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Research and Development Division
INTRODUCTION:
The Research and Development Division was established in the Department of Town and Country Planning, for the purpose of securing the quality and efficiency of town and country planning services at all levels of the government through the findings and conclusions of comprehensive, innovative, progressive, sustainable and scientific research studies. The role of the Research and Development Division is to continually improve the quality of town and country planning services through the coordination and preparation of planning guidelines and research studies that can be referred to in conducting town and country planning and development.
ROLE:
- To conduct planning research studies and formulate planning guidelines in line with the national development policies and planning principles, benchmarked against local and international best practices.
- To conduct planning research studies and guidelines in terms of:
- environmental planning and risk management;
- land use planning and its components;
- urban morphology, design and heritage;
- planning techniques and methodology;
- sustainable development and safe city; and
- evaluation of international policies and research.
iii. To carry out the Green Neighbourhood Award program and Sustainable Development Award.
iv. To ensure that planning research studies utilize scientific, creative, innovative, practical and up-to-date approaches.
iv. To review existing planning guidelines in order to accommodate existing needs, demand and changing lifestyles.
vi. To provide expert input to other divisions within the department and to other departments or agencies.
vii. To establish planning research smart partnerships and collaboration with higher learning and professional institutes as well as other research bodies locally and international.
viii. To disseminate planning research findings and guidelines through teach-in, expert talks, forums, roundtable discussions, seminars, workshops and programmes.
ix. To produce planning monographs, journals and bulletins.
ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE:
The Research and Development Division is under the responsibility of a Deputy Director-General (Development) and headed by a Director. The Division consists of six specialized planning research units, each headed by the Head of Unit.
FUNCTIONS OF UNIT:
- Land Use, Industry, Commercial, Housing, Social Facilities, Infrastructure and Land Utilities Research Unit: -
- To conduct research on policies and legislation in land use planning such as housing, commercial, industries, public facilities, transport, infrastructure, utilities etc.;
- To conduct research on land use planning issues, which include siting and zoning as well as the latest development concepts such as compact city, Small Office Home Offices (SOHO), Transit Oriented Development (TOD), etc.;
- To prepare guidelines and manuals based on the research findings;
- To supervise and revise guidelines and manuals based on the latest needs and scenarios;
- To manage and supervise information gathering on gazetted public open spaces in Peninsular Malaysia and Federal Territory; and
- To provide professional advice to the National Land Use Information Centre (Pusat Maklumat Gunatanah Negara), Development Planning Division, other divisions in the Department and other Ministries or government agencies.
ii. Policy Evaluation and International Research Unit: -
- To evaluate physical planning policies such as the Five-Year Malaysia Plans as input into the preparation of development plans;
- To evaluate international development planning policies as reference for the best practices in town planning practice in the Malaysian context;
- To establish networking in Town and Country Planning, locally and internationally, towards becoming the National Focal Point in urban planning, human settlements and municipalities research;
- To collaborate with higher learning institutions, research centres and professional bodies locally and abroad to acquire skills and experience in Town and Country Planning;
- To liaise with the Corporate Division for international relation matters;
- To publish and document productions of the Research Division;
- To receive and process Social Impact Assessment (SIA) Report and to manage the SIA Report Evaluation Panel Meeting for Category 1 and Category 2 development projects; and
- To provide advisory services on the process of preparation and evaluation of the SIA Report from time to time.
iii. Environment and Risk Management Unit: -
- To conduct research on environmental and risk management policies related to land use planning;
- To conduct studies on the legal aspects of environmental and risk management;
- To prepare, monitor and review planning guidelines and manuals on environmental and risk management which include low carbon cities;
- To carry out studies on techniques of environmental and risk management in relation to land use planning;
- To establish collaboration with various departments, agencies and research institutions related to environmental and risk management; and
- To organize and promote the Green Neighbourhood Award program at the national level.
iv. Morphology, Urban Design and Heritage Unit: -
- To establish research/planning guidelines on morphology, urban design and urban heritage in line with the national development policies, planning principles and best practices for both local and international;
- To establish one (1) research/planning guidelines on morphology, urban design and urban heritage within 12 months;
- To ensure the application of scientific, creative, innovative, practical and up-to-date research on urban morphology, urban design and heritage conservation;
- To provide input on the formulation of policies at local and national level on urban morphology, urban design and heritage conservation, particularly during the preparation of development plans;
- To review planning guidelines related to urban morphology, urban design and heritage conservation in accordance with current demand and policy changes
- To assess the requirements and prepare application procedures for the provision of short-term employee accommodation (TLQ) and planning guidelines for long-term employee accommodation planning (CLQ); and
- To provide a Criteria Guideline on Youth Friendly City Concept.
v. Planning Methodology Unit: -
- To identify and document planning methodology, approaches and techniques that can be applied in town and country planning at various levels;
- To collaborate with local and foreign higher learning and research institutes to gain and enhance expertise and experience in the application of relevant planning methodology and techniques, particularly in spatial analysis and decision-making sciences;
- To provide planning expertise in the field of methodology and planning techniques to other divisions within the department and other related agencies upon request;
- To measure and evaluate the sustainability of local authority areas throughout the country based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the Malaysian Urban Rural National Indicators Network for Sustainable Development (MURNInets 2.0); and
- To review existing and new planning guidelines in accordance with the current legislation and policies.
vi. Sustainability and Safe City Unit: -
- To implement one of the Government Transformation Programs (GTP 2.0) under the NKRA to reduce crime, which is to increase the perception of security in the Blackspot area by coordinating and implementing the Blackspot Area Whitening Initiative;
- To manage and implement the Safe City Monitoring System (SPBS);
- The application and expansion of Crime Prevention through Environmental Design;
- To carry out promotion and publicity activities by holding briefings, talks, hands-on and roadshows; and
- To prepare guidelines and manuals based on the research findings that have been implemented.
