| Rokiah Mahmud |
THE launching of two planning guidelines – The Supplementary Guideline for the Building Planning Standard and Planning Guideline and Standard for Residential Development 2018 edition – was the highlight at a ceremony to mark World Town Planning Day yesterday.
Minister of Development Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar, the guest of honour, launched the two guidelines at Betabur Hall of the Ministry of Development.
World Town Planning Day is celebrated on November 6 annually. The commemoration ceremony yesterday was organised by the Department of Town and Country Planning.
The objective of the planning guidelines is to streamline planning parameters and the processes of application for planning permission, in accordance with current developments.
The production of these guidelines is part of the department’s strategic objective in achieving sustainable development by optimising the use of land and managing developments efficiently. ‘Planning for Change Towards Sustainable Development’ was the theme of this year’s celebration.
Effective land use planning can help coordinate the optimal use of land in a single area comprehensively or syummul, such as commercial and residential areas, green areas and leisure to create a conducive and integrated environment. In turn, land use planning also provides employment opportunities that can change people’s lifestyle for a more secure, safe and prosperous standard of living.
In the field of development, the intention is to produce a sustainable and quality environment through effective development management. The preparation of the latest guidelines complying with the policies and laws, as well as effective and continuous enforcement action, can ensure an area’s sustainability.
The implementation comes with challenges. Land use and development management require commitment and support from various levels and parties to establish a sound policy that will ensure such plans can be adopted by stakeholders as well as the private sector or the public.
Public engagement and awareness and dialogue are important to make government policies acceptable.
Sustainability for a particular area is not only dependent on efficient land use, planning and development management, but also positive support from different levels of society.
The minister, after the launch, toured the exhibition at the venue, which among others aimed to enhance the viewers’ knowledge on land use planning and the management of development.