5. Prosedur pelantikan Pengerusi dan Timbalan Pengerusi LR yang memerlukanpersetujuan Menteri Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan akan mengambilmasa, di mana setiap negeri perlu melalui satu peringkat pentadbiran lagi iaitu diKementerian.6. Kaedah-kaedah LR tidak memperincikan kaedah penghantaran notis yangmerupakan satu prosedur penting dalam pengurusan LR. Situasi ini akanmenyumbang kepada kegagalan pihak perayu dan responden untuk memperolehimakluman dalam tempoh yang ditetapkan.7. Berlaku konflik kepentingan dalam kes LR. Seperti yang semua maklum, <strong>JPBD</strong>Negeri telah diberi tanggungjawab untuk melaksanakan LR. Pendaftar kes LRadalah di kalangan Pegawai Perancang Bandar dan Desa di <strong>JPBD</strong> Negeri. Apa yangakan berlaku apabila kes yang didaftarkan oleh perayu melibatkan <strong>JPBD</strong> Negerisebagai responden (dalam keadaan <strong>JPBD</strong> Negeri melaksanakan tugas PBPT).Bukankah LR sepatutnya merupakan badan berkecuali yang tidak memihak kepadasesiapa. Walau bagaimanapun, amalan LR Negeri Pulau Pinang boleh dijadikanpanduan di mana pegawai yang dilantik sebagai Pendaftar LR tidak terlibat dengantugas kawalan perancangan. Ini dapat mengelakkan daripada berlakunya konflik.Dicadangkan LR dizahirkan sebagai satu unit supaya fungsi dan perjalanannya lebihjelas dan teratur.8. Selain itu, pemahaman jelas terhadap Akta <strong>172</strong> juga perlu diperkukuhkan di semuaperingkat terutamanya dalam pengendalian kes-kes LR. Pemahaman yang jelasamat penting bagi mengelakkan interpretasi yang berbeza bagi menjamin keputusanLR yang lebih konsisten dan mengelakkan pertikaian.9. PBPT juga tidak mempunyai wakil peguam untuk mewakili mereka di LR sebagairesponden. Ini menyulitkan lagi proses keadilan untuk dilaksanakan.Isu dan masalah di atas boleh diatasi dengan mempertingkatkan kesedaran tentangkepentingan LR sebagai pelengkap kepada sistem perancangan bandar dan desa.Apabila semua pihak yang terlibat memahami kepentingan LR, maka semua pihakakan berusaha untuk menjalankan tanggungjawab masing-masing. Pengendalian danpengurusan LR hendaklah disokong dengan prosedur yang jelas, organisasi yanglengkap dan terlatih serta mempunyai kemudahan yang mencukupi.Rujukan :1. Akta Perancangan Bandar dan Desa 1976, Akta <strong>172</strong>2. Kaji Selidik Lembaga Rayuan Setiap Negeri, oleh Bahagian Perundangan dan KawalSelia Perancangan, <strong>JPBD</strong> Semenanjung Malaysia 2010.<strong>Blog</strong> @<strong>172</strong> | 8<strong>Blog</strong> @<strong>172</strong> | 7
seksyen mindaSanisah bt ShafieTHE APPEAL OFAPPEAL BOARDWhen we were discussing topics for this publicationand I proposed this title for my column, a juniormember of the editorial board asked : “Maksudnyarayuan Lembaga Rayuan ke?”. My answer to her was“No ..it means apa yang menarik pasal LembagaRayuan”. And a moment later she somehow suddenlygot it, .. “Oh,.. like ‘sex appeal’ ..”; to which, whatelse can I say but “Exactly”. So dear readers, myearly conclusion, though pre-mature and somewhatirrelevant, is that we need ‘sex appeal’ in everything,.. in fact, maybe we should amend the Act to have asection on ‘Sex Appeal’ – maybe Section 2C.Anyway, back to the (real) subject matter – so whatare the appeals of the Appeal Board ? .. hmm (‘howcan I count the ways that I love thee ..”).1. First and foremost, it is a clear indication of thematurity of our planning system (or at least ofour planning Act), and not to forget our country’sdemocratic system;2. It is established at the state level, as opposed toFederal level. Surely that is good as it enables theboard to have better knowledge and stronger feelto the case on trial;3. At the same time, the federal level also has somecontrol on it, by virtue that the Minister of Housingand Local Government has to give consent tothe appointment of the Chairman and DeputyChairman of the board;4. It can have up to 12 additional members (notincluding the Chairman and Deputy Chairmanwho are also considered as members), and out ofthese members, three will be making decisionson the case on trial (the Chairman will choose2 from among the additional members to joinhim). What is nice is that these members aremulti-disciplinary, and are usually colourful. Townplanners from various orientations i.e. the public,the private, the academicians and the NGOS,will be among them, but so are engineers, andarchitects. So (supposedly) decisions can bemade very wholesomely; and5. Though the board theoretically is outside thecountry’s proper judicial system, it serves toreduce the burden of the civil courts by settlingthe planning disputes with regard certain mattersas prescribed by Act <strong>172</strong> (inter alia, refusal ofplanning permission, conditions on planningpermission, objection by the neighbours, etc.);and finally6. Being ‘like a court’, it also runs ‘like a court’, andthat, for town planners, can be very appealingexperience (ask any Appeal Board’s registrar !).I think that’s about it. To find out further, please talkto the board’s registrar (pendaftar), or better still,please try to attend the board’s hearing session. Ihave been to one session in Penang, and though justsitting in the audience, I know it will be a real test ofyour knowledge and conviction in planning to standup there as the expert witness.I rest my case.p/s : of course the not-so-appealing facts about the AppealBoard is purposely omitted from this article - see the title.<strong>Blog</strong> @<strong>172</strong> | 9<strong>Blog</strong> @<strong>172</strong> | 8