LAR5510 Urban and Regional Planning

Week 2

10th March 2018

Background of Malaysian Urban Planning System
Background of Malaysian Urban Planning System

• Can be categorised into four stages:

(i) Pre-World War II
(ii) Pre-Independence
(iii) Post Independence
(iv) Current Urban Planning System
Pre-World War II
• Mining activities and plantation was controlled by
British
• Mass imigration occurred (including Chinese and
Indian migration from China and India)
• Issues of fire, crime and health that caused by these
activities
Pre-World War II

• 1801 – The formation of Committee of Assessors in

Penang
• It was formed in
George Town, Penang
• Mainly to facilitate the
opening land for
development of the
colonial administrative
town
• Contributions in terms
of street and drainage
construction
Pre-World War II
• By end of 19th century,
each state has
established similar
committee
• New cities established
such as Taiping, Ipoh,
Kuala Lumpur and
Seremban
• 1911 – 92 new towns
was established
• New roads and railways
was established such as
Taiping – Port Weld
and Klang – Kuala
Lumpur
Pre-World War II
• New schools was also established such as Penang Free
School (1816)

• New hospitals was built in cities such as Taiping, Kuala

Lumpur, Gopeng, Klang and Kuala Kangsar
• ‘Divide and rule’ strategy was carried out by British where
Malays remained in rural areas to cultivate the fields,
Chinese dominated the towns running mining industries and
businesses and Indians controlled the estates and plantations
Pre-World War II
• 1913 – Setting up of the first Official Town Planning
Committee
• Specifically to process building plans of public buildings
and government quarters
• As a result, Town Planning Committee for Kuala Lumpur
was established

• 1913-1917 – the formulation of early town planning

related legislation
• Municipal Ordinance CAP 133 of 1913
• Town Improvement Enactment of 1917
• Contained provisions for the preparation of a scheme of
buildings showing allocation of streets, backlanes and
open space
• 1921 – Charles C. Pre-World War II
Reade was appointed
the first Government
Town Planner for the
Federated Malay
Stated of Malaya
• His appointment
marked the
establishment of the
Town Planning
Department in Malaya
• His office was first
housed in Secretariat
Building at Jalan Raja
Kuala Lumpur
Pre-World War II
• 3 different group of administration:
(i) Straits Settlements
- Singapura, Malacca and Penang
- under British control (Governor) excepts
matters related to religion and Malay custom
(i) Federated Malay States
- Perak, Selangor, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan
- Administered by a British Resident for each
state
(i) Unfederated Malay States
- Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Johor
- One advisor to the Sultan for each state
• 1922 – Charles Reade submitted report titled “Town Planning
and Development in the Federated Malay States”
• Document that introduce the modern town planning into
Malaya
• 1923 – Town Planning
Enactment was presented
by Charles Reade
• A comprehensive in terms
of planning power and
legislative provisions for
planning, development
control, power to
implement town
improvement schemes and
the setting up of town
planning commitee
Pre-World War II
• 1926 – The first Town
Planning Exhibition
• Was held in Kuala
Lumpur from 27-31
August 1926
• Exhibited a collection of
plans and illustrations
with regards to the
town development of
Kuala Lumpur
Pre-World War II
• 1927 – The Amendment of Town Planning Enactment
1923
• Was approved by the Federal Council on 28 February
1927
• The abolition of Town Planning Committee and town
planning power returned to local government (the
Sanitary Board)

• 1929 – the appointment of a new Government Town

Planner
• R.P. Davies was appointed to succeed Charles Reade
• During his time, the service of Town Planning
Department was extended to the other Federated Malay
States (Perak, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan)
Pre-World War II
• 1930 – The Sanitary Board Enactment CAP 137
• Part IX – incorporated the provisions of the Town
Planning Enactment 1927
• Later renamed as Town Boards Enactment
• Was used until the new law was formulated in 1976
Pre-Independence
• 1948 – Extension of Town Planning Department
• Activities was extended to cover Town Boards and
Municipal Areas in Malayan Unions

• 1955-56 – the formation of Regional Offices of the

Federal Town Planning Department
• Southern Region – Johor Bahru
• Central-Northern Region Office – Ipoh
• Northern Region Office – Fort Cornwallis in Penang
• In 1956 the department was involved in the
preparation of development plans for FELDA
(Federal Land Development Authority) which
involved large scale mass resettlement schemes
Post-Independence
• 1961 – Initiative towards a new Town and Country
Planning Legislation
• W. Fairbank, Commissioner of Town Planning
initiated a paper seeking cabinet approval for a new
Town and Country Planning legislation for the whole
of Peninsular Malaysia
• The paper highlighted the need for a National Plan
to coordinate urban and rural development

• 1966 – the first draft of National Town Planning

Legislation
• Was prepared and submitted to the Ministry of
Housing and Local Government on 12 July 1966
Post-Independence
• 1970 - New Economic Policy (DEB) was announced
• A social re-engineering and affirmative action program
formulated by the National Operation Council (Majlis
Gerakan Negara - MAGERAN) in the aftermath of 13 May
1969 racial riot in Malaysia
• This policy was adopted for a period of 20 years

• 1971 – Urban Development Authority (UDA) was established

• Puduraya Terminal, Dayabumi, Kompleks Pertama & TTDI

• 1972 – Rural Development Authority (RDA) was also

established
• Agencies such as DARA (Lembaga Kemajuan Pahang
Tenggara), KEDA (Lembaga Kemajuan Wilayah Kedah and
PERDA (Lembaga Kemajuan Wilayah Pulau Pinang) was
established
Post-Independence

• 1995 – the Town and Country Planning (Amendment)

Act 1995 and Town Planner Act 1995
• Emphasizes on environmental management in planning
such as conservation of topographical features and trees
• The establishment of Town Planner Act 1995
• This act regulates town planning profession through the
setting up of Town Planners Board

• 1996 – celebrates Diamond Jubilee of Town Planning in

Malaysia
• Was held at Fort Cornwallis, Penang where some of the
earliest town planning activities in the country took
place
Current Urban Planning System
• Early 1990s – rapid
development and
urbanisation occurred
• National Development
Plan (DPN) replacing
National Economic Policy
(DEB)
• Vision 2020 – developed
nation by year 2020
• Infrastructure projects,
new satellite cities and
high rise buildings was
developed
• TN 2050
Thank You