KLANG – The redevelopment of Bandar Baru Klang is set for a fresh boost as international students are given the opportunity to share their ideas and experiences in the field of urban planning and design.
Mayor of the Royal Klang City Council (MBDK), Datuk Abd Hamid Hussain said the presence of international students can enrich development concepts with diverse approaches based on experiences implemented in their respective countries.
“Perhaps these students from abroad have experiences and urban development ideas from their home countries that can be applied here, particularly in Bandar Baru Klang.
“We want to see a combination of ideas from both local and international students to produce development concepts that are practical, sustainable and suited to the needs of the local community," he said.
He said this when met after the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) and Acmar Group on Monday.
Abd Hamid said Bandar Baru Klang has the potential to become a dynamic new development area under MBDK’s administration, requiring innovative approaches to enhance the city’s economic value and attractiveness.
“Sometimes, the proposed designs are too futuristic and don’t fit the local culture, so we hope these diverse backgrounds can produce realistic and viable urban development concepts," he explained.
He added that MBDK welcomes this collaboration as it also strengthens the relationship between the education and industry sectors in shaping Klang’s future urban development.
Commenting on the International Design Competition for the Bandar Baru Klang Master Plan, Abd Hamid said the initiative is more than just a contest; it is a prestigious platform that brings together thinkers and designers from over 100 universities across more than 40 countries.
“MBDK will always support initiatives that can create a positive impact on Klang’s economic development and urban planning.
“We want Bandar Baru Klang to become a model of a modern, functional and sustainable city," he said.
Meanwhile, Acmar Group Executive Director Johnson Tee said the company always opens its doors to university students, including those from abroad, to be directly involved in the planning and redevelopment of Bandar Baru Klang through more modern and sustainable urban design projects.
He said the initiative exposes students to real-world aspects of construction, planning and urban design.
“We want students to see firsthand how Bandar Baru Klang is developed, from planning and design to actual construction work.
“They can visit the site, learn directly from us and understand how a modern city is shaped," he said.
According to him, the project also provides opportunities for students in architecture, engineering and urban planning to come up with new ideas that can be applied in the city’s redevelopment.
“We have more than 80 hectares of land in this area, developed over the past 30 years.
“Now we want to give Bandar Baru Klang a ‘new outfit’ and turn it into a more beautiful, modern and functional city," he explained.
Johnson added that the planned development will not only focus on physical structures but also integrate information technology (IT), artificial intelligence (AI), green infrastructure and eco-friendly landscaping.
He said the winners of the urban design competition are expected to be announced in July next year after evaluating all proposals from both local and international university participants.
Apart from UTAR, he said Acmar Group is also collaborating with other universities such as Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in hospitality and hotel management, offering industrial training at the group’s hotels.
“We want this project to be more than just physical development, we want it to be a real learning platform for university students to understand the world of urban planning and construction in depth," he said.