KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Local Government Development (KPKT) is working on a new law to ensure systematic, well-planned, and effective urban renewal efforts that would help the country's economy grow.

Its minister, Nga Kor Ming, said that the special law was drafted in collaboration with the Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) and the Town and Country Planning Department.

Urban renewal includes redevelopment, regeneration, revitalisation, and conservation.

Currently, urban renewal is being carried out through nine existing legislations and laws, with legislation encompassing numerous ministries, departments, and organisations.

Among them are the National Land Code, Town and Country Planning Act, Contracts Act, and Land Acquisition Act.

"If we look at development in the country, there are several things that hinder efforts towards urban renewal, including the absence of specific legislation," he said recently after launching the Urban Renewal Implementation Guidelines (GPP PSB).

Malaysia's Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association (Rehda) endorses the idea of enacting a new law to govern the country's urban regeneration efforts.

Its president, Datuk NK Tong, said that such a law is long overdue, given the current lack of streamlined governance on such subjects, which is carried out by nine distinct government departments and organisations.

In formulating this law, the government, through the KPKT, has exhibited a long-term and balanced approach to economic growth, he said.

"While we know that the trend towards urbanisation will continue to expand, KPKT recognises that this must be done in an orderly and proactive manner, which includes ensuring that older buildings are given a new lease of life, even as newer buildings appear to fill the growing demand for urbanisation."

Conservation, which is also included in the agenda, will further protect the cultural and architectural heritage that is essential to making a city vibrant and relevant while also paying respect to the country's history, he said.

Meanwhile, the new law is anticipated to be tabled in Parliament soon, with a presentation date set for next year.

It will enable GPP PSB to be utilised across the country.

Nga said GPP PSB was developed since urban renewal administration varies by states and local authorities (PBTs), and there is no common practice across the country.

The PSB GPP will serve as a guideline and point of reference for the federal government, state and local governments, developers, and other stakeholders in the redevelopment of obsolete and abandoned townships.

KPKT will establish a geospatial database for urban rejuvenation through PLANMalaysia, especially as Malaysia's urbanisation rate is predicted to reach 85 per cent by 2040.

"The role of the geospatial database is as an inventory of the location and site information for potential areas for urban renewal for the whole country and is equipped with information such as the age of buildings or areas, the status of building conditions, and others," he said.

The data is now kept by Kuala Lumpur City Hall, which has identified 139 redevelopment areas totaling 1,297 hectares.

Nga claimed that this will lead to better redevelopment planning for lonely, old, and uneconomical areas, changing them into zones that can provide urban residents with a high quality of life.