June 2026 - Briefs

Project URBAN: A Thematic Insight Summary

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June 2026

Dr. Ahmad Farhan Roslan

Senior Research Associate

Dr. Farhan is a Senior Research Associate at PNBRI. He holds a PhD in Built Environment from the University of Salford, where he studied urban resilience, climate change, and disaster risk reduction. His previous work centred on digital transformation in engineering and the built environment, an area in which he is particularly passionate. With experience in academia and industry on local and international research projects, he is highly adept at translating research findings into practical recommendations. He aspires to improve the built environment in ways that benefit society and the country.

[email protected]

Adibah Amira Nazarudin

Senior Research Associate

Adibah is a Senior Research Associate at PNBRI. She graduated from the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) with a Bachelor of Economics degree. She began her career at PNB as an investment analyst, then transitioned into a research role. Her interests are in frontier technologies and mental health and well-being. She wishes for a healthy and kind Malaysia.

[email protected]
by Fakhira Fathini Mohd Khudzari
by Muhammad Azizol Ismail
by Ahmad Imran Mohd Redza

Abstract

This brief is part of an ongoing research that lays the foundation for Project URBAN by validating key issues and concepts and testing key theories against practitioners’ experience. The roundtable findings refine problem framing, validate research assumptions, and set the stage for priority areas and primary data requirements for subsequent analysis.


Building on this, the work will be delivered through multiple research workstreams within Project URBAN, which aims to understand the factors shaping urban growth in Malaysian cities. These workstreams include:

  • Cities benchmarking and spatial analysis: Understand factors influencing agglomeration and dispersion
  • Urban form and GIS-based analysis: Map patterns of urban growth and spatial changes
  • Urban living lab: Understanding human behaviour and choices

The findings will be compiled into a flagship report that synthesises key findings and policy recommendations for Malaysia’s future urban development.

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Tags

Urbanisation Spatial Planning Urban Development Urban Policy Sustainable Cities Urban Transformation Future Cities Malaysia Cities System of Cities