Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) is set to establish a Malaysia-Cambridge urban platform aimed at pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030 under the MADANI economy framework. This initiative is expected to foster strategic partnerships with leading global institutions for sustainable urban development.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Minister Nga Kor Ming highlighted that the proposed collaboration with the University of Cambridge would significantly bolster Malaysia's global partnerships. He emphasized the importance of these partnerships, citing Malaysia's robust economic growth and its position as a key trading economy in Asia, despite ongoing geopolitical challenges. Nga made these remarks following his keynote address at the inaugural Forum on Housing and Urban Planning held at Downing College, University of Cambridge. This marks a significant milestone as he is the first minister from the MADANI government to be invited to speak at this prestigious institution.
Minister Nga stated that Malaysia's engagement with Cambridge underscores the government's commitment to international collaboration. This move positions Malaysia as a proactive partner in developing affordable, resilient, and inclusive cities. The forum, organized in conjunction with the Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association (REHDA) Institute, the University of Cambridge, Anglia Ruskin University, and the Cambridge University Malaysian Students Association, also aims to encourage Malaysian students abroad to return home and contribute to nation-building.
During his address, Nga outlined five key priorities under Malaysia's housing and urban agenda aligned with the SDGs. These priorities include strengthening the National Affordable Housing Policy by capping prices at RM300,000 and aligning them with district median income. He noted that Malaysia's home ownership rate has reached 76.5 percent, surpassing countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
Additional priorities involve advancing climate-resilient housing through transit-oriented development and nature-based solutions, enhancing land and planning coordination via a national urban observatory, and reviving abandoned housing projects. Nga disclosed that nearly 1,350 abandoned projects have been revitalized since 2023, benefiting over 167,000 homebuyers and unlocking RM133.78 billion in value. He stressed the necessity of strong local authorities for sustainable city building and emphasized enhancing institutional capacity through digitalization, training, and improved governance.
Nga further mentioned that through five MADANI housing reforms, the government aims to achieve "zero" sick and abandoned private housing projects by 2030. Additionally, the governance of high-density and strata living is set to be strengthened through reforms to the Strata Management Act. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia's macroeconomic fundamentals have shown significant improvement, with a 6.3 percent GDP growth in the final quarter of 2025 and record approved investments of RM426.7 billion.