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SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENT FOR REMBAU DISTRICT DRAFT LOCAL PLAN 2025

OVERVIEW

The study is colaboration with Federal Department of Town and Country Planning (FDTCP), State Planning Department of Negeri Sembilan and Southern Zone Project Office. The country’s sustainable development policy and strategy needs a systematic and comprehensive approach to balance physical, economic, environmental and social needs. The preparation of a Development Plan according to the Town and Country Planning Act (Act 172), namely Structural Plan (SP), Local Plan (LP) and Special Area Plan (SAP) are the foundations in achieving sustainable development goals. FDTCP has conducted a Pilot SA Study in 2004 through the Kuala Selangor District Council Local Plan(RTMDKS/MDKSLP). The SA Process in RTMDKS has been improved and used in LP studies under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP). Sustainability Assessment is an assessment method designed to evaluate if a plan, policy or programme can achieve sustainable development objectives. Generally, SA is a good planning practice and supports sustainable development where Malaysia is a signatory to Agenda 21.

FDTCP has practiced the principles of physical planning, economy, environment and social, but conducted each separately by sector. This SA method empowers that practice in an integrated and systematic manner where assessment is documented more effectively. Sustainability issues are matters that were brought up by the target group during the FGD session that was conducted in the early stages of LP preparation. Issues can also be gleaned from discussions with LAs and technical agencies as well as from development planning documents. Sustainability issues of study areas are categorised into social, environmental and economic issues. In the context of SA, an indicator is a sign that can measure the level of sustainability of an area.

A headline indicator can be identified in the beginning of study after identifying sustainability assessment criteria. Indicators can determine early measures to overcome issues to achieve sustainability objectives. Indicators also have targets and can be a tool to monitor of an LP target has been met. Identified indicators must be able to be translated in spatial form. Indicators can be generated from assessment criteria through Study Team discussion or when suited to identified sustainability objectives, MURNInet indicators can be used too. Other sources such as RFN, RSN, Malaysian Life Quality Index (UPE) and indicators modified from foreign SA practices can also be used.

There are many evaluation methods, either qualitative or quantitative. As a pilot initiative, a simple method is used, based on the value gleaned from discussion and open feedback between the core team and technical agency to get a group agreement if a proposal is compatible, not compatible, neutral or irrelevant to sustainability objectives. Evaluation is made based on quality where the results from the discussion is accepted as a group final decision. This is because the agencies present are experts in their respective fields and are able to make good decisions based on the expert judgement method. The evaluation through discussion is a good and effective evaluation method. 

Futher enquiry about this article kindly contact :

DR. AZMIZAM ABDUL RASHID

Research and Development Division,

Federal Department of Town and Country Planning,

Ministry of Housing and Local Government,

Unit No. 50-12-2B, & 50-13-1, Wisma UOA Damansara,

No. 50, Jalan Dungun, Damansara Heights,

50490 Kuala Lumpur,

Malaysia

email address : azmizam@townplan.gov.my

URBAN HAPPINESS INDEX : A LITERATURE REVIEW

Futher enquiry about this article kindly contact :

DR. AZMIZAM ABDUL RASHID

Research and Development Division,

Federal Department of Town and Country Planning,

Ministry of Housing and Local Government,

Unit No. 50-12-2B, & 50-13-1, Wisma UOA Damansara,

No. 50, Jalan Dungun, Damansara Heights,

50490 Kuala Lumpur,

Malaysia

email address : azmizam@townplan.gov.my

MALAYSIA HAPPINESS INDEX OF THE PEOPLE : FROM NATION TO CITY

           The quality of life (QoL) for Malaysians improved through better access to healthcare, public transport, electricity and water. Measures were also taken to create a caring society and promote community well-being. Economic development was based on sustainability principles to ensure that the environment and natural resources are preserved so that growth will not come at a cost to future generations. The current challenging economic time is a good time for reflection and we should not waste the opportunity to take stock of where we are heading as a people and a nation. Going by the adage that life begins at 50, Malaysia is still a fairly young nation and adopting more inclusive policies that mobilise the country's rich human and natural resources will be able to cushion the country from any adverse external shocks. In its place is the emphasis on personal virtues and wholesome values of integrity, honesty, generosity and empathy for other people. We believe the promoting of such values will set the foundation for wholesome community and nation building for our country.  The Bhutan story must have prompted many of us to start reflecting on our journey of life, and how we have fared in terms of the happiness index.

Come to think of it, since the world economy is on the verge of a double-dip scenario and there will be very low or no growth in most nations, some tweaking in national policies and priorities may be what Malaysia needs to see our country and the people through the challenging time?  It may be a good idea for us to draw up a Malaysian Happiness Index to measure how our people are faring against the rest of the world. In Malaysia's case, the need for concerted efforts to build adequate public infrastructure and housing cannot be over-emphasised as the on-going efforts are still quite fragmented. Instead of involving so many agencies in the execution process, having a dedicated agency as the master planner to oversee the overall planning and execution of the projects will ensure a higher rate of success to benefit more people.

Providing enough public housing and other social amenities should be accorded one of the top priorities along with the other economic-based initiatives under the government's Economic Transformation Programme (ETP). The sharp increase in prices of goods and services, including that of property, meant people have less disposable income and spending power. These projects will be able to wipe out the many squatters and slumps, and rejuvenate our cities. Focusing on public housing can also provide a cushion for the property market from stagnating during troubling economic times.If happiness could be measured via a country's economic performance in gross national product or gross domestic product, then Malaysia would be the world's 51st happiest country. In Malaysia's case, there were a number of factors that led to its 51st ranking. Materialistic prosperity of individuals may have been one thing but wealth, usually an indicator of a person's material well-being, was not the only crucial factor in this determination.

There were factors such as a person's general disposition, the level of contentment with basic aspirations which were also taken into account.  However, Malaysia was ranked 2nd in Southeast Asia, behind Singapore which emerged as the happiest in the region. On a worldwide basis, the island was ranked 33rd out of the 156 countries. Thailand was ranked 52nd, Myanmar landed at 74th position and Indonesia was 83rd.The report will also allow politicians—as well as the public—to assess the effectiveness of the government’s policies in terms that really matter to people.  The ultimate aim of most policy is to improve lives, but without proper measures of well-being it can be difficult to assess whether this is being achieved. The success of this measurement program depends a lot on exactly how the information is attained and then used, but this announcement may have signaled the start of a Malaysia government agenda which puts well-being, rather than economic growth, at the heart of its public policy.

The QoL for Malaysians improved through better access to healthcare, public transport, electricity and water. Measures were also taken to create a caring society and promote community well-being. Economic development was based on sustainability principles to ensure that the environment and natural resources are preserved so that growth will not come at a cost to future generations. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak made the announcement that the Government needs to work at not only increasing the people's earning capacity, but also on making sure that they are happy. He said that two yardsticks would be used to measure national development the conventional method of looking at the per capita income, and the happiness index of people as well.

The Federal Department of Town and Country Planning (FDTCP) is undertaking a study in happiness indicators within Malaysia and the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) produces the Malaysian Quality of Life Index. Whether we focus on happiness or not, the most important thing is to continue and enhance efforts that can provide a real understanding of what we value most as Malaysians, and find metrics that can best measure what we ourselves define as progress. On top of that, we also have to ensure we choose a path that will provide sustained progress to preserve and enhance the ability of our current and future generations to pursue our path towards happiness.

Futher enquiry about this article kindly contact :

 

DR. AZMIZAM ABDUL RASHID

Research and Development Division,

Federal Department of Town and Country Planning,

Ministry of Housing and Local Government,

Unit No. 50-12-2B, & 50-13-1, Wisma UOA Damansara,

No. 50, Jalan Dungun, Damansara Heights,

50490 Kuala Lumpur,

Malaysia

email address : azmizam@townplan.gov.my

AN OVERVIEW : HAPPINESS INDEX OF THE PEOPLE CREATES SUSTAINABLE AND LIVEABLE CITY

Futher enquiry about this article kindly contact :

 

DR. AZMIZAM ABDUL RASHID

Research and Development Division,

Federal Department of Town and Country Planning,

Ministry of Housing and Local Government,

Unit No. 50-12-2B, & 50-13-1, Wisma UOA Damansara,

No. 50, Jalan Dungun, Damansara Heights,

50490 Kuala Lumpur,

Malaysia

email address : azmizam@townplan.gov.my