Proposed platform to advance SDG 2030 will strengthen global partnerships and boost resilient city development:Minister
PETALING JAYA: The Housing and Local Government Ministry is looking to establish a Malaysia-Cambridge urban platform to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030 under the Madani economic framework.
Its minister Nga Kor Ming said the proposed collaboration with the University of Cambridge would strengthen strategic partnerships with leading global institutions in promoting sustainable urban development.
“Malaysia’s strong economic growth and improving global competitiveness reflect the nation’s resilience as a formidable trading economy in Asia despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.
“It is timely for the country to step up efforts to establish strategic partnerships with the world’s top institutions,” he said in a statement.
Nga said under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership, Malaysia’s macroeconomic fundamentals have reached a turning point, with GDP growth of 6.3% in the final quarter of 2025 and approved investments hitting a historic RM426.7 billion.
He added that Malaysia’s engagement with Cambridge reflects the government’s commitment to international collaboration, positioning the country as a proactive partner in developing affordable, resilient and inclusive cities.
“Malaysia, under the Madani government’s leadership, continues to prove that even in a volatile global economy marked by trade tensions between major powers, we remain a neutral, resilient, open-trading nation and a reliable anchor in global value supply chains.
“Investor confidence has strengthened significantly, reflected in the ringgit’s strong regional performance, Bursa Malaysia surpassing the 1,770-point mark in February and a trade surplus of RM151.8 billion, with total trade volume exceeding RM3 trillion,” he said.
Nga also outlined five key priorities under Malaysia’s housing and urban agenda aligned with the SDG, including strengthening the National Affordable Housing Policy by capping prices at RM300,000 and aligning them with district median income.
He said Malaysia’s home ownership rate has reached 76.5%, surpassing countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom and Australia.
“Other priorities include advancing climate-resilient housing through transit-oriented development and nature-based solutions, following recent monsoon floods which caused significant damage nationwide.
“Through these efforts, the ministry eliminated 145 flood hot spots last year.”
He added that efforts also include improving land and planning coordination through a national urban observatory and revitalising abandoned housing projects, with nearly 1,350 projects revived since 2023, benefiting more than 167,000 homebuyers and unlocking RM133.78 billion in value.
“The government is also targeting zero sick and abandoned private housing projects by 2030 under five Madani housing reforms, while strengthening governance of high-density and strata living through reforms to the Strata Management Act,” he said.
Nga earlier delivered a keynote address at the inaugural forum on housing and urban planning at Downing College, University of Cambridge, becoming the first Madani government minister invited to speak at the institution.
The forum was jointly organised by the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Institute, the University of Cambridge, Anglia Ruskin University and the Cambridge University Malaysian Students Association.
The Sun Malaysia
