Wan Agyl Wan Hassan said one effective way to do this is by developing other cities and regional hubs across the country to create more opportunities outside of the Klang Valley.
“By encouraging businesses to set up in other parts of the country, we can reduce pressures on the capital and spread economic benefits more evenly.
“This is essential if we want to avoid the negative impact of over-urbanisation,” he told FMT, referring to crowded living conditions and rising crime.
Wan Agyl said many people are drawn to migrate to the capital by the promise of better jobs and a higher standard of living.
While in the past a majority of those who had migrated to Klang Valley were from rural areas, in 2015 it was noted that only 4.2% of the country’s internal migration came from such areas.
Currently, a staggering 75% of migrants were moving from one city to another in search of career opportunities and a better quality of life, he said, with Kuala Lumpur the top destination given the vibrant social connections it offers.
Wan Agyl said this spike in the number of people has created new challenges, with the city’s infrastructure being “pushed to its limits”.
“Without smart, strategic action, we could see worsening overcrowding and deeper economic inequalities that threaten the social fabric of our community.”
Last week, federal territories minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the population of Greater Kuala Lumpur was estimated to have crossed the 8.8 million mark this year, with an increase of 2.25% in the last year alone.
She said its population was expected to hit 9.8 million by 2030.
Greater Kuala Lumpur is the metropolitan region within the jurisdiction of the ten city halls and municipalities of Kuala Lumpur, Klang, Kajang, Subang Jaya, Petaling Jaya, Selayang, Shah Alam, Ampang Jaya, Putrajaya and Sepang.
Wan Agyl said another strategy to help ease the pressure on Kuala Lumpur was to invest in improving infrastructure in rural and smaller urban areas.
He said the country could take inspiration from initiatives elsewhere, including China’s “New Countryside” and “Green Rural Revival” programmes, to improve rural living conditions.
“By making these regions more attractive places to live, we can reduce the need for people to migrate to Kuala Lumpur.”