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New Straits Times
5 days ago
- General
- New Straits Times
Correct silent injustice of unrecorded births and deaths
TEN years ago, countries across Asia and the Pacific united to correct a silent injustice: millions of people were born and dying without ever being recorded. The launch of the Asia-Pacific Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Decade marked a bold regional commitment to ensure every birth and death is recorded, and every life counts. The CRVS Decade was about dignity. It aimed to equip governments with accurate, timely information to deliver essential services, shape responsive policies and uphold the rights of every person, in every corner of the region. The region has made undeniable progress. Since 2012, the number of unregistered children under five has fallen by 62 per cent, from 135 million to 51 million in 2024. This is an enormous achievement, made possible by strong political commitment, improved systems and regional cooperation. While there is much to celebrate, 51 million unregistered children in Asia and the Pacific are still far too many. We've come too far to stop now. We must extend the Asia-Pacific CRVS Decade to 2030. That's why the United Nations and our partners are committed to working together with governments across the region, helping to build stronger, more inclusive and people-centred CRVS systems. A birth certificate is more than a document; it's a child's first proof of existence in the eyes of the law. Without it, that child may be shut out of school, denied health care and excluded from social protection. They may be unable to prove their nationality or even their age. The consequences are especially severe for the most vulnerable and the effects ripple across generations. We also face a grave challenge on the other side of life. Every year, 6.9 million deaths go unregistered in the region, leaving families without access to inheritance, land rights or pensions. And even among registered deaths, fewer than one in three are medically certified, meaning we often don't know why people are dying. This gap in knowledge leaves public health systems in the dark - unable to fully understand, prepare for or respond to health threats. Timely, disaggregated statistics on causes of death are essential for designing and monitoring effective health policies and for detecting emerging crises, including pandemics. The upcoming Third Ministerial Conference on CRVS in Asia and the Pacific is the moment to act. Governments must use this opportunity to recommit to the CRVS agenda, renew their national targets and align with the SDG finish line in 2030. Extending the CRVS Decade to 2030 is a declaration: everyone counts. Data saves lives. Legal identity is a right, not a privilege. No one should be left behind simply because they were never counted in the first place. ARMIDA SALSIAH ALISJAHBANA Under-Secretary-General, United Nations Executive Secretary Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
The Star
22-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
Housing that puts families first
Better living: Nga delivering his keynote address at the 81st Session of the Escap in Bangkok, Thailand. PETALING JAYA: With local home-ownership standing at 77%, the government will focus on integrating features that support holistic living in its urban development. Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, who disclosed this, said the development of green public spaces and childcare facilities would be given priority to support working families. 'Our utmost priority is to preserve the humane element in our public housing initiatives. 'To that end, we are integrating features that support holistic living, such as the development of green public spaces and childcare facilities to support working families,' he said on Monday in his keynote address at the 81st Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap) in Bangkok, Thailand. Escap is an intergovernmental platform in the Asia-Pacific region, comprising 53 member states and nine associate members. As one of the United Nation's five regional commissions, Escap promotes regional cooperation to address sustainable development challenges. Nga said initiatives such as the Affordable Housing Programme (Rumah Mampu Milik), Citizen-Friendly Home Programme (Rumah Mesra Rakyat), and housing projects under PR1MA prioritised eco-friendly designs while scaling up industrialised building systems to reduce construction waste. Nga said the newly-rebranded People's Residency Programme will also integrate the Green Building Index, urban farming, rainwater harvesting systems and rooftop solar panels to ensure that the urban poor were not left behind during the transition to a green economy. He said the Malaysian government also emphasised on community-driven housing initiatives, through programmes such as the Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) and urban farming projects to ensure that housing solutions aligned with social resilience and food security strategies. 'As Asean Chair, Malaysia reaffirms our commitment to advancing housing policies that align with global best practices. 'Malaysia looks forward to steering Asean towards achieving collective understanding for bold and urgent measures to address housing accessibility, resilience and inclusivity,' he added.
The Star
22-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
Housing Ministry backs green housing push at UN regional forum
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is doubling down on greener public housing — and it wants the region to do the same. At the 81st Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to sustainable urban development and housing policies that leave no one behind. Delivering his keynote address on Monday (April 21), Nga said the country's 77% homeownership rate reflects ongoing efforts under the National Housing Policy and the National Affordable Housing Policy — both focused on ensuring access to affordable, quality homes. He said programmes such as the Affordable Housing Programme (Rumah Mampu Milik), Citizen-Friendly Home Programme (Rumah Mesra Rakyat), and PR1MA housing projects are being reimagined with green features in mind, from industrialised building systems (IBS) that reduce construction waste to energy-saving designs. The newly-rebranded People's Residency Program, he added, will go even further — incorporating the Green Building Index, rooftop solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems and urban farming to support low-income households in the green transition. 'Our utmost priority is to preserve the humane element in our public housing initiatives,' Nga said. 'To that end, we are integrating features that support holistic living, such as the development of green public spaces and childcare facilities to support working families.' He said Malaysia is also placing strong emphasis on community-driven housing models, with initiatives such as Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) and local urban farming projects to strengthen social resilience and food security. 'As Asean Chair for 2025, Malaysia is committed to pushing forward bold, inclusive and future-proof housing policies that reflect global best practices,' he said. ESCAP is a regional arm of the United Nations, bringing together 53 member States and 9 associate members. It serves as a platform for regional cooperation on sustainable development and policy challenges in the Asia-Pacific.
