Can PM Anwar Ibrahim gather nation-wide support for the URA?

Murray Hunter


Can PM Anwar Ibrahim gather nation-wide support for the URA?

P Ramasamy
Mar 16, 2025






Government officials, ministers, and developers have painted a glossy picture of the Urban Renewal Act (URA), emphasizing its role in revitalizing neglected and dilapidated areas in parts of Kuala Lumpur.

The stated intention of the URA is not to displace the poor and marginalized but to improve urban living conditions.

However, the very logic of capitalist-driven urban development carries the inherent risk of pushing out the very communities it claims to uplift.

While Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim may have no ill intentions in promoting urban renewal, the structural realities of such initiatives must be critically examined.

It would be wrong to claim that Anwar deliberately seeks to displace the poor.

Yet, what is glaringly absent from his passionate advocacy is a sound cost-benefit analysis of the true impact of the URA on these communities.

Independent of Anwar’s intentions, urban renewal—when left to market forces—inevitably triggers gentrification.

This process gradually replaces lower-income urban dwellers with wealthier investors and developers, leading to the displacement of the original inhabitants.

No direct force is needed; rising property values and lucrative buyout offers subtly compel long-time residents to sell their homes and relocate.

As a result, historically significant Malay, Chinese, and Indian enclaves risk losing their cultural and historical identities.

The very fabric of these communities—shaped over generations—could be eroded as the poor are priced out, making way for the rich and powerful.

Anwar insists that Malays and Indians will benefit from urban renewal, but the key question remains: Will the poor and original ethnic communities truly benefit?

Can Anwar guarantee that the long-standing residents of these areas will not be left behind or displaced?

He cannot afford to ignore the exploitative nature of unchecked capitalist development.

The opposition is justified in raising concerns over the lack of transparency in the urban renewal process.

The recent decision to lower the threshold for disposing of urban properties has already set off alarm bells.

There is nothing wrong with the opposition organizing protests to demand clarity and accountability, especially when the entire urban renewal framework remains shrouded in mystery.

Instead of engaging with these valid concerns, Anwar has resorted to veiled threats, suggesting that the government could organize a larger gathering in support of the URA.

Rather than issuing empty challenges, Anwar must take responsibility for ensuring that urban renewal is not merely a tool for capitalist expansion at the expense of the urban poor.

It is not just the opposition that fears the long-term consequences of urban renewal. Urimai—the Malaysian Rights Party—shares these concerns.

Urimai is not against development, but we strongly oppose any form of development that disproportionately benefits political elites and capitalist developers while sidelining the poor and vulnerable.

The historical and cultural landscapes of Malay, Chinese, and Indian communities should not be sacrificed in the name of urban progress.

The government’s current approach to urban renewal appears insensitive to these realities. Unless substantial safeguards are introduced, the URA risks becoming an instrument of economic displacement rather than inclusive growth.

Urimai stands ready to join hands with the opposition to protest against the Madani government’s failure to critically assess the deeper ramifications of urban renewal.

The future of Kuala Lumpur’s diverse urban communities cannot be left to the mercy of unchecked capitalist interests.

P. Ramasamy

Chairman Urimai
March 16, 2025