PETALING JAYA: Property developers are urged to put ecology ahead of land clearing in future projects before construction begins, to align with Malaysia’s sustainable urbanisation push, says Nga Kor Ming.
The Housing and Local Government Minister made the call at the launch of Botanik Point in Ampang, a project that preserved 30% of its site as living forest.
“Today’s launch reflects a larger and increasingly important national conversation about how our cities should grow in the future, responsibly, sustainably and with greater respect for the environment around us,” he said.
“Traditionally, development begins with clearing the land first before construction starts and expecting nature to adapt to development.
“But Botanik Point reversed this thinking entirely. Planning began by asking what should be preserved first and that is a very powerful statement,” he said.
He praised the project’s biophilic design, passive cooling strategies, natural ventilation and wellness‑oriented spaces, noting the developers reflect serious commitment to sustainable building practices.
“Sustainability should not be treated as an afterthought or an add-on feature. It should be embedded into the DNA of planning itself,” he said while hoping that Botanik Point would inspire the wider industry to adopt more environmentally friendly development principles.
Separately, Nga said the government has placed sustainability at the heart of its agenda, with the Housing and Local Government Ministry advancing initiatives such as the National Circular Economy Council, the Malaysia Smart City Rating Framework and Waste‑to‑Energy projects to support greener, smarter and more energy‑efficient cities.
“The ministry is also incorporating green technologies such as solar panels into public housing projects to ensure sustainable urbanisation remains inclusive and beneficial to all Malaysians,” he added.
He claimed Malaysia is among the 27 countries recognised by the United Nations as a country with mega diversity.
“Hence, such heritage must be safeguarded and the government has planted 115 million trees as part of the effort to protect the environment,” said Nga.
Nga, who is also President of the United Nations-Habitat Assembly, said Malaysia remains committed to championing sustainable urban development globally through collaboration and knowledge-sharing with cities around the world.
