PETALING JAYA: Stronger global cooperation is needed to ensure quality housing that is affordable, liveable, well-connected and supported by comprehensive amenities, says Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.
Nga, who is also United Nations-Habitat Assembly president, said achieving these standards required close collaboration among governments, property developers, construction industry players and society.
"Housing should not merely be treated as a commodity for buying and selling, but as a place where every family can build a secure and stable life.
"We must not only ensure that people can afford to buy a home, but also that they can live with peace of mind, comfort and dignity," he said.
He was speaking at the World Cities Day 2026 Forum themed "Building High Quality Housing for the People" in Fuzhou, China, on Sunday (Nov 1).
Nga said quality housing must be complemented by inclusive, well-connected communities with essential infrastructure such as public transport, schools, hospitals, parks and community facilities.
"Good houses alone are not enough. We also need good communities. A neighbourhood filled with high-rise buildings but lacking human connection is nothing more than a concrete jungle," he said.
He called for greater adoption of artificial intelligence, green building practices and smart construction technologies to improve construction quality, energy efficiency and urban resilience against climate change and natural disasters.
"Urban development should not be measured merely by the number of skyscrapers built, but by whether people's quality of life has genuinely improved. This is the essence of people-centred urban development," he added.
Nga also highlighted the Fourth Asean-China Ministerial Roundtable on Construction and Housing, held in Ipoh on Aug 1, where Asean and China reached the Ipoh Accord to deepen cooperation in housing and urban development.
The accord focuses on three areas: green buildings and low-carbon technologies, rehabilitation of ageing buildings and urban renewal, and improving community living environments.
He said continued cooperation between Malaysia and China would strengthen bilateral ties and advance mutually beneficial partnerships between Asean and China.
"We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Every house we build and every community we plan today must not only meet the needs of the generation today but also of the generations to come," he said.
Nga called on governments and stakeholders worldwide to work together to build quality homes, harmonious communities and sustainable cities for future generations.
Also present at the forum were Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee member, Population, Resources and Environment Deputy Director of the Committee, and China Civil Engineering Society (CCES) president Yi Jun; Russia's Deputy Minister of Construction, Housing and Utilities Nikita Stasishin; Fujian Provincial CPPCC Committee vice-chairperson Huang Ling; and Fujian Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development chief engineer Chen Yixiong.
