KUALA LUMPUR: Future development projects should incorporate and preserve national culture and heritage to better position Malaysia as a tourism destination, says Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.
Nga said buildings and markets must not only be places for shopping but a platform to showcase Malaysia's diverse cultures.
He said ongoing efforts to integrate cultural preservation into development strategies had proven fruitful, given the influx of foreign visitors this year.
“When building new spaces, we must not forget our storied past — the traditions, values and essence of our identity.
“Moving forward, our focus should be on ensuring urban innovation, sustainability and inclusive growth.
“This means integrating nature-based solutions into urban planning, enhancing mobility and improving environmental quality,” he said in his speech at the launch of the 16th World Class Sustainable Cities (WCSC2025) Conference at a hotel here on Tuesday (Sept 30).
Elaborating, Nga said the government was committed towards heritage conservation, evidenced by the RM700mil allocated so far to revive and rejuvenate seven historical landmarks in the capital.
“Our heritage policies and guidelines ensure that we protect the integrity of our cultural landmarks while facilitating growth and development,” he added.
Started in 2009, this year’s WCSC brought together over 800 industry professionals, academicians, urban planners and government officials to discuss and review practices in managing cities.
Also present were Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association (Rehda) Malaysia president Datuk Ho Hon Sang, Malaysian Institute of Planners president Datin Mazrina Abd Khalid and Malaysian Architect Association president Prof Adrianta Aziz.
