PETALING JAYA: Asean must balance digital innovation with cultural heritage to build sustainable cities, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming told the Asean–China Ministerial Roundtable on Construction 2025 in Guilin, China.
Nga, who was speaking at the roundtable on Sept 15, said the region’s rapidly expanding urban population would put housing, transport and infrastructure under strain without proactive measures.
"With crisis comes opportunity. This is our chance to position ourselves as a global leader in building cities that are smart, inclusive, and climate-conscious," he said.
He outlined two pillars for future growth, digital intelligence empowerment and cultural inheritance.
Nga said Malaysia has already seen tangible results from its digital transformation efforts.
He said the adoption of Industrialised Building Systems (IBS) has shortened construction timelines, improved quality and reduced waste in public housing projects.
He added that Building Information Modelling (BIM) has minimised errors and improved coordination.
The use of drones, modular construction and digital project management tools has enhanced safety and efficiency.
Building on the recent 8th Asean Smart Cities Network (ASCN) Meeting, Nga proposed elevating the forum to the ministerial level to accelerate regional cooperation in developing smart cities.
At the same time, he stressed that "high-quality development should carry within it a soul, one that reflects the spirit of its people."
"From the majestic wooden structures of the rumah Melayu to the shophouses of George Town and Melaka, they all tell the story of who we are," he added.
As President of the UN-Habitat Assembly, Nga urged Asean and China to merge their strengths.
He said they should combine China’s digital expertise with Asean’s cultural diversity to set global standards in carbon-neutral construction, adaptive heritage reuse and digital governance.
He also called for the ministerial roundtable to be institutionalised as an annual platform to ensure continuity and lasting impact in shaping the future of urbanisation.
"Together, let us build cities that are not only digitally enabled, but also culturally rich.
"Let us embrace progress without losing the essence of our identity," Nga said.
