THE QUALITY OF LIFE ON INFRASTRUCTURES AND PUBLIC FACILITIES

Planning blog on quality of life is the efford to review quality of life in our neighbourhood and surrounding.To discuss this aspect the smaller parameter on quality of life is choosen which is infrastructures and public facilities to view how the level of quality of life nowadays.
Thursday, February 26, 2009

FIRST CLASS FACILITIES.

Across the border of the city center, our eyes will catch up with the vibrant, fantastic, incredible first class facilities allocated by the government. The facilities provided showed the government intention to show their standard to the other country in order to compete in the global world. Injection of huge allocation to improve and upgrade the facilities has never ever ending but in the real world every plan that has been proposed only thinks about the vantage to the certain groups. As the results, after years the project has been completed the major problem in every construction in Malaysia immediately arose - no ever a single maintenance has been done to maintain the facilities. The facilities once upon a time has recognized as a vibrant, fantastic, incredible first class facilities now become unworthy, abandon, disgusted place to stop. And the most blunders when the facilities become the source of threatening the safety especially to the city dwellers. No wonder the maintenance works always undergo after several death has been recorded due to the unmaintenance facilities. In the other word, the first class facilities in Malaysia never experience the first class maintenance.

Back to the main topic, facility provided in the city center always needed hefty cost. But, the usages of the facilities provided are limited to a certain group. Basically, the facilities in the elitist area are better than other area. This situation happens because the developer wants to attract the group to have properties in their project. Obviously, not all the citizens will get access to the facilities. Only people who are willing to invest their money will get the full access to thus facilities. Meanwhile in the other part, where high demand from the ordinary city dwellers, the facilities provided always look very poor neither in condition nor maintenance. The urban designer like planner, architect and engineer should be blamed for what happen nowadays. They have already design settlement for elitist group and create segregation in the social aspect. In the same time they also create a new pattern in the quality of life of the people who live in the urban area. The rich people will become rich and the lower class people will become tenser. Local authority should provide facility without thinking the interest but they should think other users which are always needs the facility in their daily routine and help them to improve their quality of life.


The increasing numbers of city dwellers create higher demand for facilities and infras.


Do this "kontot" facility can support the public demand for facilities and infras??


Over take by the government-owned company - for profitabilty or service improvement??

The only choice that people have...overcrowded and poor facilities...


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Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Planning approaches towards sustainable infrastructure.

Growing communities always comes with a greater demand for the various aspects in order to enhance their quality of life. When we talk as a planner about infrastructures and public facilities in the growing communities the first impression that will arose is detailed plans for improving their facilities and utilities such as sewage treatment plants, drainage system, wastage management, telecommunication, health infra and other public facilities. And at the same moment these communities needs to upgrade and expand their infrastructure toward the sustainable infrastructure. Sustainable infrastructure plans can create a framework for the future growth while ensuring the present resources will be preserved for future generation. Educated and responsive communities are starting to thinking about sustainable infrastructure in more thoughtful and systematic way.
Integrated planning and design for the sustainable infrastructure should connect every element in the environment, economics and sustainable network. As a result the term ‘green Infrastructure’ had been arose due to the needs of the sustainable infrastructure. Webster`s New World Dictionary had defined the green infrastructure as “the substructure or underlying foundation, especially the basic installation and facilities on which the continuance and growth of a community depends”. Planners should think the smart approaches to plans and design the sustainable infrastructure. Basically the green infrastructure should be:

· Designed Holistically
Green infrastructure should be design to link elements into a system that functions as a whole rather than as separate, unrelated parts.

· Planned Comprehensively
The green space systems need to be planned to include ecological, social and economics benefits, functions and values.

· Lay Out Strategically.
Green space systems need to be laid out strategically to cross multiple jurisdictions and incorporate green space elements at each level of government.

· Planned and Implemented Publicly.
Green infrastructure systems should be planned and implemented with input from the public, including community organizations and private landowners.

· Grounded in the Principles and Practices of Diverse Professions.
Green space systems should be based on sound science and should build on the knowledge of professional disciplines such as landscape ecology, urban and regional planning, and landscape architecture.

· Funded Up-Front.
Like other infrastructure systems, the green space systems need to be funded as primary public investments rather than with money left over after all other services have been provided.

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Thursday, December 25, 2008

On The Moves......

From the various infomation that we could coupe in the mainstream media, i have listing several project taht have been done and will be done related to the infrastructures and public facilities issues.


CHINESE FIRMS SET TO BREAK BARRIER WITH BRIDGE WORKS

THE STAR

The 24km Second Penang Bridge, costing RM3 billion, will connect Batu Kawan in Seberang Perai to Batu Maung on the island and will be opened by January 2011. (Inset) The public viewing platforms on either side of the bridge.
The 24km Second Penang Bridge, costing RM3 billion, will connect Batu Kawan in Seberang Perai to Batu Maung on the island and will be opened by January 2011. (Inset) The public viewing platforms on either side of the bridge.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Second Penang Bridge project will showcase the highest levels of co-operation between China and Malaysia.
And it could be the catalyst for other major projects in the region, said China’s ambassador to Malaysia, Cheng Yonghua, in an interview on Thursday.

The success of the project, said Cheng, would not only be a triumph for the two countries, but also a demonstration of great co-operation in the whole East Asian region.

"This can be a very good, even a golden opportunity, as maybe after this cooperation Chinese companies can participate in other big projects in Malaysia.

"Perhaps, through this co-operation between Chinese and Malaysian companies, both can also participate in projects in other Asean countries or in big projects in China."
Cheng said the Chinese companies in talks with the UEM Group to build the bridge were known for their experience and expertise.

Declining to provide details on the companies involved, he said the most advanced techniques would be used to build the bridge.

"The Chinese companies negotiating with the Malaysian side are among the top companies in China, and they have experience in the construction of roads, bridges and harbours all over China."

The cabinet announced last August that the UEM Group had been awarded the concession to build, manage, operate and maintain the bridge.

Abdullah had said the company was best suited to lead the project as it was also the concession holder for the Penang Bridge built in 1985.

The 24km bridge, costing RM3 billion, will connect Batu Kawan in Seberang Perai to Batu Maung on the island and will be opened by January 2011.

Cheng said the Chinese experience in building bridges was well-known internationally. The HangZhou Bay Bridge, when completed, said Cheng, will be the longest trans-oceanic bridge in the world.

"Over the past 20 years, China has developed rapidly and on a large scale, so we have accumulated enough experience and techniques.

"There is also great potential to work together in the areas of telecommunications, research and high technology."

Cheng said he was warmed by his experience in the country, especially since it was the 50th anniversary of Malaysia’s independence as well as Visit Malaysia Year 2007.

"There have been so many activities held by the government and other groups and I have been honoured to participate in them.

"Malaysians enjoy political stability, a peaceful society and rapid economic development."

Since the establishment of diplomatic links between China and Mal-aysia in 1974, ties have grown from strength to strength, said Cheng.

"I also hope to see our bilateral co-operation reaching record highs."

The co-operation in tourism, for instance, was encouraging. Last year, 900,000 Malaysians visited China and 440,000 Chinese came to Malaysia.

With greater publicity in China about Malaysia, Cheng estimates that more than 600,000 Chinese will visit Malaysia this year.

In 2004, 550,000 Chinese tourists visited Malaysia. The number dropped to 350,000 in 2005 and increased to 440,000 in 2006.

Cheng also expressed delight that Malaysia sought to work with China, rather than looking at it as a threat, as widely highlighted in the Western media.

"We do not believe in exploiting other people’s natural resources. We oppose this kind of exploitation.

"I always give the example of us making a bigger cake, and all participants getting a bigger slice."


UEM ASSURES PENANG BRIDGES SAFE DESPITE ONGOING WORKS

THE STAR Wednesday July 11, 2007

BUTTERWORTH: UEM Builders Bhd, the company undertaking the RM200mil Penang bridge expansion project, has assured motorists that the bridge is safe despite ongoing piling work.

A company spokesman said their engineers had been working round the clock to monitor the situation and to ensure the safety of motorists.

“We would like to assure motorists that the Penang Bridge is safe and not affected by the current piling work,” he said.

“The work may take longer to be completed as we have to be very careful to minimise any possible land-induced settlement that could affect the bridge’s structural design,” the spokesman said.

He said such a thing was bound to happen when piling work is carried out too close to a building or structure.

He was commenting on a news report quoting the company’s managing director Ridza Abdoh Salleh as saying that the company faced problems as the piling work had caused land induced settlement, causing existing structures to sink a bit.

Ridza had said this was normal as piling works in certain sections were carried out too near to the bridge but did not affect the bridge’s structural design.

The spokesman said that if any of the lanes on the bridge needed to be closed to facilitate work, it would only be done after midnight when traffic was not heavy.

He said motorists would be notified in advance of any closure.


HSL IN ADVANCED STAGE OF GETTING RM1 BIL WORTH OF PROJECTS

Thursday August 16, 2007

THE STAR By JACK WONG

KUCHING: Hock Seng Lee Bhd (HSL) is in the advanced stages of getting some RM1bil worth of projects it had bid under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), said group managing director Paul Yu Chee Hoe.

He said these projects included the proposed Kuching waste water management project, Sibu flood mitigation project, a housing and educational institution project in Bintulu.

``We are seeing the impact of the 9MP kicking in for Sarawak with major infrastructure work taking off,'' he added in a press statement to announce the company's first half financial performance on Thursday.

Yu said the group was confident of achieving a strong growth as it had secured projects of higher value, and it also had ability to leverage on its land reclamation and marine engineering expertise.

The group secured some RM400mil worth of projects during the first six months of this year, bringing its total order book to RM930mil.

These new projects include reclamation and infrastructure works in Tanjung Manis, Mukah Division, a flood mitigation project in Miri as well as road and housing projects.

"With many projects in their demanding start-up phases now, the group can expect revenue to pick up as we head into 2008."

He said the group revenue for the second quarter this year jumped to RM62.8mil, up from RM59.6mil in the first quarter.

It posted a pre-tax profit of RM13.5mil as compared to RM11mil during the same period the previous year.

Yu said wholly-owned subsidiary Hock Seng Lee Construction Sdn Bhd, the group's property arm, had achieved fast growth and contributed 23% to the group turnover for the 2007-first half, up from 15% in the same period last year.

He said plans were in store to develop the company's 242ha land bank.

HSL chairman Datuk Taha Ariffin announced the company's 8sen taxable interim dividends to be paid to shareholders on Oct 8.


DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, SARAWAK

Bridge Project, Balingian
The main contractor for Balingian Bridge, Naim Cendera Holdings Berhad handed over Balingian Bridge which was completed 13 months ahead of schedule to JKR Sarawak on 21/6/2007. The 276 meter dual bridge across Sg Balingian was constructed at RM22 million.

Source : The Eastern Times, Biz Section, 22/6/2007

Betong State Complex
The RM51 million state complex in Betong which took off on August 4, 2004 was completed on 24/4/2007 and will house the resident administrative office, seven state agencies namely PWD, Land & Survey Department, Syariah Juduciary Department, Islamic Religious Department, Welfare Department, Treasury Department and Agriculture Department.

Source : The Eastern Times, 22/6/2007

2 aluminium smelter plants for Similajau
Construction of the 2 aluminium smelter plants in Similajau, about 50 km from Bintulu, is expected to commence soon. These 2 plants would eventually make use of the hydro-electricity generated from the various dams in Sarawak e.g. Bakun, Murum and Baleh dams.

Source : The Borneo Post, 22/6/2007

RM300 million Bengoh dam
Works on the RM300 million Bengoh dam will begin by end of the year to supply treated water to the Kuching and Samarahan areas. The project sited at Upper Padawan is expected to take 40 months to complete and will meet projected water demand until the year 2030. The dam would be able to supply 2,047 mega litres of treated water per day and supplement the water
from Sg Sarawak Kiri.

Source : The New Straits Times, 19/6/2007

Selangau Mukah Power Plant
Syarikat SESCo signed a contract with a Chinese-based Sinohydro Corporation (M) Sdn Bhd for the RM69.25 million Selangau-Mukah 132kV transmission line project. The project will link the existing SESCo 275kV EHV State Grid via a new Selangau 132kV substation in Selangau to the Matadeng Coal-Fired Power Station and to the Pertian substation in Mukah. The project
was awarded on October 2006 and expected to be completed in June 2008. The line will span 85 km and will cross several oil palm plantations along Selangau to Kampung Matadeng section.

Source : The Eastern Times, Biz Section, 23/5/2007

New Chinese Primary Schools For Kuching
3.38 acres of land will be alienated by the State government for the relocation of Chung Hua Primary School No. 2 in Kuching to Tabuan Jaya Baru due to the present location of the school which is in a high traffic area. Earthworks have also started on another Chinese School, SJK Chung Hua Sungai Tapang Hilir at MJC Batu Kawa New Township.

MJC City - Sale of Kuching City land
MJC City Development Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Mudajaya Corporation Berhad has entered into an agreement on 26/6/2007 to dispose off two (2) parcels of land in Kuching City Centre, measuring a total area of approximately 3,721.6 sm for RM10 million to Rich Entity Sdn Bhd.

Source : Bursa Malaysia Announcement Ref.: MG-070626-63181 dated 26/6/2007

The Damai Lagoon Resorts and Spa
The Damai Lagoon Resorts and Spa, a 5-star beach resort located in the Santubong peninsula in Kuching, is currently undergoing an extensive renovation at a cost of RM35 million. Formerly known as Holiday Inn Resort Damai Lagoon, the resort is now managed by Damai Puri Hotels and Resorts and would be renamed Damai Puri Resort and Spa once renovation works are
completed. New features added include the spa village and club floor. The refurbishment works which started on April 1, 2007 was initially targeted for completion by June 2007 but have now been rescheduled to a later date.

Source : WTWY Research, 2007


LABUAN BRIDGE WILL BENEFIT ALL, SAYS MUSA


THE STAR
Saturday January 5, 2008

By MUGUNTAN VANAR

KOTA KINABALU: A bridge from Labuan to mainland Sabah is important towards the development of the island, Sabah and also for Sarawak.

Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman said setting up a bridge would bring about a direct “win-win” situation for the federal territory of Labuan as well as the Klias peninsula in south-western Sabah.

“We are keen to pursue the plan for a bridge between Labuan and the mainland as its benefits are immense,” Musa said after launching Sabah Progressive party think-tank Progressive Institute of Public Policy and Analysis (PIPPA).

The newly-formed PIPPA, headed by former deputy chief minister Datuk Tham Nyp Shen, is carrying out a feasibility study on the proposed 8km bridge and would provide the state with a report.

Musa said that such feedback on various concepts by an independent non-government linked think-tank will get the support of the state in the measures to develop various industries in the state.

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The Future


Public facilities and infrastructures are the main catalyst in developing and improving welfare and quality of life among suburb society and also people outside the city center. Obviously urban poverty also raises serious discussion among town planner and also politician. While the rural area face the inadequate infrastructures and capital subsidy to develop the rural area, the city center facing the problem to solve the urban poverty issue. As the result they agree that allocation for the development of public facilities and infrastructure should be risen up to provide better quality of life to this group.

The future of the public facilities and infrastructure in our country after Bajet 2009 presented in the parliament last month looked has lightened up the hope for the people who live in the rural area in the peninsular Malaysia as well as in Sabah and Sarawak. Bajet 2009 has allocated RM1.8 mil to accumulate public facility and infrastructure in the rural area. From the total of this allocation, more than RM1 million will channel to run road construction project in the rural area elongate until 480 kilometers and road in the villages that elongate until 1300 kilometers. RM280 mil has been allocated to the water supplement to the 30,000 houses in the rural area, RM350 mil to provide electricity to the 3,600 houses in the rural area and RM65 mil prepared to operate 11,700 public facilities and infrastructures projects.

Meanwhile government wills double their effort to make sure development in Sabah and Sarawak growing well as well as in Peninsular by the. In Sabah, almost RM3 billion allocated to run the public facilities and infrastructures projects includes 266 kilometers federal road and road in the rural area which will benefit more than 550,000 local residents. Main projects that will run include road construction from Jeroco - Lahad Datu 2nd phase, upgraded and improve Jalan Sandakan to Telupid, upgrade Jalan Ranau to Tambunan 2nd phase, construction of bridge Semporna - Pulau Bum-Bum, replace old bridges at all over Sabah’s rural area, tourism and ecotourism facilities projects, health facilities included rural health and hospital facilities and Rented People Housing Program (Program Perumahan Rakyat Disewa).
At Sarawak about RM3.3 billion had been allocated for various projects including construction of 230 kilometers of federal roads and roads in the rural area which will be benefit more than 350,000 residents. The main projects that will run to improve the facilities in Sarawak include construction of link road to new Sarawak Administration Center, Jalan Nanga Buai to Ulu Sepak, Betong, Jalan Awat-Awat to Kuala Lawas, Jalan Tanjung Assam to Saribas , Bengoh Kuching Dam, integrated water waste system management in Kuching, Rented People Housing Program (Program Perumahan Rakyat Disewa), tourism and ecotourism facilities, hospital facilities and health facilties in the rural area.

By the allocation from the government to improve the public facilities and infrastructures it will hope that quality of life in every group of people where in the whole country could be risen and improved. To gain the better quality of life the planned development should cover every component in the society to avoid inequality among region as well as in the Sabah and Sarawak. Commitment between government - resident and private sector - government will be encouraged the development projects that have been set up. And the most important things every government action should suit the necessicities to develop certain area. They should include the basic necessity, infrastructure, courses and allocate enough money to avoid the project become GAJAH PUTIH that will risen other problems.

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An Overview of Public Facilities and Infrastructures In Our Country.

Public facilities in our age today comprise facilities such as community center, sport and recreational center, library, health services and many others. These facilities distributed all over the country and easily accessed by the public to get the facilities provided. However the way it’s been maintains and manages is very worst except in the big city or city center. If we overlook the distribution of public facility in our country we could found that the public in the city center is more sophisticated and well maintain compare to the facilities which is located in the outer urban area. This situation looks very unfair to the people who live in the outer CBD. In the other hand the suburban area plays the big role to develop the CBD. The suburb area always provides useful resources either manpower or raw material to the industrial use. So it was very unfair when the authority did not treat well the people in the suburban area after they got the resource for the CBD development. They should provide adequate public facility in the rural area for the people gain better quality of life. Moreover the public facility also plays big role in the development in such area. It will help to develop the area by improve the accessibility within region, locate facility to increase the economic activity, linked the rural area to create dependency with another region and the most important can reduce the poverty in the rural area.

Infrastructure basically related to the structure that support a society to easily their daily routine such as roads, water supply, power grid, telecommunications such as telephone and internet and so on. In our country these infrastructure rarely conducted and developed in the private sector or in public-private partnership in the public sector. The infrastructures provide spaces and places to channel the production of goods and services and in the same time it becomes a catalyst in the development of certain region. The infrastructure comes after public facility because the infrastructure housed the facility but meanwhile its plays the same role. In the other word infrastructures always comes with public facilities as in a package.

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Friday, December 12, 2008

Quality of Life

quality of life terms are different in the other country due to its scope and latest situation. according to wikipedia.com quality of life can be defined as the degree of well-being felt by an individual or group of people. its consist two aspects which is physical and psychological. The physical aspect includes things such as health, diet, and protection against pain and disease. The psychological aspect includes stress, worry, pleasure and other positive or negative emotional states. nowdays the quality of life in our country consider many topics such as public safety, governance, health, education and many more. quality of life diccussed today rarely related to social needs. this needs relates strongly to our structure of society. there are many alternatives are possible and many of them will give a better quality of life. in other words we should carefully evaluate and choose the right social attitude and behaviour to specify what benefits that they provide to improve and earn a better quality of life. quality of life scenario in our daily life today also relate closely to our cultural norm. those all the issues that we loudly shouts that relate to the quality of life always bend with our cultural and daily lives. we will discuss about public facilities later to view more clearly about quality of life scenario today.....

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Wednesday, December 3, 2008

PLANNING_studio rps 308

my blog still in progress. i'm still newbie to construct the blog.
very very very slow progress.....and i nw arrange the ingredient that need to pour in my blog......i caught in this matter......don`t know how to start mine....

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