With one of the highest urbanisation rates in Asia, Malaysia is certainly a worthy subject of study by urbanists, given its ranking of 54 out of 194 countries surveyed recently, where its urbanisation was rated at 77.2%, with room to grow to 88% by 2050.
For citizens and planners alike, the increasing urbanisation brings with it a host of challenges, such as environmental degradation, rising inequality, unsatisfactory public hygiene, other than governance structures resulting in unsatisfactory outcomes caused by overlaps or gaps.
This year is a good time to look at where Malaysia is now, and more so since this is the 100th year since formal town planning was introduced to then Malaya. For history buffs, Charles Compton Reade was appointed the first Government Town Planner for the Federated Malay States in 1921.
Relooking Town Planning
Given the large number of stakeholders involved in city planning, design, development and management, modern town planning is no easy feat. For example, there are multiple government agencies working on smart cities, with each city or municipality having different priorities, budgets, and capabilities.
In order to bring everyone closer to the same page, the Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP) and Nextdor Property Communications, together with the support of Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), PLANMalaysia (Federal Department of Town and Country Planning), and the Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP) will jointly present and celebrate our past, recognise current challenges facing our cities and prepare for the future at City Expo Malaysia 2021 (CEM 2021).
It is an expo that will draw attention to the importance of best city planning and give our visitors and exhibitors the platform to share ideas and address the most pressing issues facing our cities to showcase good planning practice and solutions for sustainable development.
As a fully online event with a single entry point, CEM 2021 will bring together multiple stakeholders to share ideas and solutions for city challenges in the first and largest virtual expo on town planning and development in Malaysia.
The activities surrounding the virtual event will be month-long, starting from the World Town Planning Day on November 8 followed by five days of talks and conferences. This packed programme includes events such as the National Planning Congress, Young Planners Forum, Commonwealth Association of Planners Awards, Placemaker Awards ASEAN 2021, and Mayor’s Forum.
An Event Open to the Entire World to Discover, Experience and Learn More About Urban Planning
According to MIP President, TPr Datin Hajjah Noraida Saludin, everyone can join in a meaningful way through a public exhibition that seeks to educate and inform Malaysians and a wider global audience on the importance of town planning and development.
President of the Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP), TPr Datin Hajjah Noraida Saludin. Image from: Nextdor Property Communications
“This inaugural event is timely as we hope to draw the public’s attention to the importance of good town planning and its impact on urban development, the progress we have made through the years since 1921 as well as the challenges confronting our cities today and what we can expect in the future,” said Noraida.
“The Covid-19 pandemic, while affecting lives and livelihood, has also impacted cities and has caused many to rethink the usage of urban spaces in future planning and development,” added Imran Clyde, Director of Nextdor Property Communications, the co-organiser of CEM 2021.
Director of Nextdor Property Communication, Mr. Imran Clyde. Image from: Nextdor Property Communications
The expo comprises 16 urbanism themes – Smart City, Compact City, Walkable City, People Orientated City, Transit-Oriented Development, Green City, Healthy City, Liveable City, Dynamic City, Smart/Green Mobility, Low Carbon City, Eco City, Resilient City, Smart/Green Infrastructure, Mixed-Use Development, and Placemaking – which are currently being adopted in various forms or styles by city managers across the country. This is the ideal space the explain what these concepts are and how they impact our citizens and businesses.
Noraida added: “The exhibition component showcases solutions, be it from a technological perspective or otherwise, related to sustainable urban development and new urban concepts in line with the New Urban Agenda and the International Guidelines on Urban and Territorial Planning.”
The exhibition themed 100 Years Advancing Our Cities, explores current policies and issues in urban planning and large-scale urbanisation, infrastructure development, and strategies to address rapid urbanisation without neglecting the preservation of heritage and culture.
Call for Participation
Beyond the 30-day virtual exhibition, a number of side events will be taking place including an international conference which will see participation from leading professionals from a cross section of professions related to urban management and development from both the public and private sectors from Malaysia and the region, said Clyde.
The invitation to participate is open to government agencies, private corporations, urbanists, developers, technology companies, and not-for-profit organisations to procure virtual booths at CEM 2021 to share how their products, services, ideas and solutions can contribute to better cities for all.
“In this spirit, we call on companies to come on board and showcase their solutions on urban development against the backdrop of presentations that will look at best practices, inclusivity and sustainable development to improve the resilience of our cities,” Clyde added.
(21 July 2021)