PETALING JAYA: Property developers should move away from conventional land-clearing practices and place greater emphasis on preserving existing ecosystems when planning new projects, says Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.
He said future developments must adopt environmentally responsive planning that respects natural landscapes and biodiversity, rather than clearing land entirely before construction begins.
“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 during the launch of Botanik Point in Ampang yesterday.
Nga said the country must move beyond the traditional development model where land is cleared first, and nature is expected to adapt to the project.
“We want to build not only liveable cities but also ‘lovable’ sustainable cities, which are in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.
He added the Madani government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, had placed sustainability at the heart of the nation’s development agenda.
Among the initiatives being pursued by the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) are the National Circular Economy Council, the Malaysia Smart City Rating Framework and Waste-to-Energy projects aimed at supporting greener, smarter and more energy-efficient cities.
Nga added that KPKT is also incorporating green technologies, such as solar panels, into public housing projects to ensure that sustainable urbanisation remains inclusive and benefits all Malaysians.
He added that Malaysia is among 27 countries recognised by the United Nations as megadiverse nations and that its natural heritage must be protected.
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 throughout the world.
Citing Botanik Point as an example of environmentally conscious development, Nga commended developer Urban Hallmark Properties for preserving nearly 30% of the project site as a living secondary forest ecosystem.
“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,” he said.
He also praised the project’s incorporation of biophilic design, passive cooling strategies, natural ventilation and wellness-oriented spaces.
Nga said the development’s Provisional GreenRE Platinum certification reflected a serious commitment to environmentally responsible planning and sustainable building practices.
“Sustainability should not be treated as an afterthought or an add-on feature. It should be embedded in the DNA of planning itself,” he said.
He expressed hope that Botanik Point would inspire more developers to adopt environmentally responsive development principles in future projects.
