Kawasan risiko lubang benam wajib dinilai, kata KPKT

The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) has announced that technical assessment and examination of aging utilities in high-risk sinkhole-prone areas must be conducted before any development approval is given by local authorities. This decision was made during the 51st meeting of the National Physical Planning Council (MPFN), chaired by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

According to KPKT, this approach is crucial to ensuring public safety and addressing geological risks from the earliest stages of development planning. The meeting also called for the enhancement of government-owned vacant land and expedited permitting processes to ensure residents have access to safe, enjoyable, and easily accessible recreational spaces, promoting healthy lifestyles and strengthening community interaction.

KPKT also approved the National Physical Plan Fifth (RFN5) and the Third National Administration Plan (DPN3) as strategic physical and administrative development goals for the country. RFN5 is Malaysia's highest-level spatial planning document covering Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Labuan until 2040, focusing on sustainable land use, preservation of indigenous resources, and strengthening resilience against climate change and disasters.

Its targets include implementing smart cities in 115 local authorities, ensuring at least 50% of street lighting coverage in forests, and providing 1.6 million hectares of land to support national economic growth. DPN3, meanwhile, is the development blueprint for national cities until 2035 covering 203 cities and towns under 101 local authorities in Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan, ensuring more organized, inclusive, and sustainable urban growth in response to demographic, economic, technological changes, and climate challenges.

KPKT noted that MPFN also considered the Draft Putrajaya Structure Plan 2050, which outlines the central administration center target of 305,000 residents, 83,438 housing units, carbon-neutral status, and smart city management. In addition, the meeting approved the Putrajaya Structure Plan Perlis 2040, outlining strategies including the development of the Perlis Land Port and Chuping Valley Industrial Area (CVIA) and strengthening the padi (rice paddy) buffer zone in the state.

Overall, the MPFN's decision 51 strengthens the government's commitment to ensuring the planned, sustainable, inclusive, resilient, and responsive development of physical and administrative infrastructure in Malaysia, aligned with the country's MADANI aspirations.