International Planning and
Social Urbanism in MalaysiaWorld Town Planning Day Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Friday 7 November 2014
Part 2: Equity in Development
Richard Summers BA(Hons) MRTPI
Past Chairman, International Committee, Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), 2012 to 2013
Past President, Royal Town Planning Institute, 2011
Principal, Spatial St Edmunds spatial planning and economic development
International Planning and Social Urbanism in Malaysia
Part 2: Equity in Development
1: OverviewSharing British and international experience to help
develop “social urbanism” in Malaysia
Introduction
World Urban Forum No 7 – Medellín, Colombia
World Urban Forum – WUF7 Dialogues
World Urban Forum – Medellín Declaration
Social Urbanism in Malaysia – Social Equity
Social Urbanism in Malaysia – Economic Equity
Social Urbanism in Malaysia – Environmental Equity
Social Urbanism in Malaysia – the Priorities
Conclusions
Part 2: Equity in Development
2: “Social Urbanism” and the environmentTropical storm and dust cloud in the Australian outback
Part 2: Equity in Development
3: Introduction
World Urban Forum, Medellín, Colombia, 2014 The UN Habitat World Urban Forum No 7 discussed
“Urban Equity in Development – Cities for Life”
WUF7 focussed on inequality in rapid urbanisation
including social, economic and cultural exclusion
Social Urbanism in Malaysia The Federal Department of Town and Country Planning
(JPBD) is hosting this conference to examine some
lessons from WUF7 for social urbanism in Malaysia
The global principles of “urban equity” will need to be
applied locally to address the issues in Malaysia
World Urban Forum and Malaysian Priorities
4: World Urban Forum, 2012United Nations Habitat, WUF6 conference, Naples, Italy
Urban Equity in Development About two thirds of the world’s population now lives in
cities where income inequality is “staggering”
Cities are divided by invisible borders between the rich
and the poor, the included and the excluded
Rapid urbanisation across the developing world is
marked by slums, poverty, disease and deprivation
The social divide is marked by lack of opportunity in
housing, employment, accessibility and facilities
The design, infrastructure and governance of cities is
critical in addressing the problems of inequality
World Urban Forum and Malaysian Priorities
5: World Urban Forum – the themes“Urban Equity in Development – Cities for Life”
continued …
Part 2: Equity in Development
6: Urban Equity in Development –
Cities for Life – WUF7 Theme
Part 2: Equity in Development
7: World Urban Forum – dialogues
Urban Planning, Design and Resilience Spatial planning can achieve social integration through
planned city extensions and urban revitalisation
A holistic approach to urban resilience can also help to
make cities more equitable places to live and work
Local Business, Local Services and Justice Local businesses need support to help deliver basic
services to make cities more equitable places
Local authorities need to find innovative methods to
finance urban development and urban services
continued …
Part 2: Equity in Development
8: The WUF7 Medellín Declaration
Equity in Sustainable Urban Development “We, the participants of the seventh World Urban
Forum, reaffirm our commitment to integrate urban
equity into the development agenda ... [and]”
“… to ensure that cities are transformed into
inclusive, safe, prosperous and harmonious spaces
for all … through sustainable urban development.”
Cities are opportunities for growth and prosperity and
for improving access to resources and services
Sustainable urban development is part of the post-2015
Development Agenda for the UN Habitat III in 2016
Part 2: Equity in Development
9: Sustainable developmentBalancing economic, social and environmental issues
to meet the needs of present and future generations
Environmental
SocialEconomic
The scope of “social urbanism” “Social urbanism” is the social equity dimension of
sustainable urban development
It has to be balanced with economic and
environmental interests in sustainable development
The parallel with “spatial planning” “Social urbanism” is the social dimension of “spatial
planning” which is wider than “land use planning”
“Spatial planning” includes the geography of all urban
and rural activities, services and linkages
Part 2: Equity in Development
10: Social Urbanism in MalaysiaDrawn from the WUF7 conceptual framework for brining equity policies together
continued …
Part 2: Equity in Development
11: Social Urbanism – social equityDrawn from the WUF7 conceptual framework for brining equity policies together
Challenges Limited social mobility linked with ill health and poor
housing and education leads to social deprivation
Insecurity, marginalisation and discrimination lead to
limited participation and lack of social cohesion
Policies Housing, infrastructure and basic services need to be
coordinated to foster social inclusion and cohesion
Target disadvantaged groups to improve access to
housing, facilities and services and to increase mobility
continued …
Part 2: Equity in Development
12: Social Equity in Malaysia
Photo from “Open Spaces in Urban Malaysia”, JPBD.
World Urban Forum and Malaysian Priorities
13: Social Urbanism – economic equityDrawn from the WUF7 conceptual framework for brining equity policies together
Challenges Low skills, unemployment and poverty leading to
homelessness and multiple deprivation
Income inequalities, debt and disadvantage leading to
limited opportunities and poor social mobility
Policies Economic development policies and business support
initiatives to promote regeneration and growth
Education, training and skills programmes to open up
economic and employment opportunities
World Urban Forum and Malaysian Priorities
14: Economic Equity in Malaysia
Photo from “Open Spaces in Urban Malaysia”, JPBD.
Challenges Degraded environments resulting from economic
decline and multiple social deprivation
Environmental pollution leading to ill-health, further
economic decline and social disadvantage
Policies Integrated urban and rural regeneration programmes to
enhance environments and revive local economies
Comprehensive urban and rural planning to provide
infrastructure and stimulate growth and development
Part 2: Equity in Development
15: Social Urbanism – environmental equityDrawn from the WUF7 conceptual framework for brining equity policies together
Part 2: Equity in Development
16: Environmental Equity in Malaysia
Photo from “Open Spaces in Urban Malaysia”, JPBD.
Part 2: Equity in Development
17: Social Urbanism – the Priorities
Existing Planning System on Malaysia The Malaysian planning system includes a national
plan, regional plans, structure plans and local plans
The Federal Department of Town and Country Planning
aims to spur comprehensive and innovative planning
Spatial Planning System The promotion of “social urbanism” may also include
“spatial planning” and “sustainable development”
The priorities may be to move further into planning for
activities, services and linkages as well as land uses
Part 2: Equity in Development
18: Conclusions
World Urban Forum Achieve equity in sustainable urban development
Cities are opportunities for growth and for equity
Malaysian inputs to Habitat III in 2016
Social Urbanism in Malaysia “Social urbanism” is the social equity dimension of
“sustainable development” and “spatial planning”
Need to integrate social, economic and environmental
issues into a more spatial approach in Malaysia
Need to move further into planning activities, services
and linkages as well as land uses in Malaysia
1. What are the current and forecast patterns of social and
economic deprivation in Malaysia ?
2. What are the implications of a multi-ethnic population
for community engagement and social integration ?
3. How far does the existing land use planning system
address the issues of social inequality ?
4. How far could further moves to spatial planning for
sustainable development help to address these issues ?
5. Does Malaysia have the skills, research and other
resources to develop its planning system like this ?
6. What policies and actions need to be considered now
and agreed soon to achieve “social urbanism” ?
Part 2: Equity in Development
19: Issues for Discussion
Part 2: Equity in Development
20: “Social Urbanism” in Malaysia
Photo from “Open Spaces in Urban Malaysia”, JPBD.
Part 2: Equity in Development
21: UN Sustainable Development GoalsHeadlines of final proposals to UN General Assembly, September 2014
1. End poverty
2. End hunger
3. Ensure healthy lives
4. Ensure inclusive education
5. Achieve gender equality
6. Ensure sustainable water
7. Ensure access to energy
8. Promote economic growth
9. Build resilient infrastructure
10. Reduce inequality
11. Make human settlements sustainable
12. Ensure sustainable consumption
13. Combat climate change
14. Conserve marine resources
15. Protect terrestrial ecosystems
16. Promote peaceful societies
17. Strengthen sustainable development
Marion Frederiksen, RTPI
International Policy and Research [email protected]
International Planning and Social Urbanism in Malaysia
Part 2: Equity in Development
22: Contact information Richard Summers, Past Chairman,
RTPI International [email protected]
RTPI WebsiteClick on world map on front page www.rtpi.org.uk
