“Housing Minister Nga Kor Ming: Collaborating with Singapore’s HDB on PRR; aims to partner with global and regional countries to green the housing and construction sector.”
Kuala Lumpur, 6th June 2024 – Malaysia, set to chair ASEAN in 2025, aims to strengthen its cooperation with fellow member states to ensure the region’s cities are well-prepared for the future, stated Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.
Nga emphasized the importance of this collaboration in light of the recent and ongoing heatwave and extreme climate events.
“For instance, we are partnering with Singapore’s Housing Development Board (HDB) to implement the Program Residensi Rakyat (PRR),” he said.
“I am confident that we can collaborate with other countries in the region and worldwide to green the housing and construction sector,” Nga stated during the closing plenary session at the World Cities Summit (WCS) on Tuesday (June 4).
Nga highlighted that Malaysia will persist in investing and innovating in three key areas—housing, planning, and urban health—to achieve the Madani Aspiration in national development.
He mentioned that the PRR was introduced earlier this year as a new generation of public housing designed to be sufficient, affordable, and well-planned to address the housing challenges, particularly for young Malaysians.
“PRR aims not only to provide affordable and adequate housing but also to ensure they are well-integrated, sustainable, and livable, featuring commercial viability, green spaces, a community center, and other amenities,” he said, noting that 77% of Malaysians are homeowners.
Regarding planning, Nga stated that the government is consolidating talent, financing, and services across national, regional, and local levels to address future extreme climate events, such as increased heat island effects, flash floods, and droughts. This approach necessitates greater integration of multilevel governance.
He mentioned that the forthcoming fifth National Physical Plan (NPP5) and the third National Urbanisation Policy (NUP3) will enhance public and community participation in planning and urban development projects.
“We believe in listening and collaborating with the communities we serve,” Nga stated.
He highlighted that Malaysia has committed to enhancing basic services across the nation, including public toilets and open spaces, and ensuring that all Malaysians have access to clean and safe drinking water.
Nga visited Singapore from June 2 to 4 to attend the World Cities Summit (WCS). During his trip, he also held bilateral meetings with Singapore’s Sustainability and Environment Minister Grace Fu and National Development Minister Desmond Lee.
