The Role of Urban Governance to Enhance Kuala Lumpur City- Region Development by Dr
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Global Journal of HUMAN SOCIAL SCIENCE Arts & Humanities Volume 12 Issue 12 Version 1.0 Year 2012 Type: Double Blind Peer Reviewed International Research Journal Publisher: Global Journals Inc. (USA) Online ISSN: 2249-460x & Print ISSN: 0975-587X The Role of Urban Governance to Enhance Kuala Lumpur City- Region Development By Dr. Azmizam Abdul Rashid Abstract - In the age of globalization, it was argued that major cities in the region should be positioned in the global city system, in order for these cities and their immediate regions are effectively developed. At the same time, the emergence of new global economic and informational societies has created a new form of spatial development, the global cities. Such status was achieved only when a city and its region becomes a major center of international finance, transnational corporate headquarters, related high-level and specialized services, information processing and advanced telecommunications, a city with an international command and control functions. The aspiration for Kuala Lumpur City-Region (KLCR) is to drive rapid growth parallel with upgrading the city's liveability, according to the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP)'s A Roadmap for Malaysia. Keywords : Globalization, local government, city-region, international economy, economic tranformation programme. GJHSS-A Classification: FOR Code: 160404 The Role of Urban Governance to Enhance Kuala Lumpur City-Region Development Strictly as per the compliance and regulations of: © 2012. Dr. Azmizam Abdul Rashid This is a research/review paper, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/), permitting all non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The Role of Urban Governance to Enhance Kuala Lumpur City-Region Development Dr. Azmizam Abdul Rashid Abstract - In the age of globalization, it was argued that major ensure that population growth is matched by access to cities in the region should be positioned in the global city shelter, basic infrastructure and economic opportunities. system, in order for these cities and their immediate regions Managing the affairs of a city-region is an 12 are effectively developed. At the same time, the emergence of 0 iterative process of planning, implementation and 2 new global economic and informational societies has created control of some or all of these aspects and the complex a new form of spatial development, the global cities. Such inter-relationships among them. In recent years, it has ear status was achieved only when a city and its region becomes Y been recognised the world over that effective a major center of international finance, transnational corporate headquarters, related high-level and specialized services, management of urban areas requires a shift from 17 information processing and advanced telecommunications, a technocratic processes traditionally utilised by urban city with an international command and control functions. The planning agencies to a more inclusive process involving aspiration for Kuala Lumpur City-Region (KLCR) is to drive a wide spectrum of actors and stakeholders (Boschken rapid growth parallel with upgrading the city's liveability, 2008). according to the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP)'s Urban need to be governed efficient and A Roadmap for Malaysia. For this National Key Economic Area effective to promote a sustainable and conducive (NKEA), KLCR extends beyond the boundaries of Kuala environment as a place of work and living. At the same Lumpur. It is defined as an area covered by 10 municipalities, time, the uniqueness of urban should also be preserved each governed by local government (LG) - Kuala Lumpur City to maintain its image and distinct identity. City-region is Council (DBKL), Perbadanan Putrajaya, Shah Alam City Council (MBSA), Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), Klang a catalyst and contributor towards the national Municipal Council (MPK), Kajang Municipal Council, Subang economic growth, a centre for innovation and Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ), Selayang Municipal Council, entrepreneurship and a source for high social services. Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) and Sepang LG will help to generate a competitive national Municipal Council (MPSp). .The successful implementation of development in the context of physical, economy and Volume XII Issue Version I the ETP will lead to additional business opportunities, urban ) DDDD social. Therefore, development potentials that exist in A economic and enhance liveability within KLCR. To what extend city-region should be continuously adopted and ( the above how these LG can participate to enhance KLCR ce supported as a place for investment and providing n development? It is the intention of the paper to deal with such e services of a high level. With the rapid pace of ci a question, with particular reference to government initiatives urbanization in Malaysia by 2020, LG is faced with to enhance the development of KLCR. Although KLCR has al S substantially part of the international economy for the past various complex challenges ahead (DTCP 2006). ci o three decades, it this paper argued that KLCR play a S significant role to the global or even regional control functions II. Objectives that world cities proposes. This paper will discuss the effects of uman Keywords : Globalization, local government, city-region, globalization, economical crises, competitiveness and international economy, economic tranformation development on the urban structure and city form of f H programme. KLCR. Malaysia has successfully applied economic al o n planning to guide the development of the country from r u I. Introduction an economy of agriculture and mining to a largely o industrialised one. Now, with its sights set on attaining al J n the context of globalization, local government (LA) is b the economic level of a fully developed nation by 2020, lo increasingly faced with complex challenges. the planning system must be made even more efficient G Urbanisation is a natural constituent of civilisation and I and focused. development, a consequence of economic changes that take place as a country develops, and an essential This paper also discuss on the role of LG to phenomenon that contributes to the growth process at enhance KLCR development and competitiveness. In large. However, the positive role of urbanisation is this framework the influence of Foreign Direct overshadowed by the enormous problems it brings in its Investment (FDI) will be analyzed as well as the role and wake. Urban management, therefore, is concerned with potentiality of the local economy. policies, plans, programmes and practices that seek to III. Methodology KLCR extends beyond the boundaries of Kuala Author : E-mail : [email protected] Lumpur which governed by LGs- Kuala Lumpur City © 2012 Global Journals Inc. (US) The Role of Urban Governance to Enhance Kuala Lumpur City-Region Development Council (DBKL), Perbadanan Putrajaya, Shah Alam City nuisances and obnoxious in nature, falls under this Council (MBSA), Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ), function as well. Klang Municipal Council (MPK), Kajang Municipal d) Social functions Council, Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ), Some larger municipalities provide social Selayang Municipal Council (MPS), Ampang Jaya services such as childcare centres, clinics within their Municipal Council (MPAJ) and Sepang Municipal health care service programmes, ambulance and Council (MPSp). hearse services. Besides these, they maintain fountains The study involved 10 main LGs in KLCR with and arrange for lighting public streets and other public 315 respondents representing various stakeholders services and provide manual labour and facilities to which included government agencies, local and foreign state governments or the district offices to assist in the 12 investors, non-government organisation (NGO), organization of ad hoc social services at the state and 20 politician and university students. Pearson correlation district levels; attempt to measure a significant the relationship ear Y between the roles of LG and the KLCR development. e) Developmental functions In 2010, KLCR population was estimated at six As opposed to mandatory functions of the local 18202 million and it contributed about RM263 billion to the authorities, the development functions are considered nation's Gross National Income (GNI), proving that "discretionary" under the Local Government Act, 1976. KLCR was indeed the engine of the nation's economic Even though LG could be regarded as an important growth and hence designated as a National Key instrument for local socioeconomic modernization, the Economic Area (NKEA). KLCR is a unique NKEA as it lack of financial and physical capacity limits the extent has a geographical focus rather than the industry focus and functions that they can provide. This is particularly of the other 11 NKEA's. This paper based on the the case with district councils. (Boschma 2004) analysis of latest information Kuala Lumpur Cily Plan In the face of rapid growth and the pressure to 2020 prepared by DBKL, The Report of ETP : A fulfil multiple needs of the local citizens and the private Roadmap for Malaysia, NKEA Reports, 2011 Malaysian sector community, the scope of functions and Industrial Development Authority’s (MIDA) Annual responsibilities of LG is expanding every day. The Report, Department of Local Authority, Ministry