km of the planned redevelopment site”.
Arguing that urban renewal often leads to higher population density, he said local communities should be given an avenue to provide their feedback on matters such as traffic congestion and infrastructure needs.
Jeyakumar also called for Sections 10(3) and 11(3) of the bill to be dropped, describing them as “undemocratic”.
“Public consultation should be mandated in the bill with clear avenues for the public to complain if they feel their concerns haven’t been adequately addressed.
“In this context, Sections 10(3) and 11(3) need to be jettisoned. These two clauses state that the failure of any person to object to the plan within 30 days of being informed can be presumed to indicate consent on their part. This is rather heavy-handed and undemocratic,” he said.
He also called for an independent Urban Renewal Mediation Committee, noting that Section 14(2) of the proposed bill confers the power to appoint its members to both the federal and state executive committees.
“However, the executive committee is the body that decides on the project, selects the developer and approves the redevelopment plans.
“The mediation committee can only be impartial and fair if it is not under the direct control of the executive committee,” he said.
Jeyakumar said the bill should be reconfigured to define an independent committee, comprising retired judges, trade union leaders and residents’ association representatives, entrusted with selecting mediation committee members.
“The sultan or governor of the state should be required to appoint members of the mediation committee every three years as advised by the selection committee described above.
“The mediation committee should be allocated sufficient funds to employ staff to carry out its responsibilities,” he added.
The bill had faced stiff resistance in the Dewan Rakyat in August, with Barisan Nasional and seven PKR MPs joining the opposition in blocking its passage.