City identity in existing city future planning or development

Abstract

As urbanization and modernization continue to shape Malaysia’s cities, balancing progress with preserving city identity is important. Unfortunately, many cities are neglecting their existing identity in urban planning, hindering the image-making and the function of the city. Despite some efforts being made, the focus remains on economic and functional spaces to cater to the growing population. This study seeks to create a framework for Malaysia’s cities that foster a renewed appreciation towards meaningful city characteristics and heritage preservation while encouraging sustainable urban practices. It draws on successful international examples and takes into account Malaysia’s unique historical and cultural background. The absence of specific legislation in Malaysia regarding urban development has pushed the government to draft The Urban Renewal Act, which aims to facilitate redevelopment and revitalization efforts. The government’s ‘MADANI’ policy aims to improve collaboration between policymakers and the public to ensure more humane policies are being implemented. This paper provides a review of the relationship gap between the city identity and future city planning. The findings of portraying identity strategies in Malaysia’s existing structural plans and its recommendations that could help practitioners, legislators, and decision-makers involved in urban planning matters while ensuring the importance of preserving and enhancing city identity that aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 11 in creating sustainable cities and communities.