PUTRAJAYA: Technical assessments and inspections of aging utilities in sinkhole-prone areas must be conducted before local authorities approve any development, the Housing and Local Government Ministry said.
The ministry said the decision was made at the 51st National Physical Planning Council (NPPC) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"This approach is crucial to ensure public safety and geological risks are addressed from the early stages of development planning," the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said NPPC also urged state governments to improve the provision of quality public open spaces and expedite their gazettement to ensure public access to safe and comfortable recreational areas, while promoting healthy lifestyles and strengthening community interaction.
