World Town Planning Celebration

Malaysian Institute of Planners celebrated this year's World Town Planning Day by organising the pledge and plant a tree campaign at Kelana Jaya last Saturday. With the assistance of MBPJ, A total of 135 trees were planted by the donors, fellow planners, guests and residents. YB Nik Nazmi, the State Assemblyman for Seri Setia and YB Gwo Bune Low, Parliamentarian for Kelana Jaya were amongst the invited guests to grace the occasion. Others included Yg Bhg Datin Wira Hamisah Ariffin, Deputy Director General for Federal Town and Country Planning Department and Mdm Sharipah Marhaini binti Syed Ali, Director for Planning Department, MBPJ. About 70 guests attended the function which was followed by the opening ceremony, environmental exhibition, demonstration on garbage enzyme making and showing of the movie entitled 11Th Hours. The programme end at 1.30pm.

The tree planting is an inaugural event for MIP to show the planners commitment towards greening the Earth, and hence help in reducing the carbon emission. Planners, as the agent for development has a big responsibility to ensure development projects is sustainable. While undoubtedly development will bring in adverse effect onto the environment, planners have to make sure the impacts are minimum and utilisation of the resources are optimised. MIP intends to continue with this effort. Perhaps to enlarge it covering other aspects of environmental planning is the way forwards.

At the same day, planning advisory service was held. The service is aimed at providing free consultation service to general public on the understanding about planning, enquiries about planning issues and challenges. This service is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility for MIP. It is an education process to build up the capacity of general public, and a pre-requisite if the concept of "planning with people and planning by the people" is to observe fully and sincerely. I wish to have this service be continued.