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

LPBM Logo

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.

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, its 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
certified

and

signature
when

confirmation

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