INTRODUCTION

[ Introduction | A | B | C | D ]

The importance of environmental protection and conservation has drawn much attention, both in Malaysia and internationally, since global environmental problems first emerged as a common world-wide concern at the United Nations Conference on Human Environment in 1972. In 1992, Malaysia participated in the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit) which took sustainable development as its central theme. The highlight of the Earth Summit was the adoption of the Rio Declaration which stipulates 26 basic principles based on harmony between the environment and development. Agenda 21, a specific implementation plan, was also established by the Earth Summit, followed by the establishment of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) under the aegis of the United Nations Economic and Social Council to evaluate and monitor the implementation of the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21.

However, in the case of a developing country like Malaysia, implementing the Rio Declaration and Agenda 21 is a difficult challenge as the actual links between the environment and development planning are not very strong. The lack of good governance, weak coordination between the specific authorities, a lack of statutory instrumentation, resources, implementation and enforcement of existing legislation, institutional capabilities and trained personnel, environmental awareness among the general public, and poverty are the main constraints to integrating environmental considerations into development planning. Such constraints are particularly evident in a rapidly developing area such as Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia.

Located within the State of Selangor, in the west-central region of peninsular Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur was designated as a federal territory in 1972. Covering 243.45 sq km, the city is a highly populated area, with an estimated 1.4 million people in 1990; that figure is expected to increase to 2.2 million by the year 2000 (Kuala Lumpur Structural Plan, 1984). The huge increment in its population will put a significant burden on the existing environmental capacity of Kuala Lumpur, and without current proper planning will result in various environmental pollution problems.

The strong gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 8 per cent over the past few years indicates that the Malaysian economy in the medium- and long-term appears to be relatively bright. The inflation and employment rates were at an enviable level of 2.5 to 4 per cent. The manufacturing and construction sectors have been the leaders of growth while the growth of the agricultural sector was slower (ENSEARCH, 1996).

As Malaysia moves towards industrialized nation status, expected to be reached by the year 2020, rapid urbanization and industrial activities will increasingly have an impact on the environment that serves both as the source of raw materials for development and also as a "sink" for pollutants. The federal and local governments, industry, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and consumers have to act collectively to ensure that development takes place in a sustainable manner. The utilization of natural resources must be well planned; in the case of Kuala Lumpur, the most crucial natural resource is land.

The rapid development of urban Kuala Lumpur is imposing significant pressure on its natural resources and environmental capacity. In an urban environment, per capita resource consumption and waste production is comparatively high compared with the rural environment. That trend will ultimately have serious adverse effects on the life support system, including land, water and air, on which humans depend for survival, and aesthetic values such as green parcels of land, natural terrain and pristine ecosystems that can enhance the quality of life and mental health of its inhabitants.

Apart from depleting renewable and non-renewable natural resources, development also promotes environmental degradation in the form of flash floods, landslides, mud flows, soil erosion, siltation and sedimentation of rivers, unmanageable waste production and water scarcity. It is therefore imperative for a fast-developing country such as Malaysia to protect, conserve and utilize its natural resources in a sustainable manner for the sake of future generations.

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