Kuala lumpur: The Kelantan state government has made green spaces a mandatory requirement for all new developments as part of efforts to promote more sustainable urban planning and improve residents' quality of life. State Local Government, Housing, Health and Environment Committee chairman Hilmi Abdullah announced this initiative, which aligns with the guidelines issued by the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT), ensuring that developments include basic amenities such as surau, Tenaga Nasional Bhd substations, and water tanks.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the size of the required green space will depend on the scale of the development, ensuring ample areas for recreation and relaxation for residents. 'The larger the development, the larger the green space that must be provided,' Hilmi stated. He clarified that these green spaces differ from public parks, which are maintained by local authorities.

Hilmi emphasized that the requirement also applies to high-rise developments, and synthetic grass may be utilized in areas with space constraints to maintain green elements. All local authorities in Kelantan are mandated to comply with landscape planting guidelines from the National Landscape Department to ensure systematic urban development.

In Kota Bharu, the policy is enforced through the MPKB-BRI Local Plan 2035 (Replacement), the Kota Bharu Landscape Master Plan, and the Kota Bharu Urban Landscape Project, which aims for completion in 2027. The state has been executing a green belt program in Kota Bharu for over two decades to enhance roads, parks, and public spaces.

Hilmi noted that expanding green areas would mitigate the urban heat island effect, improve air quality, and support the Low Carbon City agenda and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By the third quarter of this year, 196 trees had been planted within the Kota Bharu Municipal Council-Islamic City (MPKB-BRI) administrative area, with more planting planned in stages.

He acknowledged the challenges of expanding green spaces in older urban areas like Kota Bharu due to limited land, dense development, paved surfaces, and underground utilities. Hilmi expressed the state government's support for KPKT's efforts to fortify urban green development, urging the Federal Government to provide special allocations to local authorities to manage rising maintenance costs.