ContInUed - Board of Engineers Malaysia

Transcription

ContInUed - Board of Engineers Malaysia
Green Township Policy Initiatives
property
development
Landscape : The Economic Value
Innovations in Energy Efficient &
Exergy Efficient Designs
Pahang–Selangor Raw Water
Transfer Project
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contents
VOL 4 7 S EPT - NOV 2 0 1 0
4
President’s Message
Editor’s Note
engineering & law
Contingent Payment
The Continuing Saga
32
6Announcement
feature
Integrated Water Resources Management in Malaysia
36
COVER FEATURE
feature
7
Green Township Policy Initiatives
Pahang – Selangor
Raw Water Transfer Project
42
15 Landscape: The Economic Value
20 Liveable and Sustainable
Housing Development
Engineering features
An Old Faithful Bridge in Sg 54
Lembing, Pahang –
ex-mining town
Engineering Nostalgia
Kajang Town in 1960s
55
research & development
26 Innovations in Energy Efficient &
Exergy Efficient Designs
Cover photo courtesy of Mr. Zainal Arifin Baseri
from Perbadanan Putrajaya
P r e s i d e n t ’ s m e s s ag e
Property development remains one of the key driving forces
in generating domestic demand and growth of the economy.
The property sector’s contribution to economic growth also
has a multiplying effect as it involves a significant number of
downstream sub-sectors players ranging from professionals,
contractors, material suppliers, transporters to tradesmen.
Similarly, any contraction in the property development will have cascading adverse
effect in the engineering circle.
Property development in Malaysia has matured to some extent. The industry is no
longer satisfied with providing shelter for human habitation. Developers are marketing
their properties on innovative designs, green technologies, eco-friendly environment,
trendy architecture and interior decoration, energy efficient fixtures and facilities, and
universal design that caters to Disabled Persons and the elderly. Many of these require
input and imagination from engineers. It is imperative that engineers keep up with the
time and technologies to stay relevant in the shifting market.
The unfolding New Economic Model, 10th Malaysia Plan and Greater Kuala
Lumpur Plan have again placed emphasis on property development. While the
opportunity may sound promising for local engineers, I wish to remind them of the
importance of professionalism in discharging their duties and responsibilities. Public
perception and image of local engineers will have a bearing on their standing in
society. This will be even more significant when the service sector is liberalized within
the ASEAN region by 2012.
KDN PP11720/04/2011(029445)
ISSN 0128-4347
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS MALAYSIA
(BEM) 2009/2010
President
YBhg. Dato’ Sri Ir. Dr. Judin Abdul Karim
Secretary
Ir. Ruslan Abdul Aziz
Registrar
Ir. Hizamul-Din Ab. Rahman
Members
YBhg Tan Sri Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd Zulkifli bin Tan Sri Mohd Ghazali
YBhg Dato’ Ir. Hj. Ahmad Husaini bin Sulaiman
YBhg. Dato’ Ir. Abdul Rashid Maidin
YBhg. Dato’ Ir. Dr. Johari bin Basri
YBhg. Datuk Dr. Ir. Abdul Rahim Hj. Hashim
YBhg. Dato’ Prof. Ir. Dr. Chuah Hean Teik
YBhg. Brig. Jen. Dato’ Pahlawan Ir. Abdul Nasser bin Ahmad
YBhg. Datuk Ar. Dr. Amer Hamzah Mohd Yunus
Ir. Mohd Rousdin bin Hassan
Ir. John Anthony
Ir. Wong Siu Hieng
Prof. Ir. Ishak Abdul Rahman
Ir. Tan Yean Chin
Ir. Chong Pick Eng
Ir. Dato’ Dr. Lee Teang Shui
Dato’ Jaafar bin Shahidan
EDITORIAL BOARD
Dato’ Sri Ir. Dr Judin bin Abdul Karim
President
Board of Engineers Malaysia
Advisor
YBhg. Dato’ Sri Ir. Dr. Judin Abdul Karim
Secretary
Ir. Ruslan Abdul Aziz
Chairman
YBhg. Dato’ Ir. Abdul Rashid bin Maidin
Editor
Ir. Fong Tian Yong
e d i to r ’ s n ot e
The property industry seems to respond well to the
Government’s National Green Technology Policy with more
developers launching green townships and eco-parks. Consumers
too include Green Technology as one of the items on their
checklists for premium housing scheme.
Details on policy and good practices towards green
aspects in property development are well narrated in the article on Green Township
Policy Initiatives in Malaysia. The essence of landscaping for property development is
further described in Landscaping in Property Development by a landscape architect.
The paper on R&D Innovations in Energy Efficiency & Energy Efficient Designs
highlights two viable energy efficient technologies that have market potential in this
infant field.
In the engineering feature section, the photos highlight an old wooden bridge
in Sungai Lembing, Pahang, an ex-mining town that is still servicing villagers on both
sides of the river.
Readers are encouraged to contribute engineering feature photos that are unique
and interesting.
Happy reading!
Ir. Fong Tian Yong
Editor
Members
Prof. Ir. Dr. K.S. Kannan
Ir. Chan Boon Teik
Ir. Prem Kumar
Ir. Ishak Abdul Rahman
Mr Zamani bin Zakariah
Ir. Mohd Rasid bin Osman
Ir. Dr. Zuhairi Abdul Hamid
Ir. Ali Askar bin Sher Mohamad
Executive Director
Ir. Ashari Mohd Yakub
Publication Officer
Pn Nik Kamaliah Nik Abdul Rahman
Assistant Publication Officer
Pn Che Asiah Mohamad Ali
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The Ingenieur is published by the Board of Engineers Malaysia
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registered Professional Engineers.
The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are
those of the writers.
BEM invites all registered engineers to contribute articles or
send their views and comments to the following address:
Communication & IT Dept.
Lembaga Jurutera Malaysia,
Tingkat 17, Ibu Pejabat JKR,
Jalan Sultan Salahuddin,
50580 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03-2698 0590 Fax: 03-2692 5017
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
Website: http://www.bem.org.my
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C o v e r f e at u r e
Pindaan Skala Gaji Perunding Di Lampiran H Dalam Manual Perolehan
Perkhidmatan Perunding Edisi 2006
Mulai 1 Ogos 2010, Pekeliling LJM No. 2/1992 bertajuk “BEM/MOF Dialogue Update On Some
Aspects Of Remuneration For Engineering Consultancy Services For Government Projects”
adalah dibatalkan.
Skala Gaji Perunding hendaklah menggunapakai Surat Arahan Perbendaharaan bilangan S/K.
KEW/PK/P/1100/000000/165/23 JLD 6 SK 2(2) bertarikh 15 April 2010 bertajuk Pindaan Skala
Gaji Perunding Di Lampiran H Dalam Manual Perolehan Perkhidmatan Perunding Edisi 2006.
Sila layari laman web LJM di http://www.bem.org.my/v3/circulars_link.html untuk Pindaan
Skala Gaji Perunding Di Lampiran H Dalam Manual Perolehan Perkhidmatan Perunding Edisi
2006.
2011 RENEWAL NOTICE [Professional Engineers, Accredited Checkers, Temporary Engineers,
Engineering Consultancy Practice (ECP)]
Due Date for 2011 Renewal of Registration: 31st January 2011
* Expiry Date for 2010 Registration: 31st December 2010 *
Engineering Consultancy Practice (ECP)
The 2011 Renewal Form and Notice are currently available in BEM web site.
To download the notice and form, please visit: http://www.bem.org.my/v3/downloads.html
T H E I N G EN I E U R VOL 4 7 S EPTEM B ER - NOVEM B ER 2 0 1 0
Green Township
Policy Initiatives
By Dr Dahlia Rosly and Nor Zaliza
Mohd Puzi,
Research and Development Division
Federal Department of Town and
Country Planning, Peninsular Malaysia
(This paper was published in Habitat
Magazine, Second Edition 2010,
Ministry of Housing and Local
Government)
Malaysia continuously supports initiatives in implementing
sustainable urban development strategies including ‘green
growth’ and green urbanism. Initiatives towards developing
green townships in Malaysia in related policies have
been formulated at various levels of development plans
including planning guidelines that support green urbanism.
Development plans in Malaysia have long recognized the need
for green strategy by way of conservation, promoting green
networks in urban neighbourhoods, promoting walkability
and sustainable public transport. Currently, this has been
value-added by design dimensions related to energy efficiency
towards a low carbon society. The role of the community is
instrumental in supporting green cities initiatives.
(or http://www.bem.org.my | menu News & Event - click BC, MDP, SP, PN - 2011 RENEWAL
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Correction
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Ingenieur Vol 46, June-August 2010
Simple. Just visit http://www.bem.org.my ; Click
Find us on Facebook (right pane of BEM web site).
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Holdings Sdn Bhd produces 16 Mld of water from its treatment
plants in Johor. The figure should be 1600 Mld.
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search for Board of Engineers Malaysia.
Gaining A Global Foothold
The
concept
of
‘environmental
sustainability’ was first brought to
widespread public attention in 1972
embodied in the book The Limits to
Growth. The report basically concluded
that the growth of the human population,
and an increase in prosperity, would
cause an ecological collapse within 50
years. This was followed by the Bruntland
Report in 1987 and the Rio Declaration
in 1992 which had spurred strategies
for action towards achieving sustainable
development and consequential initiatives
in sustainable communities, green
development and green cities to adapt
to environmental degradation, climate
change and a carbon constrained future.
GREEN AND THE SUSTAINABLE
CITIES AGENDA
Cities are actively making changes to become
more sustainable, often aiming to promote
development that is contained within its
ecological carrying capacity, a development
which is socially just and economically
inclusive. The concept of sustainable
development was consequently extended
into ‘green development’, synonymous to
‘green urbanism’. Green urbanism presents
fundamental opportunities to shape cities
to be more sustainable, bringing about
major lifestyle changes such as walking,
cycling and reduction of consumption
communities, with provisions to boost
renewable energy, energy efficiency and
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T H E I N G EN I E U R VOL 4 7 S EPTEM B ER - NOVEM B ER 2 0 1 0
(CONTI NUED)
Green elements such as the network of green
spaces and corridors, tree-lined streets,
significant private landscaping
or even
small scale local community agriculture are
examples of good green applications.
environmental restoration. Among features
are high-performance green buildings
(extended spatially into high-performance
green townships) with investments in
public transport and other sustainable
transport measures, and research into new
technologies. Indeed, it is the cities that
hold the greatest hope for achieving a more
sustainable future of our planet. By 2030,
over 60% of the world’s population (4.9
billion out of 8.1 billion people) will live
in cities. (UN-Habitat 2001). Thus any
effective agenda to reduce the impacts of
climate change and other environmental
challenges must necessarily include cities as
a key element.
Though there are many earlier historic
references to the garden city, the
implementation of ‘green’ element
in modern physical planning can be
traced to Sir Ebenezer Howard in 1898
through his concept of the ‘garden city’.
These were well-planned, self-contained,
communities surrounded by green belts,
containing carefully balanced areas of
residences, agriculture and industries.
With environmental issues on the
forefront, development is increasingly
focusing on green elements to directly
or indirectly reduce green house gases
(GHG). Thus, the garden city concept has
been expanded and enhanced to resolve
environmental challenges as well. In its
wider interpretation, green development
has been described as a land use planning
concept that includes consideration
of community-wide implications of
development, as well as site-specific green
building concepts1. This involves city
planning and environmental planning,
urban design, architecture and community
1
Green urbanism presents fundamental opportunities to shape cities to be more sustainable
building. Sustainable neighbourhoods
would then become the basic module in
green urban planning, forming green cities
and green regions.
•
•
CHARACTERISTICS OF
GREEN CITIES AND GREEN
NEIGHBOURHOODS
Beatley, T. (2000), described cities that
exemplify green urbanism, characterized
as follows: –
•
They strive to live their ecological
limits,
fundamentally
reduce
their ecological footprints, and
acknowledge their connection with
and impacts on other cities and
source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Green_development
•
•
communities and the larger planet;
They are designed for and function in
ways analogous to nature;
They strive to achieve a circular
rather than a linear metabolism,
which matures and develops positive
symbiotic relationships with and
between its hinterland (whether
that be regional, national, or
international);
They strive towards local and
regional self-sufficiency and take
full advantage of nurturing local/
regional food production, economy,
power production, and many other
activities that sustain and support
their population;
They facilitate (and encourage) more
sustainable, healthful lifestyles; and
•
They emphasize a high quality of life
and the creation of highly liveable
neighbourhoods and communities.
From these criteria, a Green township
can be conceived as an integrated
planned habitat that gives emphasis
to the protection, use and recycling of
natural resources, besides promoting
public health, safety and general welfare
of urban people. Key characteristics
of future Green Cities is that they are
waste free, transport efficient with
widely available public transportation,
walkable and cycle-friendly, wholly
energy independent with minimal carbon
output including reduction of fossil-fuel
use, adopt sustainable building practices,
promote “green space” and parks as
‘lungs of the cities’ and clean air quality,
implement energy-efficient initiatives
and develop well-organized mixed-use
neighbourhoods that combine living,
working and shopping.
Instrumental to green urbanism is the
community network and cohesion,
green consciousness and commitment.
The neighbourhood as a basic module
in developing green cities becomes
the front line to incorporate efforts
in designs and activities to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions while meeting
a host of other community goals. As the
quality of people’s homes is influenced
by the spaces around them, there is an
increasing recognition that well-designed,
well-managed green spaces by and in
between housing are crucial to making
neighbourhoods liveable, and contribute
to people’s quality of life. Green elements
such as the network of green spaces and
corridors, tree-lined streets, significant
private landscaping (including green
roofs) or even small scale local community
agriculture are examples of good green
applications. Thus, buildings in the
neighbourhood are often “green” with
excellent environmental performance;
area-wide green infrastructure is common
place, from low-impact storm water
management to district energy systems.
Most important in planning a green
‘Green space’ and parks are ‘lungs of the cities’...
neighbourhood is creating the vision,
giving policy directions and guidelines
that describe all aspects necessary of a
green neighbourhood towards achieving
its set of goals. Making a commitment to
neighbourhood designs that will support
a low-emission lifestyle for all residents,
would involve the widest possible range
of stakeholders and community support
to set up and maintain internal systems
to ensure continued improvements
and refinements as the plan is being
implemented.
energy efficiency. Various measures such
as relevant guidelines, standards and laws
would be introduced to ensure efficient
use of energy and to reduce greenhouse
gas emission.
POLICIES RELATED TO
THE PLANNING OF GREEN
TOWNSHIPS IN MALAYSIA
National Physical Plan (NPP)
First approved by the National Physical
Planning Council in 2005, the goal of
the National Physical Plan (NPP) is
to establish an efficient, equitable and
sustainable national spatial framework
to guide the overall development of the
country towards achieving developed
nation status by 2020. The NPP is prepared
in accordance with the provisions of the
Town and Country Planning Act 1976
(Act 172). Selected policies supporting
the green urbanism concept and initiatives
are summarized as follows:
The Malaysian Government has been
continually promoting environmental
stewardship
in
all
development
plans. Since the 8th Malaysia Plan
(2001-2005), the incorporation of
environmental
consideration
into
planning and development has been
intensified. Consequently, the sustainable
use of energy has been identified in
the 9th Malaysia Plan, highlighting
strategies for using energy efficiently
through the promotion of greater use of
renewable energy for power generation
by industries and intensifying energy
efficient initiatives in the industrial,
transport and commercial sectors as well
as applications in Government buildings.
The 10th Malaysia Plan reinforces and
places further emphasis on the use of
renewable energy and on increasing
In tandem with the Malaysia Plans and
other national policies, the Ministry
of Housing and Local Government
of Malaysia through its Department
of Town and Country Planning, had
translated these into spatial form through
the National Physical Plan (NPP) and the
National Urbanisation Policy (NUP).
•
Transit – oriented development
(TOD2) concept as the basis of urban
land use planning to ensure viability
of public transport, supported
by walkways linkages to promote
connectivity and to reduce emissions
•
Urban settlements to be serviced by
an integrated network of solid-waste
2
Transit oriented development is a development that clusters around a transit station in order to support public transport
usage through optimum threshold and ridership.
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COVER F EAT U RE
T H E I N G EN I E U R VOL 4 7 S EPTEM B ER - NOVEM B ER 2 0 1 0
(CONTI NUED)
The Iskandar Development in Johor has
been selected as a pilot and tagged as ‘Low
Carbon City 2025, Sustainable Iskandar
Malaysia’.
•
•
disposal and/or recovery facilities.
Waste generation management will
be promoted including recycling
of waste, solid waste collection and
disposal in accordance with the
National Solid Waste Master Plan.
Strategic assets, electricity generation
plants and distribution mains shall be
suitably located to provide a reliable
and efficient supply of power to
consumers. Renewable energy such
as energy from solar, wind, wave
and biomass are to be promoted
to complement traditional power
generation sources.
Green areas in urban centres reduce carbon emission
National Urbanization Policy
In addition to the National Physical Plan
which demonstrated physical planning
commitment to support green urbanism,
green urbanism has also been reflected
in the Malaysia’s National Urbanisation
Policy (NUP) approved by the Cabinet
on August 8, 2006. The NUP guides
and co-ordinates the planning and urban
development in Malaysia incorporating
key areas such as urban growth limit,
compact cities, urban regeneration,
utilization of open spaces, solid waste
generation / containment, sustainable
transport, energy efficiency and renewable
energy. The National Urbanization Policy
emphasizes the following:
1. Optimal and balanced landuse
planning emphasis in urban development, hence all development shall
be compatible with the surrounding
landuses and concentrated within
the urban growth limit so as to create
a compact city
2. Encouragement of re-development
programmes for brownfield areas and
promotion of urban regeneration
3. Adequate provision of open space
and recreational areas to meet the
requirement of the population, consequently promoting the contiguous
and integrated development of green
areas in urban centres to reduce carbon emission
Develop an integrated, efficient and
user-friendly public transportation
system including environmental
friendly vehicles, bicycle lanes, and
pedestrian network for efficient
connectivity and to reduce the level
of air pollution
Effective and sustainable solid waste
and toxic management systems
to effect solid waste reduction,
full utilization of bio-degradable
materials and encourage recycling
programmes for the community
Strategies related to sufficient
housing and affordability, taking into
account the needs of various groups
of society including the disabled and
senior citizens
Environmental conservation and
improving the urban quality of life,
Encourage development that reduces
green township implementation.
Among these are: –
•
Planning Guidelines for Open Space
and Recreation Facilities
This guideline first prepared in 1997
had aimed to guide local authorities and
developers to provide adequate open
spaces at various levels of hierarchies,
locations, sizes and facilities. It also
highlights the requirement to provide a
minimum of 10% of usable open spaces
for all types of developments. This
guideline is being reviewed by the Federal
Department of Town and Country
Planning.
•
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
the impact of urban heat islands and
to ensure that urban development
will take into account reduction of
air, noise and water pollution
9. Use of innovative technology in
urban planning, development and
urban services management aiming
to reduce the production of waste,
promote the construction of green
buildings and encourage the use of
efficient energy and renewable energy
Indeed, the urban planning fora had
conceived ways to promote green
urbanism since the mid 1990s and was
formalized in the National Urbanization
Policy during the early period of the 9th
Malaysia Plan. Subsequently, initiatives
in the National Green Technology Policy
(NGTP) serve as a support to followthrough the green growth agenda.
Planning Guidelines and Circulars
In addition to policy directions and
prescriptions in the National Physical
Plan and National Urbanization Policy,
there are other initiatives to encourage
Planning Guideline for Roof Top
Gardens
With rising concerns to reduce carbon
footprint, the green roof becomes an
adaptation measure in a changing climate.
The Federal Department of Town
and Country Planning has drafted the
Planning Guidelines for Roof Top Garden
in 1997 and is currently being reviewed
and updated. Originally conceived as part
of the open space planning in the urban
areas to fully utilize idle spaces, rooftops
are now providing opportunities not only
in beautification but in energy saving,
insulation and air quality improvement
and for reducing the effects of urban heat
island. There are successful examples of
roof top gardens in shopping malls. These
gardens adopt recycling technologies such
as chilled water irrigation sourced from
the shopping centre’s air conditioning
system to grow temperate plants and a
rainwater harvesting system for general
irrigation. As an example, plants can be
grown on a soil-mix based on granulated
horticultural carbon.
•
The Circular from the SecretaryGeneral, Ministry of Housing and
Local Government on Rain Water
Harvesting System, 1999 (SPAH)
Forward looking, the Cabinet had, in
1998, instructed the Ministry of Housing
and Local Government to promote the
use of rainwater. This was prior to the
formulation of the Policy on Climate
in Malaysia. Subsequently, the Ministry
A backyard rainwater harvesting system in
Sandakan
of Housing and Local Government had
produced a Circular in 1999 to instruct
local authorities to install a Rain Water
Harvesting System (SPAH, Sistem
Penuaian Air Hujan) in buildings.
A success story in implementing
the rainwater harvesting system, the
Municipality of Sandakan, Sabah, had
imposed a planning requirement in
development applications to provide a
rainwater storage tanks for new residential
building commencing June 2001. Each
tank is able to store maximum of 400
gallons of rainwater. Further guidelines
had been prepared to support this circular.
RESEARCH INITIATIVES
Low Carbon City Research
Green Urbanism being the current buzzword had rendered numerous interests
from various Government Ministries,
Institutes of Higher Learning and Local
Authorities into various research aspects
and pilot projects. The Federal of Town
and Country Planning Department
(FTCPD) had identified the Low Carbon
City concept as one of its research
initiatives since the 9th Malaysia Plan and
had produced related guidelines including
one on Sustainable Transportation in
Landuse Development in 2007.
In a wider context, FTCPD is currently
collaborating with a research team from
Kyoto University Japan and University
Technology of Malaysia (UTM) to
conduct research on Low Carbon City.
The Iskandar Development in Johor has
been selected as a pilot and tagged as
“Low Carbon City 2025, Sustainable
Iskandar Malaysia”. This study researches
the feasibility of developing Iskandar
Malaysia into a low carbon city. The
methods involved developing the current
inventory of GHG emissions of Iskandar
Malaysia; and quantifying the social
economic activity level in 2025 based
on Iskandar Malaysia Comprehensive
Development Plans 2025. Initial findings
had shown that the GHG emissions of
Iskandar Malaysia will increase 3.6 times
higher than of the level at 2005 without
mitigation measures, and by adopting
the mitigation options, emissions can be
reduced by approximately 60% by 2025.
OTHER NATIONAL POLICIES
The National Green Technology Policy
(NGTP) July 2009
The NGTP is one of the most current
platforms supporting green growth.
It introduces and proposes the implementation of innovative economic
instruments, as well as the establishment
of effective fiscal and financial mechanisms
to support the growth of green industries.
The NGTP is held by four pillars namely
energy, environment, economy and social;
with four key areas focusing on energy,
building, water & waste management and
transportation. These areas are expected to
promote foreign direct investments (FDI)
in green technology to foster domestic
direct investments (DDIs) and local
industry participation.
Implications on green cities have been
identified through two strategic thrusts
in the NGTP. The first thrust focuses
on providing a conducive environment
for green technology development with
measures to strengthen the understanding
of local players in Green Technology
industries and their value chain.
This would include technology and
infrastructure support required for energy
efficient neighbourhoods and cities.
Similar to economic strategies adopted
by many countries, the NGTP facilitates
and infuses funds into sustainability-
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COVER F EAT U RE
(CONTI NUED)
Green
technology
vendors
play
an
important role in shaping green cities but
the bottom line is that green urbanism is
community-led.
oriented projects simultaneously greening
the economy. The second thrust promotes
education and information dissemination
through comprehensive roll - out
programmes to increase public awareness
on Green Technology.
Malaysian Budget 2010
The topic of green growth continued
when the Prime Minister, during his
2010 Budget speech in October 2009,
announced that Malaysia will develop
green technologies and encourage
development of green buildings. The
development of green technology would
be translated by developing Putrajaya
and Cyberjaya as pioneer townships in
green technology and as a showcase for
the development of other townships.
These green townships would promote
well-connected neighbourhoods, reduce
carbon footprint through environmentfriendly initiatives including green
buildings and using resources efficiently.
These townships should also be well
managed, inclusive, equitable and
fostering a sense of community within a
thriving and vibrant economy.
Green rating tools have also been
mentioned, highlighting the Green
Building Index (GBI), where buildings
focus on increasing the efficiency of
resource use (energy, water, and materials)
while reducing building impact on
human health and the environment
during the building’s lifecycle. This can be
achieved through better sitting, design,
construction, operation and maintenance
of buildings. The framework for this green
rating system for single buildings can be
further extended to a neighbourhood
or township level to create a green rating
system for townships and neighbourhoods.
PUBLIC AWARENESS AND GREEN
CONSCIOUSNESS
Putrajaya – a pioneer green township
The National Policy on Climate Change
The National Steering Committee on
Climate Change (NSCCC) serves as the
national focal point for external financial
and technical assistance for climate change
programme. The NSCCC also formulates
and implements climate change policies
including mitigation of GHG emissions
and adaptation to climate change. Though
debates and discourses on climate change
had taken place prior to the formulation of
the NGTP, the submission of this Policy
had preceded the submission of National
Climate Change Policy to the Cabinet in
November 2009. This policy will drive
efforts to reduce emissions and contribute
to the larger agenda of reducing climate
change impacts.
The Blueprint comprises five principles,
ten strategic thrusts and 43 key actions,
all focusing on mitigation, adaptation
measures and capacity building. In
December 2009, at the COP-15, the Prime
Minister had announced that Malaysia
will adopt a voluntary national reduction
up to 40% in terms of GDP emission
intensity by year 2020. The Ministry of
Natural Resources and Environment
(NRE) is currently finalizing the road map
for Malaysia to achieve the national target
reduction of GHG emission by 2020.
One of the keys to successful greening of a
city is the commitment of the community
in realizing their green objectives.
Fundamental to community commitment
is awareness, more so, green consciousness
towards shared community goals.
Often an uphill climb, communication,
partnership and sharing between
all members of the community are
instrumental in the creation of successful
green cities. Promoting an area-wide
green lifestyle such as recycling, waste
reduction, working on urban community
agricultural plots or community gardens,
or even participating in a composting
programme or eco-festival for example,
are green community activities that
require collective synergy.
Other green lifestyle changes that would
be driven by community rapport are
walking, cycling, and initiatives related
to the use of household and community
green technology. Green technology
vendors play an important role in
shaping green cities but the bottom line
is that green urbanism is community-led.
Though green networking is maturing
in Europe through the social media and
internet portals, Malaysia is new in these
efforts. However, long existing platforms
can be used, such as Local Agenda 21
and thus far some activities on greening
such as recycling have been realized
through Malaysia’s Local Agenda 21
under the Ministry of Housing and Local
Government
At the local authority level, Green
Cities Network could create publicprivate
partnership,
with
local
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authorities developing a communitybased stewardship programme with
‘community helping community’ whereby
communities share experiences, volunteer
and help each other in creating green
environments.
CONCLUSION – THE WAY
FORWARD
Global warming and world climate change
had impacted people’s life in varying
degrees. Sustainable development and the
greening of living habitat has increasingly
become a prominent agenda globally.
It is estimated that around 50%3 of the
world’s population now lives in cities and
urban areas and increasingly so in years to
come. These large communities provide
both challenges and opportunities for
environment-conscious urban makers to
make cities more sustainable, particularly
at the township level. This would involve
making a commitment to township
designs that will support a low emission
lifestyle for all residents; involving the
widest possible range of stakeholders in
green growth with green infrastructure
serving as a backbone to support energy
efficiency and renewable energy within
the water and energy systems. Thus an
integrated approach linking all dimension
of sustainability is instrumental. On
the economic front, green development
directly nurtures green economy. Infusing
funds into sustainability-oriented projects
is one way to ‘green’ the economy, as has
been highlighted by the NGTP.
for a continuous improvement in the
development plan making process to
consciously include green urbanism.
The Ministry of Housing and Local
Government through the FDTCP
has, since the mid-1990s supported
green urbanism through its policies
and guidelines. Likewise the collective
support of local authorities, developers,
planners and architects, and related
agencies in the public and private sectors
in the conception and realization of green
township is instrumental. With visions
and policies in place, green urbanism
is at best community-driven with
community support and consciousness
often supported by an effective social
networking media and under the auspices
of good green leadership.
Landscape: The
Economic Value
By Puan Hajah Rotina b. Mohd Daik, Jabatan Landskap Negara
References
Many things are encompassed in our
understanding of the word landscape. It
is a matter not only of beauty, aesthetic
appreciation of nature and architecture,
but the whole ecology of an area, the
history of its occupation and use by
people; geological structure of the land,
its soils, animals and its vegetation; and
the pattern of human activity – both
past and present. Landscape is described
as the environment we experience in
the interaction of natural resources and
people’s needs. Landscape contributes to
society in many ways Among benefits that
are widely accepted are: -
1. Beatley Timothy (2000), Green Urbanism: Learning From European Cities, Island Press.
2. Bristol Accord (2005), Conclusions of Ministerial Informal On Sustainable Communities in Europe – UK Presidency, Crown.
3. Federal Department of Town and Country Planning, Peninsular Malaysia (2006), National Urbanisation Policy.
4. Federal Department of Town and Country Planning, Peninsular Malaysia (2005), National Physical Plan.
5. Federal Department of Town And Country Planning, Peninsular Malaysia (1997), Planning Guideline on Open Spaces and Recreational Areas.
6. Federal Department of Town And Country Planning, Peninsular Malaysia (1997), Planning Guideline for Roof Top Gardens.
7. Federal Department of Town and Country Planning, Peninsular Malaysia (2006), Planning Guideline for Environmental Sensitive Areas and its surrounding areas (Draft).
8. Ministry of Energy, Green Technology & Water –­KeTTHA, (2010), National Green Technology Policy.
9. Malaysian Institute of Architects - PAM (2009) – Green Building Index (GBI)
10. Prime Minister Department (2001), Eighth Malaysia Plan 2001 – 2005
11. Prime Minister Department (2006), Ninth Malaysia Plan 2006 – 2010
12. Putrajaya and Cyberjaya on ‘environs-friendly’ fast track. Wednesday January 27, 2010, the Star Online
13. The Speech on Tenth Malaysia Plan 2011 – 2015 by Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, June 10, 2010 in the Dewan Rakyat.
14. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kyoto University, Okayama University and Ritsumeikan University (2009), Low-Carbon City 2025: Sustainable Iskandar Malaysia.
15. Wikipedia Dictionary, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_development, download on February, 2010.
• Experiencing beauty and source of
inspiration. Many people have seen the
landscape they grew up in disappear.
Many children of today will share that
experience. It is experienced as the
loss of a shared past. This aspect plays
an important role in experiencing the
identity of a district, city or country.
Landscape has been a source of
inspiration for artists from practically
every discipline: composer, film
directors, poets, writers, painters,
photographers and designers. Many
artistic expressions are connected
with the landscape. This all makes
the landscape a thoroughly alturas
phenomena. Since landscape is
manifested in the work of so many
different artists; it emphasizes the
deeper values in society. Landscape is
thus a vehicle of values.
Long-term visions in spatial planning
to secure progressively green township
and regions for sustainable futures calls
3
According to Central intelligent Agency (CIA), USA– https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2212.html?countryName
=World&countryCode=xx&regionCode=oc&#xx:
urban population: 50.5% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization: 1.85% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
ten largest urban agglomerations: Tokyo (Japan) – 36,669,000; Delhi (India) – 22,157,000; Sao Paulo (Brazil) – 20,262,000; Mumbai (India)
– 20,041,000; Mexico City (Mexico) – 19,460,000; New York-Newark (US) – 19,425,000; Shanghai (China) – 16,575,000; Kolkata (India) –
15,552,000; Dhaka (Bangladesh) – 14,648,000; Karachi (Pakistan) – 13,125,000 (2009)
T H E I N G EN I E U R VOL 4 7 S EPTEM B ER - NOVEM B ER 2 0 1 0
• Conserving nature and biological
diversity. Landscape conserves nature
and biological diversity through the
eco-system along with vegetation,
flora and fauna that have evolved
through human intervention. Natural
landscape is known to be repositories
of biological richness.
• Conserving human history in
building and activities by impressing
human history in monuments,
buildings and activities. It will
continue to provide living spaces and
livelihood for the population to evolve
in harmony with the environment.
• Offering source of recreation and
tourism. Public use and enjoyment are
important contribution of landscape
towards physical and mental health.
A well managed landscape area or
park will integrate recreation with
conservation, leading to a wide range
of experiences – walking, climbing,
caving, cycling, gliding, photography,
party, nature study or simply enjoying
the beautiful area created.
Economic value provided by
landscape
In line with current approach of property
development which gives emphasis to
landscape and environment, and puts
culture and landscape as assets to drive
a city’s distinctiveness, appropriate
mechanisms need to be followed in
order to establish the market value of a
property.
Natural and man-made landscapes
provide a wealth of goods and services in
the economy such as:
• aesthetic views with beautiful trees
and lake landscape,
• opportunities for physical exercises
that include brisk walking and jogging
• recreational activities including
picnicking
• carbon sequestration and carbon sink
Some of these benefits are derived
directly while others are obtained
indirectly. In other cases, the benefits
are obtained without making any actual
expenditure. The mere presence and
protection of the landscape trees may
generate emotional satisfaction. There
is also a time dimension to the benefits
derived. In most cases people acquire
these benefits in the current period, but
there are also circumstances where they
derive satisfaction from the knowledge
that protecting a landscape area now
could ensure that future generations also
have the opportunity to use it.
The categories of economic value include:
• Direct Use value
These are the values that accrue from
direct human use of a natural landscape,
and can be either extractive or non-
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extractive. Examples of the former
include the use of the landscape area
by the local community for timber and
non-timber forest products like root,
shoots, bark, leaves, flower, fruit or
mushroom picking without destroying
the trees. The extracted product may
be sold commercially or used for
subsistence purposes. Non-extractive
direct use values include the amenity
T H E I N G EN I E U R VOL 4 7 S EPTEM B ER - NOVEM B ER 2 0 1 0
and recreational benefits individuals
receive from visiting areas of outstanding
natural beauty, as well as the research and
educational values people derive from
studying biologically diverse and unique
landscapes.
• Indirect Use value
These are the ecological functions
and services of natural resources and
landscapes that indirectly provide
support and protection to people and
economic activity. For example, the
watershed protection functions of
a landscape area can help to control
erosion and sedimentation in rivers
and drains, and hence the flooding
of productive land downstream. The
environment also provides a myriad of
other ecological services such as air and
Table 1.1: Examples of economic value derived for a range of environmental goods and services
Landscape Areas
and Biodiversity
Resources
Categories of
Economic Value
Location
Economic Value*
Source
Natural forest
landscape as a source
of timber
Direct use value
Nam Dong District,
Central Vietnam
Harvestable stock value
52.5 million VND/ha
Mohd Shahwahid
et al. (2008)
Non-timber
products from forest
landscapes
Direct use values Luong Son District, Hoa
Binh Province, Vietnam
$54/household /yr of bamboo pole
$12/household/yr of bamboo shoot
$22/household/yr of firewood
$22/household/yr of foodstuff
$16/household/yr of fodder
$22/household/yr of other resources
Pham et al. (1999)
Safari viewing value
of elephants
Non-extractive
direct use value
Kenya
$25 million/year
Brown and Henry
(1993)
Wetland landscape
recreation and
amenity services
Non-extractive
direct use value
UK
$100.5-210/visitor
Bateman et al
(1994)
Value landscape
recreation and
amenity services
Non-extractive
direct use value
Bach Ma National Park,
Central Vietnam
28,460-28,700 VND/visit
(international tourist) and
23,500-23,800VND/visit (domestic
tourist)
Mohd Shahwahid
et al. (2007)
Value of endangered
species
Non-use value
$19.1 Bald eagle
$18.5 Grizzly bear
$5.1 Coyote
$9.3 Blue whale
$40-64 Humpback whale
UNEP (1995)
Bennett et al
(1997)
Conservation of
rainforest
Non-use values
US
Value of Vanuatu rainforests conservation to
non-visiting Australians
$3 marginal benefit estimate per
non-visiting Australian
* exchange rate at 2,100 Vietnamese Dong (VND) = RM1 in 2007 and $1 (US) = RM2.5
water purification, nutrient recycling,
carbon sequestration and micro-climate
stabilisation, all of which indirectly help
support or protect economic activity and
human welfare nearby the park.
• Option value
Institutions may want to conserve natural
landscape areas so that future generations
also have the chance to enjoy them.
This is the option value. Individuals or
institutions may also want to conserve
nature if they believe there is potential
value in doing so. Local authorities,
for example, may conserve beautiful
landscape areas of high biodiversity and
natural features now in an attempt to
establish new parks in the future. This is
an action which is a form of option value.
These option values arise because of the
uncertainty of future supplies of green
landscape areas with clean water bodies.
• Non-Use value
The above three categories capture the
benefits of actually using the landscape
area, either now or in the future. But
people also derive value from nature
simply by knowing that it exists. This
existence value captures people’s desire to
see environmental and natural landscapes
conserved, even though they never
intend to use them. For example, people
pay money to conservation organisations
to protect charismatic biodiversity
species, although they may never see or
visit them. This is part of the altruistic
value that some people have on unique
landscapes.
Table 1.1 presents illustrations of
economic values computed for a range of
goods and services provided by landscape
areas overseas, classified according to the
different categories of economic value.
Case studies around the
world
• Japan
Studies show that there are relative
increases in property value in
areas composed of good landscape
environment. In Japan, data from Tokyo
and Kitakyushu’s large and medium–
sized metropolitan areas were used to
evaluate 200–300 transacted vacant sites,
designated for residential development.
The results of principal component
analysis and hedonic regression analysis
suggested that the compatibility of
the buildings and the greenery of the
neighbourhood
were
distinctively
perceived; and these factors significantly
influenced land prices for both cities.
The outcomes indicate that programmes
should be provided to motivate residents
to preserve or create landscape amenity
co-operatively, and justify planning
policies to encourage neighbourhoodbased co-operation for landscape
improvement.1
• Netherlands
An attractive environment is likely
to influence house prices. Houses in
attractive settings will have an added
value over similar, less favourably
located houses. This effect is intuitively
felt, but does it always occur? Which
environmental factors make a location
an attractive place to live in? A study
in Netherlands explored the effect of
different environmental factors on
house prices. The research using the
hedonic pricing method to analyse
3,000 house transactions, in eight towns
in the Netherlands, were studied to
estimate the effect of environmental
attributes on transaction prices. Some
of the most salient results show that the
largest increases in house prices due to
environmental factors (up to 28%) for
houses with a garden facing water, which
is connected to a sizeable lake.
It demonstrate that a pleasant view can
lead to a considerable increase in house
price, particularly if the house overlooks
water (8–10%) or open space (6–12%).
Observation revealed that house price
varies by landscape type. Attractive
landscape types were able to attract a
premium of 5–12% over less attractive
environmental settings.2 Natural setting
helps to boost property value.
Natural setting helps to boost property value.
Xiaolu Gao, and Yasushi Asami, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy
of Sciences, 11A Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
1
Center for Spatial Information Science, University of Tokyo, Kashiwanoha 5-1-5, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8568, Japan
b
2
The value of trees, water and open space as reflected by house prices in the Netherlands
Joke Luttik Alterra, Green World Research, P.O. Box 125, 6700 AC Wageningen, Netherlands
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• United States of America
A survey of the sales of 844 single family
residential properties in Athens, Georgia
U.S.A., indicated that landscaping with
trees was associated with 3.5%–4.5%
increase in sales prices. During the 1978–
1980 study period, the average house sold
for about US$38,100 (in 1978 constant
dollars) and had five trees in its front
yard. The average sales price increase
due to trees was between US$1,475 and
US$1750 (US$2,869 and US$3,073 in
1985 dollars) and was largely due to trees
in the intermediate and large size classes,
regardless of species. This increase in
property value resulted in an estimated
increase of US$100,000 (1978 dollars)
in the city’s property tax revenues.3
The hedonic price model was used to
simultaneously estimate the effects of
street trees on the sales price and the
time-on-market (TOM) of houses in
Portland, Oregon. On average, street
trees add US$8,870 to sales price and
reduce TOM by 1.7 days. In addition, it
was found that the benefits of street trees
spill over to neighbouring houses.4
Contribution of Amenity
Trees in Malaysia
In Malaysia, the value of a standing tree in
Taman Tasik Taiping has been estimated
by using Thyer Tree Valuation method
which was designed to value trees in public parks or urban setting. The calculated
value is assessed based on the contribution
of trees to landscape, and the extent it is
appreciated by the public due to its importance to the environment and human
community. A survey done by Jabatan
Landskap Negara and Universiti Putra
Malaysia on the value of the sampled amenity trees in Taman Tasik Taiping revealed
that Samanes saman (Hujan-hujan) trees
aged around 130 years were valued between RM1,649,288 to RM2,084,699 per
tree. Greater effort should be encouraged
for all parties to plan and execute develop-
T H E I N G EN I E U R VOL 4 7 S EPTEM B ER - NOVEM B ER 2 0 1 0
ment project that will
enhance the quality of
Malaysian landscape
by preserving our
natural resources, protecting natural topography and creating
green areas by planting trees with greater
foliage.
safeguarded. We
should also protect
natural landscape
and biodiversity
in development of
townships and infrastructure.
d) Promoting
Green
Development
Moving forward
to achieve World
Health Organisa-
Building
a Vibrant
Garden
Nation
Archway of trees enhances the entry point to development
The aspiration of
making Malaysia a
Beautiful
Garden
Nation has been
progressing well since
the vision was put
forward in the late
1990s. This vision
needs to be supported
by drastic changes
in the mindset of
our society towards
landscape. Strategies
for the Government
to build a more
vibrant and liveable
nation are as follows:- Rows of heritage trees in Taiping, Perak
• Promote and improve Malaysian
landscape development parallel to the
Garden Nation Vision, with sufficient
and functional Green Infrastructure
that benefit people.
• Conserve and preserve precious
natural resources to ensure these
unique national assets are in safe
hands.
• Ensure that landscape is taken as
a fundamental requirement in all
programmes and projects.
• Review the legislation and monitoring
procedures for matters related to
landscape.
• Strengthen the landscape industry
– which eventually will progress to
promoting research and development
related to landscape.
Fostering landscape as
part of Malaysian lifestyle
Malaysian landscape should reflect its
present climate and character as Malaysia
is renowned for her unique tropical
character, abundant with an assortment
of landscape resources. The distinctive
physical appearances; namely rainforests,
topographical and geological formation,
rivers, and vegetations should be wisely
carved along with development. The key
3
Influence of trees on residential property values in Athens, Georgia (U.S.A.): A survey based on actual sales prices
L.M. Anderson and H.K. Cordell USDA Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Forestry Sciences Laboratory,
Carlton Street, Athens GA 30602, U.S.A.
4
Landscape and Urban Planning Journal
actions to promote Malaysia’s unique
landscape character and value include:a) Reflecting Local Climate and
Tropical Character
Malaysian landscape should reflect the
present climate and character as Malaysia
is renowned for her unique tropical
character with distinctive rainforests,
rivers, and plants. There is also an urgent
need to ensure the uniqueness is creatively
used for a quality living environment.
b) Respecting Nature and Environment
To respect nature and environment, there
is a need to emphasize the Spirit of Place
or the ‘Genius Loci ’ in every development
to avoid estrangement. Furthermore,
the natural local species should also be
highlighted together with the place’s
culture and history to create a distinctive
composition. Materials and components
selected should suit the climate, habitat
and one’s needs.
c) Conserving natural landscape
through creative design of property
development
Practice natural conservation and biodiversity in order to thwart and control
any indiscriminate acts of destruction of
existing hills and topographical formation as well as natural settings. A constant
and proper consideration should be taken
in all physical developments to ensure
that natural and landscape resources are
tion Standards of 16m² of green space per
person, greater effort is need to promote
green development. Utilization of creative
landscape approach such as creating
roof top garden, vertical landscape and
increased density of green spaces ought to
be put into effect.
e) Applying Design to Follow Function
Applying ‘Design to Follow Function’
principle is undeniably suitable for
spaces especially in the cities. A good
landscape development should have a
functional, creative and attractive design
that benefit the user besides providing
comfort and a secured living environment.
Such a principle will not only create
distinctive Malaysian landscape identity
and character, but will also benefit and
meet the needs of every level of users.
In addition, optimizing the usage of
indigenous materials is also essential to
ensure its sustainability.
f ) Creating lush open space, recreation
area and Green Corridor
One of the most crucial actions to reduce
the elements of hardcape in a development.
As what we are witnessing today, too much
usage of hardcape elements is proven to
intensify heat and cause discomfort to
the user. Hard-surfaced materials used
are unlikely to absorb heat. More green
area, lush open spaces and seamless green
corridors need to be created.
g) Creating dedicated and permanent
landscape reserve by the roadside,
highways and river corridors
In order to create avenue of scenic
beauty trees in Malaysia, a dedicated and
permanent landscape reserve by roadside,
highways and river corridors need to be
developed. These will eventually form an
integrated green network in urban areas.
h) Adopting Management Practices
In landscape and parks developments,
properly managed and maintained areas
supported by a well equipped organisation
is vital in creating sustainable development.
Professional curator and park managers
in every park are essential to manage the
park and to carry out park inventories and
habitat identification works with other
related experts.
Trees and landscape enhance the value and feel of a place
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T H E I N G EN I E U R VOL 4 7 S EPTEM B ER - NOVEM B ER 2 0 1 0
Liveable And
Sustainable Housing
Development
By Professor Abdul Ghani Salleh, School of Housing, Building and Planning,
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Creative commons @ thienzieyung
Sustainable housing development ensures that no one is
left out in the development process and it addresses socioeconomic and environmental issues. Liveable housing
emphasises human comfort, sense of place, safety, community
spirit and neighbourhood. Residential satisfaction is an
important indicator of liveable housing conditions, which
affects individuals’ quality of life. The factors that determine
residential satisfaction are essential inputs in monitoring the
success of housing policies. This paper discusses some aspects
of urban development activities that have implications on
sustainable housing development and an evaluation of
residential satisfaction in private low-cost housing projects in
selected states.
Housing development
Housing provision normally lags behind
the rapid growth of urban population.
If houses are available, they are beyond
the affordability of most low-income
population in rapidly growing urban
centres. The impact of urbanisation on
our living environment depends very
much on the management of urban
change by local Government and other
parties involved in the development
process.
There are always risks to the environment
in housing development as it is a complex
process, which involves many players.
Amongst them, the key players are the
developers and planners. The role of
developers is to conceive and produce
the developments for others to use.
They seek to satisfy public needs and get
reasonable economic returns from the
development. On the other hand, the
role of Government is to ensure the built
environment created by the development
process will eventually enhance the
living environment and economic well
being of society. They seek to strike
There is a positive relationship between
housing development and economic
growth. Housing is one of the main
aspects of urban development, which
are directly linked to the economy. As
long as housing programmes contribute
to the distribution of wealth, they
contribute to the long-term economic
success of development as well-housed
population generates labour force of a
high level of productivity. Thus, housing
contributes not only to economic
growth but also social equity. Liveable
housing emphasises human comfort,
sense of place, safety, community
spirit and neighbourhood. Residential
satisfaction is an important indicator
of liveable housing condition, which
affects individuals’ quality of life. The
factors, which determine satisfaction,
are essential inputs in monitoring
the success of housing policies. Thus,
urban development activities that have
implications on liveable and sustainable
housing development need to be
monitored to assist in the formulation
and revision of housing policies.
Housing Development:
Issues and Problems
Do the forces of economic growth have
stronger influence than the social and
environmental considerations in housing
development or to what extent does our
housing system incorporate elements of
sustainable development in Malaysia?
No comprehensive study has so far
been done to address these questions.
Nevertheless, we may able to evaluate
and make some propositions regarding
the current housing situation based on
the following observations. Sustainable
development ensures that no one is
left out in the development process.
This explains sustainable cities as ‘cities
for all’. The basic objective of urban
Creative commons @ Ting~
a balance between urban economic
growth and physical growth through
land use development policy, which
constitutes the core of sustainable urban
development.
Squatter issues
development is to meet human needs
and achieve equity and social justice.
No one should be marginalised in the
development process. However, many of
us feel that housing development tends
to benefit the privileged few rather than
the poor and deprived. What is wrong
with our housing system or where is the
missing link in the sustainable housing
development process?
• Over consumption of housing
The current housing system encourages
people to buy bigger houses. For civil
servants, they could do so through
second housing loans and increased
loan limits as implemented in 2001.
The consumption of housing should
be based on needs rather than wants.
Over consumption of housing leads
to environmental deterioration. The
growth of residential development
in the urban periphery – suburban
residential development is a result of the
increase of population in higher income
category. This is a normal trend of urban
development in which suburban growth
attracts the rich leaving the poor in the
central areas of the city. Resort, hill and
waterfront developments are becoming
popular lately in our country. A study
by Ghani (1997) indicates that resort
development is attractive mainly to
those with professional and management
backgrounds. Their purpose of acquiring
these properties is to have better living
environment, for family reasons, weekend
retreats and investment.
• Squatter settlements
Large cities in developing countries
are characterised by rapid urbanisation
and urban growth that often results in
multiplication of squatter colonies in
the urban fringes. Malaysian cities are
no exception. There are many reasons
that can explain the above phenomena.
Urban-rural migration is often cited
to be the main cause for the rapid
urban growth. The ‘pull’ factors are
associated with more job opportunities
created by industrialisation, better
urban community facilities and better
urban living environment. Most of the
migrants are in the low-income segment
of the urban population who are not
easily accessible to the formal low cost
housing sector. Furthermore, the supply
of low cost housing cannot cope with
the increasing number of migrants to the
cities. The only opportunity that is open
to them to find their homes in the squatter
settlements that are rather fast and cheap
to build. Their living environment is
deplorable with inadequate sanitation,
drainage, waste collection and insecurity
of tenure.
The price of low-cost housing has been
fixed by the Government at RM25,000
for some time until its revision in 1998.
The current price of the low-cost housing
is between RM25,000 and RM42,000
depending on location. Not long after
that in 2000, the price of low-medium
cost housing increased from RM42,000RM60,000 to RM45,000-RM70,000,
and will inevitably push low-cost housing
price limits higher. High land cost was
quoted to be the major factor for the
increase. Are we building these houses
based on their needs or wants? If we use
affordability as a means to deliver houses
for low-income groups, we may not be
able to meet their basic housing needs,
not to mention the housing quality as
there is no such thing as a good quality
low-cost housing. They will eventually
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• Lack of open space
Lastly, provision of public, open space
within each residential neighbourhood to
meet the needs of different groups seldom
gets much attention. As a result, there is
little provision for such space in urban
areas and most land sites are developed
for other urban activities. There may be
little pressures from upper income groups
to address this issue as their purchasing
power allows them exclusive access to
such resources. However, the poor should
Need for open spaces
not be deprived of their basic needs.
Monitoring Process
One of the most important changes in
the last three decades has been the move
away from assessing the quantitative
dimensions of housing ‘deficits’ or
‘backlogs’ within nations to whether
people can find accommodation
that meets their needs and priorities
(UNCHS, 1996). Their needs and
priorities are assured in sustainable
development. Thus, sustainable housing is not just an ideal, it is a necessity.
Therefore, it must be planned,
implemented through action plans and
monitored through a system that will
assist in the formulation and revision of
policies.
• Housing indicators
Housing indicator, a tool for monitoring,
can assist in evaluation of housing
conditions, identification of housing
issues and problems, and formation of
rational housing issues. Better housing
quality and living environment will
only be achieved through rational
housing policies. The system can
make comparisons in various aspects
of housing between time periods and
locations. The indicators need not be
perfect, they need not tell every thing
about housing sector. They are indirect
measures of housing performance and
early indications of the presence of
housing problems that require treatment.
Good indicators can only evolve over
time. Local Government is a powerful
body in generating local economies and
sustainable housing environments. It
can manage and control stakeholders in
the sustainable development process so
that environmental resources and urban
services are distributed equitably for
the present and future generations. We
need to monitor housing performance to
ensure housing market works smoothly
and to signal if it is not, and to allocate
public resources equitably.
A global survey of housing indicators
has been conducted since 1990 as a joint
programme of the United Nations Centre
for Human Settlements (UNCHS) and
the World Bank. The objectives of the
survey were to create a comprehensive
basic set of indicators for the housing
sector, to establish analytical relationship
among these indicators and to provide
tools to measure the performance of the
housing sector. Locally, an initial effort
towards establishing comprehensive sets
of housing indicators has already started.
Federal Department of Town and
Country Plannning, Ministry of Housing
and Local Government of Malaysia, has
carried out a study of urban indicators in
which housing is one of the sectors.
•
Study in Kuantan, Batu Pahat,
George Town, Pasir Mas and
Kuching
In the study, five towns were selected
to form a sample. They are Kuantan,
Batu Pahat, George Town, Pasir Mas
and Kuching. Preliminary results of
two housing indicators, namely housing
price to income ratio and floor space per
person, indicate we are in the middle
of the extreme values compared to
that of the other countries included
in UNCHS Global Data Base Survey
(Ghani, 2001). For instance, the average
value of 2.24 for the house price to
income ratio is relatively low compared
to Hanoi 10.4, Jakarta 9.9, Paris 4.3 and
Rio de Janeiro 2.4. The value does not
indicate the level of development of
urban centres and cities, but it is related
to the housing policy. The lower values
indicate that housing policies enable the
Government to provide a large amount
of affordable housing for the people.
Similarly, the average value of 18.6 for
the floor space per person is relatively
moderate compared to Hanoi 5.19,
Jakarta 15.04, Rio de Janeiro 18.6 and
Paris 30. The values correlate with the
level of development of urban centres
and cities. These are some examples of
what housing indicator system can do to
monitor housing development process.
A time series data of housing indicators
are needed to determine the presence of
problems and to generate a pattern of
relationships between indictors. So, the
study is a starting point for a long-term
process of housing indicator programme
in the country.
•
Residential satisfaction in Penang
and Terengganu
Another tool for monitoring is
residential satisfaction. In a study on
residential satisfaction in private lowcost housing in Penang and Terengganu,
the variables that affect residential
satisfaction were categorized in three
main groups, dwelling units, services by
the developers, neighbourhood facilities
and environment (Abdul Ghani, 2008).
The level of satisfaction was calculated by
the average satisfaction of the residents.
There were 32 indicators within these
three groups.
The residents in both states were generally
satisfied with dwelling units, services by
developers and neighbourhood facilities
and environment. However, the levels
of satisfaction varied according to some
indicators and housing estates. The
residents were particularly dissatisfied as
shown by some indicators. For the study
in Penang, there were 10 indicators that
the residents felt unsatisfied while there
were 13 indicators in Terengganu. The
main unsatisfied indicators were related
Creative commons @ thienzieyung
Creative commons @ rakastajatar
be marginalised in squatter colonies.
Squatter eviction is not the solution
as the number of low-cost housing
units available is not only insufficient
but also may not meet their needs. The
affordability problems among low income
housing will inevitably require the
Government to look seriously into social
rented housing sector for a solution. The
sector should not only target the poor
but also a wider range of the society.
Moral considerations should be taken
into account in housing the poor. The
current trend is that most of the low and
medium income groups are housed in
private rented sector, which is described
by Harloe (1994) as “ paying more for less
space and poor quality house”.
• Smart partnerships
The extent of smart partnership between
private and public sectors in housing
development depends very much on
Government policy. Currently, local
authorities are concerned with regulations,
controls and limitations, unnecessarily
complicated, and some times unrelated
to the real needs of public and private
sectors. Lack of communication between
the players in the development process
and delays are common problems. Strict
development control will not only
slow down urban development but also
eliminate development potential and
scare investors. Planning as set out in
Agenda 21, should be decentralised,
participatory, responsive, accountable,
realistic and imaginative (Tipple, 1996).
There is a need for local authorities
to build their capacity for sustainable
development.
T H E I N G EN I E U R VOL 4 7 S EPTEM B ER - NOVEM B ER 2 0 1 0
Large housing estate
to the neighbourhood facilities and
environment, such as public transport,
community hall, parking lot and
facilities for the handicapped. Besides
that, the residents in both states felt
that they had problems with safety and
their dwelling units regarding dining
room area, kitchen and clothesline
facilities. Thus, house quality, building
design and educational facilities in the
neighbourhood determine residential
satisfaction in private low-cost housing
in Penang while safety infrastructure,
educational and health facilities in the
neighbourhood determine residential
satisfaction in private low-cost housing
in Terengganu.
Despite having reasonable level of
residential satisfaction, many residents
in both states wanted to move out from
their houses. The main reasons given by
residents in Penang were to own a more
comfortable house and to get a bigger
house. However, the main reasons given
by the residents in Terengganu were due
to far distance to work place and school
and to own a more comfortable house
than the present one because of many
problems. The problems were floods,
leaks, poor quality building materials,
poor public transport and community
facilities, and safety and neighbourhood
problems. Generally, the residents of
low-cost housing projects developed by
private housing developers expressed their
dissatisfaction with certain attributes
of dwelling units, services by developers
and neighbourhood facilities as discussed
above. These problems affected their
living environment and quality of life.
In order to ensure that housing is not
just a house but a home in liveable
neighbourhood, the Government should
monitor low-cost housing programmes
developed by private developers to ensure
that residents from low-income group
are housed in a liveable environment. As
we are aware, simply providing houses
does not measure the success of housing
programmes and policies. Thus, just
meeting the target of housing units for
certain time period is not sufficient effort
to achieve the goal of housing policy.
The suitability of living environment,
services and related facilities to the
needs of residents is essential for housing
programmes to be successful.
Conclusion
A sustainable living environment can
be only achieved if development and
environmental issues and problems are
given equal emphasis in urban development.
Basic human needs must be fulfilled,
with living standards improved and
ecosystems sustained effectively. Therefore,
as a sustainable development strategy, a
24
FCOVER
EAT U RE
(CONTI NUED) (CONTI NUED)
FEATURE
greater integration of social, economic and
environmental considerations is needed
in planning and development of housing
sector.
Housing development is a complex process,
which involves many players and every one is
literally affected by the changes in property
market. In order to sustain the growth of
housing development, every player in the
housing industry needs to assess and review
its position, and appropriate actions should
be taken to achieve sustainable housing
development. Government policies should
remove barriers to decision making process
and uncertainties in the development.
Encouragement and incentives should be
given to the developers to promote and
revitalise the industry. Smart partnership
between private sector and public sector
should be encouraged in the development
of affordable housing. The efforts of
the private and public sectors should be
geared to overcome the current problems
faced by both parties in the development
process and to stimulate the growth of
local urban economy. When the economic
standard of the people increases, demand
for housing will naturally increase and push
development forward.
As a sustainable development strategy,
long-term public interest rather than shortterm private interest should be given more
consideration. Efforts should also be made
to monitor housing performance by using
various monitoring tools. It would assist
the Government in the formulation and
revision of the housing policies, which
generate liveable and sustainable housing
development.
References
1. Abdul Ghani Salleh (2008)
Neighbourhood factors in private low-
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
cost housing in Malaysia, Habitat
International 32 (4): 485-493.
Ghani Salleh (2001) Kajian
Penerapan Konsep Mampan Dalam
Perancangan (A Study of Sustainable
Concept in Planning, Urban Indicators
– Housing Sector), Technical Report.
Ghani Salleh (1997) A market
study of proposed resort township
development in Seberang Perai, Pulau
Pinang, School of Housing, Building
and Planning, USM, Penang.
Harloe, M. (1994) Social housing
– past, present and future, Housing
Studies, 9 (3): 407-416.
Tipple, A. G. (1996) Housing
extensions as sustainable development,
Cities, 20(3): 367-376.
UNCHS (1996) An Urbanizing
World: Global Report on Human
Settlements 1996, Oxford: Oxford
University Press/ UNCHS.
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27
F EAT U REH(CONTI
NUED)
RESEARC
& DEVELOPMENT
T H E I N G EN I E U R VOL 4 7 S EPTEM B ER - NOVEM B ER 2 0 1 0
By Ir. Chen Thiam Leong
Editor’s note: This paper was presented at the International Green Technology and Purchasing Conference,
Kuala Lumpur October 15-16, 2010.
Exergy-efficient products and services will be the future
trend. The following extract from the American Society
of Heating, Refrigerating & Air-Conditioning Engineers
(ASHRAE) will provide an initial insight to this topic for
better understanding:
Exergy Analysis for Sustainable Buildings is concerned with
all exergy aspects of energy and power utilization of systems
and equipment for comfort and service, assessment of their
impact on the environment, and development of analysis
techniques, methodologies and solution for environmentally
safer, sustainable low-exergy buildings.
Existing building heating, ventilating and air-conditioning
(HVAC) and plumbing systems and equipment have already
achieved high thermal efficiencies as defined by the first
law of thermodynamics. According to the second law of
thermodynamics however, there is a need to increase currently
low exergy efficiencies primarily because existing systems and
buildings demand high-exergy sources.
In this respect, International Energy Agency (IEA) Annex 37
recognized exergy-efficient buildings and development of lowexergy systems and equipment to be the most important need
for sustainable development and environment. Currently,
there is a lack of information about the importance and
relevance of the subject matter, in particular for green
buildings and for sustainable development.
This TG will raise the exergy awareness among engineers
and provide the fundamental information and tools for the
implementation of exergy-efficient designs and development of
consistent exergy related methodologies. This TG will establish
a robust road map for a comprehensive set of scientific and
technical steps for environmentally safer building technology
and HVAC systems and facilitate the new ASHRAE theme of
Engineering for Sustainability.
Energy Efficiency simply means using less energy to provide the
same level of energy service. An example would be insulating a
house allows it to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve
and maintain a comfortable temperature; whilst installing fluorescent lights and/or skylights instead of incandescent lights can
attain the same level of illumination with less energy.
Exergy Efficiency refers to the efficient use of energy resource to
optimise energy efficiency. For instance, using a low exergy energy
resource of ground water (40OC) to provide space heating to achieve
an indoor temperature of 20OC, is far more efficient than using a
high exergy energy resource of electricity (to operate a heat pump).
The rationale being that electricity (a high exergy energy resource)
which is capable of heating water up to 100OC is wasted when
needed to heat water to only 40OC. Note that the plant efficiency to
produce high exergy electricity resource is rather low (transmission
losses etc.).
The R&D challenge is therefore to identify innovations on exergy
efficient rather than merely energy efficient designs and products.
Exergy Efficiency in Design
Exergy is a qualitative measure of the useful work potential
available for a given amount of energy source. For example,
low-temperature waste heat is a low-exergy resource because
only low temperature and limited applications such as
domestic water service can be realized. On the other
hand, natural gas is a high-exergy resource because several
different useful applications such as electricity generation
can be realized.
Existing HVAC systems are not directly compatible
with low-exergy renewable and waste energy resources
unless either the equipment is oversized and/or resource
Creative commons @ Duke Energy
Innovations in Energy Efficient &
Exergy Efficient Designs
temperatures are conditioned, both of which are costly
measures and diminish the appeal for renewable energy
resources. Furthermore, conventional HVAC systems
depend upon fossil fuels even when heat pumps are used,
as heat pumps depend on electric power generally supplied
from conventional power plants using fossil fuels and
delivered at low transmission efficiency. HVAC systems are
rated only with respect to their thermal efficiencies, which
neglects the overall energy, environment, and economic
relationships. Current HVAC systems generally rely on
high-exergy fossil fuels for comfort functions, when they
should only require low-grade heat or cold.
This mismatch destroys most of the exergy. Exergy of
any flow or resource is the total amount of useful work
that is available, and a HVAC system wastes most of that.
Therefore, it is no surprise that their exergy efficiency is less
than 10% (Rosen and Dincer 1996; Kilkis 2004).
It is unfortunate that this problem, which has been known
for a relatively long time, has not yet been addressed: the
building sector, with a dominant share in annual energy
use, has very low exergy efficiency for energy utilization and
continues to be responsible for environmental degradation,
mainly in terms of CO2 emissions. On the other hand, the
thermal efficiency of HVAC systems has reached a good
saturation point, well above 90% on average, except for
thermal energy, transport and distribution losses.
There are examples of such systems already in the market,
such as thermally activated building components used
for floor heating systems or waterborne systems where
heating or cooling pipes are placed into the concrete
slab construction. Another is the airborne hollow core
deck system where tempered air first circulates inside the
construction walls, thereby heating or cooling the rooms
before being released as fresh supply air to the rooms
(Johannesson 2004).
Further research is needed to explore new or not commonly
used exergy resources for incorporation into the built
environment, such as the ground (e.g. using ground coolness
for cooling), water (e.g. using ground, sea or riverwater as a
cooling source), sky (e.g. using the radiation to a clear sky at
night for cooling), or others.
Wide application of low exergy heating and cooling systems
in buildings will create a building stock which will be able
to adapt the use of sustainable energy sources, when desired.
Without this ability, the transfer towards a sustainable built
environment will be delayed for decades.
For temperate climate applications, exergy-efficient
products such as those for geo-thermal heating are quite
Solar panels
well established. There are many more examples one may
find listed in the above extracted seminar paper.
As for tropical climatic applications, thus far the
applications are limited to hot water heaters and more
recently solar thermal cooling. There is much more to be
taken advantage of. Harvesting renewable solar energy
(for electricity) through photovoltaic is merely limiting to
the energy efficiency angle. However, harnessing solar (e.g.
evacuated tube technology) is many times more energy (and
exergy) efficient by means of bypassing the need to convert
into electricity to then produce cooling. The application of
solar absorption cooling is an excellent prospect for tropical
climate applications. R&D innovations in energy derived
from renewable energy and suited to local climatic needs
is the key for Malaysian industry. For the built industry,
harvesting solar energy to produce exergy-efficient products
rather than merely energy-efficient products is definitely the
direction to go.
Two specific energy technology opportunities are described
below.
•
Solar Thermal Cooling (STC)
Rather than merely following the global trend of harnessing
solar energy to produce photovoltaic that is limited in their
30
F EAT U RE H(CONTI
RESEARC
& NUED)
DEVE LO P MENT ( c o n t i n u e d )
efficiency, solar evacuated tube technology with over 80%
efficiency should be a better choice.
Whilst residential roofs are freely available for photovoltaic,
similarly roofs of industrial and low-rise commercial
buildings (one to three storey/s are far more productive for
solar air-conditioning applications. In this respect, Malaysia
should nurture this particular industry that today has only a
handful of SME activity.
•
Small Co-generation Cooling – Electricity System
An excellent exergy-efficient product would be the small
co-generation system using LPG/LNG to produce cooling
via an absorption cycle and then harnessing its hydrogen
by-product for a fuel cell to produce electricity to the grid.
Japan has already produced (since 2005 – see illustrations
below) packaged hot water heaters using NG connected to
fuel cell to produce electricity. Producing cooling through
this same concept has not yet materialized, although
suggested by Ir. TL Chen back in 2005.
With clean energy gas available in Malaysia for the next
30 years or more, this small co-generation system can
command a substantial market with feasible applications
in high-rise residential buildings, service apartments and
even hotels. The new trend of shop lot office buildings also
constitutes very suitable applications.
Conclusion
R&D in any field is normally costly and limited in
execution. Therefore, R&D innovations into Energy
Efficient & Exergy Efficient designs and products need to
be well thought of, lest we descend into a herd mentality
approach, more so for Malaysia if we aspire to leapfrog
over others as a late bloomer. As such, we should not be
contented to jump on the bandwagon created by others, but
rather examine our own niche market.
A classic case would be that of BIPV (building integrated
photo voltaic) where we risk resigning to be followers if we
pour our R&D resources in this area. Instead, we should
combine the already developed and available photovoltaic
technology with our climatic requirements to R&D on
Solar Thermal Cooling, to take advantage of our ideal
weather application and our types of built environment.
This paper has merely highlighted two very viable exergy
efficient technologies to reflect the enormous market
potential and opportunities in this infant field and is
strictly representative of the view of the author.
Residential Fuel Cell Co-generation System
Hydrogen
200
litres
Hot
water
Fuel Cell
1kW
Electricity Electricity
Town
Gas
Polymer electrolyte fuel cell for homes launched March 2005
Brands : Panasonic, Ebara, Sanyo, Toyota, Toshiba
Congratulations!
Projek Lebuhraya Pantai Timur Fasa 2 ( JKR)
On receiving the Quality Award
for
How about Fuel Cell Co-generation System
Gas to Airconditioning with Electricity?
for
Hydrogen
Fuel Cell
? kW
Electricity Electricity
Absorption
Air
Conditioner
Best Construction Management 2010
Conventional Project Catgory
(Infrastructure)
Town
Gas
Finally, apart from R&D innovations into marketable
products, R&D innovations to improve on design concepts
(which unfortunately are usually not patentable or difficult
to do so) should not be ignored. One potential area (again
suitable for our climatic application) would be the optimal
behaviour of active (airflow) facades.
Reference
• ASHRAE Kilkis 2004
• TL Chen – various publications since 2005
for
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32
33
ENGINEERING & L AW
Contingent
Payment: The
Continuing
Saga
By Ir. Harbans Singh K.S, P.E.,
C. Eng., Advocate & Solicitor
(Non-Practising)
Contingent Payment clauses
encompassing the so-called ‘Pay
if Paid’ clauses or ‘Pay when Paid’
clauses or ‘Back to Back’ clauses
is a common feature in most subcontracts in Malaysia. These were
dealt with in detail by the author
in an article entitled Contingent
Payments In Sub-Contract: An
Overview1 which looked at the
typical provisions in the standard
forms and the general principles that
were being employed to construe such
clauses.
Over the time since the publication of
the said article, the use of such clauses
continued to expand exponentially
leading to much disquiet and
concern among practitioners as there
was no local authority on the true
construction to be afforded to such
clauses.
In late 2004, the High Court was
given an opportunity in the case
of Pernas Otis Elevator Sdn. Bhd.
v Syarikat Pembenaan Yeoh Tiong
Lay Sdn. Bhd. & Anor2 to elucidate
the matter and provide guidance on
the right approach to be taken in
construing such clauses.
Much to the disappointment of subcontractors, the High Court held
that such clauses should be construed
T H E I N G EN I E U R VOL 4 7 S EPTEM B ER - NOVEM B ER 2 0 1 0
‘literally’ i.e. the sub-contractor’s
entitlement to payment is contingent
upon the main contractor’s actual
receipt of the corresponding payment
from the employer.
This decision and the attendant
legal and procedural matters were
amplified and explained by the
author in another article entitled
Construction of Contingent Payment
Clauses: An Overview3.
Since the said decision was not the
subject of an appeal, it remained the
law and a binding precedent on the
inferior courts. In the meantime,
this rather unfortunate state of
affairs was adequately reversed in
other jurisdictions through statutory
intervention4 or ingenious/novel
judicial pronouncements5.
No notable developments crystallized
locally since the Pernas Otis decision
until as of recent. A rather interesting
and patently illustrative case
meandered its way in the corridors
of justice of the Sessions and High
Courts to the Court of Appeal in
Putrajaya, this case being Asiapools
(M) Sdn. Bhd. v IJM Construction
Sdn. Bhd.6
The Court of Appeal having reviewed
the particular facts and provisions of
the sub-contract in question together
with the relevant law, upheld the
‘literal’ approach taken in the Pernas
Otis case and in no uncertain terms
laid down the approach the courts
would take in dealing with such
clauses.
This short article has been penned
to update the readers on the facts of
this case, a summary of the judicial
pronouncement and the effects of
the said case; which being a decision
of the Superior Courts i.e. the Court
of Appeal has far ranging legal
ramifications.
FACTS OF THE CASE
The plaintiff (i.e. Asiapools (M)
Sdn. Bhd.) was the nominated subcontractor for the swimming pool
for a condominium whereby the
defendant (i.e. IJM Construction
Sdn. Bhd.) was the main contractor
for the complete works. The
nominated sub-contract works
under the plaintiff ’s scope had
been completed but the plaintiff
had not been fully paid by the
defendant as the latter had not been
correspondingly paid by the employer
under the main contract.
Pursuant to the main contract, the
defendant had commenced an action
against the employer to recover the
sum involved. The plaintiff, under
the sub-contract commenced the
instant action against the defendant
to recover the unpaid sum.
The Sessions Court had allowed
the plaintiff ’s claim with costs.
The defendant appealed to the
High Court, which court allowed
the defendant’s appeal with costs.
Aggrieved by the High Court’s
decision, the plaintiff now appealed
to the Court of Appeal.
The plaintiff submitted that pursuant
to the sub-contract, the final payment
claimed by the plaintiff was outside
the ‘pay when paid’ provision
expressed in Clause 13.01 of the SubContract, as it referred to ‘progress
payment/interim payment’ only.
The defendant on the other hand
contended that the final payment
claimed by the defendant was only
due and payable upon receipt of such
payment by the defendant from the
employer, because the expression
‘progress payment’ in clause 13.01
covers final payment.
The main issue before the Court of
Appeal for its determination was on
the true construction of clause 13.01,
particularly ‘progress payment’ and
whether the final payment claimed
by the plaintiff fell within the ambit
of ‘progress payment’ Clause 13.01
which read:
13.0 Progress Payment / Interim
Payment
13.01Notwithstanding the provision
of Clause 27 pertaining to
nominated sub-contractor and
payment for works executed,
it is hereby agreed that in the
event of any interim certificate
which includes, for nominated
sub-contract works, the payment
in respect of any work, 75%
material or goods comprised in
the sub-contract shall be made
to the sub-contractor within 14
days after receipt by the Main
Contractor of payment certified
as due in the Interim Certificate
from the Client i.e. Messrs, Ng
Chee Yee Sdn. Bhd.
Reverting to the instant appeal, in
ordinary parlance, ‘progress payment’
portrays any payment according to
‘progress’ i.e. the forward movement
of the works. ‘Progress payment’
clearly includes a payment at any
stage, from the first stage, to the second
stage, culminating in the final stage
i.e. the final payment. Upon the
true construction of clause 13.01, in
particular the expression ‘progress
payment’, we are of the view that it is
sufficiently wide to include the final
payment claimed by the plaintiff, in
which case, the plaintiff is only entitled
to payment after the defendant has
been paid by the employer. Hence, we
are unable to sustain the submission
presented for the plaintiff.
Concurring with the former, his
Lordship Abdul Malik Ishak JCA, in
a similar vein held in favour with the
defendants; the salient points of his
judgment being summarized below.
1.
DECISION OF THE COURT
The Court of Appeal in a majority
decision dismissed the plaintiff ’s
appeal with costs; the judgment
of the court being delivered by his
Lordship Low Hop Bing JCA7.
After referring to the plaintiff ’s and
the defendant’s contentions and the
relevant case-law cited, he said8:
2.
The effect of a ‘pay-when-paid’
clause will be entirely a matter
of construction, requiring
clear and unambiguous
words, and requiring careful
consideration of whether, on
a true construction, the clause
affects the right to payment
or only the time for payment9.
The words generally are to
be understood in their plain
and literal meaning. This is
of course, always subject to
admissible evidence being
adduced to show that the
words are to be understood in
some technical or special sense.
There was no necessity to
adduce any evidence to
interpret clause 13.01 because
the words appearing in the
clause are rather plain and they
clearly preclude the defendant
from paying immediately to the
plaintiff unless the defendant
receives payment from the
employer.
3.
In construing a written
contract, the professed object
of the court was to discover
the mutual intention of the
parties10. The intention of the
parties must be ascertained
from the document itself.
Thus, the parties themselves
cannot give direct evidence to
show that their intentions were
at variance with the provisions
of the contract documents11.
The task of the court is quite
simple namely, to construe
the contractual term without
any preconception as to what
the parties intended12. When
the minds of the parties are
expressed in an unambiguous
manner, the principles of
construction which are best
only a guide in the search for
the intention of the parties
cannot be relied upon to
override the declared intention
of the parties unequivocally
expressed in the contract
document13.
EFFECTS OF RE ‘ASIAPOOLS’
CASE DECISION
In a nutshell, the Asiapool’s case
decision has not only upheld the
High Court’s decision in the Pernas
Otis case but reinforced it further.
It has given a literal construction to
payment provisions similar to clause
13.01 in the Asiapool’s case and
has included all payments, be these
interim or final within the ambit of
the particular terminology employed.
34
ENGINEERING & L AW
(CONTI NUED)
In tandem with the decision in the
Pernas Otis case, the Court of Appeal
has reaffirmed that following such
a construction, the sub-contractor’s
entitlement to any payment under a
similar provision is contingent upon
the main contractor’s actual receipt
of the corresponding sum from the
employer. Therefore, unless and until
the man contractor actually receives
the certified amount due from the
employer, he is not obliged to pay
the sub-contractor. By implication,
it includes the popularly labelled
‘constructive receipt’ situation i.e.
where payment should have been
received but for the employer’s set-off
attributable to the main contractor’s
culpability and for which the subcontractor concerned is wholly
innocent14. This being a decision
of a superior court, its legal effect
is immense as it binds all the lower
courts including the High Courts.
CONCLUSION
The Court of Appeal has in the
Asiapool’s case pronounced its
decision, which no matter how
unpalatable to a segment of the
construction industry15, governs
the implementation of any similarly
worded contingent payment clauses
in their contracts. Being the current
law, it should be taken cognizance
of by local practitioners in their
everyday dealings unless a superior
court16 overrules it or there is
statutory intervention to ameliorate
its effects or reverse it. For the latter
scenario, there is hope as there is
at the moment a draft statutory
instrument entitled the Construction
Industry Payment and Adjudication
Act17 (CIPPA) being proposed for
enactment by Parliament to address
issues similar to those dealt with by
the Courts in the Pernas Otis case
and the Asiapool’s case.
Under the CIPAA, it is proposed
that any provision in a construction
contract that makes payment
conditional be rendered void and
unenforceable. Any claims for
payment have to be settled within set
time-frames with defaults/disputes to
be resolved through an adjudication
process spanning a relatively short
time period and employing simple
procedural steps.
FOOTNOTE
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
Vol. 19 June 2003, Bulletin Ingenieur
[2004] 5 CLJ 34. Hereinafter called the Pernas Otis case.
Vol. 28 Dec. 2008, Bulletin Ingenieur.
e.g. The Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act (2004) in Singapore, etc.
e.g. in New Zealand in the case of Smith & Smith Glass Ltd. v Winstone Architectural Cladding System [1993] CILL 898.
[2010] 3 MLJ 7, CA. Hereinafter called the ‘Asiapools’ case.
On 11 Dec. 2009 sitting together with Zainun Ali & Abdul Malik JJCA.
[2010] 3 MLJ 7 at p16.
See Iezzi Constructions Pty Ltd. v Watkins Pacific (Q) Pty Ltd. [1995] 2 Qd. R 350; Smith & Smith Glass Ltd. v Winstone
Architectural Cladding System Ltd. [1992] 2 NZLR 473.
See Pioneer Shipping Ltd. & Ors v BTP Tioxide Ltd. & International Fina Services AG v Katrina Shipping Ltd. and Toren,
Tanker Kabuski Kisha (the ‘Fina Samco’) [1995] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 344 (CA) at p350.
See Penn v Simmonds [1971] 1 WLR 1381(HL) at p 1385; Zoan v Rouamba [2000] 1 WLR 1509 (CA) at p 1523.
See Pagnan SpA v Tradex Ocean Transportation SA [1987] 1 All ER 81 at 88.
See K Appukuttan Panicker & another v SKRAKR Athappa Chettiar AIR 1966Kerala 303.
See Robinson, Lavers, Tan & Chan ‘Construction Law in Singapore and Malaysia’ (2nd Edn.) at p349.
In particular, sub-contractors (domestic and nominated).
e.g. the Federal Court.
called, CIPAA in short.
See Lord Denning MR’s classic statement in Dawnays Ltd. v F.G. Minter Ltd. & Ors [1971] 1 BLR 16, CA to the effect:
“There must be a cash-flow in the building trade. It is the very lifeblood of the enterprises.”
36
37
F EAT U RE
T H E I N G EN I E U R VOL 4 7 S EPTEM B ER - NOVEM B ER 2 0 1 0
By Dato’ Ir. Lim Chow Hock, Senior Director (Management Division), Malaysia,
Md. Khairi Selamat, Deputy Director (Corporate Division), DID Malaysia,
Ir. Chop Ai Kuang , Senior Manager, Dr Nik & Associates Sdn Bhd
Growing water scarcity, competition for water, increased
demand and climate change represent major threats to water
resources development and management globally. Being finite,
these water resources cannot sustain indefinitely into the
future unless prudently and efficiently managed. The growth
in population, urban and industrial expansion, irrigated
agriculture, rising water pollution and elevated living standards
are imposing growing demands and pressure on water resources.
According to the United Nation’s estimate, one third of the
world population lives in “water stress” countries (fortunately
Malaysia is not one of them). Recent extreme natural disasters
such as major floods, droughts and river pollution all over the
world are signs of what to expect if such water resource issues
are still managed in the traditional sectoral approaches.
It is clear that the main problem in water management is that
the resources have not been managed as a whole. When water is
becoming scarce, cross-sectoral integration becomes essential.
The challenge ahead is to strike a delicate balance among all
the sectors. At the International Conference on Water and the
Environment (ICWE), January 1992 in Dublin, the following
principles were adopted:
• Fresh water is a finite and vulnerable resource, essential to
sustain life, development and the environment;
• Water development and management should be based
on a participatory approach involving users, planners and
policy makers at all levels;
• Women play a central part in the provision, management
and safeguarding of water; and
• Water has an economic value in all its competing uses and
should be recognised as an economic good.
In commending these Dublin Principles, world leaders at the
June 1992 Rio Earth Summit signed a declaration urging all
Governments to take urgent action and programmes for water
and sustainable development. This was further strengthened
and enhanced by the March 2000 Second World Water
Forum in Hague and 2002 World Summit in Johannesburg
(Sustainable Development).
WATER RESOURCES IN MALAYSIA
Malaysia enjoys an equatorial climate and is blessed with
abundant water resources. The average annual rainfall is 2,420
mm for Peninsular Malaysia, 2,630 mm for Sabah and 3,830
mm for Sarawak. The average annual rainfall on the total land
mass amounts to 990 billion m3, of which 566 billion m3 (57%)
appear as surface runoff, 64 billion m3 (7%) go to recharge the
groundwater and the balance of 360 billion m3 (36%) return to
the atmosphere through evapo-transpiration.
The major water use sectors include irrigated agriculture (9
billion m3), domestic and industrial water supply (2.6 billion
m3), and hydropower and environment; the minor ones include
fishery, livestock, transportation, and tourism and recreation.
Current (year 2010) annual national water demand is 12 billion
m3. The demand is projected to increase to about 14 billion m3
in year 2020 and about 18 billion m3 by year 2050.
Whilst there is an abundance of water resource as compared to
the demand, the readily available water resource for use is only
about 10% due to the high seasonal and uneven distribution of
The Klang Valley region (covering the Federal Territory of Kuala
Lumpur and a major part of Selangor) faces water shortage as
a result of increasing population and rapid industrialisation as
well as water pollution. The southern Johor region also suffers
similar predicament. Based on the current trend, water stress
situations are expected to occur more and more frequently
unless drastic measures and steps are put in place.
The recent (2008) Study on “Effective Implementation of
Integrated Water Resources Management in Malaysia” noted
that the main water-related issues in Malaysia are as in the table
below.
INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES
DEVELOPMENT
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) may
be defined as “A process that promotes the co-ordinated
development and management of water, land and related
resources in an equitable manner without compromising the
sustainability of vital ecosystems in order to maximise the
resultant economic value and social welfare”.
RANKING
IWRM ISSUES
1
River Water Quality
2
Catchment & Landuse Management
3
Flooding
4
Potable Water Supply
5
Institutional Arrangement
6
Segmented Management Approach
7
River Corridor/ Riparian Management
8
Wetland Management
9
Water Borne Diseases
10
Biodiversity
11
Drought
12
Environmental Flow
13
Ground Water Management
IWRM is a process of change, a process that can start from small
beginnings. It is a delicate balance to ensure water resources
development and management sustainability.
This definition has been used consistently in recognition
of the numerous and complex links between activities and
components that influence and are influenced by how water
resources are developed and managed, taking into consideration
that water is a finite resource. Water is intimately linked to the
maintenance of health, agriculture, energy and biodiversity and
ultimately poverty eradication. IWRM puts in place specific
routine processes to ensure that different water demand sectors
work together on water services, water projects and water plans
towards achieving sustainable water resources development and
management.
What is there to integrate in IWRM? Demand and supply
requires integration. The natural system integration extends to
include fresh and coastal saline water, land and water, surface
water and ground water, quality and quantity, and downstream
and upstream. Human system integration requires the
mainstreaming of water resources (policy and economy).
Creative commons @ wester
Integrated Water
Resources Management
In Malaysia
rainfall. Besides, there are water stress regions like the states of
Perlis, Penang and Malacca. Some water stress situations arise
because of high demands as in the case of Kedah state, where
water shortage occurs because of the large rice irrigation area
which consumes a major portion of the available surface water.
38
39
F EAT U RE
fEAT
(CONTI NUED)
T H E I N G EN I E U R VOL 4 7 S EPTEM B ER - NOVEM B ER 2 0 1 0
IWRM address the 3 E’s, i.e. Economic Efficiency, Equity and Environmental Sustainability.
It is generally recognised that there are eight key success factors in implementing IWRM, as follows:
IWRM addresses the “three E’s”!
Economic Efficiency
Management
Instruments
• Assessment
• Information
• Allocation Instruments
Environmental
Sustainability
Equity
Enabling Environment
• Policies
• Legislation
Instrumental Framework
• Central – Local
• River Basin
• Public – Private
Balance ‘water for livelihood’ and ‘water as a resource’
– and does so through the three “pillars” of IWRM
IWRM is about managing competing uses across interests and
sectors and by building compromises through stakeholders’
participation. IWRM respects that water follows its own
boundaries. As such water resources development and
management should follow the river basin approach from the
water quality and quantity perspective.
IWRM IMPLEMENTATION – MALAYSIAN
INITIATIVE
•
•
In subscribing to the principles of the Rio Declaration
(Earth Summit, 1992) and the Johannesburg Millennium
Development Goals (World Summit, 2002), Malaysia has
adopted and implemented IWRM principles as the way
forward in developing and managing its water resources, way
back in the early 1990s. Various measures and actions have
been undertaken, not only by the Government, but also by the
private sector and non-Governmental organisations (NGOs).
The major ones include:
• Separation of the regulatory and utility functions of
water resources management through re-organisation and
formation of four main water-related ministries (Ministry
of Natural Resources & Environment, Ministry of Energy,
Water & Communication, Ministry of Agriculture &
Agro Based Industry and the Ministry of Housing & Local
Government) related to water resources (2003);
• Adoption of IWRM principles in the Government’s
Outline Perspective Plan 3 (OPP3) & its five-year
Development Plans (8th & 9th Malaysian Plans);
• Establishment of the National Water Resources Council
(1998);
•
•
•
•
•
•
Establishment of state level river-basin management
institutions;
Establishment of various Non - Governmental
Organisations (NGOs) in the water resources sector such
as Malaysian Water Partnership, Penang Water Watch
and Malaysian Water Association to complement the
government’s efforts;
Smart partnership between Government agencies, NGOs
and private sector in achieving common water resources
goals;
Growing recognition and endorsement of stakeholders’
participation and involvement towards sustainable
development and management of water resources;
Formulating the National Water Resources Policy;
Reviewing National Water Resources Study, 2000;
Reviewing national water resources legislative and
institutional setup; and
Enactment of Akta Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara
(SWPAN), 2006 and Water Services Industrial Act, 2006
to regulate the water supply sector.
In a bigger spectrum, water resources planning and development
must be consolidated and treated as engine of economic activity
and national development, social stability, environment and
ecology sustainability.
40
41
F EAT U RE
(CONTI NUED)
T H E I N G EN I E U R VOL 4 7 S EPTEM B ER - NOVEM B ER 2 0 1 0
•
DID INITIATIVES
Being the key national water resources managing agency
as listed in the departmental function, the Department of
Irrigation and Drainage (DID) has initiated and embarked on
adopting IWRM as the way forward to manage national water
resources, since early 1990. Some of the major measures and
efforts undertaken include:
• Undertaking the review of National Water Resources
Study, 2000: Main scope of works for this on-going study
includes:
– Reviewing the findings and recommendations made
under the study
– Formulation of a comprehensive National Water
Resources Policy
– Development of Water Resources Management
Framework
– Formulation of National Water Resources Law
• Adopting and implementing IWRM based on river
basin concept (IRBM) – Carry out river basin studies to
formulate IRBM Plan to serve as the basin water resources
management master plan;
• Implementing River Restoration Programmes (1 state 1
river). The main objective is to implement and demonstrate
river rehabilitation and restoration approaches;
Implementing Public Awareness Programmes (Cintailah
Sungai Kita);
• Carrying out Study on Awareness Creation & Capacity
Building In IWRM, 2008. The main focus is on awareness
creation, capacity building and stakeholders’ participation;
• Implementing Best Management Practices (BMP) in
effective implementation of IWRM : The main objective
of this Project is to demonstrate the application of IWRM
principles and formulate documented guidelines for
adoption in other parts in Malaysia. The main focus is
on awareness raising, capacity building and stakeholders’
participation. 10 pilot BMP projects addressing various
water related issues are currently on-going as in the table
below;
• Adopting and implementing Integrated Flood
Management (Inter-agency Co-operation) programmes:
– Flood Forecasting and Warning Systems for major
rivers
– KL Integrated Flood Forecasting & Warning System
– Adoption of Urban Stormwater Management Manual
(MSMA)
– Rainwater Re-cycle Installation
Flood and Drought Monitoring
• Updating old and preparing new guidelines & manuals
with regards to IWRM.
No
BMP Projects
Main IWRM Issue
1
Sg Liwagu, Sabah
Water Quality & Sabah Water Resources Enactment
2
Sg Galing Besar, Pahang
River Corridor Management
3
Taman Materhari Height, Seremban
Wet Detention Pond as community park
4
N-Park Condominium, Penang
Water Demand Management
5
Sg Miri, Sarawak
Institutional arrangement
The key elements in the Malaysian IWRM implementation
roadmap or the IWRM Spiral Model is summarised in the
above figure.
6
Sg Melaka at Kg Pengkalan
River Corridor Management
CONCLUSION
7
Tasek Cini, Pahang
Integrated Catchment Management & Raising local community’s income
8
Sg Langat, Selangor
River Pollution & Water-borne Diseases
9
Kota Bharu Aquifer, Kelantan
Ground Water Management
10
Sg Gajah, Alor Setar, Kedah
Urban River Rehabilitation
IWRM implementation in Malaysia is a challenge to the
conventional practices, attitudes and professional certainties.
It confronts entrenched sectoral interests and requires that
the nation’s water resources be managed holistically for the
benefits of all stakeholders. IWRM offers a guiding conceptual
framework rather than a concrete blueprint. Implementing
IWRM demands that all stakeholders try to change their
MALAYSIA’S IWRM SPIRAL MODEL –
IMPLEMENTATION ROADMAP
working practices and attitudes when looking at the micro
environment that surrounds their actions and daily life and to
realise that sectoral interests could not occur independently
of the actions of each other, but are highly dependent on one
another.
In conclusion, demographic driving forces will continue to
increase our water demand and stress water availability. To
ensure sustainable development, water resources need to be
managed in an integrated and holistic manner by embracing
IWRM (1Water). Comprehensive policy, legislation and
administrative framework will pave the way forward towards
accelerating effective IWRM implementation. Political will,
commitment and enforcement are vital to ensure success.
Capacity building is needed for all sectors. Public participation,
education, awareness and advocacy are equally important.
42
43
FEATURE
Pahang – Selangor
Raw Water
Transfer Project
Malaysia receives an annual average rainfall of more than
2,500mm. The country is therefore rich in water resources when
compared to the other regions of the world. The average annual
water resources on a total land mass of 330,000km2 amount to
990 billion m3. Out of which, 360 billion m3, or 36% returns to
the atmosphere as evapotranspiration, 566 billion m3 or 57%
appear as surface runoff and the remaining 64 billion m3, or
7% go to the recharge of groundwater. Of the 566 billion m3 of
surface runoff, 147 billion m3 are found in Peninsular Malaysia,
whilst 113 billion m3 in Sabah and 360 billion m3 in Sarawak.
Water is used for variety of purposes. Consumptive water use is
largely for irrigation, industrial and domestic water supply and
to a minor extent for mining and fisheries.
Background
In the Ninth Malaysia Plan (2006-2010), the main challenges
of this Plan for water sector are:
By Ir. Dr. Zullkefle Nordin, Ph.D
Pahang-Selangor Raw Water Transfer Project Team
Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water
By definition interbasin water transfer is an artificial withdrawal
of water from one drainage basin, the basin of origin, to another,
the receiving basin, for a beneficial use. Interbasin water transfer
generally can be classified as open transfer systems and closed
transfer systems. The state of Selangor especially the Klang
Valley and Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur have experienced
rapid development over the years. The water demand for this
location has increased from 2,440 million litres per day (MLD) in
1998 to 3,809 MLD in 2008. This trend of water demand increases
at the rate of 3.3% per annum is anticipated to continue in the
future. The water demand in 2025 is projected to be about 6,242
MLD. To meet the water demand, the Government has decided
to look for water resources beyond Selangor. The development
of water resources will require long distance transfer and hence
it has becomes more expensive, since most of the resources
close to the demand centers have been fully developed. The
Pahang-Selangor Raw Water Transfer Project is identified as the
most viable option to meet the increased water demand for the
state of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur in the future.
T H E I N G EN I E U R VOL 4 7 S EPTEM B ER - NOVEM B ER 2 0 1 0
1. To deliver facilities or services of quality.
2. To ensure an efficient and effective delivery system to meet
the rising aspirations of the people.
3. To optimize the use of natural resources as well as protect
the environment.
To meet these challenges, five main strategies will be the main
focus under the Ninth Plan,
• Rehabilitation of Water Supply Systems
• Modernization of Water Supply Systems
• Water Resources Development
• Water Treatment and Distribution
• Interstate Raw Water Transfer
In this paper only the Interstate Raw Water Transfer will be
discussed.
Water dam
The domestic and industrial water demand in Malaysia is
expected to multiply by more than threefold in the next 50
years, The domestic demand is expected to increase from 5.6
million m3 per day in 2000 to 16.2 m3 per day in 2050 while
the industrial demand from 3.9 million m3 per day in 2000 to
15.5 million m3 in 2050. The total water demand for Peninsular
Malaysia is expected to increase from 29.6 million m3 in 2000
to 48.4 m3 in 2050.
Selangor especially the Klang Valley and the Federal Territory of
Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya being the most rapidly developed
region in the country is anticipated to face an acute shortage of
potable water by 2014 if no action is taken by the Government.
Currently all the water resources in the region have been fully
developed within the major rivers such as the Klang River, the
Selangor River and the Langat River. A total of six dams have
been constructed along these rivers.
Interbasin Water Transfer
The need to co-operatively manage the shared water resources
and to resolve and prevent conflicts over their use has resulted
over the last century in the establishment of many commissions
for the transboundary rivers and lakes throughout the world. In
many parts of the world river passes through many countries, for
example, the Danube and Ganges and Mekong in Asia. Table 1
shows some of the water transfer schemes in the United States.
In this country, rivers is under the state jurisdiction. Interbasin
water transfer is not new in this country. The water transfer
from river basin in Johor to Singapore was implemented
in the 1960s and in the 1980s the Johor to Malacca transfer
was implemented. Selangor being the most developed state in
the country has depleted all its water resources. Recently the
Federal Government has initiated the raw water transfer from
Pahang to Selangor to overcome the acute shortage of raw
water expected in 2014. Due to the unevenness of raw water
distribution in the country, the Government had planned more
interbasin projects in the future. This trend will be a common
phenomenon.
No.Sources/Basin of OriginReceiving BasinTypes of Use
1. Lake Tahoe BasinEagle Valley
Water Supply
2. Lake Tahoe BasinDayton Valley
Water Supply
3. Lake Tahoe BasinCarson ValleyIrrigation
4.Newark ValleyDiamond Valley
Water Supply
5.Truckee RiverCarson RiverIrrigation
6.Carson RiverEagle Valley
Water Supply
7.Truckee River
Lemmon Valley
Water Supply
8.Colorado river
Las Vegas Valley
Water Supply
9.Truckee RiverSun Valley
Water Supply
10.Truckee RiverSpanish Spring ValleyIrrigation
Table 1 – Surface Water Transfer in the United States
(Sources from Southern Nevada Water Authority)
Pahang-Selangor Raw Water Transfer
The Pahang-Selangor Raw Water Transfer Project (PSRWT) is
to transfer a total quantity of 1,890 million litres per day (MLD)
of raw water from Pahang to Selangor to cater to demand up
to the year 2025. At present the total production capacities of
the treatment works in Selangor is capable to produce a total
quantity of 4,390 MLD per day (design capacity) whereas the
present demand is 3,866 MLD. Figure 1 shows the locations
of water treatment plants and regulation dams in Selangor.
Figure 2 shows the production and design capacity for all the
treatment plants in Selangor.
The Second National Water Resources Study (NWRS - 2000
to 2025), which was done in 1999 has identified the only
44
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fEAT U RE
(CONTI NUED)
T H E I N G EN I E U R VOL 4 7 S EPTEM B ER - NOVEM B ER 2 0 1 0
No. Water Treatment PlantsDesignCurrentCapacity
Capacity ProductionThat Can Be
(JLH)
(JLH) Used (JLH)
Figure 1 – Location of Water Treatment Plants and Regulating
Reservoir in Selangor
available source is in the northern region of Selangor that is
the Bernam river basin. From a technical point of view, it was
not economical to transfer this water to Klang Valley due to
its distance, pipes laying in urban areas and its topographic
conditions. This may incur very high capital and operational
costs due to the several stages of pumping systems. The Bernam
river basin is reserved for future use for the northern region of
Selangor.
Historical records of actual water demand from 1990 to 2008 in
states of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, shows an average annual
increase of 6.8% from 1990 to 2004 and 3.3% from 2005 to
2008. The main reason for the decrease of water demand from
2005 onwards is due to the continuous effort to reduce the Non
Revenue Water (NRW) by the Government. The water demand
forecasted after 2000 onwards increases at the rate of 3.3% per
annum and it will used used for planning purposes. Figure 3
shows the future projection of water demand in Selangor, Kuala
Lumpur and Putrajaya. From the figure, it is anticipated that
there will be an acute shortage of water in 2013, even though
steps were taken to reduce the NRW to an achievable limit. The
buffer capacity reserve is expected to decrease from 15% in 2007
to 9% if the PSRWT Project is not implemented. Table 2 shows
the water demand forecasted at the rate of 3.3% per annum.
1 BRH
2 BATANG KALI
3SUNGAI DUSUN
4SUNGAI SELISED
5SUNGAI TENGI
6 KALUMPANG
7 KUALA KUBU BHARU
8SUNGAI BUAYA
9RANTAU PANJANG
10SUNGAI BATU
11SUNGAI RANGKAP
12GOMBAK
13 KEPONG
14SUNGAI RUMPUT
15AIR KEROH
16SUNGAI PUSU
17NORTH HUMMOCK
18SUNGAI LANGAT (1)
19 BUKIT NANAS
20CHERAS MILE 11
21 BUKIT TAMPOI
22AMPANG INTAKE
23SALAK TINGGI
24SUNGAI SERAI
25SUNGAI LOLO
26SUNGAI PANGSOON
27SUNGAI SEMENYIH (2)
28SUNGAI SELANGOR (F1)
29SUNGAI SELANGOR (F3)
SG. RASA (P1)
SUNGAI SELANGOR (F3)
SG. RASA (P2)
30SUNGAI SELANGOR (F3)
BADONG (P1)
SUNGAI SELANGOR (F3)
BADONG (P2)
31TANJONG KARANG
32SUNGAI SELANGOR (F2
– P1 & P2)
33 LOLO BARU
34 WANGSA MAJU
Jumlah Kapasiti Loji Di
Bawah PCCA
40.60 20.30 1.30 1.30 1.30 6.70 6.70 0.90 31.50 113.70 9.00 22.50 2.30 4.50 0.50 0.00 22.50 454.00 145.00 27.00 31.50 18.00 10.80 0.90 0.40 1.80 636.00 950.00 29.03 8.40 0.91 1.83 1.30 5.55 3.47 0.89 32.70 96.50 11.78 23.30 1.96 0.79 0.16 0.00 16.11 478.29 110.44 23.81 26.18 16.16 5.50 0.00 0.55 3.41 573.98 699.30 40.60
20.30
1.30
1.30
1.30
6.70
6.70
0.90
31.50
113.70
9.00
22.50
2.30
4.50
0.50
0.00
22.50
454.00
145.00
27.00
31.50
18.00
10.80
0.90
0.40
1.80
636.00
760.00
125.00 50.00 50.00
125.00 -
0.00
400.00 619.50 400.00
400.00 36.00 -
22.00 400.00
36.00
950.00 1.04 45.00 969.75 3.01 45.76 950.00
3.00
45.00
4,643.04
3,882.32
4,255.00
Figure 2 – Water Treatment Plants in Selangor, Wilayah
Persekutuan and Putrajaya
Year
Metered
Vol (Mld)
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2,485
2,613
2,700
2,789
2,881
2,976
3,074
3,175
3,280
3,389
3,500
3,616
3,735
3,858
Increase
rate of
Metered
Vol.
3.8%
3.3%
3.3%
3.3%
3.3%
3.3%
3.3%
3.3%
3.3%
3.3%
3.3%
3.3%
3.3%
NRW rate
NRW (Mld)
Production
(Mld)
34.8%
32.4%
31.9%
31.3%
31.0%
30.7%
30.5%
30.3%
29.5%
29.0%
28.5%
28.0%
27.5%
27.0%
1,326
1,253
1,267
1,270
1,295
1,318
1,350
1,380
1,373
1,384
1,396
1,406
1,417
1,427
3,811
3,866
3,967
4,059
4,176
4,294
4,424
4,556
4,654
4,773
4,896
5,022
5,152
5,286
Increase
Installed
rate of
Capacity
Production (Mld)
1.014
1.026
1.023
1.029
1.028
1.030
1.030
1.021
1.026
1.026
1.026
1.026
1.026
4390
4390
4390
4390
4390
4390
4390
5390
5390
5390
5390
5890
5890
5890
Buffer
Capacity
1.15
1.14
1.11
1.08
1.05
1.02
0.99
1.18
1.16
1.13
1.10
1.17
1.14
1.11
Remarks
Interstate
(1,000 Mld)
Interstate
(500Mld)
Table 2 – W ater Demand Forecast (Increase Rate of 3.3% p.a.)
Figure 3 – Water Demand and Supply for
Selangor and Kuala Lumpur
Figure 4 – Shows the Project Components
46
47
FEATURE
(CONTI NUED)
The Project
The PSRWT is designed to transfer 1,890 MLD of raw water
via a transfer tunnel from Semantan River in Pahang to the
Langat District in Selangor. This transfer is to cater the needs
for Klang Valley up to 2025.
Figure 4 shows the components of the PSRWT project. The
PSRWT consists of four main components, namely:
a.
b.
c.
d.
Water Transfer Tunnel
Kelau Dam
Semantan Intake Works and Pumping Systems
Twin Pumping Mains
The project area in Pahang is drained by a number of rivers,
the principal ones being the Sg. Bentong, Sg, Semantan and
Sg. Kelau. The project utilizes runoffs of these three rivers
efficiently with the provision of a dam at Sg. Kelau. The flow
from these rivers together with the release from the dam will
be abstracted at the intake station at Sg. Semantan. The water
will be pumped to the connected basin located at the tunnel
inlet portal through the twin pipelines. It is then gravitated to
the newly proposed Langat Water Treatment Plant 2 (LRAL2)
through the pipelines. The construction of Kelau Dam
involves both taking the environmental and social impacts into
consideration and the project has been formulated based on a
flexibility project planning and design basis.
A) Water Transfer Tunnel
The function of the raw water transfer tunnel is to transfer
1,980 MLD of raw water from the Semantan intake to the
LARL2 at Langat, Selangor. The main components of the
water transfer tunnel are the main tunnel of length 44.6 km
with 5.2m diameter, the inlet and outlet
connecting basin and inlet and outlet
conduit. There are four adits located along
the tunnel route.
T H E I N G EN I E U R VOL 4 7 S EPTEM B ER - NOVEM B ER 2 0 1 0
tunnel construction will be used for the tunnel excavation that
is Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) and New Austrian Tunneling
Method (NATM). The tunnel has a gradient of slope of 1/1900
and will operate under free flow conditions with a designed
discharge of 27.6m3/s. It takes eight hours for the raw water to
reach the outlet conduit and to achieve steady flow.
The bedrock along the tunnel consists mostly of metamorphosed
rocks of the Karak formation which is about 3.5 km from the
inlet. The remaining portion is granite. The details rock types
are shown in Table 3. Tunnel excavation will primarily be made
using TBM. The upper and lower ends will be excavated using
the conventional New Austrian Tunneling Method (NATM).
Three TBM and four NATM will be used for the tunnel
construction. Appendix A shows the longitudinal section of
the transfer tunnel. The geological structure is affected by six
fault zones namely,
(i) North-South trending faults: Karak and Krau Faults
(ii)North West to South East faults – Bukit Tinggi, Lepoh,
Kongkoi and Tekali Faults
Figure 5 shows the location of rivers and faults location along
the tunnel route.
Appendix B shows the plan view of the tunnel profile.
Chainage
Rock Type
0.83-3.8 kmMeta-sedimentary rocks – with cover 240m
3.8-12.5 kmGranite – with cover ranges 480m to 33m
12.5-27.0 kmGranite below main Range – cover 1246-564m
27.0-44.6 kmDeeply weathered incld. Schist – cover 485-65m
Table 3 – Rocks Type Along Transfer Tunnel
i) Site Investigations
Twenty-one boreholes were carried out to determine the
strength and type of rocks along the transfer tunnel route. The
depth of boreholes ranges between 69m and 306m deep from
the ground surface. The laboratory testing and investigations
done were:
a) Drilling and in situ testing:
• 21 cored holes, with packer tests for water pressure
testing (Lugeon values), resistivity log
• 9 non-cored boreholes with constant head
permeability tests, pH and groundwater temperature
b) Geographysical investigation:
• Seismic refraction covering 18.5km
c) Laboratory testing:
• Rock bulk density, unconfined compressive strength
(USC), deformation modulus
• Ultrasonic velocity
• Petrographic description
• Chemical analysis of water
The results for the USC laboratory testing shows the strength of
rock varies from 11.0 Mpa (Mega Pascal) to 176 MPa at depth
of 60.5m and 306m from the ground surface respectively. The
USC values were prime importance for the TBM and NATM
design.
TBM. The flow velocity in the tunnel is designed to be greater
than 2.0m/s to prevent deposit of sedimentation and tunnel
surface erosion. The tunnel and conduit size were calculated
based on uniform flow condition. Figure 6 shows a typical
cross-section of the three sections. The proposed location of
inlet, outlet and adits for tunnel excavation method were as
follows:
Tunnel sections
• NATM1 – Ch. 857–2793m working downgrade
• NATM2 – Ch. 2793–4728m working upgrade
• NATM3 – Ch. 4728–6,850m working upgrade
• TBM1 – Ch. 6,850–18,594m working downgrade
• TBM2 – Ch. 18,594–30,338m working upgrade
• TBM3 – Ch. 30,338–41,747m working upgrade
• NATM – Ch.41,747–44,344m working downgrade
Figure 7 shows the schematic work plan for the tunnel
excavation.
ii) Tunnel sections and profile alignment
The total length of NATM sections for the transfer tunnel is
8.6 km long while for TBM the total length is 34.9 km. The
conduits length are 1.1 km long. The tunnel size and gradient is
designed to satisfy the water depth for uniform flow condition
with the discharge of 27.6m3/s for the unlined circular section
of the TBM. The water depth in the tunnel is designed to be
80% of the tunnel height to allow for construction tolerance of
Figure 7 – Schematic Work Plan for Tunnel Excavation
The inlet connecting basin (EL 80.5m)
is located on the hill about 300m from
the Karak-Telemomg road and the outlet
conduit (EL 57.2) about 3.5 km to north
of the existing Sg. Langat treatment plant.
The tunnel route passes through the Main
Range which typically has elevations
exceeding EL 1400 m. Two methods of
Figure 5 – Shows the Rivers and Faults
Zone along the Tunnel Route
Figure 6 – Typical
Tunnel Cross Sections
48
49
FEATURE
(CONTI NUED)
T H E I N G EN I E U R VOL 4 7 S EPTEM B ER - NOVEM B ER 2 0 1 0
iii) Rock Classes
B) Kelau Dam
The rocks are classified based on the Japan Highway Public
Corporation ( JHPC) classes. The types are listed below,
Class A
– Very good rock, hard and fresh
Class B
– Good rock, hard and fresh but affected by weathering
Class CI – Fair rock, rock is weathered, some clay in joints
Class CII – Fair to poor rock weathered, loosed rock mass
Class DI – Very poor rock: considerably weathered rock mass, soft zones, partially soil properties
Class DII – Extremely poor rock: as above with potential rockfall
Class E
– Faults and crushed rock zone, squeezing zones
The Kelau dam and associated reservoir will have an effective
storage capacity of 135x106 m3 and inundated area of 22.7 km2
at full supply level. The dam is located about five km upstream
from the confluence of the Sg. Kelau and Sg. Bilut. It comprises
a main dam, two saddle dams, a spillway and a river outlet with
a diversion facilities.
Properties used in assigning the rock classes is based on seismic
velocity, RQD, weathering condition, rock strength, spacing of
fractures and discontinuities.
An ungated side channel type is proposed with sufficient
capacity in conjunction with flood storage in the reservoir to
discharge the Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) condition.
It is anticipated that the dam will be in operational for only
four months in a year during the drought season. Culverts
used for river diversion during construction will be utilized for
the outlet works. Figure 8, shows the dam cross-section. The
compensation flow is fixed at 12.5m3/s as requested by the
Department of Environmental for the use of the downstream
user.
From the site investigation, most of rock types along the tunnel
route is Class A type which is hard and fresh rock. Table 4 shows
the correlation of rock mass classification based on JHPC,
Rock Mass Rating (RMR) and Rock Tunneling Quality Index.
JHPC
RMR
A
Very good (100-81)
B
Good (81-61)
CI
Fair (60-41)
CII
Poor (40-21)
Q values
good 10<
fair to poor
2~10
Poor to very good
0.1~2.0
Extremely poor
0.04~0.1
DI
DII
E
Very poor (< 20)
0.04<
Extremely to
Exceptionally poor
Table 4 – Correlation of Rock Types
Figure 8 – Typical Dam Across Section
Considering the availability of embankment materials, a
homogeneous earthfill dam of 30m in height with chimney
drain is proposed. Foundation treatment with curtain grouting
is proposed for seepage control. Saddle dams will be located on
the right bank.
The effect of earthquake is taken into consideration for the
dam design. The seismic value used is 0.1g which falls under
the moderate zone category. A return period of 1 in 100 years
is used to design the spillway crest length and the overflow weir
length.
which is 1.5 km downstream from
confluence of the Sg. Semantan and Sg.
Kelau. Figure 9 shows the location of
pumping station.
A concrete weir structure with sluice
gates will be used to compensation flow
of 27.6m3/s. The intake structure consist
of intake grid chamber (sand settling
basins), common well, and suction tank.
The size of the pumping station is 110m
long x 75m width and 30m high. Twelve
numbers of vertical double-suction volute
pumps with a capacity of 3.48m3/s will be
installed having a total head of 54m.
The pumping station is designed taking
into consideration a 100 years return
period with seven days low flow condition
in determining the station elevation. The
intake weir is designed for 50 year return
period. Figure 10, 11, 12 and 13 shows
the intake discharge, intake weir for 50
years duration curve, the 100-year return
period water level profile and Semantan
Intake structure respectively.
C) Semantan Intake and Pumping Station
The Semantan intake and the pumping station will be used
to abstract raw water from Sg. Semantan, including the water
release from the Kelau dam (only during low flow condition).
The raw water will be pumped through the twin pipeline to
the transfer tunnel inlet. The intake is located at Sg. Semantan
Figure 9 – Semantan Intake Site
Figure 10 – Semantan Intake Discharge
50
51
f e at u r e
(CONTI NUED)
T H E I N G EN I E U R VOL 4 7 S EPTEM B ER - NOVEM B ER 2 0 1 0
Figure 13 – Semantan Intake Profile
Figure 15 shows the maximum and negative pressure in the
pipeline. The pipes are made from mild steel and manufactured
to conform to the requirements in BS 534. The steel plates
is from carbon steel complying with Grade 43A of BS4360
having the following strength characteristics:
Figure 11 – Semantan Intake at 50 Years Return Period
•
•
Minimum ultimate tensile of 430 N/mm2
Minimum yield stress of 275 N/mm2 for plate thickness
up to 16mm and 165 N/mm2 for plate thickness greater
than 16mm and up to 40mm thick.
For specials pipes which are buried, they will be externally
coated with a layer of filter mineral. It is further reinforced by
parallel glass threads. Pipes which are laid above ground shall be
painted. Table 5 and Table 6 shows the pipe beam bridges and
comparisons of river crossing respectively.
Figure 14 – Pipeline Route
D)Pipelines
Twin pipelines each with a diameter of 3m will be installed
to convey raw water from the pumping station to the transfer
tunnel in Karak. The length of the pipeline is 11.8km long. Most
of the pipes are laid below ground to minimize environmental
and social impacts. Figure 14 shows the proposed pipelines
route.
Figure 12 – Profile of 100 Years Water Level
Steel pipe with cement mortar lining is utilized. Where the
pipeline crosses river, special pipes with the steel plate of
thickness 26mm will be used
Material 43EEMaterial 50EE
Span
45mm48mm45mm48mm
From Bending moment
27mm31mm22mm23mm
From Shear Force
22mm22mm22mm22mm
From Deflection
22mm23mm22mm23mm
Plated Thickness to be used 27mm
31mm
22mm
Table 5 – Necessary Plate Thickness for pipe Bridge
23mm
52
53
F EAT U RE
(CONTI NUED)
Conclusion
The timely completion of the PSRWT project is the upmost
importance to ensure sufficient water is available in the Klang
Valley, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. The four components of
the work started in 2009 and expected to be completed by the
middle of 2014.
From water demand projection for Klang Valley, Kuala Lumpur
and Putrajaya, these areas will face the water shortage by 2013.
Therefore PSRWT project should be competed as planned. The
duration for the construction of the water transfer tunnel will
take 60 months to complete; the Semantan intake and pumping
station will take 48 months to be in operation and finally the
pipelines will take 42 months.
All of these components have to be completed simultaneously.
Being the longest construction period, the transfer tunnel is
the most critical element for this project. A delay in the tunnel
excavation will have an adverse effect on the other components.
T H E I N G EN I E U R VOL 4 7 S EPTEM B ER - NOVEM B ER 2 0 1 0
Pipe Line River Crossing Method Conception Comparison
Item
Item
Environment Landscape
Risk
In the flood
discharge
Log accident
Sedimentation
Sabotage
Cost
Facility
Load
Bridge
Underground
Problem
Possibility of the
overtop
Possibility of the crash
Needs to check the river
condition
Possibility by the
terrorism
Cost
Expensive
Drainage facility To install
Difficult
Needs
Air valve
Weathering by
Outer surface
Expansion joint ultraviolet
Needs to thermal strain
Anchor block
Big block
Internal Paint
Mortar is not suitable
Seismic load
Needs to consider
Wind load
Needs to consider
Table 6 – Comparison of Pipe Crossing
Figure 15 – The Maximum and Minimum Pressure Along the Pipeline
54
55
ENGINEERING F EAT U RES
An old faithful bridge in Sg Lembing, Pahang
– ex-mining town
Contributed by Mr. Chua Chin Mun
ENGINEERING NOSTA LGIA
Kajang Town in 1960s
Contributed by Ir. Ashari Mohd Yakub
T H E I N G EN I E U R VOL 4 7 S EPTEM B ER - NOVEM B ER 2 0 1 0
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