City councils to complete local plans by April 2025

TRAFFIC management and the people’s economy will be among the main focus for Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) and Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP) in the next 10 years.

Town and Country Planning Department (PLANMalaysia) director-general Datuk Dr Alias Rameli said MBJB and MBIP had started drafting their respective local plans in early April.

They are expected to complete them in a year’s time.

The local plan for both the city councils ends in 2025.

The new local plan will cover policies, general proposals for development and land use from 2025 until 2035.

Alias said consultants were hired by the city councils to lead discussions in producing a quality local plan that would meet PLANMalaysia’s expectations.

“The document will become the guideline that drives the development in both city councils,” he said after kicking off the drafting of the local plans at a hotel in Johor Baru.

Mohd Noorazam says the local plan will include less-developed areas of Johor Baru.

Alias said it was vital for the local plans to take into consideration issues such as dispersing traffic and ensuring that economic development benefitted the people directly.

“There are about 1.5 million people living in the district of Johor Baru and the population might reach 2 to 2.5 million by 2035, so public transportation like rail services should be looked at to address connectivity, traffic issues and to reduce carbon emissions.

“Cities in Malaysia have to move towards rail to disperse traffic as this is a major element that can provide better efficiency and comfort to the people.

“After Kuala Lumpur, George Town in Penang will have its light rail transit project soon,” he added.

Johor Baru mayor Datuk Mohd Noorazam Osman, who was also present at the event, said the local plan was an important document to provide a more investor-friendly environment.

“The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and Forest City Special Financial Zone, announced recently, involves six local council jurisdictions including MBJB and MBIP, so our local plans should also assist the government in realising these visions,” he said.

He added that about 25% of MBJB’s area had yet to be developed and meaningful developments at those locations would be included in the local plan.

“This includes the northern parts of the city like Ulu Tiram and Felda Ulu Tebrau, where we aim to increase accessibility and housing developments.”