Petaling Jaya is Malaysia’s first planned township founded in 1952, originally serving as the satellite town for neighbouring Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia’s capital city) which was just about 10km away. Since then, it has developed to become one of Malaysia’s most industrialised and sustainable cities, with a population of about 800,000. Located in the Petaling district in the state of Selangor, Petaling Jaya or ‘PJ’ as it is commonly known, covers an area of 97.2 km2.
In the early 1950’s, Kuala Lumpur experienced congestion as a result of a rapid population growth with squatters existing in the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. To overcome this problem, the Selangor State Government identified “Effingham Estate”, a 1,200-acre rubber plantation in Jalan Klang Lama to create a new settlement known as Petaling Jaya. Jaya means ‘success’.
Petaling Jaya was granted ‘City Status’ on 20 June 2006 and a Mayor was appointed to head the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ).
Administration
The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) consists of 25 Council members appointed by the Selangor State Executive Council. They are responsible for the well-being of their area and are to report to the council on matters requiring action. They are also given specific roles in the committees that the council has formed with portfolios that include Finance, Technology Development and General Affairs, Town Planning and Building Plans, Legal License and Enforcement, Health, Environment and Beautification and Economic Development, Real Estate and Privatisation.
The Mayor is an officer of the Federal Government appointed by the state administration after obtaining the consent of the Chief Minister of Selangor. The Mayor is assisted by a Deputy Mayor and Heads of Department in setting and implementing the vision, mission, quality policy, objectives and activities of the Council. The Council approved a Council legislation draft and forming policies to be implemented by MBPJ’s 12 departments and 7 units.
MBPJ’s Departments:
Management Services, Treasury, Valuation & Property Management, Licensing, Enforcement, Building Control, Development Planning, Engineering, Landscape, Health & Environmental Services, Solid Waste & Public Cleaning Management, and Community Development.
MBPJ’s Units:
Corporate Communication, Information Technology, Legal, One Stop Centre, Internal Audit, and Commissioner of Buildings.