BY ZAZALI MUSA
A filepic of an open space where residents can get closer to nature.
ISKANDAR PUTERI: Plans are in the pipeline to allocate more green areas or open spaces especially within Iskandar Malaysia which is the country’s first economic growth corridor.
Johor Housing and Local Government committee chairman Datuk Abdul Latiff Bandi said that the state wanted to have a balance between development and ensuring a conducive living environment for the people.
“Progress and development are inevitable but at the same time we, including developers, must take into account the social well-being of the people,’’ he said in a press conference on after opening a symposium on planning and property investment in southern Johor 2016 jointly organised by the Johor Baru Central Municipal Council and the Town and Country Planning Department.
Abdul Latiff said among the public parks to be opened in Iskandar Malaysia within the near future are the 135.16ha Regional Open Space in Horizon Hills, the 68.79ha Linear Park stretching from Kota Iskandar to Eco Botanics and the 23km boardwalk along Danga Bay.
Abdul Latiff added that just like residents are proud of Central Park in New York, the United States, Johor too wanted to have its own version for Johor Baru residents.
“We don’t want to turn Johor Baru into a concrete jungle… our people deserve to have more green spaces for them to breathe clean and fresh air,” said Abdul Latiff.
On that note he said, developers also have a role to play in providing ample green areas in their development projects and not only think of making a profit.
Abdul Latiff pointed out although developers were required by the state government to allocate 10% of the total land area in their projects, some of them were found to have allocated less.
“It is clearly stated in the regulations imposed by us that 10% should be allocated as a single plot for a public park and not divided into small plots,” he said.
Abdul Latiff added this was one of the main reasons why the development plans submitted by developers were rejected by the relevant state authorities, causing a delay in their projects.
