The Malaysian development plan system was reformed in 2001 to involve four levels of government in spatial planning. However, issues like delays in adopting plans and outdated plans still exist. A study looked at problems faced by local planning authorities in implementing the system, focusing on legal, administrative, financial, human resource, and technical aspects. Data was collected through surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions. The findings show that most issues in implementing the development plan system in Malaysia stem from legal issues.