Johor bahru: Addressing climate change, preparing for an ageing population, and embracing emerging technologies are among the key priorities in the review of the Johor Structure Plan (RSN) 2040. Johor Town and Country Planning Department (PLANMalaysia Johor) director Abdulhan Abd Lamit stated that the review aims to ensure the state's physical and socio-economic development planning remains relevant to current and future needs, adopting a 'Mission-Oriented Policy Approach'.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Abdulhan Abd Lamit explained that the RSN Johor 2040 would identify key development goals first, before supporting strategies are formulated. This approach marks a shift from previous plans, emphasizing clear development targets based on data, facts, and detailed analysis. The Johor Structure Plan 2020 was gazetted in 2008, while its successor, the Johor Structure Plan 2030, was gazetted in March 2020. The current review, which began in April, is expected to be completed by April 2027.
Abdulhan highlighted that the new approach would allow the state government to align physical development plans with new policy initiatives, such as the Maju Johor agenda and the Johor Economic Transformation Plan. Major development projects, including the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), Maharani Freeport, and Ibrahim Technopolis (IBTEC), will also be considered in the review.
Emerging technologies such as smart cities, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI) will play a significant role in the review. Emphasis is placed on environmental sustainability, specifically the impact of climate change and strategies to bolster the state's resilience against disaster risks. Previous floods in districts like Segamat and Batu Pahat have highlighted the necessity of integrating disaster risk considerations into development planning.
Population projections suggest that Johor will transition into an ageing society post-2040, prompting early planning for this demographic shift. According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), Johor's population is estimated to reach 4.21 million by 2025, with the state spanning an area of 1.932 million hectares across 10 districts.