A century of organising physical space in Malaysia

Evolving urban centres: Malaysia is marking its centennial in formal town planning this year, an important milestone considering our high urbanisation rate at 77.2% – one of the highest in Asia – with room to hit 88% by 2050. ­— Filepic 2013/The Star

The systematic planning of land use and development is an important enterprise given its wide-ranging implications for mental well-being and climate change, among others.

THE organisation of physical space is way too important to be left to chance or impulsiveness on the part of city planners.

The arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic against a backdrop of the ongoing climate crisis means that urban planners need to be even more attuned to the demands of the times even as they try to predict the future.