UMNO has welcomed the Cabinet’s decision to withdraw the Urban Renewal Bill (URA Bill), saying the legislation should only be reintroduced in parliament in a revised form after all proposed improvements have been incorporated.

Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the party does not oppose urban development, but the bill requires careful refinement.

“These include several amendments that must be thoroughly reviewed, as proposed by the Umno Special Committee on URA, chaired by (vice-president) Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani,” he said.

“The Special Committee also held multiple engagement sessions, including the URA Bill on Oct 3 last year, which approved 14 recommendations to improve the bill,” he added.

Earlier, government spokesman and Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the Cabinet agreed to withdraw the Bill  to allow further amendments and additions before it is re-tabled in Parliament.

He said ministers discussed the bill and agreed on the need for legislation that addresses housing issues in urban areas “with fairness and justice.” He said the decision was also influenced by feedback from Dewan Rakyat debates, Umno lawmakers, and other stakeholders.

The URA Bill has sparked public debate, with critics raising concerns over homeowners’ rights and the potential impact on communities in older urban areas.