26NEWS FROM NORTHERN BRANCH & SARAWAKFORMATION OFMIP NORTHERNBRANCH, AGAIN!Reported by Lee Lik MengYes, now weare really,t r u l y ,absolutelylegal!After three previous AGMs, wewent back in time to conductour 1st AGM for the MIPNorthern Branch on the 24thSeptember, Saturday 2.37 pmat the Boardroom II, GurveyHotel, Gurney Drive, Penang.Due to an oversight (a very bigone which other aspiringBranches should learn from),we finally managed to secure the approval <strong>of</strong> the Registrar<strong>of</strong> Societies to set up the branch on 31st June <strong>2005</strong>(thanks to the effort <strong>of</strong> the MIP Council). Hence, the entirehistory <strong>of</strong> the previous 4 years have now been designated“Pro-Tem”.A few <strong>of</strong> the Pro-Tem Committee Members did not seek“re-election” to encourage new blood to come forward toserve MIP and the community. For the new line-up, seeaccompanying group photo.And interesting thing happened to the MIP CouncilRepresentative (the Honorary Secretary) on the way fromKuala Lumpur to Penang. He arrived just as the AGM hadconcluded and the group photograph was being taken.Apparently, he run into some car problems in KL and washeld up by the mechanic. Nevertheless, in appreciation <strong>of</strong>his sacrifices and MIP Council’s continued support, MIPNBpresented the Council with a token <strong>of</strong> appreciation.In the morning prior to the AGM, a free half-day PlanningApproval Seminar was organised by MIPNB. It was wellattended with 41 participants including 17 Corporate MIPMembers and a few graduate members. A few participantscame from as far as Kedah. Limited seats were alsoallocated to PAM and REHDA members. Three paperswere presented by Pr<strong>of</strong>. Abdul Ghani Salleh (Pro-TemBranch Chairman), Maimunah Mohd Shariff (Director <strong>of</strong>Town Planning, MPPP) and T.K. Lim (a developer with amasters degree in planning).The Seminar was followed by a buffet lunch hosted byMIPNB for all MIP members present.(See pictures on Page 27)WHAT-IF PLANNINGSUPPORT SYSTEMIN KUCHINGA short talk on What-If Planning SupportSystem in KuchingReported by Bong Khin Fah(KUCHING 24-8-05) It is a great honour for MIPSarawak/Sabah Chapter to have invited Pr<strong>of</strong>. Dr. RichardE. Klosterman, a renounced pr<strong>of</strong>essor in town and countryplanning from University <strong>of</strong> Akron, Ohio, USA, to visitKuching City, to give a short briefing to the planningcommunity in the cat city.The brief session was held at Menara Pelita, Petra Jaya,Kuching, with Pr<strong>of</strong>. Dr. Richard E. Klosterman sharing hisvast experiences in urban modelling and gave a previewfor the new version <strong>of</strong> What-If Planning Support System.There were about twenty five attendees comprise <strong>of</strong>planners from the private sector and planning <strong>of</strong>ficers fromvarious departments including Sarawak State PlanningAuthority, Land and Survey Department, Kuching NorthCity Council, Land Custody and Development Authority.Prior to the event, Pr<strong>of</strong>. Dr. Richard E. Klosterman made acourtesy visit to the Land and Survey Department’sAssistant Director <strong>of</strong> Planning, Mr. Lai Hua Lee, and actingDirector <strong>of</strong> Lands and Surveys, Mr. Sudarsono Osman,and attended a luncheon at well known hotel in the citycentre.Pr<strong>of</strong>. Dr. Richard E. Klosterman is the founder <strong>of</strong> a state<strong>of</strong>-the-artGIS-based Planning Support System (PSS)called “What-If”. “What-if” is a scenario-based, policyorientedPlanning Support System that uses increasinglyavailable geographic information system (GIS) data tosupport collective decision making. It incorporatesprocedures for conducting land suitability analysis,projecting future land use demands, and allocating theprojected demands to the most suitable locations. It allowsusers to create alternative development scenarios anddetermine the likely impacts <strong>of</strong> alternate public policychoices on future development patterns. It is a useful toolin plan making.MIP Sarawak/Sabah Chapter would like to thank Pr<strong>of</strong>. Dr.Richard E. Klosterman for his generosity in sharing ideaswith the local planners. The <strong>Institute</strong> would also like tothank the Land and Survey Department for hosting theevent and to the International Islamic University <strong>of</strong>Malaysia (IIUM) for co-organised the event.(See pictures on Page 27)BERITA PERANCANG
PICTORIAL 27Ghani presenting a token <strong>of</strong> appreciation to MIP CouncilRepresentative (Ahmad Suhaimi). Standing behind areTan Thean Siew (Branch Chairman) and Ismail Ibrahim(Branch Vice-Chairman)Pr<strong>of</strong>. Dr. Klosterman posted with En. Lai Hua Lee,Assistant Director (Planning) <strong>of</strong> Land and SurveyDepartment, who is with a copy <strong>of</strong> the book“Planning Support System” by Brail & Klosterman.Left: Pr<strong>of</strong>. Dr. KlostermanRight: En. Lai Hua LeeParticipants at the free half-day Seminar onPlanning ApprovalPr<strong>of</strong>. Dr. Klosterman and fellows invitedat the lunch tableFrom Left to Right : En. Law Hui Ho,En. Vincent Ho, Dr. Nasrudin,Pr<strong>of</strong>. Dr. Klosterman, En. Affandi Keli,En. Sudarsono OsmanGeneral Meeting for Formation <strong>of</strong> MIP Northern Branch,24 Set <strong>2005</strong>, Gurney Hotel PenangThe newly elected Office Bearers <strong>of</strong> MIP Northern Branch(<strong>2005</strong> -2007) with MIP members:Seated from left : Lee Lik Meng (outgoing Pro-Tem BranchSecretary), Maimunah Mohd Shariff (Committee Member),Tan Thean Siew (Branch Chairman), Abdul Ghani Salleh (outgoingPro-Tem Branch Chairman), Ismail Ibrahim (Branch Vice-Chairman),Ng Bock Tye (Committee Member), Ahmad Suhaimi (MIP Secretary).Standing 3rd from left, Cheah Lye Aik (Branch Treasurer),4th Choong Lai Chai (Committee Member),5th Michael Ong (Branch Secretary);and 2nd from right Goh Ching Keng (Committee Member)Pr<strong>of</strong>. Dr. Klosterman gave a preview to a pre-releaseversion <strong>of</strong> What-If application s<strong>of</strong>tware to theaudience.BERITA PERANCANG
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