PETALING JAYA: A Malaysia-Cambridge Urban platform to advance sustainable development goals under the Madani economic framework has been mooted, says Nga Kor Ming.
The Housing and Local Government Minister said the initiative would strengthen collaboration among leading global institutions to address urban challenges and achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He said Malaysia’s strong economic growth and improving global competitiveness reflect the nation’s resilience as a formidable trading economy in Asia, despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.
“It is timely for us to step up efforts to establish strategic partnerships with the world’s top institutions,” he said at the inaugural Housing and Urban Planning forum at the University of Cambridge’s Downing College in London.
Nga, who is also the UN-Habitat Assembly president, highlighted Malaysia’s economic performance under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, noting that the country recorded 6.3% GDP growth in the final quarter of 2025, while approved investments reached a record RM426.7bil.
He said Malaysia continues to position itself as a neutral, resilient and open trading nation amid global economic volatility.
He noted that investor confidence is reflected in the ringgit’s regional strength, Bursa Malaysia surpassing the 1,770-point mark in February, a trade surplus of RM151.8bil, and total trade exceeding RM3 trillion.
Nga outlined five key priorities in Malaysia’s housing and urban agenda, aligned with the SDGs and the New Urban Agenda.
These include strengthening the National Affordable Housing Policy by capping prices at RM300,000 and aligning them with district median incomes.
This approach, he said, has contributed to a national homeownership rate of 76.5%, higher than countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom and Australia.
He also emphasised climate-resilient housing through transit-oriented development, risk-sensitive planning and improved drainage systems, noting that 145 flood hotspots were eliminated last year.
“Other priorities include improving land-use coordination through a national urban observatory, reviving abandoned housing projects and strengthening governance of high-density strata living through reforms to the Strata Management Act.
“The government is targeting zero abandoned private housing projects by 2030 through the five key reforms,” he said.
He noted that strong local authorities are critical to building sustainable cities, with Malaysia focusing on digitalisation, capacity building and governance improvements.
Nga said that Malaysia’s engagement with Cambridge reflects its commitment to international collaboration and could pave the way for stronger Britain-Malaysia ties.
He also encouraged Malaysian students abroad to return and contribute to nation-building.
