THE Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 (KLLP2040), unveiled today by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, signals a bold departure from past approaches to city planning, laying out a long-term strategy to create a more inclusive, liveable and people-centred capital.
Hailing it as “the most comprehensive plan in the history of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL)”, Anwar said the KLLP2040 was not merely about upgrading infrastructure but about reimagining the role of cities in serving their people.
“It represents a philosophical and strategic shift aimed at transforming Kuala Lumpur into a more humane, inclusive, and equitable city for all communities,” he said during the launch ceremony.
The plan, which had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has since been overhauled under the MADANI administration to better align with principles of sustainability and social justice.
“We are not building a new city like Putrajaya. We are working within the constraints of existing, immovable structures, which makes the task more challenging,” Anwar noted.
He said urban renewal efforts must now correct long-standing issues such as chaotic land use, ad-hoc housing approvals and poor governance.
Central to the KLLP2040 is a commitment to digital innovation, with smart technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) playing a key role—particularly in the design and delivery of public housing.
“There has been resistance from elite groups over the redesigned public housing projects,” Anwar acknowledged. “But the government will not compromise on its principles and will continue to champion those who have long been marginalised.”
He criticised past patterns of urban development that, he said, have “left the majority with only the leftovers”.
“Development in cities has often benefited only a comfortable few, while excluding the majority. That is not balanced,” he said. “We must humanise development. It must consider the needs of the stalls, the warungs, the small restaurants enjoyed by 80 per cent of our people.”
He said urban development must be reoriented to meet the everyday needs of the B40 and M40 income groups through an integrated approach combining housing, public transport, early education, healthcare and childcare.
He cited plans for vertical schools located near essential services and public transport, designed with safety and efficiency in mind.
KLLP2040 will now serve as the formal framework for DBKL in assessing all future development proposals, approvals and planning considerations, aligning the capital’s growth trajectory with Malaysia’s broader sustainability agenda.
Among those present at the launch were Bandar Tun Razak MP Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, and Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.
Also in attendance were Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar and Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif. - June 24, 2025
