Those who make the most noise about the increasing population in Kuala Lumpur should be the first to volunteer to move out.
Population increase is inevitable. According to Department of Statistics, there is one baby born every 58 seconds in KL. By 2020, there will be over 377 million more people simply by birth.
KL City Plan NOT Flawed
The National Physical Plan (NPP) anticipates population increase, development and refurbishment and there are plans for these.
Featured in NST recently, Derek Fernandez claimed that the KL Draft Plan is flawed because it contradicts the NPP (25 persons per hectare) as stated below:
“…However, in line with NPP objectives to achieve higher levels of land use efficiency, better use of infrastructure, in particular public transport and to create a higher quality urban environment with more parks and recreation areas,the present overall gross urban density of approximately 29 persons per hectare will need to decrease slightly to 25 persons per hectare. This target gross urban density has been adopted to establish a macro level assessment of the need to provide urban land.”
If DBKL were to follow the NPP guidelines strictly, all residents would have to live in detached homes and not terrace/link homes, apartments and condominiums - which is practically not achievable.
A quick check on the NPP’s website revealed that Fernandez conveniently left out the subsequent paragraphs that states:
“For the individual states, this figure will need to be adjusted to account for the development characteristics of each area. The present overall gross density of Kuala Lumpur is for example higher than 25 persons per hectare. At the Kuala Lumpur conurbation level however, 25 persons per hectare is an applicable average even though individual components of the conurbation, such as Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur have been developed at higher
densities.
Accounting for the increase in urban population to the year 2020, a further 331,520 hectares of land will be required for urban uses. This results in a total commitment for urban land in 2020 of some 768,610 hectares; an area equivalent to approximately 5.8% of Peninsular Malaysia’s land area.”
Source: NPP Town Plan
Scroll down to 4.5.4 Urban Land -> i. Requirements
Isn’t it a coincidence that his career has grown (and the number of clients) by leaps and bounds in light of these issues? Are lawyers allowed to ‘advertise’ and 'sell' their service via the media?
The lazy mainstream, alternative media and blogs who don’t bother to do their own research, preferring to conveniently quote him blindly, contribute to his rising popularity.
Taking advantage of such issues for career advancement is just way below ‘low’.
Implication of No-Development and No-Population Increase
Cities should be allowed to grow, given proper development plans. By saying no to development and to population increase, the noisemakers are in fact implying that:
* Children cannot live close to their elderly parents
* Young couples should buy houses outside of KL if they want a home of their own
* Outstation folks and foreigners cannot marry and live with KL-lites
* Outstation and foreign students who come to study in the city cannot stay on to work after they graduate
* Anyone from outstation cannot find employment in the city
* Expatriates are not welcomed
* No one other than existing residents can move to / live in the city
* It’s ok for prices of property to rise due to property shortage
Take Action
Everyone should contribute by taking action, and not just pay lip service. Citizens should do their bit by moving out of the city. The government must do their bit by improving public transportation and building better public roads. Toll rates must be reduced. And City Hall must ensure strict compliance by developers.
Many others have already moved further from the heart of the city because they can get a more comfortable home and a better living environment for a lesser value. I for one am moving my family to Sg Buloh.
The noisemakers should set an example by being the first to move out.
If not, don’t expect any support for exercising hypocrisy.
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