Johor Bahru
A vibrant coastal city on the southernmost tip of peninsular Malaysia, with close economic ties to Singapore

Kuala Lumpur
The federal capital and most populous city of Malaysia

Putrajaya
The federal capital’s nearby, planned government center

George Town
An historically important island port city, UNESCO World Heritage Site and the capital of Penang

Kuching
The capital and most populous city of Sarawak

In each city, the program aims to study:

• how economic development efforts have been pursued while enhancing ecological sustainability
• what strategies are used to address social, economic, religious, and intercultural tensions as they relate to city development
• which natural resource management and environmental quality improvement policies are catalyzed as a result of planned city development

The program also seeks to understand:

• national and state-level policies and legislation that shape the scope and quality of urban development
• regulations and procedures governing the ways in which stakeholders and the public-at-large are allowed or encouraged to participate in infrastructure and development planning
• strategies by which private development interests put together the financial, political and technical support the need to proceed with development projects
• the role that civil society plays in promoting sustainability as a goal in Malaysia.