Adib Noor
Permanent Secretary (Planning, Land Use and Environment) at the Ministry of Development Dr Nor Imtihan binti Haji Abdul Razak highlighted that climate change is a complex matter requiring action and strategies to be planned and acted upon collectively and collaboratively.
“How better prepared and ready are we to face this global phenomenon? How climate resilient are our current development and infrastructures?” were the questions raised by Dr Nor Imtihan in her keynote address. She posed these questions at the opening of the two-day seminar held in conjunction with the golden jubilee celebration of the Department of Town and Country Planning (TCP) at the Musyawarah Hall of the International Convention Centre (ICC), Berakas yesterday.
She said seminars play a key role in proving comprehensive data supported by technologies while strategic projections enable those in the TCP to better learn and re-learn the current urban conditions and changes and adapt strategies accordingly.
The permanent secretary reminded that the National Land Use Masterplan and district plans will expire in 2025 and will be reviewed under RKN 12.
“These are important strategic planning documents to guide our current development and the future. Thus, in formulating a new planning policy and development strategy for the next 20 years, we need to revisit our land use planning policy, including infrastructure provision strategies to better assess how climate-resilient and adaptable are our land use planning in managing our future urban growth,” she said.
“Climate change hot spot areas such as coastal, low lying and other environmental sensitive areas require an effective planning policy to better adapt to a climate change crisis, in contributing towards low carbon footprint urban development, planning for people-centric and climate resilient urban development need to be explored holistically when opening new development areas, while preserving our valuable green spaces in balance with other sectoral land demand, especially our forest reserves,” she added.
Dr Nor Imtihan hoped that the seminar will be fruitful to address the gaps stated to move forward together, especially in building a knowledge base and experience pertaining to effective policy developments or responses, creative land use planning and infrastructure provision strategy and initiatives, as well as optimising the role of information technology for smart urban planning and development control decisions.
The seminar, which ends today, features moderators, speakers and participants discussing sustainable economic growth, sustainable and resilient urban environment, sustainable community, building sustainable and resilient future, together and smart cities initiatives.
