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4 WIVES AND 1 HUSBAND

What?
Why?
When?
Who?
How?
Town planning in
Malaysia-
Early history

1
 Milestones

1801 : The Formation Of Committee Of Assesors in Penang

1913 : Setting Up of First Official Town Planning Committee
1913-1917 : The Formulation of Early Town Planning Related Legislations
1921 : The Appointment of First Government Town Planner
Pre-World War II Years:

1922 : Report by the Government Town Planner

1923 : The Town Planning Enactment 1923
1924 : Private Developer's Plan vs Town Planner's Plan
1926 : The First Town Planning Exhibition
1927 : The Amendment of Town Planning Enactment 1923
1929 : The Appointment Of a New Government Town Planner
1930 : Part IX - The Sanitary Boards Enactment CAP 137
• 1801: The Formation Of Committee Of Assesors in
Penang
• 

The earliest form of "local planning authority" was
established in this country when the Committee of
Assesors was formed in George Town, Penang. This
committee was made up of voluntary members and
enthrusted with the authority to lay out GeorgeTown mainly
to facilitate the opening of land for development of the
colonial administrative town. The Committee's major
contributions include the construction of streets and drainage
in George Town..
• 1913: Setting Up of First Official Town Planning Committee
• G.H.Day, a Federal Councillor, proposed the setting up of a Town Planning Committee to the then
Federal Council of Malaya, specifically to process building plans of public buildings and
government quarters. As a result, a Town Planning Committee for Kuala Lumpur was established.

• 1913-1917: The Formulation of Early Town Planning Related Legislations

• Some of the earliest town planning related legislations in the country were enacted during this
period specifically to enable the local authorities or municipalities to carry out their duties to
ensure public health. These laws included theMunicipal Ordinance CAP 133 of 1913 and the Town
Improvement Enactment of 1917. The former contained provisions for the preparation of a
"scheme of buildings" showing allocation for streets, backlanes and open space to ensure sanitary
conditions, amenity and conveniences to public. Whereas the latter empowered the Sanitary
Boards to carry out all types of improvements to Sanitary Board areas, including demolition of
buildings unfit for human habitation and expand of open space.
• 1921 : The Appointment of First Government Town Planner
Charles C. Reade was appointed the first Government Town Planner for
the Federated Malay States of Malaya. His appointment also marked
the official establishment of the Town Planning Department in Malaya.
Reade was entrusted the tasks of preparing planning schemes for the
Local Authorities in the country. His office at Town Planning Department
was first housed in Secretariat Building at Jalan Raja, Kuala Lumpur.

• 1922 : Report by the Government Town Planner

Reade submitted the report entitled "Town Planning and Development in
the Federated Malay States. Preliminary Report and General Survey
with Recommendations to the Acting Under Secretary to Government,
FMS, by the Government Town Planner". The report called for the
introduction of modern town planning into Malaya.
• 1923 : The Town Planning Enactment
• A Bill entitled the Town Planning and Development Bill 1923 was
presented to the Federal Council of Federated Malay States by
Charles C. Reade. The Bill was subsequently enacted as the Town
Planning Enactment 1923. The Enactment was very comprehensive
in terms of planning power and legislative provisions, incorporating
provisions for planning, development control, power to implement
town improvement schemes and the setting up Town Planning
Committees to oversee planning activities. This Enactment was most
significant in that it brought the improvement and development of
towns and other areas within the realm of town planning in a separate
and specific legislation. For further details see the Paper on the
History of the First Planning Law.
• 1924 : Private Developer's Plan vs Town Planner's Plan
• The top-left image is the original subdivision for an area near
Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur as proposed by private
developers. The image on the right was prepared by the
Government Town Planner, by C. C. Reade. Click on the
images to have a close-up view. (Source: Annual Report of
Government Town Planner, 1924)
• 1926 : The First Town Planning Exhibition
• The first Town Planning exhibition in the Malaya was held in Kuala
Lumpur from 27-31 August 1926. It exhibited a collection of plans and
illustrations with regard to the town development of Kuala Lumpur.
The image on the left is the report accompanying the exhibits.

• 1927 : The Amendment of Town Planning Enactment 1923

• The Town Planning Enactment 1923 was amended and approved by
the Federal Council on 28 February 1927. It resulted in the drastic
reduction of legislative provisions for town planning including the
abolition of Town Planning Committee and the return of town planning
powers the local government, i.e. the Sanitary Boards.
• 1929 : The Appointment Of a New Government Town Planner
• R.P. Davies was appointed the new Government Town Planner to succeed C. C.
Reade. It was also during this time that the services of Town Planning Department
- centred in kuala Lumpur - was extended to the other Federated Malay States,
including Perak, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. It helped to create a basis for
the eventual spread of town planning in the country.



• 1930 : Part IX - The Sanitary Boards Enactment CAP 137

• This legislation was a consolidation of various amendments to the Sanitary
Boards Enactments since 1916 and incorporated the provisions of the Town
Planning Enactment 1927 to allow the preparation of General Town Plans (or
commonly refered to zoning plans) by the Sanitary Boards. CAP 137 was later
renamed Town Boards Enactment in line with the local authorities' expanding
functions. Part IX - Town Planning Provisions of CAP 137 provided the basis for
planning in Malaysia until a new law was formulated in 1976
• Pre-Independence Years:
• 


• 1948 : Extension of Town Planning Department

• After the Second World War, activities of the Town Planning Department were extended to
cover Town Boards and Municipal areas in the then Malayan Union. Under the Federal
Agreement 1948, the Federal Town Planning Department maintained its role as the advisor to
the Federal Government on planning matters.
• 


• 1955-1956 : The Formation Of Regional Offices of the Federal Town Planning

Department
• The Federal Town Planning Department coordinated its activities in Malaya through the
formation of new regional offices, such as Southern Region Office in Johore Bahru, Central-
Northern Region Office in Ipoh and Northern Region Office in Fort Cornwallis of Penang. In
1956, the department was involved in the preparation of development plans for FELDA
(Federal Land Development Authority) which involved large scale mass resettlement
schemes.
 Post independence milestone

1957 : Concurrent Responsibility Of Federal and State Governments In Town

Planning

1961 : Initiative Towards A New Town and Country Planning Legislation

1966: First Draft of National Town Planning Legislation
1972 : Revised National Planning Act
1976 : The Town and Country Planning Act
1978-1985 : Adoption of TCP Act 1976 By the Various States
1995 : The Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 1995 and Town
Planners Act 1995
1996 : Diamond Jubilee Celebration and Birth of MTP
• 1957 : Concurrent Responsibility Of Federal and State
Governments In Town Planning
• After Independence, the town planning system was re-
organised in line with the new system of government whereby
the responsibilities among the Federal and State
Governments are stipulated in the Federal Constitution. Under
the Constitution, matters related to town planning (and local
government) are the concurrent responsibility of both Federal
and State Goverments. This is however, complicated by the
fact that land is under the jurisdiction of State Government. As
such while federal officers of the town planning department are
seconded to the state town planning departments, they are
effectively state officers answerable to the state governments
• 1961 : Initiative Towards A New Town and Country
Planning Legislation
• W. Fairbank, the then Commissioner of Town Planning,
initiated a Paper seeking Cabinet approval for, amongst
others, a new Town and Country Planning legislation for the
whole of Penninsular Malaysia, i.e. Town and Country
Planning Ordinance of Malaya. The Paper highlighted the
need for a National Plan to coordinate urban and rural
development in the country as well as to elevate town
planning from the lowest level of government to encompass
regional and national planning.
• 1966: First Draft of National Town Planning Legislation
• The first Draft of the proposed Town and Country Planning
Ordinance of Malaya was prepared and submitted to the
Ministry of Housing and Local Government on 12 July 1966. 


• 1972: Revised National Planning Act

• The first Draft of the Revised National Planning Act was
completed on 30 June 1972. Among others, it proposed the need
for the preparation of a National Master Plan, the creation of
several levels of planning authorities, and the bringing of public
participation into the planning process. The proposals in this Draft
was substantially revised when it was finally presented as the
Town and Country Planning Bill 1975.
• 1976: The Town and Country Planning Act (TCP Act )
1976
• The TCP Act 1976 was enacted by the Malaysian Parliament
with the purpose of introducing an uniform system of law and
policy for town and country planning in Peninsular Malaysia.
In particular, the TCP Act 1976 aims to ensure the proper
control and regulation of town and country planning in local
authority areas in the various States of Peninsular Malaysia.
Some of the important features of TCP Act 1976 include the
introduction of two-tier Development Plan system; a system
of Development Control ; establishment of State Planning
Committee and the setting up of Appeals Board
• 1978 - 1985: Adoption of TCP Act 1976 By the Various
States
• This period witnessed the adoption and enforcement of TCP
Act 1976 by the various States in Peninsular Malysia. The
TCP Act 1976 provides that the State Authority may bring the
Act into operation in any manner the State Authority thinks
most expedient. The State of Penang has adopted and
enforced the TCP Act 1976 in full since 1Jan, 1985. Other
States in Peninsular Malaysia, such as Johore, Kedah,
Kelantan, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak,
Perlis, Selangor and Trengganu have adopted the TCP Act
1976 in part, notably Part I (Preliminary), Part II (Policy and
Administration) and Part III (Development Plans).
• 1995: The Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 1995 and 

Town Planners Act 1995
• Two significant events occurred in 1995. First, the TCP Act 1976 was
amended by to further streamline the law and policy of Town Planning in
Peninsular Malaysia. In particular, the Town and Country Planning
(Amendment) Act 1995 emphasises environmental management in
planning, such as conservation of topographical features and trees. It
also brings into regulation a more stringent set of development control as
well as evaluation, such as the requirement for Development Proposal
Report to be submitted - along with layout plans - during applications for
planning permission. Second, the Town Planner Act 1995 was enacted.
It is a watershed in the development of town planning as a professional
activity in Malaysia. This Act regulates the Town Planning profession
through the setting up of a Town Planners Board and registration of
town planners qualified to undertake various planning tasks.
• 1996 : Diamond Jubilee Celebration of Town Planning In
Malaysia and 

Birth of Malaysian Town Planning Homepage (MTP)
• On 17 January, the town planning profession in Malaysia
celebrates its 75-year Diamond Jubilee at Fort Cornwallis,
Penang where some of the earliest town planning activities
in the country took place. This celebration commemorates
the 75th year of coming into service of the Town Planning
Department in Malaysia
FDTCP: HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The first Town Planning Office :
- established in the Kuala Lumpur
Secretariat Building (Sultan Abdul Samad
Building) on 18th. January 1921.

Among the early activities :

- replanning and distribution of lots,
housing planning and public housing, road
widening and straightening of the Klang
River.

2
 Town Planning in the Malay Peninsula

1801 - (Formation of the Committee of Assessors) in
Pulau Pinang. Layout of Georgetown remains the early
town planning activities recorded.
FDTCP: HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The first Town Planning Office :
- established in the Kuala Lumpur
Secretariat Building (Sultan Abdul Samad
Building) on 18th. January 1921.

Among the early activities :

- replanning and distribution of lots,
housing planning and public housing, road
widening and straightening of the Klang
River.

2
 FUNCTIONS OF PLANNING
AUTHORITIES
FEDERAL LEVEL
To act as advisor to the Federal Government on all planning matters in
relation to use and development of land
To act as secretariat to the National Physical Planning Council set up
under the TCP Act (Act 172)
To establish a comprehensive, effective and efficient planning system
through legislation, research, standards and procedures.
To translate national socio-economic policies into physical and spatial
terms through the formulation of the NPC and other policies /
programmes
To provide assistance to State Governments, local authorities and
other Government agencies in the preparation of development plans
including structure plans and local plans
To prepare, maintain and publish statistics, bulletins and guidelines on
town and country planning.
12
 1912 - W.F. Nutt seeks the (Federal Council) of the Federated malay
States (F.M.S) to take action on haphazard development and “urban
sprawl”
1913 – A Town Planning Lesgislation was prepared so that Kuala
Lumpur will be orderly structured based on shopping and other activities.
(Federal Council), 1913). E.L. Brockman (Chief Secretary) announced
the formation of a town planning committee for Kuala Lumpur
 3 September 1920 – British Government in Malay
Peninsula requested a Government Town Planner,
Charles Reade from Australia
18 Januari 1921 – First office set up in Sultan abdul
samad building
 TOWN PLANNING SERVICE IN
MALAYSIA
ENABLING POWERS AND LEGISLATIONS
FEDERAL
CONSTITUTION
STATE LEGISLATION PARLIAMENT

LOCAL STATE GOVERNMENT MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL

GOVERNMENT (STATE TCPDs) GOVERNMENT (FDTCP PEN. MALAYSIA)
F
C

TOWN AND COUNTRY

NATIONAL LAND
GOVERNMENT

OTHER ACTS
PLANNING ACT 1976 (ACT 172)

CODE 1965
ACT 1976
LOCAL

Town & Country Planning Act (Amendment 1),

1993 ( Act A866),
Town & Country Planning Act (Amendment 2),
1995 (Act A933),

Town & Country Planning Act (Amendment 3),
2001 (Act A1129)
Direct Indirect C Consultation F Federal
3
FDTCP: VISION AND MISSION

As a leading agency in promoting

excellent, glorious and distinctive
town and country planning service

To create a quality and sustainable

living environment in tandem with
Vision 2020
4
 FDTCP: GENERAL FUNCTIONS
(Interpretation of Section 2B (1) Town and Country
Planning Act 1976)
1 Advisor to the Federal Government on all planning
matters related to land use and development;

2 As the secretariat to the National Physical

Planning Council, established under the Town and
Country Planning Act 1976 (Act 172);

3 Encourage a comprehensive, effective and

efficient land use planning system, through
planning laws, methodologies, research,
standards and procedures

5
 FDTCP: GENERAL FUNCTIONS
(Interpretation of Section 2B (1) Town and Country
Planning Act 1976)
4 To translate the national socio-economic policies into
physical and spatial forms through land use formulas
and policies and also settlement programmes;

5 To assist State Governments, Local Authorities and

government agencies in the preparation of
development plans such as State Structure Plans and
Local Plans; and

6 To publish reports, bulletins, statistics, monographs

and other publications relating to town and country
planning.

6
LESSONS LEARNT
1. Planning is a British import with local modifications
2. Has the original concept of British planning still retained?
3.Are the Malaysian modifications still relevant?
4.what are the way forward for Malaysian Town planning?