Headline :(HL) National Physical Plan approved by Cabinet

NST
Date :13/05/2005
Page :01

Byline :By R.S. Kamini
Type : Prime News

KUALA LUMPUR, Thurs. - Green belts will have better protection from today. This follows the Cabinet's approval of the National Physical Plan as a guideline for development.
The approval, given on Monday, means the National Physical Council can now rein in unbridled development on forested and environmentally-sensitive areas.
Decisions to develop any land in the peninsula now rested with the council, which is chaired by the Prime Minister, said Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting.
"Before the National Physical Plan, every State was free to approve or implement its own projects. Now everything will be under the purview of the National Physical Council," said Ong.
"The Federal and the State Governments will work together to decide which areas to conserve and which areas to develop."
The council consists of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Housing and Local Government Minister and all Chief Ministers.
Unrestrained development in the States has been a major concern for the Federal Government.
Meanwhile, Ong said development plans drafted under the five-year Malaysia Plans will also come under the National Physical Plan.
The National Physical Plan has policies that regulate the use and development of all areas.
It also regulated the conservation of highlands, lowlands, marines and forest reserves, he said after launching the Metal Tech Malaysia 2005 exhibition here.
Through the council, States will also be kept informed of each other's development activities.
"We do not want to over-develop or neglect any State, so each State will have its own commercial zone, agriculture zone and conserved green zone," he said.
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