Category FAQs Search : Housing Development in Malaysia/Sarawak
Question: Local Authority Empowerment towards Quality Living Environment for Coastal Reclamation Area
Answer: Good urban governance administration system is the key to a successful physical planning development. A
local authority of a local government concentrates on planning administration and executes the policies and strategies
either the federal or state, or even the local’s policies and strategies. Based on its characteristic as the lowest level of
government, it becomes the best authority to regulate and monitor the development process within their territory. The
significance of a local authority in providing quality living environment invites various academia and professionals to
ponder the best urban governance system at a local level. However, there are issues with regards to financial and
technical capacity of a local authority, its legal limitation and development instrument adopted in providing urban
services for coastal reclamation area in Malaysia. The aim of this paper is to investigate the capability of local
authorities in Malaysia in implementing their function as drawn by the legislation. Hence, this paper examines the
roles and functions of a local authority as the lowest level of government administration agency in providing urban
services; collecting revenue; safeguarding the physical environment in Malaysia, particularly when dealing with
development in a coastal reclamation area. Primary data collection was gathered through face-to-face interview
sessions involving government agencies and stakeholders. Legal documents, policies and development plans were
then analysed to support the primary data for further understanding of the issues concerning the capacity of a local
authority especially when providing urban services within its area. The study is expected to provide a new approach
to local authorities in Malaysia in providing quality living environment in terms of development procedure, the role
and function, legal empowerment, and decentralisation of function particularly in enhancing the current practices at
local level.
(Source: Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, 07 Jul 2021)
Source Link: https://www.matec-conferences.org/articles/matecconf/pdf/2016/29/matecconf_ibcc2016_00037.pdf