Public Participation in Malaysia

Public participatory is the definition for the community that can join or participating in the planning process. Put it in the simple context: the people have a voice in any planned development. In the western countries such as in United Kingdom, the people awareness about their responsibility and their power is just a big leap comparing to Malaysian. There, they have a vocal whether to agree or to object any development surrounds them. Of course, before doing so, they must have an education or study on the something that they agreed or disagreed with.

In the context of Malaysia, the current public participatory environment is vey “calm” as people are seen not very interested in the process. Well, this is also one of the aspect of democracy: you have right to voice out your opinion, even in the planning process. For example, when the developer planned to built a 100 story of super tall building next to your house, of course you will be objected as the building may cover up your house from the sunlight, wind and the best view that you enjoyed before this. What more important are the side effect of the development that you don’t want: pollution and congestion.

Should people shut their mouth over this kind of situation?

Then, that is the time when the public participatory play a major role in objection the development of such taller building. If the both side agree, the case can be settled in the court where both side must justify why they agree or disagree with the development. This, however doesn’t come easily as the developer will do anything within their power to make the project become reality no matter what. This is because of the name and prestige that they want to keep. They don’t want to be the loser side when the project is ultimately objected and abandoned. It will be hard for them to find another project in the future. The Malay says: susah nak cari makan!

 Then, there is also a interference from the government to protect the development, especially when it comes to the government own project. They will do anything to keep the project run on it scheduled. Many cases had happen before when the Government interfere, then nothing much public can do. There is no need to give an example because it is such sensitive issues. Opps!

Pople's power? =)

Back to our discussion, the public participatory in the country is relatively weak because of all the reasons above. Plus, the people seems don’t care the development around them as long as it doesn’t involving their land. Then this is a serious problem. Too much selfishness in the community may lead to our own disastrous future. Who can assure that the current development may good or bad for us in the future? Nobody can become a fortune teller. That is why the serious public participatory in any planning process is very important. They can give you opinion, feedback and suggestion regarding your proposed development. With this, the developer or government may know what are the flaws in their proposed development and the solve for the problems. Settle!

For the conclusion, a strong yet educated public participatory involving various NGOs in Malaysia is needed if we believe that the future may be bright for us. =)

“What we do today will become history in the future”

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"

=)

Sustainable Community and Neighbourhood

Sustainable Community

What is the sustainable community? According to the Institute for Sustainable Comunities, the term of "sustainable community" can be define as: 

"A sustainable community is one that is economically, environmentally, and socially healthy and resilient. It meets challenges through integrated solutions rather than through fragmented approaches that meet one of those goals at the expense of the others. And it takes a long-term perspective—one that's focused on both the present and future, well beyond the next budget or election cycle."

As a result, a sustainable community manages its human, natural, and financial resources to meet current needs while ensuring that adequate resources are equitably available for future generations. It seeks:

• A better quality of life for the whole community without compromising the well being of other communities.
• Healthy ecosystems.
• Effective governance supported by meaningful and broad-based citizen participation.
• Economic security.

Sustainable community can be equated to a "perfect society" where it can solve any problems that may happen if they follow the rule of this sustainable community. to create such a sustainable community is theoretically easy where we can suggest anything but good policies related to the sustainable issues. however, when it comes to the implementation, little are known about the success of this theory. 

The Government of the United Kingdom defines a sustainable community in its 2003 Sustainable Communities Plan: "Sustainable communities are places where people want to live and work, now and in the future. They meet the diverse needs of existing and future residents, are sensitive to their environment, and contribute to a high quality of life. They are safe and inclusive, well planned, built and run, and offer equality of opportunity and good services for all."

Existing patterns of urban and suburban development seriously impair our quality of life. The symptoms are: more congestion and air pollution resulting from our increased dependence on automobiles, the loss of precious open space, the need for costly improvements to roads and public services, the inequitable distribution of economic resources, and the loss of a sense of community. By drawing upon the best from the past and the present we can first, infill existing communities, and second, plan new communities that will more successfully serve the needs of those who live and work within them. 

In the context of Malaysia, I may found it is difficult to implement this policies at the moment. Malaysian, unlike any othe developing contries, still unaware about the importance of being sustainability in many aspects of life. They (including  me) may think that protect the environment and recycling is the sustainability, without knowing that is just the surface or the skin of the sustainable. For the sustainable community issue, as we live in multicultural environment, it is not an easy task to implement such an idea. It make takes along time for us to fully adapt the sustainable way in our community. 

It can be concluded that community development is an important aspect in the development of a country. Reflection on the future stability of the country has actually discovery through the current realities of the communities in our country. In order to meet the housing needs of an increasingly demand with the increasing number of the population, especially in urban and suburban areas , the multi-storey housing development is seen as the best solution. But negligence in fulfilling the quantity , the quality is sometimes at stake . Quality impairments including housing element will have implications for the development of the community in the area. Recommendations for improving sustainable community development in general and specifically in the area of community development planning studies that apply directly to each residential development in particular areas of high density housing to ensure the well being of the family unit and the community secure and protected for the survival of the community.

“We cannot hope to create a sustainable culture with any but sustainable souls.”

=)