Kuala lumpur: The 6th ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable Cities (ESC) Award and the 5th Certificate of Recognition (COR) ceremony took centre stage here tonight, celebrating cities across the region for their leadership and innovation in building greener, more liveable and resilient communities.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Acting Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani stated that the event, held in conjunction with the 18th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment (AMME) and its related meetings, honoured cities that have demonstrated exemplary practices in environmental management and sustainability.
Johari expressed his congratulations to all awardees, highlighting their achievements as a source of pride and inspiration. He emphasized the shared vision of ASEAN for a sustainable future during his welcoming remarks at the Ministerial Dinner of the 18th AMME at Parkroyal Hotel.
He further mentioned that participants engaged in valuable discussions and would continue sessions with ASEAN partners to address environmental challenges. Johari underscored the importance of regional cooperation in tackling issues such as climate change and biodiversity loss.
Malaysia celebrated significant milestones during the meeting, including the endorsement of three new ASEAN Heritage Parks. These include Tengku Hassanal Wildlife Reserve in Pahang, Bako National Park, and Lambir Hills National Park, both in Sarawak.
A statement from the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry (NRES) revealed that Kota Tinggi received the ESC Award, while Johor Bahru, Bandaraya Diraja Klang, Petaling Jaya, Hang Tuah Jaya, Banting, and Melaka received the COR across multiple categories. This recognition reaffirms Malaysia’s commitment to sustainability at the local level.
The awards highlighted achievements in Clean Air, Clean Land, Clean Water, Urban Biodiversity and Green Spaces, and Circular Economy. The ceremony saw 10 ASEAN cities receiving the 6th ESC Award, while 19 cities were honored with the 5th COR for their accomplishments in the mentioned categories.