PETALING JAYA, March 14 — The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP) to improve strategic cooperation in enhancing the quality of urban planning practices.
Mayor Dato' Mohamad Zahri Samingon said the partnership also empowers urban planning professionals to serve as strategic leaders in sustainable city management.
"Through the MOU, MBPJ and MIP will strengthen cooperation in various fields, including education, training, capacity building, advocacy, and the implementation of a pilot project focusing on improving town planning quality.
“This collaboration is expected to contribute to more sustainable and resilient urban development, in line with current needs and the increasingly complex challenges of city growth,” he said at a press conference today.
Earlier, Zahri and MIP president Mazrina Abdul Khalid officiated the signing of the MOU during a sharing session titled “Town Planner as City Manager: Beyond Compliance Towards City Leadership".
Zahri said the partnership is in line with MBPJ's aspiration to continue enhancing Petaling Jaya's position as a progressive and competitive city.
He added that urban development today faces various challenges, including high development density, climate change, and demands for environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles.
Additionally, technological advancements such as artificial intelligence, geospatial systems and data analytics are transforming approaches to urban planning.
“This ultimately positions data as a strategic component in urban development decision-making.
“In view of this, the urban planning profession must evolve from the traditional role of plan document providers to strategic city advisors capable of interpreting data."
