Urban Governance and Management

Introduction

In essence, urban governance is the integration of effort between the community, private sector and city-region authorities where the urban authorities perform the coordinating role and determine the quality of the macroeconomic environment and location that is favorable attract investors and people. In most cases, the private sector provides the much needed financial assistance and business expertise to operate independently or in association with the public sector. 

The community provides the individuals who are employees, consumers or are beneficiaries of the governance process. A more integrative approach, one that goes beyond the boundaries of the different departments (inter-departmental cooperation), should replace this political system. Andersen and Van Kempen (2003) distinguish a number of changes that mark the shift from urban government to urban governance:

i. A replacement of universality policies by targeted policies.

ii. A growing use of covenants as policy regulation.

iii. An attempt to integrate policy fields from various departments into a unitary project organization.

iv. A focus on the empowerment of residents and of cities and specific neighborhoods.

In summary, urban governance is strategies are achievable through the process integration all sectors including public, private and other social organisations. To accomplish the desired outcome, this integration results in an effective and efficiently managed city. Thus it contributes to economic development, stabilization and welfare, bringing the transparency of decision-making process, social participation, openness, finance equilibrium and law being obeyed to.

Integrated mechanisms, processes and institutions, through which citizens and social groups might state their preferences, negotiate solutions of their contradictions and make use of their constitutional rights, as well as realize their duties, is also being understood as the urban governance.

Issues of Kuala Lumpur City-Region Development

Rapid rate of urbanization 

Urbanization in Malaysia has developed rapidly especially during the last two decades whereby the rate of urbanization 

has increased from 54.3% to 65.4% between 1991-2000. This is expected to increase to 75% by 2020. The increase in 

population will mostly concentrate in major conurbations such as Kuala Lumpur City Region, Georgetown, Johor Bahru 

and Kuantan. The high rate of population increase requires the development of new areas for housing, social amenities, 

commercial and other urban land uses. The lack of clear urban limits has led to the creation of urban sprawl encroaching 

upon environmentally sensitive areas, major agricultural areas and areas unsuitable for development.

Rapid urbanization may affect the efficiency of urban governance (Mexico City) 

Ineffective urban governance

National Urbanisation Policy of Malaysia proposed with the rapid pace of urbanization by 2020, urban governance is 

faced with various complex challenges a head. These challenges require that the respective parties be more focused in 

undertaking parties be more focused in undertaking each and every responsibility in urban development. However, the 

involvement of multiple agencies and departments in urban management had made it difficult to coordinate many 

actions and in turn affects the effectiveness of those actions. Good urban administration and management also need to 

take into consideration the capability of each local authority as each local authority as each differs in terms of 

manpower, skills and financial capacity to provide good service for its population. There is wide gap between the 

expectation of the community and the ability of the local authority to fulfill those expectations.

Inefficient transportation system

The Road and Transport Department of Malaysia stated that the total number of registered vehicles for Malaysia was 

14.8 million in 2012. Out of this, 47% comprised of motorcycles, 44% were private cars while the remainder were 

commercial and other vehicles. The large number of private vehicle ownership puts pressure on the capacity of the 

existing road network especially for larger conurbations like Kuala Lumpur City Region and Georgetown. Furthermore, 

inefficient public transportation resulted in the tendency for the urban population to opt for private vehicles instead of 

the public transport. 

Inefficient Traffic Management in Beijing, 2010

Declines in quality of living for urban dweller

The decline in quality of living in urban areas is one of the major issues that arise out of poor management of urban development. For a town to be both viable and sustainable it is necessary to provide quality support infrastructure and a high quality of living derived from the provision of adequate housing, education, recreation and health facilities. In respect of the provision of housing, the main issue is the lack of housing for the low income group. Although the supply of housing is generally in excess of actual demand, the supply of housing for the urban poor is still insufficient as the price of these houses is beyond the reach of this group.

What should we do? 

Because of the problems related to the urban governance and management keep increasing over time, it is very crucial for the Malaysia government to tackle these issues as soon as possible. not only it may damage the whole quality of life of the urban dweller but what we are fear is that it might also damaging the socioeconomic of the people in the whole country. Many actions can be taken by the government, especially in the context of Kuala Lumpur, the Kuala Lumpur City Hall should be established to administer urban growth and development a various levels particularly the local authority level. This will ensure that the value of assets, economy, social and the environment will be maintained and value-added towards attaining sustainable urban centers in Malaysia. 

The local authority, as the main agency responsible to urban management, needs to update the administration and management system to optimize its financial revenue including new sources, upgrade its capacity to enable towns to become more competitive and viable, strengthen human resources by employing skilled and experienced staff as well as expand the use of technology. 

Malaysia can learn form Singapore about good urban governance perhaps?

"the good governance may reflect by the success of the nations and perhaps will reflect with the better quality of life of its people"

=)