Kuala Lumpur: Urban renewal, affordable housing, and a circular economy will be among the key agendas Malaysia will champion if appointed as President of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Assembly for the 2026-2029 term. Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming emphasized that urban renewal is not just a ministry initiative but a vital national agenda.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Nga highlighted the importance of urban renewal in the national development landscape, noting that 78 percent of Malaysia’s population currently resides in urban areas, a figure projected to rise to 85 percent by 2050. With over 200 million people worldwide living in slums and unsafe environments, Nga stressed the necessity of urban renewal for the well-being of the global population.
Nga made these remarks during an appearance on Bernama TV’s ‘Ruang Bicara’ programme, where he discussed the topic ‘UN-Habitat: Malaysia Ready to Lead Global Sustainable Development.’ Malaysia is vying for the presidency of the UN-Habitat Assembly for the 2026-2029 term, aligning its efforts with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The official announcement regarding the selected presidency is anticipated at the end of this month.
Nga further stated that Malaysia aims to demonstrate its expertise in delivering high-quality, affordable housing. He pointed out Malaysia’s strong track record in providing sufficient affordable housing, which has been well-received by the public. This success is attributed to a holistic housing ecosystem that has increased the home ownership rate to 76.9 percent.
The initiatives undertaken by Malaysia are guided by the National Housing Policy 2018-2025, which outlines systematic and efficient planning, development, and management of the housing sector. Nga expressed that if Malaysia is granted the mandate to lead UN-Habitat, it will spearhead crucial dialogues and decisions related to adequate housing and the future of sustainable, livable cities.
UN-Habitat is a United Nations agency dedicated to promoting sustainable urban development.