TPr Ts. Gs. Haris Freddy Bin Ismail Town Planner, Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development Sarawak
TPr Ts. GS. Haris Freddy bin Ismail is an accomplished Chartered Town Planner,
Professional Technologist, and Geographic Information System (GIS) specialist with
extensive experience in statutory urban governance and planning frameworks within the
Sarawak civil service. Currently serving within the Development Control Section of the
Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development (MUDeNR) in Sarawak, he
contributes to regulating land use and enforcing compliance to help shape sustainable
regional growth. Beyond his core duties, he helps maintain professional standards by
serving as an interviewer for Professional Technologists under Act 768, where he assists
in the mentorship and capacity building of aspiring industry professionals.
Prior to his current portfolio in Sarawak, Haris built a career at the federal level with
PLANMalaysia (Federal Department of Town and Country Planning), where he
contributed to statutory planning mechanics and system development. Within the
National Physical Plan Division, he participated in the formulation of the 3rd National
Physical Plan (RFN3). His work in the National Rural Physical Planning Policy Division
involved contributions to the National Rural Physical Planning Policy and the
development of the CHARMS (Characteristic Rural Malaysia System), a specialized GISbased tool for rural planning. Furthermore, while serving in the National Land Use
Information Division, he played a pivotal role in the design and implementation of the
iPLAN Land use GIS system and assisted with training for national geospatial systems,
including DEGIS, PEGIS, SISMAP, and GeoJohor. His leadership was further underscored
during his tenure as a Special Officer to the Director-General of PLANMalaysia, where
he provided strategic counsel on urban policy matters.
Haris possesses strong technical proficiency, integrating analytical frameworks into his
professional and research practice. He supports evidence-based governance by
applying Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) and predictive "What-If" scenario
modelling to help guide development decisions and optimize land-use efficiency.
Currently, as a full-time PhD candidate in Real Estate and Facilities Management at
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), he is conducting research on the
application of Spatial-Temporal Graph Neural Networks (ST-GNNs) and deep learning
for high-accuracy flood forecasting and Disaster Risk Management. This research
explores the potential for modernizing planning tools with AI-driven insights to enhance
urban climate resilience. His academic background includes a Diploma in Urban and
Regional Planning from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, a Bachelor of Science in Urban
and Regional Planning from the International Islamic University Malaysia, and a Master
of Science in Architectural Studies from Universiti Putra Malaysia.
Complementing his technical and academic experience, Haris maintains a
commitment to community resilience. He previously served with the Territorial Army
Regiment (Askar Wataniah) before transitioning his dedication to public safety over to
the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM). In this role, he contributes to disaster
response coordination and community training initiatives, applying his planning
expertise to support public safety. By synthesizing national development control,
federal policy formulation, advanced AI research, and civil defence service, Haris
continues to advocate for smarter, safer, and more resilient urban environments across
Sarawak and the wider region.