Selayang Municipal Council calls for input on local draft plan

PETALING JAYA (September 15): Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) invites residents, landowners and stakeholders to submit their input on the MPS Local Draft Plan (Replacement) 2030 between now and Oct 15.

The Star reports that the council's intention is to get an understanding of what local people want their municipality to be like, especially pertaining to natural environments, through the data collected.

Selayang, while urban, is still home to hills, water bodies and forest reserves. MPS is striving to preserve the rich ecosystem over the next decade in its draft plan.

Council deputy president Datuk Juhari Ahmad was quoted by the daily saying: “Within the municipality are the lush Forest Research Institute of Malaysia, Bukit Lagong Recreational Forest, Commonwealth Forest Park, Sungai Tua Recreational Forest, Kanching Reservatory Forest, Templer Forest Park, Selayang Hot Spring and Damai Caves.

“We will preserve all these places and their biodiversity, which are of high value.

“With the new draft plan, people will be assured that the forest reserve area that covers 3,665ha will continue to be preserved.”

The feedback received, along with an update on ad hoc developments that had taken place in the municipality would provide a better direction for the council, to improve upon the Local Draft Plan 2020. More so regarding applications to convert agricultural land into housing or commercial.

The daily reports that the MPS Local Draft Plan 2020 (Gazette 141) came into effect on January 20, 2011. Five rounds of amendments have been made to the plan since July 18, 2013, in updates to meet the people’s needs.

Juhari said: “We are calling for all to give us constructive feedback to craft out this new plan that will cover a period of 10 years.

“We want this new plan to be clear, and that it can accommodate changes required for new developments.”

MPS Planning Department technical assistant planner Husni Khusairi Abd Ghani was quoted as saying that the plan would influence the development of Selayang over the next decade.

“It ensures that growth will also come with the supporting infrastructure, including roads, basic amenities and various commercial and community facilities,” he said.

MPS Corporate Department director Mohamad Zin Masoad said that to maximise Selayang’s connectivity and potentials, there was a need to update the local draft plan.

“With the new draft plan, we will be able to protect the environment that residents cherish and enhance what they love about Selayang.

“For example, we need to build more houses and in particular, houses that families can afford to buy and to rent,” he said.

Councillor Puspa Rizal Mohammad said: “MPS must have an up-to-date local plan that outlines its future developments, rather than building everything ad hoc which often does not benefit the local communities.”

She also said that MPS must always engage and listen to the people to make sure that they get things right.

In order to provide feedback, Selayang residents can fill out the relevant form at Menara MPS, Persiaran 3, Bandar Baru Selayang or email [email protected]