In a landmark decision, MBPJ has approved the rezoning of several former industrial areas into residential zones. These large tracts in PJ Old Town could yield up to 23,000 homes once developed. We sit down with Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran to learn how this creates affordable housing opportunities especially for the M40 group and how it aligns with PJ's long-term urban development goals.

Other stories we covered:

• Government ramps up school safety initiatives: The Ministry of Education announced a number of initiatives ranging from increased surveillance to mental health support in an effort to address recent cases of violence in schools. They are also introducing a Character Education subject next year, which aims to teach students about moral values. We hear from Felicia Yoon, co-founder of ARUS Academy, for her thoughts on the new curriculum and if these measures are enough.

• Missing hiker found dead in Mount Liang: Rescue teams have found the body of a hiker after he was reported missing for two days. Two mountain guides were detained for leading the group through a protected forest reserve, exacerbating criticisms online about the responsibility of mountain guides during hiking expeditions. We hear from Yuen-Li Chan, founder and director of outdoor adventure company Nomad Adventure about the complexities of the mountain guide system and safety tips hikers need to be aware of.

• Celebrate green spaces at KL Parks Festival: The second edition of the festival is currently in full swing until October 26th and this year's theme is 'Asean: Unity in Diversity' a special edition in conjunction with KL hosting the ASEAN 2025 Summit. We hear from managing director of ThinkCity Dato’ Hamdan Abdul Majeed and KL Mayor Dato' Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif who share what people can look forward to.

• Renowned movie poster illustrator passes away: Drew Struzan, the man responsible for iconic movie posters like Star Wars, Indiana Jones and Back to the Future, died on October 13th at 78 years old. His illustrations were considered to b iconic, blending traditional brushwork with contemporary techniques to create a glowing realism. We discuss his legacy and talk about our favourite movie posters from the artist.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

Produced by: Alia Zefri, Sneha Harikannan, Sudais Ferhard, Tee Shiao Eek

Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Sudais Ferhard

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Categories:  environment,  education,  government

Tags:  KL Parks Festival,  Drew Struzan,  petaling jaya,  land use zoning,  green spaces,