World Habitat Day 2007 - “A SAFE CITY IS A JUST CITY” (Download the entire article  )
INTRODUCTION
The United Nations has designed the first Monday in October every year as World Habitat Day to reflect on the state of human settlements and the basic right to adequate shelter for all. It is also intended to remind the world of its collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.
The theme of the World Habitat Day 2007 as chosen by the United Nations to reflect the state of human settlements around the world was “A Safe City Is A Just A City”. The theme was chosen in order to raise awareness and encourage reflection on the mounting threats to urban safety and social justice, particularly urban crime and violence, forced eviction and tenure, as well as natural and human-made disasters.
In conjunction with the World Habitat Day 2007 celebration, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (MHLG) and Eastern Regional Organisation for Planning and Human Settlements (EAROPH) Malaysia have organised a seminar on Thursday, 22nd November 2007 at Kuala Lumpur Conventional Centre (KLCC). The theme for the conference is “A Safe City Is A Just City” in line with the World Habitat Day celebrations.
LAUNCHING CEREMONY
The seminar for this year’s WHD was jointly launched with World Town Planning Day 2007. The joint launching of World Habitat Day 2007 with the theme “A Safe City Is A Just City” and World Town Planning Day 2007 with the theme “Town & Country Planning - 50 Years” was launched by Y.B. Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Ting, Minister of Housing and Local Government (MHLG) Malaysia and EAROPH President.
The launching ceremony were fully attended by more than 750 invited guests and participants including VIPs and participants from public and private sector, professionals, NGOs, police, local authorities, academicians, politicians and others.
The event started with Doa Recitation at 8.50 am. The first speech were given by Y. Bhg. Dato Eddy Chen Lok Loi, Deputy President, EAROPH Malaysia, followed by United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) representative. UNDP was represented by Mr. Hari Ramalu Ragavan, Senior Programme Manager. Y. Bhg. Dato’ Mohd Fadzil bin Haji Mohd Khir, Director General of Town and Country Planning Peninsular Malaysia then gave his speech. This was followed by Y.B. Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Ting’s keynote address.
After his keynote address the Minister then launched the World Habitat Day 2007 and World Town Planning Day 2007 and officially opened the Seminar and National Convention.
The Minister then gave away prizes to the winners of National Ideas Competition on “A Safe City Is A Just City”. The launching event ended at 10.15 am and followed by tea break. Press conference was held during the tea break.
SEMINAR
The seminar started at 10.30 am. For the seminar, we have invited speakers from both local and overseas to share ideas and initiative that we hope will help to bring on a safer and more secure living environment in Malaysia.
Two international speakers from Hong Kong and Melbourne were invited to share their experience, ideas and initiative on safe city. Hong Kong and Melbourne are among the safest cities in the world as reported by UN Habitat. We also have local speakers from the police, researcher on crime, Town & Country Planning Department, Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation, resident association, NGOs and other.
The following are the list of speakers:
SAC 1. Dato’ Noryah Binti Md Anvar
Timbalan Pemgarah Perancangan / Startegi
Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah, (PDRM)
En. Kamalruddin Bin Shamsudin
Deputy Director General 1,
FederalDept.Town and Country Planning Malaysia
Ms. Thevi S
Hon. Secretary, Bangsar Baru Resident’s Association (BBRM)
Ms. Judith Loh-Koh
President, all Women’s Association Society (AWAM)
Dr. P. Sundramoorthy
Criminologist, School of Social Science,
University Sains Makaysia (USM)
Mr. Mark E. Medwecki
Head of the Crime Prevention Bureau, Hong Kong Police
Ms. Colleen Lazanby
Manager, Community Safety & Wellbeing
Deputy Municipal Recovery Manager
Melbourne City Council
Although we organised the seminar for 300 participants, more than 360 participants and guest attended the seminar. The seminar turn out to be a huge success with good response from all stakeholders ranging from NGOs, Real Estate Developers, Business Chambers, Residents Associations, Local Authorities, Academic Institutions, NGOs, professionals, politicians and others.
Special thanks to the Chairpersons (as below) who have very much assited during speaker’s paper presentation.
Y. Bhg. Tan Sri Dato’ Lee Lam Thye
Vice Chairman, MCPF
Y. Bhg. Tan Sri Dato’ Kamaruddin Ali
Exco Member, Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation MCFP)
Ar. Lee Chor Wah
President, Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM)
Pn. Norliza Hashim
President, Malaysia Institute of Planners (MIP)
Pn, Khairah Talha
Secretary General, EAROPH
The seminar have been divided into 4 sessions as follows. A total of 7 papers were presented over this four sessions.
Session 1 - Overview and Current State of Safety in Cities in Malaysia.
Session 2 - Safe City, Initiative and Programme
Session 3 - Public Awareness, Education and Safe City
Session 4 - Lesson from Safe City Success Stories.
Session 1 – Overview and Current State of Safety in Cities in Malaysia
The first session was chaired by Pn. Khairiah Talha. A paper entitled “Crime Scenarios in Malaysia” was presented by Y. Bhg. SAC 1 Dato’ Noryah Binti Md Anwar of PDRM. She presented on the crime trends, crime prevention, safe city programme and PDRM’s future directions. She briefed about the vision, mission and duty of PDRM. Data and statistic on crime and type of crime were presented. Rate of crime are higher in urban areas mainly Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Johor. Generally crime is on the rise. She concluded by saying that crime prevention is everybody’ responsibility, not solely the job of law enforcement. Crime prevention means working on partnership rather than in isolation.
Session 2 – Safety City, Initiative and Programme
Pn. Norliza Hashim, Presdident of MIP chaired the second session and two papers were presented. En.Kamalrudin Bin Shamsudin, Deputy Director General 1, JPBD presented on “Safe City Initiative and Programme”. He briefed on the 23 Crime Preventive Measures introduced to be implemented by 38 local authorities. These measures relate to improving existing physical conditions, introducing deterrents to crime occurrences and through public awareness and social activities. Despite favorable improvement in the implementation of all the 23 steps, coverage of such measures remains small by comparision to areas effected by crime. Installation of CCTV have further enhanced safe city programme and helped reduce crime.
Second presenter, Ms. Thevi S. of Bangsar Baru Residents’ Association talked on “Safe City Initiative and Crime Prevention Measures” from Residents’ Associations point of view.
She emphasized on neighborhood crime prevention and all stakeholder, including residents, police, authorities, service providers, businesses and all to work together in crime prevention.
She briefed on types of Crime Prevention Measures done by BBRA and also on the shortcomings. She gave suggestion such as installation of CCTV at crime prone areas, patrolling with residents and police with cars funded by DBKL, commitment from police, creating signage’s, built police station in densely populated area like Bangsar, eateries to close by 2 am and ban convenient store from selling alcohol. She concluded by saying Crime Prevention is Everyone’s Responsibility.
Session 3 – “Public Awareness, Education and Safe City”
The third session “Public Awareness, Education and Safe City” was chaired by Ar. Lee Chor Wah, President Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM) and EAROPH Council Member. Two papers were presented.
The first speaker Ms. Judith Loh Koh, President of All Women’s Action Society (AWAM) presented an “Uniting for Safe Spaces”. She briefed on the disturbing trend of escalating violence and crime. She touched on brutal crime involving young children and called for safe spaces for everyone especially for young people. AWAM have actively campaigned and promoted safety at home, school and public spaces. She touched on declining caring attitude of public agencies despite rules and regulations, policies and system in places. AWAM believes that to build an enabling society, it requires a holistic and comprehensive approach beyond the provision of just physical structures.
The second speaker for this session Dr. P. Sundaramoorthy, criminologist from USM presented paper on “The Impact of the Environment on Criminal Behavior”.
He stressed that the social environment has a significant impact on crime and crime behavior, besides the physical environment. He explained that there are three sociological explanation for crime and criminal behavior. The social structures perspective emphasizes on the individual’s location within the structure of society and focus on the social and economic conditions of life. The social process perspective assumes that everyone has the potential to violate the law. The social conflict perspective emphasizes the power of conflict within society. He concluded the presentation with explanation of the role of the various social institutes in society in the prevention of crime and criminality.
Session 4 – Lesson from Safe City Success Stories
Fourth session “Lesson from Safe City Success Stories” was chaired by Y. Bhg. Dato’ Kamaruddin Ali, Exco Member of Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF). In this session speakers from two of the most safest cities in the world presented their paper and shared their experience as world class safe cities.
The first speaker, Mr. Mark E. Medwecki, Superintendent of Police, Head of Crime Prevention Bureau, Hong Kong Police presented his speech with the topic “The Hong Kong Experience”. He started of by saying that Hong Kong’s status as safe city is not disputable and its crime rate are amongst the lowest in the world. It’s success is attributed to its unique living environment, its highly trained police force and pursuits of policies that emphasize building partnerships with the community. Hong Kong’s compact living environment comprising mainly high rise accommodations that is effectively organised as a series of gated communities makes the task of keeping crime down easier with two district directions developed by Hong Kong Police.
Firstly commitment to low crime rates and correct policing strategy (high visibility, and secondly the responsiveness to the Hong Kong community and the building of community support through a very positive public relations strategy. Hong Kong’s police have proven that they have developed partnership with the community and have further reduce crime and their strategies have worked.
The second speaker , “Ms. Colleen Lazanby”, Manager of Safety and Wellbeing, Deputy Municipal Recovery Manager, Melbourne City Council Australia spoke on “Melbourne Safe City Initiative”.
World Health Organisation (WHO) accredited city of Melbourne as safe community. With the largest city safe branch of any local government in Australia, Melbourne City Council goes further in terms of its political will and commitment of resources to community safety and wellbeing. High priorities are given in addressing social justice and human rights concern.
She presented the way City of Melbourne identifies and addresses the broadest possible range of urban safety and social justice issues through its role as a local government authority. Melbourne’s strategy for a safer city have been discussed . She also said that the city have outstanding relationship with Victorian Police not only for crime and violence prevention but also to discuss on social justice, health and well being.
The involvement of all sectors of the community to develop and implement policies and program is also part of Melbourne’s success. Recent and future challenges for Melbourne city and the city’s desire to play a leadership role on community safety and social justice issues in the Asia Pacific region were discussed.
Panel Discussion
The seminar was followed by Panel Discussion.
The Panel Discussion was titled “A Safe City Is A Just City – The Way Forward”. Y. Bhg. Tan Sri Dato’ Lee Lam Thye, Vice Chairman, MCPF chaired the session.
The Panelist were :
Mr. Lawrence Chan Kok Tong
Chairman, Standing Committee on SafeCity Initiative MCPF
Ms. Thevi S
Hon. Secretary, Bangsar Baru Resident’s Association (BBRM)
En. Kamalruddin Bin Shamsudin
Deputy Director General 1,
FederalDept.Town and Country Planning Malaysia
SAC 1. Dato’ Noryah Binti Md Anvar
Timbalan Pemgarah Perancangan / Startegi
Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah, (PDRM)
Ms. Colleeb Lazanby
Manager Community Safetly & Wellbeing
Deputy Municipal Recovery Manager
Melbourne City Council
Mr. Mark E. Medwecki
Head of the Crime Prevention Bureau, Hong Kong Police
There were a lot of interests in the Question and Answer and Panel Discussion session. Panel Discussion went on until 7.00pm and finally we have to end the seminar.
4.0 CLOSING REMARKS
Y. Bhg. Dato’ Eddy Chen, Deputy President, Earoph Malasyia made the closing remarks at 7.00 pm . He thanked all speakers, chairman, all participants and others for the overwhelming response, interest and participation shown in the seminar. The seminar ended at 7.05 pm.
5.0 OUTCOME OF THE CONFERENCE
With a number of more than 360 participants, and with the overwhelming response, interest and participation shown by speakers, panelists and participants, and the seminar went on till 7.00 pm, this event have been a real success.
This seminar have brought together different stakeholders and people from diverse background to meet, discuss and exchange ideas on safe city.
There is a great interest on safe city as this is one the major concern of the society in Malaysia at this current times.
The seminar to a large extend have achieved its objective in creating and raising awareness on the mounting threats to urban safety and social justice, particularly urban crime and violence.
Further to the seminar, EAROPH Malaysia have taken a step further by continuing this safe city programme and initiative. EAROPH Malaysia have initiated to undertake “Safe City Project” and have had meetings with local Authorities, Residents Association , Police, MCFP and other stakeholders to undertake the project. Safe city initiative and program will be a continuos process.  Back to Main WHD
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