PETALING JAYA (Jan 22) — The National House Buyers Association Malaysia (HBA) has expressed support for stronger disclosure requirements and earlier stakeholder engagement in urban development, emphasising that meaningful public participation must occur before major planning decisions are finalised.
The association was responding to a recent announcement by Federal Territories Minister Hannah Yeoh, who said Members of Parliament (MPs) for Kuala Lumpur will now play a formal role in reviewing and providing feedback on all large-scale development proposals within the city. The move is expected to enhance governance standards for developments involving commercial property in KL, office space in Bukit Jalil, and other high-impact urban projects.
According to Yeoh, the initiative aims to improve accountability and transparency in city planning. Under the new arrangement, KL MPs will be granted early access to the One-Stop Centre (OSC) portal, allowing them to assess development applications and raise concerns before approvals are granted.
HBA honorary secretary-general Datuk Chang Kim Loong said the decision addresses long-standing concerns over centralised and opaque planning processes, which he believes have weakened public trust in urban governance.
He noted, however, that the approach contrasts sharply with the proposed Urban Renewal Bill (URA) put forward by the Housing and Local Government Ministry. While the KL initiative promotes early consultation and democratic oversight, Chang said the URA moves in the opposite direction by reducing consent thresholds, concentrating decision-making powers and placing key safeguards under executive control rather than embedding them in legislation.
Chang stressed that such conflicting policy directions are problematic, particularly when urban redevelopment affects private property rights, security of tenure and community stability. These issues are highly relevant to owners and investors involved in industrial land in Selangor, industrial property in the Subang area, and factory developments in Puchong, where redevelopment decisions can significantly impact long-term asset value and investment certainty.
He added that protections for affected property owners should be clearly defined, legally binding and enforceable from the outset, rather than relying on guidelines or assurances after approvals are issued.
“When rights are unclear, public confidence declines and investment certainty weakens,” Chang said, adding that HBA does not support the Urban Renewal Bill in its current form.
The association reiterated that it cannot endorse the Bill ahead of its second reading in Parliament unless it is amended to reflect constitutional protections, consistent planning policies and genuine participation from affected property owners and communities.
Chang concluded that successful urban renewal must be grounded in trust, legal clarity and accountability. Without these elements, redevelopment efforts risk creating long-term instability rather than sustainable growth — a concern that extends across Malaysia’s urban landscape, including key real estate markets such as commercial property in KL and industrial land in Selangor.
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