ISKANDAR PUTERI: Johor plans to allocate more green spaces in south Johor especially within the Iskandar Malaysia economic growth corridor.

State Housing and Local Government committee chairman Datuk Abdul Latiff Bandi (pic) said plans were already in the pipeline to open two public parks in Iskandar Malaysia.

He said the two parks were the 135.16ha Regional Open Space near Horizon Hills and the 68.79ha Linear Park stretching from Kota Iskandar to Eco Botanics near here.

"We want to create a conducive living environment in Iskandar Malaysia to ensure residents having quality life including green spaces for them to enjoy outdoor activities," said Abdul Latiff.

Abdul Latiff said like in the United States, where New York residents were proud of their world's famous Central Park, Johor also wanted to have its own "Central Park" for the Johor Baru denizens.

Abdul Latiff said developers also have a role to play by providing ample green areas in their development projects as required by the state authorities.

He pointed out although developers were required to allocate 10% of the land area in their projects as a public park for residents, some of them found to allocate less than the area required.