KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 (Bernama) -- Property developers should prioritise ecological preservation over conventional land-clearing practices to support Malaysia's sustainable urbanisation agenda, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said.
He said the approach is becoming increasingly important as urban centres continue to expand, requiring a balance between economic growth, environmental stewardship and long-term liveability.
“As our cities evolve, the challenge is no longer simply about delivering more housing, but creating communities that are inclusive, safe and comfortable while balancing economic growth, environmental stewardship and long-term liveability.
“We want to build not only liveable cities, but loveable and sustainable cities that are in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he said at the launch of the Botanik Point Nature Reserve here today.
Nga said the MADANI Government, under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has placed sustainability at the centre of the national development agenda through initiatives led by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), including the National Circular Economy Council, the Malaysia Smart City Rating Framework and Waste-to-Energy (WtE) projects.
He said green technologies, including solar panels, are also being incorporated into public housing projects to ensure the benefits of sustainable urbanisation are shared by all Malaysians.
“Malaysia is among 27 countries recognised by the United Nations as megadiverse nations. This natural heritage must be protected, and the government has planted 115 million trees as part of its environmental conservation efforts,” he said.
Nga, who is also president of the UN-Habitat Assembly, said Malaysia will continue to champion sustainable urban development globally through collaboration and knowledge-sharing with cities around the world.
Commenting on the Botanik Point Nature Reserve, he said the project demonstrates how collaboration among stakeholders can be translated into a development model that supports Malaysia’s sustainability and urban resilience goals.
He said the project contributes to several UN SDGs, particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
Nga also commended Urban Hallmark Properties Sdn Bhd for adopting a development philosophy that prioritises preservation over land clearing, with nearly 30 per cent of the project area retained as a living secondary forest ecosystem.
“Sustainability should not be treated as an afterthought or an added feature. It should be embedded into the DNA of planning itself,” he said, expressing hope that the project would inspire wider adoption of environmentally responsible development practices across the property industry.
“As our cities evolve, the challenge is no longer simply about delivering more housing, but creating communities that are inclusive, safe and comfortable while balancing economic growth, environmental stewardship and long-term liveability.
“We want to build not only liveable cities, but loveable and sustainable cities that are in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he said at the launch of the Botanik Point Nature Reserve here today.
Nga said the MADANI Government, under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, has placed sustainability at the centre of the national development agenda through initiatives led by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), including the National Circular Economy Council, the Malaysia Smart City Rating Framework and Waste-to-Energy (WtE) projects.
He said green technologies, including solar panels, are also being incorporated into public housing projects to ensure the benefits of sustainable urbanisation are shared by all Malaysians.
“Malaysia is among 27 countries recognised by the United Nations as megadiverse nations. This natural heritage must be protected, and the government has planted 115 million trees as part of its environmental conservation efforts,” he said.
Nga, who is also president of the UN-Habitat Assembly, said Malaysia will continue to champion sustainable urban development globally through collaboration and knowledge-sharing with cities around the world.
Commenting on the Botanik Point Nature Reserve, he said the project demonstrates how collaboration among stakeholders can be translated into a development model that supports Malaysia’s sustainability and urban resilience goals.
He said the project contributes to several UN SDGs, particularly SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).
Nga also commended Urban Hallmark Properties Sdn Bhd for adopting a development philosophy that prioritises preservation over land clearing, with nearly 30 per cent of the project area retained as a living secondary forest ecosystem.
“Sustainability should not be treated as an afterthought or an added feature. It should be embedded into the DNA of planning itself,” he said, expressing hope that the project would inspire wider adoption of environmentally responsible development practices across the property industry.