KPKT urges state governments to accelerate gazettement of public open spaces in Peninsular Malaysia

The Housing and Local Government Ministry has called on state governments to speed up the gazettement of public open spaces, noting that only 35.53% of such areas in Peninsular Malaysia and Federal Territories have been gazetted as of December 2025.

PETALING JAYA (Oct 20): The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) has urged state governments to expedite the gazettement of public open spaces to safeguard designated green areas for public use, particularly in densely populated areas.

Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said in a statement on Oct 20 that only 35.53 per cent, or 8,278.44 hectares, of the 23,297.15 hectares of public open spaces identified in Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territories up to December 2025 had been gazetted. The remaining 64.47 per cent had yet to be gazetted or were still undergoing the process, he added.

Nga said state governments needed to accelerate gazettement to protect these spaces from encroachment, inappropriate changes in land use, and management and maintenance problems that could compromise user safety. “Public open spaces are not merely areas for leisure and recreation, but also important assets that contribute to public well-being. These spaces also serve as green zones that absorb surface runoff, helping to reduce the risk of flash floods, while providing recreational areas that improve the community’s quality of life,” he said.

The minister urged state governments to step up gazettement efforts under Section 62 of the National Land Code (Act 828), noting that the matter falls under their jurisdiction. KPKT, through PLANMalaysia, will continue to monitor the gazettement status of public open spaces with the relevant parties to support more sustainable and liveable urban development, he added.