Set up more pocket parks in urban areas - Rahman Dahlan

Local authorities in the country should again consider setting up more mini or pocket parks in all urban areas in the country.

Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said this could promote a culture of healthy living and protect the environment.

"I have seen how Malaysians love to exercise, interact or relax in the existing ones or the bigger parks. We can certaintly do with more," he said at the launching of the National Landscape Day 2016 here today by Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem.

Adenan was represented by his deputy Tan Sri Alfred Jabu.

Abdul Rahman said studies had indicated that any green space in a city would have a positive impact on the community wellbeing compared to those living without any green space.

He said the National Physical Planning Council had last year decided that there must be two hectares of green space (for landscaping and recreational purposes) for every 1,000 people by 2020 in the country.

On the part of his ministry, he said it had, through the National Landscape Department, came up with a pilot urban landscaping programme involving five towns such as Alor Setar, Batu Pahat, Pekan, Tawau and Bintulu.

He also commended the state government for its commitment to set up the Sarawak Botanical Garden here to preserve the area's existing nature and to enhance Kuching city landscaping programme.

The federal government had given an allocation of RM10 million for its ongoing implementation, he said.