Kuala lumpur: The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) is open to and welcomes constructive suggestions and feedback to improve the bill for the proposed Urban Renewal Act (URA). Its minister, Nga Kor Min, emphasized the importance of considering every sound recommendation for the benefit of all parties, especially in safeguarding the rights and interests of original homeowners under the bill.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Nga stated that the government values constructive opinions and is open to receiving them but warned against parties exploiting the situation for political gain. He expressed the government’s preference for constructive politics over destructive politics. Nga made these remarks while officiating the 16th International Conference on World Class Sustainable Cities 2025 (WCSC).
The parliamentary debate on the URA bill has been postponed to the next sitting, which is scheduled from October 6 to December 4 in the third meeting of the 15th Parliament’s fourth session. Nga also highlighted the MADANI Government’s commitment to ensuring that upcoming urban renewal projects involving seven national heritage landmarks will respect heritage values. The government has allocated RM700 million this year to revitalize landmarks such as Carcosa Seri Negara, the Textile Museum, and the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, among others.
Nga further stated that Malaysia, as the President of the United Nations Habitat Assembly, is prepared to collaborate globally to strengthen ASEAN’s position as a hub of sustainable urban innovation and contribute to shaping a smarter and more sustainable world. He mentioned the aim to integrate the New Urban Agenda (NUA) into the processes of the Conference of the Parties (COP) under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), to enhance the role of cities and regions in global climate ambitions.
The theme for WCSC 2025, ‘Resilient Cities, Living Heritage’, focuses on strengthening infrastructure while preserving the nation’s heritage, identity, and community values. Nga urged policymakers to incorporate resilience and heritage into urban policies, and for industry and communities to prioritize sustainability and cultural identity in their projects and daily lives.
WCSC 2025 aims to build sustainable and thriving cities by integrating resilience and preserving cultural heritage, featuring keynote sessions, panel discussions, and opportunities for networking and collaboration among urban visionaries and city leaders.