1991 – 2000: Decade of Development & Local Recognition In the beginning of the ‘90s, Malaysia began a new era of development. With Kuala Lumpur hosting the 1998 Commonwealth Games, several mega projects were established such as the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and KLCC development1 in 1992, both of which witnessed greater involvement from landscape architects in their development. This was a milestone for the profession as landscape architects were recognised by the government and developers as vital partners for any new construction project. With advice and suggestions from Datuk LAr. Dr. Mohamed Ishak bin Mohamed Ariff,2 the then Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad decreed that a special division for Research and Management of Public Parks to be set up at the Town and Rural Planning level, under the auspices of the Ministry of Housing & Local Government department.
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Further recognition of the involvement of Landscape Architects was displayed as Putrajaya became the nation’s first urban area planned as a garden and intelligent city. With the involvement of local landscape architects, under the leadership of the pioneer members at the Landscape Department in Perbadanan Putrajaya, Datuk LAr. Hj. Shahoran Johan Ariffin3 and LAr. Noriah Mat, Putrajaya materialised as one of the most beautiful garden cities in the Asian region. Under the leadership of Dato’ LAr. Ismail bin Ngah4, the National Landscape Department, the first of its kind in the world, was formed on 1 January 1996 under the Ministry of Housing & Local Governments Malaysia. This group was entrusted with the responsibility of greening the country, with all projects being fully managed by professional Landscape Architects. Stepping into the new millennium, the first National Landscape Day5, the first of its kind in the world, was declared by the National Landscape Department on 3 March 2000. During that same year the biggest tree planting campaign was organised by the National Landscape Department, Ministry of Housing & Local Government and held simultaneously, nationwide. This event was successfully recorded under the Guinness World Records6 for 110,461 trees planted in one minute.
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Milestone:
1993: UTM started the first Landscape Architecture Degree 1995: Development of Putrajaya - A Garden & Intelligent City 1996: Establishment of National Landscape Department 1996: UPM started the first Professional Master’s Program in Landscape Architecture 1996: Malaysian Students Won IFLA International Awards 1997: Launch of National Tree Planting Campaign 1999: Introduction of Landscape Architecture Professional Practice Course & Examination, KAIAL. 2000: Declaration of National Landscape Day on 03.03 2000: Millenium Tree Planting Campaign 2000: The need for a Landscape Architect Act was put forward by ILAM
Landscape Architecture Malaysia Yearbook 2011
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