2 days 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.
