Latest news with #MeetingofGovernorsandMayorsofASEANCapitals
The Sun
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
ASEAN urban growth must balance prosperity with equity, says Fadillah
KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has called for equitable urban growth in ASEAN, ensuring prosperity benefits all communities without marginalising the vulnerable. He highlighted that ASEAN's urban areas currently house over 370 million people, contributing 70% of the region's GDP and driving a US$3.8 trillion economy in 2024. By 2050, seven in 10 ASEAN citizens are expected to live in cities, making urban centres pivotal to regional development. 'Prosperity is not evenly shared. We still see gleaming skyscrapers casting shadows over informal settlements, and infrastructure stretched beyond capacity,' he said. Fadillah stressed that as ASEAN aims to become the world's fourth-largest economy by 2030, urbanisation must deliver both growth and fairness. He made these remarks during his keynote address at the opening of the 2025 ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Forum (ASUF), ASEAN Governors and Mayors Forum (AGMF), and the Meeting of Governors and Mayors of ASEAN Capitals (MGMAC). Present at the event were Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Dr Maimunah Mohd Sharif, and ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General Nararya Sanggramawijaya Soeprapto. As ASEAN Chair, Malaysia reaffirmed its commitment to regional cooperation, economic integration, and safeguarding peace and stability in Southeast Asia. Fadillah urged urgent solutions to urban challenges, including housing shortages, mobility bottlenecks, and climate risks like floods and heatwaves. 'Inclusivity means no one is left behind. Women, youth, the elderly, and persons with disabilities must all have a voice in shaping our future cities,' he said. He emphasised the need for accessible transport, affordable housing, and digital connectivity for rural migrants. Fadillah described sustainability as essential for survival, citing threats such as rising sea levels in Vietnam's Mekong Delta and worsening heatwaves. He praised ASEAN innovations like Singapore's green building standards, Indonesia's renewable energy transition, and Brunei's smart water management for aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Local governments were urged to lead ASEAN's transformation with AI-powered urban planning and stronger cross-border networks. 'Your leadership will determine whether our cities become models of equity and environmental harmony, or cautionary tales of unchecked growth,' he said. The three-day forum, themed 'ASEAN Future Cities and Regions: Inclusivity and Sustainability,' supports the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and unites the ASEAN Smart Cities Network and ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Strategy. – Bernama
Barnama
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
KL Aims To Lead ASEAN Cities In Solid Waste Management
KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 (Bernama) -- Kuala Lumpur aims to lead efforts among ASEAN capital cities in tackling solid waste management, with a strong focus on practical actions rather than mere declarations, said Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif. As Malaysia chairs ASEAN this year, she noted that Kuala Lumpur is hosting key urban discussions, including the Meeting of Governors and Mayors of ASEAN Capitals (MGMAC 2025), where waste management is expected to be a top agenda item. 'Sometimes we have so many declarations, but we want to declare our action. We want to do solid waste (management), we also want to do mitigation, and we want to do maybe public spaces and nature-based solutions,' she said during an interview on Bernama TV's ASEAN Dari Kuala Lumpur Ke Dunia programme tonight. Maimunah said Kuala Lumpur is pushing for a 'Kuala Lumpur Joint Leaders' Statement' among the mayors of ASEAN capital cities, with the goal of establishing an agreed action plan with timelines and commitments, which can be followed up at the next regional meeting in Manila, the Philippines. MGMAC 2025, to be held in the Malaysian capital, is expected to gather up to 8,000 participants and will run alongside two other urban-focused events -- the ASEAN Mayors and Governors Capital Meeting and the ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Forum. Maimunah, who will chair the meeting, said it is not just a platform to showcase achievements, but also to share the challenges faced by Kuala Lumpur and other cities. 'This is the moment for us to take the opportunity, not only the Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL), but I think the whole of Malaysia and all stakeholders in Kuala Lumpur to take the opportunity to showcase all the struggles, all the achievements and the growth that we have, and also to share our challenges,' she said. On Kuala Lumpur's position in the region, Maimunah said the city is comparatively ahead in terms of development planning and infrastructure. 'We have our plan, we have our good infrastructure, and then at the same time, we have the arts and culture, and Kuala Lumpur is also the hub of talent and investment,' she said.
