Dr Wahid: Urban Planners Must Cater for Population Growth

by | Aug 19, 2015 | Featured Slider, In The Press, News, newspaper

Photo Credit: The Star

Photo Credit: The Star

JOHOR BARU: Long-term planning is needed to ensure that urban areas are able to grow to their fullest potential and provide comfortable living conditions for its denizens.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Wahid Omar said major cities in the region were faced with issues of congestion due to the increasing population.

“Major cities, currently only have short-term solutions without taking into account problems which might rise in the long run for city dwellers.

“According to a World Bank report, Kuala Lumpur lost about RM30bil in revenue as city dwellers were losing out on their productivity level being stuck in traffic congestion daily,” he said.

 

Dr Wahid said this after officiating the 13th International Congress of Asian Planning Schools Association at the university’s main Skudai campus.

He said the urban planners should come out with long-term solutions, in anticipation of the population booming, in cities following the migration of rural folk into urban areas.

“Improve on the public transportation system and services to make cities liveable for its inhabitants.

“Cities should not be urban concrete jungles with skyscrapers,” added Dr Wahid.

He said there should be ample open space and green lung for residents in the city and the town planners should look a creating a balance between nature and modernisation in the planning.

“We are not against development within the city areas but developers must follow the guidelines in the plans drawn up by local agencies,” said Dr Wahid.

Source: The Star Online

Ahli Akademik Bincang Hala Tuju Perbandaraan Bercirikan Asia

by | Aug 19, 2015 | Featured Slider, In The Press, News, newspaper

Kredit Foto: TV Selatan

Kredit Foto: TV Selatan

JOHOR BAHRU, 13 Ogos — Seramai 250 ahli akademik, penyelidik serta pakar tempatan dan antarabangsa dalam bidang perancangan bandar dan profesion berkaitan akan bersama-sama membincangkan hala tuju masa depan perbandaran yang bercirikan Asia.

Perbincangan berkenaan diadakan menerusi Kongres Antarabangsa Persatuan Perancangan Sekolah Asia (APSA) 2015 yang kini sedang berlangsung di Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Skudai, hingga 14 Ogos.

Naib Canselor UTM, Prof Dr. Ir. Wahid Omar berkata perancangan bandar perlu diteliti dengan baik agar memberi kesan yang positif kepada penduduk setempat.

Beliau turut memberi contoh kawasan di Nusajaya mempunyai perancangan bandar strategik yang turut melibatkan pihak UTM untuk membangunkannya.

Wahid ditemui pada sidang media selepas merasmikan kongres kali ke-13 itu pada Rabu.

Hadir sama Presiden APSA 2015 Prof Chu-Joe Hsia dan Naib Presidennya Prof Dr. Syed Zainol Abidin Idid.

Kongres berkenaan menjanjikan pertukaran ilmu dengan perbentangan 182 kertas kerja.

Sebanyak 146 kertas kerja daripadanya adalah pembentangan dari peserta antarabangsa termasuk Australia, Jepun, Korea Selatan, India, China, Singapura dan Indonesia.

Sementara negara Eropah yang terlibat ialah Amerika Syarikat dan United Kingdom.

Menerusi perbincangan berkenaan, agenda perbandaran Asia bakal menjadi panduan kepada pendidikan dan amalan perancangan di Asia yang meliputi tahap perbandaran yang belum pernah terjadi di Asia termasuk aspek kepelbagaian, intensiti, kompleksiti dan keaslian bercirikan Asia.

Kongres antarabangsa APSA merupakan acara dwitahunan yang telah diadakan sejak Ogos 1993, dengan melibatkan 36 buah sekolah perancangan berkeahlian dari universiti-universiti utama di Asia.

Sumber: TV Selatan