KUALA LUMPUR, June 10 (Bernama) -- Collaboration among stakeholders is critically important in shaping a more liveable and inclusive capital city, said Kuala Lumpur (KL) Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Maimunah Mohd Sharif.
She emphasised that the success of urban renewal relies not only on policy but also on the shared responsibility among government bodies, private developers, academia, and the people.
“I reiterated that building resilience in Kuala Lumpur and other cities requires aligning social, economic, and environmental goals, with people at the centre of the process,” she said.
Dr. Maimunah drew on insights from her distinguished career in international urban governance and planning during her keynote address at the lunch forum titled “Resilient Cities, Sustainable Futures: Transforming Urban Landscapes through Sustainable Renewal,” held today.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (REHDA) Institute, which organised the event, said that the forum was held in response to Malaysia’s growing urban challenges and opportunities for sustainable redevelopment.
“The forum’s main highlight was a robust panel discussion featuring leading voices from planning, architecture, engineering, academia, civil society, and real estate. The diverse panel explored innovative frameworks and practical tools to navigate Malaysia’s evolving urban renewal challenges,” it said.
The forum comes at a pivotal time for Malaysia’s urban development landscape, with the country recently assuming the Presidency of the UN-Habitat and preparing for the rollout of the Urban Renewal Act.
“With cities facing mounting pressures from aging infrastructure, increasing population density, and climate challenges, the forum sought to promote strategic, people-centric, and forward-looking solutions to urban renewal,” it added.
The panel featured a distinguished line-up of experts, including CBRE-WTW advisor Foo Gee Jen, Victims Malaysia chairman Dr Mohamed Rafick Khan Abdul Rahman, and Malaysian Institute of Planners president Datin Mazrina Datuk Abdul Khalid.
REHDA Institute said that the forum’s outcomes will significantly contribute to the ongoing policy discourse involving the Department of Town and Country Planning, the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, and other relevant urban development agencies.
“The insights shared reflect a collective vision to transform Malaysia’s urban future through sustainable, inclusive, and community-led renewal,” it said.