The population of Kuala Lumpur reaches 8.8 million people

KUALA LUMPUR: The population in the nation’s capital is now estimated to exceed 8.8 million people, an annual increase of 2.25 percent compared to last year, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories), Dr Zaliha Mustafa.

He said the number is expected to continue to increase to 9.8 million people by 2030 and the rapid development requires Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to be more proactive in planning and providing infrastructure.

“This population growth does not only involve natural increase in urban areas but also high migration from the countryside.

“This puts pressure on the existing infrastructure and demands that we provide a better basic service for all the city’s citizens so that Kuala Lumpur becomes a livable city. Not to be forgotten, issues such as air pollution and lack of green space are also among the concerns that need to be overcome,” he said.

He said this at the opening speech of the launch of the 10 Kuala Lumpur Federal Territorial Planning Guidelines 2024 at Menara 1 DBKL today.

In order to face all the challenges, Dr. Zaliha said DBKL, as a local authority, needs to remain sensitive to the needs and wishes during development in the capital to ensure a quality life.

“Every development decision needs to be made with due consideration to ensure a balance between development and the well-being of the city’s citizens,” he said.

Regarding the launch of the guidelines, Dr. Zaliha said they aim to ensure that good governance practices are practiced in DBKL, with every step of development planning being monitored more effectively in addition to assessing the level of effectiveness of a policy, implementing strategies, and promoting continuous improvement.

“Each guideline is the result of a detailed study and consultation with various stakeholders. With an inclusive approach like this, I hope that it will have a positive impact on every citizen of the city,” he said.

Among the guidelines are MADANI residency planning, MADANI Hawker Space Facility, the implementation of planning for the development of electric vehicle charging compartments, and the review of low-carbon buildings.

All the relevant guidelines will be displayed to the public through the DBKL website for the reference of all parties.