JOHOR BARU: A balanced physical and landscape development must be made the foundation in continuously improving the production quality as well as the sustainability of the country's environment.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this must also be based on the improvement in social and economic values of Keluarga Malaysia, as well as the increase in the value of national assets, whether tangible or intangible.
He said to ensure Malaysians received the most benefit, the National Landscape programme must be continued and the importance of landscape in national development must be strengthened.
As a guide, he recommended four directions that should be given priority in the future of national landscape development.
"The first is to streamline the national landscape network system.
"It is fitting that the expansion of the country's green infrastructure provision will be given priority, through a comprehensive landscape development programme approach.
"The second is to harness the potential and economic value of the landscape industry.
"In line with global changes, we should harness the potential of the country's landscape industry as an economic value or as a source of revenue and a new economy for the country," he said at the 2022 National Landscape Day launch at Taman Ekoflora here, today.
Present were Johor caretaker menteri besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad as well as Housing and Local Government minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican.
The Prime Minister said it was also important to protect the landscape assets of Keluarga Malaysia by establishing a legal control method, as the loss of assets could cause losses to the country.
This, he added, was to ensure each landscape asset could be protected in addition to effective continuous education.
"Fourth is to improve the national landscape service quality.
"A complete landscape organisation at the agency, state and local levels is vital to ensure the best service can be provided for Keluarga Malaysia," he added.
To make Malaysia a 'Negara Taman Terindah' (most beautiful garden nation) was difficult to achieve, he said, but was not something impossible.
He said in the past 25 years, parks with a total land size of 9,578.56 hectares had been developed nationwide.
He also said it was the government's aim for each state to have a public park with the concept of a federal park which could improve public access to landscape thus increase green areas especially in urban areas, making it a contributing factor to low-carbon, urban environmental comfort.
"The public is more aware of the importance of landscape in environment and well-being.
"Public parks and recreational areas have become a therapy space for Keluarga Malaysia, in efforts to reduce stresses of life and thus improve mental and physical wellbeing," he added.
Ismail Sabri said data had shown an increase in visitors to the Bukit Kiara Federal Park by 287.10 per cent in 2021 from previous years, proving that parks had become the main recreational space during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"I hope that landscape development in the next 25 years will be more advanced and offer superior quality for future generations to enjoy, and this needs to start today," he said.