Pro-active planning needed to provide affordable homes — Wan Azizah

KUALA LUMPUR: There must be pro-active and solid planning to provide affordable homes which are more suitable for B40 households as a component of smart townships.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the country also needed professional town planners who dared to make changes based on facts and comprehensive research.

“Strata development especially for People's Housing Projects (PPR) must also be well-planned to improve the quality of life for the public and to resolve increasingly challenging social issues.

“An innovative approach towards the Industrial Revolution 4.0 must be immediately included in town planning which must consider big data and advanced technology like biotech', fintech', advanced research in robotics and the internet of things," she said at the launch of the National Planning Conference 2018 held in conjunction with the World Town Planning Day here yesterday.

Also present was president of the Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP), Ihsan Zainal Mokhtar.

She said the planning process must be transparent and involve all interested parties such as executive farmers, policy makers and the public who need protection.

“In the era of the new Malaysia, we have the chance to look for ways and methodologies which are more efficient and effective.

“If there are processes which create problems in implementation, through out-dated procedures and laws, there must be updates and the government is ready for new proposals and will make the necessary assessment,” she said.

She said government agencies and the private sector cannot work silo and smart partnerships and joint ownership must be made the motto and method in planning and development.

Meanwhile, the MIP conference with the theme 'Localising the New Urban Agenda: Leave No One Behind' is focusing on optimum urban planning agenda and improving collaborations with interested parties.

More than 300 participants are attending the one-day conference.