The National Physical Planning Council (NPPC) was set up in order to facilitate the execution of joint powers between federal and state governments in developing infrastructure projects, the minister in charge says.

Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Noh Omar said the powers are as listed under the Federal Constitution’s concurrent list, which includes matters related to housing and irrigation.

“When there are joint powers, then the federal and state governments must sit together. Therefore we set up the National Physical Planning Council.

“The purpose is so that we can jointly use our powers,” he told a press conference after launching the Ceylonz Suites sales units in Kuala Lumpur, a joint development project between Koperasi Amanah Ikhtiar Bhd and Exsim Group of Companies.

Noh said this when asked to clarify his reported statement in Parliament last week, that amendments passed on the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 are not legally binding.

The proposed amendments, among others, include introducing a new Section 20B to compel both federal and state governments, except Sabah and Sarawak, to obtain “advice” on infrastructure projects from the NPPC, which is chaired by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

During the debates, Noh was bombarded with questions from opposition MPs who wanted to know if there would be legal repercussions if the NPPC’s advice was not adhered to.

When met after the press conference today, Noh insisted that both federal and state governments should obtain the council’s advice.

"If they don’t want to consult, then they would have to bear the consequences," he said when asked whether there would be any repercussions against state governments that refuse to seek the council's advice.

“For example, if they want to carry out a reclamation project but do not consult us (the council) on how they plan to assist the (displaced) fishermen, if anything happens, then they must answer.

“If they consult us, we will shoulder the burden together,” said Noh, who is the MP for Tanjong Karang.