PUTRAJAYA, March 11, 2025 – Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia’s former prime minister, has cautioned that the proposed Urban Renewal Act (URA) could lead to the fragmentation of Malay communities, drawing a stark comparison to the fate of Malays in Singapore. Speaking at a press conference in Putrajaya alongside Kampung Sungai Baru residents opposing land acquisition, Mahathir claimed that Singapore deliberately dismantled Malay kampungs to weaken their political cohesion—a fate he fears awaits Malaysia if the URA is enacted.
“In Singapore, Malay kampungs no longer exist. They were taken over by developers, and the Malay population was scattered to prevent them from uniting,” Mahathir said. He described how Singaporean authorities allegedly dispersed Malays into smaller groups, placing “two people in one kampung, two in another flat,” leaving them without cohesive communities or leadership. “This is what will happen in Malaysia if we take Singapore as an example,” he warned.
URA and Singapura
Mahathir argued that the URA, which aims to redevelop urban areas, risks sidelining original residents, particularly Malays, in favor of wealthy developers and businesses. He stressed that while urban renewal is necessary, it should not come at the expense of displacing longstanding communities.
Reflecting on his own tenure as prime minister in 2018, Mahathir noted that he had frozen controversial development projects in Kampung Sungai Baru and pushed for fair compensation. “I asked for reasonable compensation—land sold at RM3,000 per square foot. If developers bought at that price, residents could afford luxurious homes elsewhere,” he said.
His remarks come amid a broader debate over the URA, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim insisting that the act will protect original landowners’ rights and preserve existing land statuses, including Malay reserves. Critics like Mahathir, however, remain unconvinced, warning of a future where Malaysia’s urban Malays lose both their homes and their political influence.
Mahathir Warns
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