Sustainable Riverfront Development in Malaysia

Population and economic growth, urbanisation process and advanced technology have transformed many Malaysian river systems. Due to these changes, the function of the riverfront areas had also changed such that the current pattern of riverfront development in Malaysia is now shaped more by mixed development and recreation. This article examines waterfront development practice in Malaysia and its sustainability based on the findings of field interviews conducted with government officers, property developers, and the waterfront community from three waterfront areas of Kuching, Malacca and Glenmarie Cove, Selangor. Questionnaires were mailed and e-mailed to 91 property development companies listed in the Malaysian bourses. The findings indicated that the majority of respondents thought that Malaysia had not achieved the kind of sustainable waterfront development seen in developed countries. Several factors caused this, namely, difficulty in balancing the various social, economic and financial needs of the various stakeholders, insufficient financial resources, lack of human expertise and difficulty in obtaining planning permission. Addressing these shortcomings would contribute to best practices of waterfront development in Malaysia.