Kok said it was important to create liveable cities by addressing infrastructure gaps like overcrowded schools.

She said many developments focus on EIAs but neglect the crucial aspect of SIAs which assess the availability of essential facilities such as schools, hospitals and clinics.

“In places like Sri Petaling, schools are already full. We must include provisions in the law to ensure liveable cities,” she said at a forum on URA last night.

Zamirzan Puji from the town and country planning department, who also attended the forum, affirmed that developers would be required to comply with both EIA and SIA regulations under the proposed act.

On March 8, the housing and local government ministry said it was in the final stages of drafting Malaysia’s first URA, which it aims to table soon in the Dewan Rakyat.

Minister Nga Kor Ming said numerous town hall sessions were conducted with stakeholders, including Kuala Lumpur City Hall and state governments.

He said once Parliament approves the act, it will unlock numerous investment opportunities, transform the cityscape, and generate “hundreds of billions” in gross development value.

Urban planning and development are crucial components of Malaysia’s economic and social agenda, especially given the current urbanisation rate of 78% which is projected to rise to 84% by 2040.

According to Nga, without intervention, some places in Kuala Lumpur and even Petaling Jaya could become slum areas in 20 years, possibly leading to dilapidated and unliveable strata properties.

At the forum, Kok said that Nga hails from Perak and might not fully understand the challenges faced by residents in the Klang Valley.

“We must understand that different towns face different issues,” she said.

“People in the Klang Valley are victims of overdevelopment and traffic jams. It’s important for the minister to take these differences into account.”