KUALA LUMPUR: The City of Kuala Lumpur returns to host the 11th International Conference on World Class Sustainable Cities 2019 (WCSC 2019) to be held on Thursday, 19th Sept 2019 at the Royale Chulan Kuala Lumpur Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

Kuala Lumpur is set to embark on a new journey to the future through its new KL City Plan 2020 – 2040. Having gazetted all its Statutory Plans (Structure and Local Plans) previously for development horizon until the year 2020, the re-planning for the next 20 years has started now with DBKL looking at a long-term view of its development plans and challenges from various perspectives such as demographic changes, climate change, technology disruptions and scarcity of land. 

According to the press release, this year’s WCSC conference series is themed “NEXT: KL2040” and will explore how Kuala Lumpur and other cities in Malaysia can prepare for today’s and tomorrow’s challenges towards becoming a world class sustainable and livable city. 

Strategies, approaches and mechanisms that will safeguard our future development needs have to be formulated carefully. Innovative and creative solutions to today’s concerns and future trends need to be put in place by City Managers and city stakeholders. Additionally, the role and participation of civil society in city planning and city administration will become crucial and significant.             

The conference aims to provide a constructive, inclusive and aspirational platform, as well as a strategic networking arena for city managers, city planners, city architects, city engineers, city game-changers and other stakeholders in the city to address how Kuala Lumpur and other cities in Malaysia should move forward into the future. 

Over the past 11 years, WCSC Partner Organizations are truly gratified to have continued with efforts to educate and change public mindsets and perceptions on the benefits and challenges faced in becoming a world class sustainable and livable city. 

The achievement of such positive initiatives and progressive results implemented in Malaysia learnt from past WCSC conference series include the transformation of Cheongyecheon River restoration in Seoul, Korea that was a prelude to Kuala Lumpur’s River of Life project; Brazil’s Curitiba experience for its city transportation solutions; Hong Kong and Singapore’s pedestrianization projects that include covered walkway systems to make cities for the people; the metamorphosis of Kaohsiung, Taiwan from an industrial polluter to an ecological tourist hub demonstrating that livable cities are creative and competitive; to name a few. 

This year’s one-day symposium will feature an exciting line-up of distinguished World-Class international and local speakers including panellists from Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands and Malaysia. They are globally renowned for their innovative ideas and solutions towards the present and future urban planning issues and challenges in achieving the global goal of sustainable development and implementing the New Urban Agenda. 

Confirmed international and local speakers include Victorian Planning Authority, Melbourne, Australia,  CEO Stuart Moseley who will be speaking on maintaining Melbourne City world class livability. Next, we also have UNStudio, Amsterdam, the Netherlands co-founder Caroline Bos are speaking on new urban typologies. 

Gehl Architects founder and senior advisor of Copenhagen, Denmark, Dr Jan Gehl will speak on designing cities for the people. Urban Solutions of Think City Malaysia spatial analyst and programme manager Dr Ceelia Leong will be speaking on Kuala Lumpur’s creative and cultural district. 

Additionally, as part of the WCSC 2019 programme, concurrent events and activities being organized include two exclusive “MasterClass” workshops facilitated by conference speakers, “Young People’s Lab” workshop for youths and a “Photography Competition” with attractive cash prizes. 

WCSC is jointly organized by the three partner organizations: the Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association Malaysia Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur (REHDA KL), the Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP), and the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM).