3 key documents to guide balanced growth

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday launched three major documents under the National Development Plan (NDP) to chart a more dynamic, balanced and resilient development roadmap.

The documents were the Third National Physical Plan (NPP3), Second National Urbanisation Policy (NUP2) and National Rural Physical Planning Policy (NRPPP) 2030.

Najib said the documents were important as a main source of reference for agencies in drawing up efficient and sustainable development plans.

He said the NDP would help the country tackle future development challenges, and that it was in line with the 11th Malaysia Plan to ensure balanced and fair development.

“These documents have been drawn up based on manifestations and taking into consideration the views, wants, aspirations and needs of every level of society,” he said at the launch of the documents here yesterday.

Present were Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar and his deputy, Datuk Halimah Mohd Sadique.

Najib said the NPP3, which was drawn up in 2015, was the highest-level planning document in the national physical development planning framework.

“The NPP3 makes Malaysia the first country with a national-level spatial planning and development framework.”

He said the NUP2 would steer and coordinate urban development planning and administration by emphasising balanced social, economic and physical development, while the NRPPP would provide holistic planning for rural developments and complement the NDP.

He said the rate of urbanisation in the country was expected to reach 77 per cent by 2020 and 85 per cent by 2040.

“Population increase in urban areas will strain infrastructure and utilities, public amenities, housing and services, and increase food demand.”

He said the country’s rural population was expected to decline to 23 per cent by 2020 and 15 per cent by 2040.

“This requires efforts to strengthen competitiveness in rural areas to attract high-value investments.”

He said Malaysia would have an ageing population by 2040, with almost 20 per cent of citizens aged 60 and above.

“This means there is a need to build more health facilities and senior citizenfriendly infrastructure.”

“The NDP also takes into consideration the need for comprehensive, integrated and elderly-friendly services, besides multi-generational housing so that the elderly can live with or near their children.”