Livable Cities

For the first time, a workshop to discuss the definition and concept of livable cities as well as its applicability to Malaysia will be held on 21 and 22 July 2008 at PJ. The National Workshop jointly organised by MBPJ and MIP and supported by AAPH is aimed at introducing the concept of livable cities, identifying the criteria for Malaysia and formulating a plan of actions for implementation in PJ.

In the era of globalisation, every city is competing to create a conducive environment for living, working, investment and visiting as city survival and growth is very much depend on the inflow of capital and people. With higher desire and aspiration, double with the high trans boundary mobility, people have better choice of places for living and investment, or even to call them home. Hence, a city without much to offer might be marginalised and forgotten.

Petaling Jaya developed as a new township to provide shelters for people from KL and other part of Malaysia since 50 years ago cannot escape from this challenge. PJ has to compete with other cities domestically or globally for quality people and capital investment. To do that, MBPJ has to develop and manage the city conforming to the international standard, Livable Cities as advocated by EIU, London. PJ has to be at par with Melbourne, Vancouver, Singapore, Zurich or else the word Jaya (means success) will no longer valid in time to come.

The Workshop with the gathering of representatives from different stakeholder groups will let ideas to flourish and to reinforce suggestions for implementation. This is Local Agenda 21 in practice. A practice that has been done since year 2000 and perhaps the workshop will now renew that spirit again.