Malaysia’s anti-corruption chief has warned that failings risk leaving ordinary citizens to bear the brunt of misguided urban policies.
Speaking at the close of the 4th National Conference on Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Research, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said, “In the case of Kampung Sungai Baru, I don’t see it as a major issue, but it is clear the planning was not thorough.
“Residents may not have understood the risks when they agreed to have their land developed. When there is no understanding, no governance, and no strategic planning, the people end up suffering.”
Azam cited a study by the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), which examined corruption risks in the determination of land use during the preparation of local plans.
He also called for urgent reforms to outdated legislation, particularly the Town and Country Planning Act 1976, so that it reflects present-day development needs.
“Many residents only look at compensation or cash offers but are not given sufficient guidance on the long-term consequences.
“This is what happens when there is no clear strategic planning,” he added. He advocated the adoption of systematic planning procedures, new technologies, and artificial intelligence (AI) to avoid similar disputes in the future.
Just a day earlier, the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, urged that the redevelopment of Kampung Baru be handled with care, saying that “all decisions must consider the long-term interests of the Malay community”.
In a related development, the national conference also tabled 11 new resolutions aimed at strengthening public sector governance, including a proposal to re-establish a special task force to combat the influx of undocumented foreign nationals.
Associate Professor Dr Mohd Faris Abdullah of IIUM said the measure was part of a broader set of proposals that includes upgrading border enforcement technology and providing appropriate incentives to boost national security readiness.
Other recommendations included amendments to the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 to improve public transparency in local inquiry committee decisions; the introduction of real-time waste tracking to deter illegal dumping; and the drafting of new laws to regulate the national e-sports sector.
Additional proposals tabled at the conference ranged from strengthening ethical compliance within the built environment sector to improved digital licensing systems in tourism, regulatory safeguards for blue carbon trading, and the development of comprehensive anti-corruption training modules for the manufacturing and oil and gas sectors.
All resolutions are to be submitted to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as part of national efforts to enhance governance, integrity, and anti-corruption frameworks. - September 19, 2025
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