Blueprints for change: Nanta (sixth from right), Star Media Group group chief executive officer Chan Seng Fatt (far right) and various industry leaders and representatives from relevant ministries posing for a group picture after launching the International Construction Week and BuildXpo Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Affordable housing, the implementation of green spaces in urban environments and the need to design buildings that can mitigate the impacts of climate change as well as ways to build more resilient cities.
These were some of the topics participants deliberated at the Future Cities Summit 2024, a two-day event from Oct 22 and held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec) in Kuala Lumpur.
The inaugural event was organised by Star Media Group (SMG) with the Construction Industry Development Board as its strategic partner. It featured 22 key speakers with extensive experience in the field of urban planning, development and environmental sustainability.
Attending as guests of honour were Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, who came on the first day and Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, on the second, representing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
One interesting plenary session was by Veritas principal Edward Chew who gave attendees his vision on using IBS for what he calls the ‘Tiffin Model’ where a house can ‘grow’ with its inhabitants.
IBS refers to industrialised building system, a term used to refer to various pre-fabricated construction methods.
“It is still a concept, no developer has bought into the idea yet,” said Chew.
In his presentation, he said buyers can begin with a single bedroom house which they can later expand the living quarters to a three-bedroom unit, or even more, as the number of family members increase.
The components needed for the expansion, such as walls, doors and toilets can be purchased through an app, just like how people are shopping online currently.
Chew said the main selling point for this idea is the affordability of such a housing scheme to address rising living costs.
In his closing remarks, MHUB chief executive Quek Wee Siong, who chaired the afternoon panel discussions and plenary sessions on the second day, said the theme of the summit – “Creating Livable Spaces” – was one way to address the issue of climate change.
“While our discussions have not explicitly addressed the pressing issue of climate change, it is clear that this global challenge is inextricably linked to our efforts to create liveable cities.
“The impacts of climate change, such as rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and heatwaves, pose significant threats to urban populations and infrastructure.
“As we move forward, it is imperative that we incorporate climate resilience into our urban planning and development strategies,” he said.
By investing in sustainable infrastructure, promoting green spaces, and adopting energy-efficient technologies, developers could mitigate the impacts of climate change and build more resilient cities, he added.
