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3.1 This is Putrajaya -
a building site you may say - and yet by 2012, it will be a thriving
modern city a symbol of a newly industrialised country. The country
has the stated aim of being an industrialised developed country by
2020.
The building you see in the background is the international
convention centre.
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3.2 Meet one of the senior
information officers, a Malay and therefore he is a Muslim, dressed
for Friday prayers, the Muslim holy day. On other days he will wear
a suit. www.putrajaya.net.my |
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3.3 He explains that the city
is planned on the basis of principles of Islam, that it should be
city for people and nature, for people and people. The uniting
concept is 'the city in nature' |
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3.4 The centrepiece is a lake, water enhances
scenery and also creates an amenity for leisure activity.
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3.5 To that end the parks and
gardens have been created first - an agricultural heritage park
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3.6 a botanical garden, with all Malaysian plant
species. |
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3.7 a wetland park, where natural swamps and
marshes have been built to attract water birds like Purple Heron and
many types of Kingfishers as well as wintering migrants from
Northern Russia. |
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3.8 Why is it being built? As a symbol of
the grand plan for Malaysia. This is the new Primeminister' s
office. |
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3.9 Government is the prime function of the new
city.
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3.10 Government is currently is spread all over
Kuala Lumpur, a growing commercial and financial city congested with
traffic.
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3.11 KL will remain the capital city, the
financial and business centre. |
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3.12 Furthermore the Klang valley from KL to KLIA
[Airport] will be the the engine of growth for the economy and
therefore Putrajaya will be at the heart of this. |
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3.13 The question remains whether this city will
capture the hearts of people like KL has. |
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These were taken on a recent teachers inspection visit with
Discover
the Living Planet. There are many acknowledgements. Particular
thanks to Tony Escritt
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