COMMENT | Govt powers under URA terribly excessive

COMMENT | A new property czar is in the making. If a bill in Parliament is approved, it will be Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming who will head a powerful council overseeing, approving, and selecting developers for all urban renewal projects.

The Urban Renewal Bill being considered by Parliament places too much authority under the Housing and Local Government Ministry and other government agencies, which basically decide how a renewal project proceeds.

This will cause more problems than the approval limits set for the redevelopment of built properties, which require between 51 and 80 percent approval depending on the age and status of the property.

It gives considerable room for patronage and even corruption, with few checks and balances built into the legislation.

While much has been written about...