Latest news with #KLLocalPlan2040
Malaysian Reserve
a day ago
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
DBKL gazettes KL Local Plan 2040 to improve transparency, urban renewal
by Nurul Najmin Abu Bakar THE Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has officially gazetted the KL Local Plan 2040, effective on June 11, to enhance transparency and guide sustainable urban development. Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif said the plan reflects a collective social contract to shape the city's future through balanced growth, inclusivity and sustainability. 'The Local Plan is not just a planning document, it is your plan, my plan and our plan,' she said during her keynote address at the Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association (REHDA) Institute forum titled 'Resilient Cities, Sustainable Futures: Transforming Urban Landscapes through Sustainable Renewal' on June 10. She said the plan incorporated 4,000 public feedback submissions out of a total of 28,000 received. Maimunah credited Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for urging that the plan be gazetted earlier, describing it as a rare intervention by the federal leadership in local urban planning. Anwar is scheduled to officially launch the plan on June 24. The plan identifies 139 sites across KL targeted for urban renewal. 'Urban renewal is like a medical check-up for a city every 15 to 30 years. It is not just about replacing old buildings, but about improving livability and infrastructure,' she said. She acknowledged that implementation will face challenges, particularly regarding strata management and the city's current maintenance practices. 'Our maintenance culture is still lacking, but we need scheduled and consistent upkeep of city assets,' she added. DBKL is also planning to make the Local Plan more accessible to the public, drawing inspiration from Singapore's Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) model. Maimunah stressed the critical role of cities in addressing both economic and climate challenges. 'Cities occupy only 2% of the Earth's surface, but generate 70% of waste and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and contribute 80% of global GDP,' she said. She said urbanisation should no longer be seen solely as a challenge, but also as an opportunity to drive innovation, economic growth and resilience. 'Our job is not only to make KL functional and efficient, but also to build a city that people are proud to call home,' she added.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Developers target several redevelopment sites in Kuala Lumpur
KUALA LUMPUR: Property developers have shown strong interest in redeveloping several of the 139 sites spanning 1,297.62 hectares across Kuala Lumpur, according to Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Maimunah Mohd Sharif. Speaking at the Resilient Cities, Sustainable Futures: Transforming Urban Landscapes through Sustainable Renewal forum here today, Maimunah revealed that of the 139 sites earmarked for redevelopment, 19 have received developer interest. She added that 13 proposals have been formally submitted to the One-Stop Centre (OSC), while two have received development orders. The remaining 105 sites have yet to attract any applications. The 139 sites identified by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and outlined in the Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 (KL Local Plan 2040), sparked considerable interest from developers, especially with the impending Urban Redevelopment Act (URA). "For all 139 sites, I have yet to go through the details of land titles and related matters. This is where local authorities like DBKL come in, to guide and support developers. Investment cannot be a rough estimation," she said in her keynote address. Maimunah called for stronger collaboration between the public and private sectors to realise Kuala Lumpur's urban transformation goals. At the core of her vision is a transparent, inclusive, and sustainability-focused strategy that aims to revitalise ageing parts of the city while maintaining its soul and community values. "Urban renewal is not just about tearing down 100 units to build 200. It must come with new facilities, sustainable living conditions, and most importantly, a sense of place," she said. "As discussed earlier at the forum, I agree that developers should come in last. Property owners must take the lead. If a site is zoned R3, it should stay R3. If it's residential, it should remain residential. But the development should not be cast in stone. If there is a need for some changes, you would need to go through the proper process involving public participation. This is vital for restoring public trust." "We want developers to work hand in hand with DBKL, not just on these 139 sites, but across all our work. "Let's build a better Kuala Lumpur together," she said. Appointed as mayor eight months ago, Maimunah brings decades of international urban development experience, including her time as executive director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), where she oversaw urbanisation in over 1,600 cities across 193 countries. "Now, I'm the mayor of just one city, but the capital of Malaysia. With all your support, do you think we can't do better? In just eight months, I've met 38 ambassadors, and they all say they love Kuala Lumpur. So why can't we do better and shift from a liveable city to a loveable one? Can we flip the script that urbanisation is bad? I believe we can." She emphasised that while urbanisation and climate change are often viewed as global challenges, they also represent opportunities for innovation. "Whenever I hear the words 'resilience' and 'sustainability', I think about urbanisation and climate change. Both are megatrends, but they have also improved our quality of life," she said. "Still, the rapid pace of urbanisation and increasingly unpredictable weather patterns demand more innovation in how we build, design, and manage our cities." The 139 sites identified by DBKL are outlined in the Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 (KL Local Plan 2040) and sparked considerable interest from developers, especially with the impending Urban Redevelopment Act. Maimunah said that the KL Local Plan 2040, gazetted on May 28 and set to be launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on June 24, is a key part of the city's transformation agenda. It reflects input from over 28,000 public submissions, with 4,000 incorporated into the final document. "The roadmap is clear and transparent, but now we need to translate it into real-world outcomes," said Maimunah. "This local plan is more than just a planning document. It's our collective social contract. We did it collectively to shape a city that balances growth with care, modernisation with inclusion, and progress with sustainability. It's not just DBKL's plan... it's our plan. And now, we must focus on implementation." She expressed strong interest in modelling DBKL's urban planning strategies on Singapore's Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), particularly in the rollout of the 2040 masterplan. To prepare for the upcoming Urban Renewal Act, Maimunah said DBKL will form a dedicated task taskforce to study the legislation and ensure the city is ready to support both landowners and developers through the renewal process. "DBKL is ready. We have planners, engineers, architects, and surveyors. But we're not just building structures. We're building communities. Cities aren't just buildings and roads. When you develop a piece of land, think of streets as arteries. Think of waste management. "Think of the families who will call that space home for generations," she said. She concluded with a rallying call: "Let's work hand in hand to make Kuala Lumpur not just a liveable city, but a loveable one."
The Star
14-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Meeting SDG goals on the ground
Maimunah (right) unveiling the KL SDG plaque at Menara DBKL. Looking on are (from left) Marshall, Hanum, Anita and Norliza. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star KUALA Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) is stepping up efforts to meet United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, marking a critical phase in the city's push for sustainable and inclusive urban development. These efforts include localising SDGs through community-driven programmes, citywide planning initiatives and targeted flagship projects designed to turn global goals into practical, everyday actions for Kuala Lumpur residents. Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif said she aimed to make 2025 the year of implementation and action. 'We want to focus on getting people to truly embrace SDGs. 'These are global goals, but the real work happens at local level,' she said. City Hall, she said, aimed to enhance the city's sustainability, inclusivity and liveability via 15 flagship programmes in five main areas – plan-led development; inclusive communities; green and sustainable city; effective communication; and good governance. 'These are specific, detailed initiatives that align with the SDGs and reflect our approach to localisation. 'For example, we need to gazette KL Local Plan 2040 so that the city's development is plan-led. 'Without a proper plan, the city risks becoming a sprawling mess,' she said. Since 2013, DBKL had implemented various initiatives in line with sustainable development goals, including the 'KL Car-Free Morning' programme, construction of dedicated bicycle lanes, publication of KL SDG Roadmap, establishment of KL SDG Centre and implementation of the Voluntary Local Review. Maimunah said many of these projects had been well-received, such as the KL car-free programme which runs every Sunday from 7am to 9am. 'I have even had requests from people wanting us to extend the timing, which we are looking into. 'DBKL is also expanding dedicated bicycle lanes, from the current 79km to over 100km.' The mayor was speaking after the launch of a KL SDG plaque at Menara DBKL in Jalan Raja Laut. There are similar plaques installed at 21 other locations, highlighting the 17 SDGs and sustainable practices carried out in those areas. 'We are proud that Kuala Lumpur has fully adopted all 10 targets under SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). 'From delivering 20,000 affordable homes, improving first-and-last mile connections and reducing flood-prone areas to expanding green spaces which now cover 9.5% of our city, we are not just complying but leading,' Maimunah added. Dr Richard Marshall, senior economist with the UN office in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, highlighted the crucial role of local action in achieving SDGs. 'SDG progress data announced by the UN secretary-general in late 2024 shows that the world collectively faces a very daunting task. 'Of the 169 SDG targets, the UN estimates that only 17% are on track for achievement, a further 18% are lagging, some 48% show moderate to severe deviation, and most troublingly, 17% actually show regression, meaning the position has deteriorated on the 2015 Baseline. 'These findings make clear the urgency of scaled-up actions across all countries and at all levels,' he said in his speech. Marshall commended DBKL for raising awareness and integrating the goals into urban policy and services. Also present were Urbanice Malaysia chief executive officer Norliza Hashim, MySDG Foundation chief executive officer Anita Ahmad and DBKL Project Implementation and Building Maintenance Department director Hanum Ain Zainal.
