Consultation Session on Special Area Plan

These pictures showing stakeholders representing different groups of PJ community at work. They are the participants at the MBPJ workshop last week for discussing proposed Special Area Plan for SS area. This consultation session was held by MBPJ to hear the views, challenges and aspiration of the people on future planning of these area. As many of these areas have been well developed, many of the views were focusing on enhancing the quality of living environment instead of redevelopment. The participants were talking about safety, crime, service delivery, greenery, facilities and state of infrastructure. Many were emphasizing on solving the present problems.

I pointed out to the group that we should talk about solving the future problem rather than discussing solution for the visible problems. For example, what is the effect of ICT on future planning of neighbourhood. ICT might have made working at home possible and therefore reducing the need for travelling and other supporting services. If the trip generation is reduced, then the need for commercial land use might have also minimised, I guess. Similarly, requirement for facilities catering to an aging society is also becoming critical.

We are also talking about bigger picture. For example, while guarded and gated community is a trend now simply due to the fear about safety, we should have also talked about the effect on creating an inclusive society and fairness. The poorer group might not be able to afford having the protection. The fencing might have also discourage interaction and movement of neighbours from neighbouring areas. We will have problem to achieve 1Malaysia, I presume. While everyone agreed that gated and guarded community might not be the only solution, they are not willing to take the chance when it come to safety issue.

I saw the challenge on planning with the people. While planning for the people is easier and less hassle, I presume planners welcome the former for giving the opportunity to draft an inclusive plan for all.