Planners call for flood-risk maps to guide land-use decisions at National Planning Congress
Panellists at the 11th National Planning Congress urged cities to use flood-risk maps and early warning systems to guide land-use decisions. The conference, held in Petaling Jaya, also heard calls for closer agency coordination and greater transparency in development planning.
PETALING JAYA (Nov 3): Cities should use flood-risk maps to guide land-use decisions and invest in early warning systems alongside drainage infrastructure and flood barriers, panellists said at the 11th National Planning Congress on Tuesday (Nov 3).
Universiti Teknologi Malaysia's Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology's Khamarrul Azahari Razak said cities should assess which communities are most vulnerable to flooding and help residents prepare for emergencies. Satellite imagery, remote sensing and digital mapping could help planners identify areas at risk, he said.
Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia president Nor Atiah Ismail said governments should weigh the recurring cost of helping households after flash floods against the cost of relocating them. She cited a village in China's Hebei province where she said authorities had moved residents to safer ground after repeated floods.
Panellists also discussed how floods disproportionately affect lower-income households in low-lying areas and how older people and children can face greater difficulties recovering from disasters.
In his opening address, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar called for closer coordination among agencies and greater transparency in development decisions. He highlighted the One Stop Centre (OSC) and the OSC 3.0 Plus approach as ways to speed up development processes while upholding safety, legal requirements and professional standards.
Shamsul Azri said development decisions have consequences beyond individual sites, affecting transport networks, schools and other public facilities. He called for planners to consider climate risks and involve the public in those decisions.
Murali Ram, C40 Cities' regional director for East, Southeast Asia and Oceania, said cities should concentrate growth around several well-connected centres. The panel also discussed converting underused shopping malls, hotels and institutional buildings into student accommodation or affordable rental housing.
In her keynote address, Danish Ambassador to Malaysia Kirstine Vangkilde Berner said investment in wastewater infrastructure helped turn Copenhagen's once-polluted harbour into a place where residents can swim. She also described how the city is adapting streets, parks and public spaces to cope with heavier rainfall.
The Malaysian Institute of Planners is organising the Nov 3–5 congress in collaboration with the Petaling Jaya City Council at the Petaling Jaya Civic Centre.
