PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will host four major regional forums on town and country planning next year as part of its Asean chairmanship, says Housing and Local Government Ministry Nga Kor Ming.
He said the forums which Malaysia will chair include the Asean Real Estate Summit 2025 as well as the Asean Sustainable Urbanisation Forum.
Additional events include the Asean Mayors Forum and Meeting of Governors and Mayors of Asean Capitals as well as the 8th Asean Smart Cities Network Annual Meeting.
“The government aspires to see joint progress with other nations with a lasting outcome,” he said at the launch of World Town Planning Day celebrations yesterday.
Nga said the ministry also intends to organise the Asia-Pacific Conference on Housing and Urban Development next year as part of Malaysia’s commitment in leading discussions with Asia Pacific nations,
“It is an effort to lobby for the support from Asia-Pacific nations for Malaysia’s nomination as assembly president and executive board member of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) for a three-year term between 2026 and 2029.”
At the event, Nga commended the Ipoh City Council (MBI) over its achievement of being among the five winners of the UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour 2024 award.
Nga said winners of the award had adopted best practices and innovations in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicators for sustainable cities and communities.
He said Malaysia had met 43% of the 248 indicators of the SDG, which surpassed the global average of 17%.
Nga also gave out the most sustainable town awards to 12 local councils – including Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur.
