GEORGE TOWN: Malaysia’s urban population is projected to expand to 85% by 2050, says the Housing and Local Government Minister.
Nga Kor Ming (pic) said that currently, 75% of the population are living in urban and suburban areas.
The minister said sustainable planning is crucial for the overall well-being of urbanites, with innovation and competitiveness being equally important.
He said Malaysia is committed to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 endorsed by the United Nations.
“We are on the right track of achieving it, having reached 43% of all the 248 indicators, far above the world average of 17%,” he told reporters after an event to mark World Habitat Day 2024 at Armenian Park here yesterday.
SDGs are at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and is an urgent call for action by developed and developing countries to end poverty and other deprivations and improve health and education, reduce inequality and spur economic growth.
Nga said there is much room for improvement in the country, especially in terms of solid waste management, climate change and sustainable urban planning.
At the event, themed “Engaging Youth to Create a Better Urban Future”, the minister commended the Ipoh City Council (MBI) for being awarded the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Scroll of Honour Award for its Ipoh Doughnut Economics programme.
Ipoh Mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin is expected to accept the award with Ipoh Doughnut Economic City chief executive officer Dr Zulqarnain Mohamad in a ceremony held in conjunction with World Habitat Day in Queretaro, Mexico, today.
In a letter dated Aug 27, UN-Habitat executive director Anaclaudia Marinheiro Centeno Rossbach said the selection of Ipoh for the recognition was unanimous.
The decision was based on efforts to transition the city from a resource-intensive economy to a regenerative model focused on health, waste management and ecotourism while aligning with SDGs.
The Ipoh Doughnut Economic City programme was launched in March last year with a Yayasan Hasanah grant, and is a collaboration between the city council, Sunway University’s Sunway Centre for Planetary Health (SCPH), Institut Darul Ridzuan and cultural agency People of Remarkable Talents.
It is one of the flagship programmes under the Perak Sejahtera 2030 development roadmap plan to turn Ipoh into a Doughnut Economic City by 2027.
In 2020, the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (now a city council) won the award for its holistic and integrated approach to affordable housing and community empowerment.
In 2011, the award was given to MMC-Gamuda for its Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) project.
Nga urged all 156 local councils in the country to adopt similar initiatives in conjunction with World Habitat Day to demonstrate Malaysia’s commitment to sustainable development.
