Lai (third left) and Nazri (second right) in a group photo with seminar speakers (from left) Law, Nik Mohd Ruiz, Wan Sufian, Chua, and Moris.
KUCHING: Around 70 town planners from public and private sectors attended a seminar on ‘Sustainable Urban Planning for a Greater Sarawak’ at the State Library (Pustaka) here on Thursday.
Organised by the Malaysian Institute of Planners Sarawak and Sabah Chapter (MIPSSC), the seminar was held in conjunction with the upcoming World Town Planning Day which falls on Nov 8.
MIPSSC chairman Victor Lai said over the years towns and cities in Sarawak have experienced progress and development that transformed the lives of the people and brought about a higher standard of living and greater opportunities.
“However, development encompasses more than roads, bridges and buildings.
“Town and city planning is a dynamic and intricate balancing act to strive for continuous progress and, at the same time, satisfying the social, cultural, spiritual and physical needs of the people.
“Through the seminar, we have invited five distinguished speakers to share on strategic planning and designing for
better community living and a healthy city with our participants,” he said in a statement yesterday.
The speakers were Ministry of Urban Development and Natural Resources head of Planning division Wan Sufian Wan Mustapha; State Planning Unit principal assistant director Moris Nayup; Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Federal Department of Town & Country Planning (PlanMalaysia) Research Development Division principal assistant director Dr Chua Rhan See; MIP council member Nik Mohd Ruiz Nik Ahmad Fakhrul Razy; and Jurubina Unireka partner Law Hui Ho.
Topics presented during the seminar were ‘Issues and Challenges of Urban Planning in Sarawak’, ‘Transit Oriented Development’ (TOD), ‘Urban Design for Civic Safety and Community Living’, ‘Healthy City’ and ‘Urban Waterfront Development Planning: Significance and Challenges’.
Also present at the seminar was MIP immediate past president and executive council member Md Nazri Mohd Noordin.