Malaysia plans strategic housing development near public transport
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that such a housing development concept will not only provide more strategic residences for low-income groups but also pave the way for a more sustainable and organised urban lifestyle.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has proposed that new people's housing projects be developed on or near public transport stations, as a move to encourage more comprehensive use of the public transport system.
At the Malaysia Madani Scholars’ Forum (FIM) Series 6 themed “Transport for the People: Balancing Affordability, Quality, and Sustainability of Public Transport”, Anwar said that such a housing development concept will not only provide more strategic residences for low-income groups but also pave the way for a more sustainable and organised urban lifestyle.
There are proposals to develop housing directly on top of public transport stations, but this requires certain amendments to laws, he stated.
Anwar said that open discourse platforms like the forum were crucial to ensure government policies were formulated by considering the voices of various parties, including academicians, industry experts, and government supporters. He took notes all of the recommendations at the event and will bring them to the upcoming cabinet meeting.
At the event, Transport Minister Anthony Loke highlighted Malaysia’s low public transport usage, which stands at just 20%, far short of the 40% target set in the National Transport Policy for 2019-2030./.