KLANG (March 19): Klang will become the nation’s first Royal Heritage and Digital City in Malaysia by 2035.

Klang Municipal Council (MPK) president Datuk Mohamad Yasid Bidin said if all parties including experts and professionals are fully involved in its development, Klang could achieve its goal of attaining the status through its MPK 2035 Local Plan (Replacement) initiative.

He said that MPK needs to empower Klang as a world-class royal heritage and competitive port city by emphasising sustainable and holistic development and by focussing on its extensive digital connectivity and rich heritage.

A series of discussions and workshops were held on the plan called the RT MPK 2015.

He said this after opening the Publicity and Public Participation Programme of the Draft of the RT MPK 2035 which was launched by the Selangor Housing and Urban Living Committee chairman Haniza Mohamed Talha.

MPK also appointed a design consultant as coordinator in coming out with the draft, said Mohamad Yasid.

"The draft is important not only to investors who want to develop Klang, but it needs the inputs of other Government departments such as the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID), the Public Works Department and Tenaga Nasional Berhad, in developing new growth areas," said Mohamad Yasid.

He said public views and suggestions were also necessary in realising the RT MPK 2035.

He said the plan’s development strategy takes into account the key policies at the State level, among others, the Selangor State Structure Plan 2035, SMART Selangor, the affordable housing policy, the Public Transport Master Plan and the Selangor Green Action Plan.

"We hope the planning and proposals in RT MPK 2035 with regard to economic development, can benefit and improve the standard and quality of life of the Klang community as a whole," he added.