Retention ponds, such as the Batu pond in Kuala Lumpur, are vital assets to prevent flooding in the surrounding areas. — Filepic
OVER 1,000 objections have been raised over Kuala Lumpur Structure Plan 2040 (KLSP2040).
The plan outlines the objectives and proposals for developments and land use, as well as traffic, environmental and social managements.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s aide Datuk Azman Abidin said more than 1,000 objections were received on the draft plan, mostly regarding the protection of green spaces and retention ponds.
“Public hearing sessions were held to gather input from stakeholders, and some of their input have been incorporated into the plan.”
He said the structure plan was gazetted on Oct 17 and would be launched by the Prime Minister on Nov 23.
Azman says stakeholders will be able to give feedback on the draft local plan starting next January.
Copies of the document, priced at RM120, would be available for sale at Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) headquarters soon, he said.
He was speaking at a press conference at DBKL headquarters in Jalan Raja Laut to announce the gazettement of KLSP2040.
KLSP2040 is one of two components of Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2040, the other being Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 (KLLP2040).
Azman said stakeholders would be able to give feedback on the draft local plan starting next January.
He said it would be available for public viewing for a month at selected government premises throughout the city.
He highlighted that public hearing sessions would be held to address concerns raised during the objection period.
“It will take three months, subject to further extensions, depending on the volume of objections received,” he added.
Unlike the structure plan, the local plan has more details as it contains information such as plot ratio and development density at specific sites.
In the past, a special advisory board comprising former civil servants and prominent figures would review the objections.
They would recommend appropriate amendments to the mayor before the draft was submitted to the relevant ministry for gazettement.
Azman also said there were plans to offer incentives to developers undertaking affordable housing projects.
They would enjoy lower development fees from DBKL and would be allowed a higher density for their projects, he disclosed.
“They might be allowed to build up to 1,400 units per acre,” he said, adding that higher-priced projects would be permitted a lower density.
The incentives, said Azman, were part of the Perumahan Madani initiative and were aimed at boosting home ownership among the B40 and M40.
