Siti Kasim has strongly opposed the proposed Urban Renewal Act (URA), warning that it could serve as a means for property developers to seize control of valuable urban land under the pretense of modernizing aging buildings. While the government presents the act as a way to address deteriorating structures with outdated electrical and drainage systems, Siti believes the true beneficiaries will be developers and real estate agents rather than the residents themselves.
One of the most alarming aspects of the proposed law is the significant reduction in the consent threshold required to terminate strata titles in subdivided buildings. Under the existing Strata Titles Act 1985, unanimous agreement among all owners is necessary before a strata title can be terminated. However, the URA aims to lower this threshold to 75%-80%, meaning that even if some owners oppose selling their properties, they could be forced to comply if the majority agrees.
In a recent YouTube video, Siti Kasim did not hold back her criticism, stating that homeowners may find themselves stripped of their rights if other owners agree to surrender theirs. She questioned the motivations behind this proposed law, fearing that politicians could align with developers to exploit it for financial gain. By making it easier to acquire urban properties, developers stand to profit enormously while ordinary homeowners could lose their rightful properties.
She also called out PAS for opposing the URA on racial grounds, arguing that this is not about ethnicity but rather about the rights of all urban dwellers. Property ownership is enshrined in the Federal Constitution, and she asserted that the government should not have the power to take away private properties without full consent.
Beyond the immediate impact on high-rise strata properties such as condominiums and flats, Siti speculated that the URA could eventually extend to non-strata landed properties. Areas such as Sri Hartamas and Segambut, which are now part of Mont Kiara, could become prime targets for developers. She warned that a few bungalow land plots could be enough for a developer to construct massive high-rises and make billions in profit. This could cause disputes among homeowners, with those willing to sell clashing against those determined to keep their properties.
She expressed deep skepticism toward the government’s intentions, dismissing the justification that the URA aims to rejuvenate urban areas. Instead of introducing laws that interfere with private property ownership, she argued that the government should focus on educating people about their rights and ensuring that building management fulfills its responsibilities in maintaining and upgrading properties.
Siti Kasim called on urban residents, particularly those in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, and Penang, to oppose the URA. She warned that if passed, it could lead to forced property takeovers that disproportionately benefit developers and real estate speculators at the expense of ordinary homeowners. In her view, this proposed law represents a significant threat to private property rights, and city dwellers must take a stand before it is too late.
Information Source: Focus Malaysia
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