INSTITUTION THAT GOVERN THE PRACTICE OF TOWN PLANNER IN MALAYSIA AND FUNCTION OF THE BOARD OF

TOWN PLANNERS IN MALAYSIA

By: MUHAMMAD AZIM BIN AZMI (2014899896)

Any land development in Malaysia must be in accordance with the procedures and provisions

of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 (Act 172) and its amendment (Act 1129) and

National Land Code 1965 (Act 56), Federal Territory (Planning) Act 1982 (Act 267) For

Kuala Lumpur. Other laws are also applicable (wherever related) in order to accomplish all

conditions imposed by a local planning authority in granting development approvals.

The institution that govern the practice of town planner in

Malaysia is Lembaga Perancang Bandar Malaysia (LPBM). The

existence of LPBM as a body corporate to promote and enhance

all aspects related to town and country planning, as well as to

regulate and monitor all planning practitioners in this country.

LPBM established under Section 3 of the Town Planning Act

1995 (Act 538) and became effective on January 1, 1996. The

Board members are as provided under Section 4 of the Act. All

members of the Board are appointed by the Minister of Housing and Local Government

Malaysia for a period not exceeding three years. However, membership of the President of

Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP) and President of Malaysian Town Planners Association

(PERSADA) in the Board is automatic. LPBM is also in charge of handling all Registered

Town Planners, Registered Graduate Town Planners and Temporary Registered Foreign

Town Planners from all over the nation, as provided under the Town Planners Act 1995 (Act

538). The objectives of LPBM establishment is to take responsible for regulating the

profession of city planning to be a professional practice in Malaysia, to manage the

registration of town planner and to set the fee scale of town planning profession.

LPBM Logo

Based on act 538 of the Town Planning Act 1995, the membership of the board shall consist a

chairman as a leader in board supported by the President of the Malaysia Institute of Planners

(MIP), the President of Malaysian Town Planning Association (PERSADA), three Town

Planners who are in the service of public authority, three Town Planners who have been in

private practice for at least ten years in Malaysia, one town planner who is in the employment

of any university or institution of higher learning and who is engaged in the teaching of town

and country planning or town and regional planning, one member from the nomination of the

Board of Architects, one member from the nomination of the Board of Engineers, one

member from the nomination of the Board of Surveyors.

The functions of The Boards of Town Planners (LPBM) is keep and maintain a registration of

town planning, approve and refuse the registration of town planning and set scale of fees for

advice and services professional of town planning, determine the ethics of the professionals,

regulate the conduct of the professionals and represent the profession in any matter necessary

or expedient.

Besides that, restrictions and responsibilities limit registered town planner, "Accordance to

section 13 of the Act town planner 1995, said a town planner would not be recognized as a

city planner rights if it does not register its membership with the Town Planning Board

Malaysia". For terms of registration, “Accordance to section 15 (3), the act of town planners

(Act 538) state that a Registered Town Planners is any person who is a registered Graduate

Town Planner, has acquired the practical experience prescribed under sub-section (2) of the

Town Planning Act 1995 (Act 538) and any person who on January 1 is a Corporate Member

Malaysian Institute of planners. Accordance to LPBM, cancellation of appointments will be

done when the professional town planners behavior that could worsening the board, is unable

to perform his duties as a member of the board, dishonesty or moral turpitude, corruption,

bankruptcy, insanity and did not attend the meetings of the board 3 times in a row without the

written permission of the chairman of the board of registration. For termination of

appointments, it’s can be when the professional town planners passed away and resigned by

letter addressed to the minister

The professional fees is a fee that client need to pay for professional services such as to get

planning approval for land use change. Example of professional service is do the site visit and

inspection at site plan, do the consultation with local authorities, attend the meeting, prepare

the plan that been related with proposal and prepare the LCP.

The implications for town planner who are not registered, based on section 14(1) Town

Planning Act 1995 (Act 538) stated that LPBM will make restrictions on any individual, is

not entitled to recover in any court any fee, charge or remuneration for professional advice

given to him. Process applications for planning permission will be refused by the department

of town planner.

The conclusion is LPBM closely linked in the process of planning permission where it plays

an important role in the validation requirements and signatures of registered town planner. If

a development plan does not have the

stamp and signature confirmation

certified when submitting an

application for planning permission

process, it will affect the approval of

an application made. Each town

planner who are appointed to make an

application for planning permission

process it must be ensured registered

with LPBM expertise.

Example of LPBM Certificate of Registration