PETALING JAYA: With Malaysians’ homeownership standing at 77%, the Housing and Local Government Ministry has emphasised its commitment to sustainable urban development.
Its Minister Nga Kor Ming said initiatives such as the Affordable Housing Programme (Rumah Mampu Milik), Citizen-Friendly Home Programme (Rumah Mesra Rakyat), and housing projects under PR1MA have prioritised eco-friendly designs while scaling up industrialised building systems (IBS) to reduce construction waste.
“Our utmost priority is to preserve the humane element in our public housing initiatives.
“To that end, we are integrating features that support holistic living, such as the development of green public spaces and childcare facilities to support working families,” he said in a statement on Tuesday (April 22).
Nga, who recently delivered the keynote address at the 81st Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap) in Bangkok, said the newly-rebranded People’s Residency Programme will ensure that the urban poor are not left out in the transition to a green economy.
It will do so by integrating the Green Building Index, urban farming, rainwater harvesting systems and rooftop solar panels in its homes, he added.
Nga said Malaysia emphasised community-driven housing initiatives, through programmes such as Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) and urban farming projects to ensure that housing solutions align with social resilience and food security strategies.
“As the Asean Chair for 2025, Malaysia reaffirms its commitment to advancing housing policies that align with global best practices.
“Malaysia looks forward to steering Asean towards achieving collective understanding for bold and urgent measures to address housing accessibility, resilience and inclusivity,” he said.
Escap is an intergovernmental platform in the Asia-Pacific region, comprising 53 member states and nine associate members.
As one of the United Nations' five regional commissions, it promotes regional cooperation to address sustainable development challenges.
