The fundamental promise of an architectural policy is the basic right of the citizens of a country for a good built environment. This is more wanting in view of the rapid urbanisation of the population. The benefits are self-evident. A good built environment will engender national pride and a happy and productive community.

There is already an increasing environmental awareness and appreciation of the natural environment. This has changed the perception of the public on their living standards and aspirations. The rights of citizen for a safe and hygienic environment can be further enhanced through a policy which inculcates awareness and appreciation of the beauty and aesthetics of the natural and man-made environment. Similarly, this awareness shall influence the manner in which our cities are planned and the policies which govern landuse planning and urban design

It is contended that a successful built environment and architecture is not the responsibility or the achievement of the architect alone. It is the result of a close and effective collaboration between a good architect and more importantly, an enlightened client.

For it is the enlightened client who determines the budget and writes the brief (sometimes with the help of the architect). As a service industry, the architect is the agent of the client. The client usually has the final say on how money is to be expended and what facilities are to be built. The architect advises and proposes what he considers best for the proiect, but it is the client who often insists on what is to be built as he is the one expending the money.

Whether the building proieets are undertaken by the public or the private sector, the approvals of the project will be processed by the relevant departments of the Government. When completed, the buildings will impact upon the community and become its cultural heritage. The MAP is intended to provide the nation with a common mechanism which can be used to propagate enlightenment in design and aesthetics of buildings. Consequently administrators, contractors, developers and users can become enlightened clients and users of buildings.