Social activist proposes setting up govt-funded institute for urban governance
SIBU: There should be a government-funded institute set to accomodate the needs for better urban management and governance in cities and towns.
In suggesting this, social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye believes that such institute can also provide support and policy advice to the government with regard to urban governance, development and management.
“Although there are about 150 local governments in the country, we do not have a strong central training institute to cater for their manpower requirements in meeting their diverse functions of urban management.
“In the light of what has been revealed, it may be timely to set up a government-funded ‘Institute for Urban Governance, Training and Management’,” he said in a press statement issued yesterday.
According to Lee, the development and management of urban centres remain among today’s major challenges, as well as being among the most complex tasks of the society.
“With the rapid urbanisation now taking place in the country, the trend is towards urban development. The concentration of development and human activities in our cities and towns has enormous implications on the urban population, who might find the urban environment physically, psychologically and socially taxing.
“Cities, as we know them today, are already changing dramatically. Our living environments are reshaping the way we live. This new ‘urban age’ presents a unique opportunity for us to remake and reinvent our cities. How well we plan and design our living environments will matter,” he said.
The process of globalisation, environmental problems, urban poverty, urban sustainability, urban governance and how to improve the quality of urban life are among the many issues that need to be addressed effectively, added Lee.
“It ( proposed institute) helps to facilitate research activities, provide support to academicians and individuals in undertaking researches, and also provide consultancy on urban issues management.
“The institute, which can be established through the expertise from institutions of higher learning, research organisations and government agencies, would conduct academic programmes in urban planning for local government officials and other relevant parties – slated for better management of our cities and towns.”
Lee believed that urbanisation should lead to community spiritbuilding.
“Where new urban centres are built, pro- active efforts must be taken to build a sense of community and belonging among the multi- ethnic residents, which would be beneficial to our multiracial country in terms of generating goodwill, togetherness and unity,” he said.