This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on May 11, 2026 - May 17, 2026

Landscape architects in Malaysia are finally getting the recognition they have long worked towards after decades of navigating policy gaps and a system that has often prioritised economic value over the environment.

In an interview with City & Country, Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia (ILAM) president Nor Atiah Ismail says, “On Jan 1, 2026, it was officially announced that landscape architects would be incorporated under the Board of Town Planners Malaysia (Lembaga Perancang Bandar Malaysia). But the Town Planners Act 1995 (Act 538) is still being amended.”

According to Nor Atiah, for years, many saw landscape work as mere beautification rather than an architectural practice that required extensive planning. “Everybody thought they could do landscaping because they saw it as just beautification. But landscape architecture is the art and science of the environment and creating good spaces.”

That perception made it difficult to position the profession in the built environment sector. Unlike town planners, architects and engineers, who have long been governed by established legislation, landscape architects entered the scene much later, she points out.

“Other professions have evolved since the 1950s and 1960s, but we only started positioning ourselves in the 1990s. So, we are among the junior professions in the built environment sector,” says Nor Atiah, explaining why it took so long for the profession to be recognised for its expertise and how the late entry meant a longer journey towards formal recognition.

On the structure of the landscape architecture ecosystem in Malaysia, Nor Atiah says, it operates across three complementary pillars: policy, regulation and professional leadership, represented respectively by the National Landscape Department, the Board of Town Planners Malaysia and ILAM. 

“The National Landscape Department functions as the national policy custodian, responsible for formulating landscape-­related policies, frameworks and guidelines, while driving key agendas such as urban greening, public parks and biodiversity enhancement. 

“It sets the overall direction and aspirations for landscape development nationwide. The Board of Town Planners Malaysia, on the other hand, governs the professional and regulatory dimension under the statutory planning framework.”

She adds that as landscape architects are now placed under the administrative purview of the Board of Town Planners Malaysia, it enables stronger integration of landscape architecture within planning processes, including development control, professional standards and ethical practice. 

“Complementing both is ILAM, which serves as the professional institute representing landscape architects, advancing the profession through capacity building, technical advocacy and industry leadership, while promoting approaches such as Nature-based Solutions (NbS). 

“ILAM also plays a critical bridging role, ensuring alignment between national policy directions and on-the-ground professional practice. Together, these three institutions form a coherent ecosystem.”

She explains that the National Landscape Department defines the “what” in terms of policy direction, the Board of Town Planners Malaysia governs the “how” through regulation and statutory integration and ILAM drives the “who and why” by strengthening professional capacity and advancing the discipline. 

“This alignment ensures that landscape is no longer treated as an aesthetic afterthought, but as a strategic and integrated component of sustainable urban development in Malaysia,” she adds.

The process to incorporate the profession into the board started in 2024, when ILAM initiated discussions with the Board of Town Planners Malaysia.

“We felt that the incorporation would benefit both professions (town planners and landscape architects), and we were openly accepted, especially since landscape architecture was previously under the town planning department in the 1980s. Later, with the formation of the National Landscape Department, the departments became separate,” she adds.

“Administratively, that worked. But on the ground, collaboration was lacking. We believed that working together would create better outcomes for the country,” she continues.

“Members of ILAM and the Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP) were consulted, as this would affect professional practice, and they supported the incorporation. Policy matters and approvals were handled by the National Landscape Department and PlanMalaysia, while ILAM and MIP contributed from the professional side. The process took about a year.”

PlanMalaysia is a government agency responsible for urban and rural planning in the country.

Now, the focus is on positioning both professions equally and ensuring neither is compromised, says Nor Atiah. “The scope of work for both town planners and landscape architects is clearly defined, and we support each other. The next step is amending Act 538 to formally include landscape architects.

“Since the Act had not been amended for decades, the timing aligned perfectly with the ongoing revisions by PlanMalaysia. So, we came in at the right time, when the country needed it most.”

The move marks a significant shift, not just in governance, but also in how the profession is viewed in the broader development ecosystem, says Nor Atiah.

“We don’t want to work in silos anymore. Town planners and landscape architects must work together because the challenges today are so significant,” she explains.

Among the challenges is the long-­standing practice of bringing landscape architects into projects only after key development decisions have been made.

“Previously, we came in later [in the development]. After our greens were no longer there — the forests had been cleared, the soil stripped and the ecological system disrupted. Only then were we called in to rebuild,” says Nor Atiah.

This approach led to wasted resources and environmental degradation, she points out.

Nor Atiah says the integration of landscape architects with the Board of Town Planners Malaysia is aimed at changing that.

“When town planners and landscape architects come together from the beginning, we can advise on preserving the environment and keeping the landform. The development cost can be reduced and the design becomes more responsive to nature,” she adds.

The push for recognition was also driven by the need for accountability, says Nor Atiah.

“Unlike other built environment professionals, landscape architects were previously not governed by law or held liable for their work. We were working, but we were not governed by any law. We didn’t have liabilities,” she notes.

Nor Atiah points to incidents such as fallen trees, the responsibility for which was often unclear. “Have you ever seen a landscape architect take responsibility for fallen trees? If you want to call yourself a professional, you must be responsible,” she stresses.

The new framework changes that, placing greater emphasis on responsibility and public safety, says Nor Atiah.

“We want our design, construction and management to safeguard people. This is about reducing accidents and giving better service to the country,” she adds.

Nor Atiah says beyond regulation, the evolution of landscape architecture in Malaysia can be seen in how green spaces are now being planned and valued more. “For a long time, the policy only required 10% green space in developments. But this was often fragmented, like 3% here, 2% there. So, it was not fully usable.”

Recognising this limitation, industry players began pushing developers to go beyond the minimum requirements, she says. “We encouraged developers, especially of new townships, to be more flexible and allocate more than 10%. In some cases, we managed to get around 20%.”

Over time, this shift gained momentum. “Now we are seeing 30% to 40% green space in some developments,” she highlights.

Nor Atiah believes that the incorporation of landscape architects into the board has already resulted in improvements, particularly in shaping better policies and frameworks. One example is how PlanMalaysia is now developing guidelines for sponge cities.

Previously, town planners and landscape architects operated in separate departments with their own professional guidelines. Now, with PlanMalaysia working together with the National Landscape Department and other related bodies, there is greater alignment across the industry, she says.

“The relevant bodies can work together to develop better policies that are more implementable and relevant for the next 30 to 50 years to come in Malaysia because things are changing, and we have to prepare for those changes,” says Nor Atiah.

Despite the challenges, she believes the industry has made significant progress over the past three decades. During the Covid-19 pandemic, for instance, access to outdoor spaces became essential. “We have parks for people to go to. But it is still not enough,” she says.

Nor Atiah says the focus now is on creating more liveable and climate-responsive environments where the landscape plays a central role in everyday life.

“We want cities where people can walk, cycle and enjoy nature, where children can go to school and experience the environment around them. We need a balance between the built environment and green environment — to build and preserve,” she adds.

“We are working today for a better tomorrow. If we don’t change now, there will be no tomorrow.”

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