The effectiveness of the Riverfront Development Guidelines in Malaysia

Abstract

Water is one of the most important of all the natural resources necessary to ensure human health and civilisation. Malaysia is fortunate to be able to call itself a water rich nation and possesses a number of rivers with great potential for recreation. The importance of rivers as the physical centre of a city and the site for trading from very early times remains in the history of all Malaysians (Hussein, 2006). Population growth, economic growth, urbanisation and increased technology have transformed many Malaysian river systems from water industries into non water industries. Due to these changes, the function of riverfront areas has also changed and the current pattern of riverfront development in Malaysia now focuses more on mixed-use development and recreation, while incorporating Malaysian cultural and historical values. However, in some cases, the implementation of these riverfront projects is driven more by investment needs than by community and environmental needs, with developers neither taking part nor contributing to the government goals of sustaining water and rivers as assets for the country. In addition, inadequate regulations and guidelines relating to riverfront developments, at every level of government, is having a negative impact environmentally and socially. Examples are increases in water pollution indexes and rates of juvenile problems. This paper presents the results of a study on the effectiveness of riverfront development guidelines in Malaysia. Data was collected using interviews with stakeholders involved in riverfront development projects within selected case study areas: Kuching Riverfront, Malacca Waterfront, Glenmarie Cove Riverfront; and survey questionnaires from property development companies listed on Bursa Malaysia. The results showed that most of the interviewees and developers were familiar with the Guidelines for riverfront development concept proposed by the Malaysian Department of Drainage and Irrigation, even though not directly involved in riverfront projects. Moreover, the majority did not support the guidelines for many reasons such as they are insufficient to control environment problems and there is no specific guidance for riverfront developments. These results will be used to provide recommendations for best practice in riverfront developments in Malaysia.