DPM: Act without delay to tackle urban issues

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will ensure that an overall approach is taken in its policymaking as a way forward for urbanisation in Malaysia.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this was to ensure sustainable urbanisation for the benefit of future generations which would become the citizens, managers, employers and policymakers.

“It is too easy to forget that the urban problems that prevail today are a result of our inadequacies of yesterday and the only way to address prevailing urban issues is to act without delay today for a better tomorrow.

“If we want to change for the better, we have to make them ourselves by not repeating past mistakes,” he said at the closing of the 9th World Urban Forum here yesterday.

The text of his speech was read by Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar. Present was United Nations Habitat executive director Datuk Maimunah Mohd Shariff.

Zahid said the government was committed to enforcing and implementing policies, strategies and action plans under the Malaysia’s Development Policies and growth plans with the right government support of finance, coordination, manpower and machinery.

He said the government would ensure people’s voices were heard and partnerships developed to have more effective actions and desired outcomes.

Zahid said Malaysia would prioritise urban issues and climate change without compromising rural equality, social cohesion and economic growth in all sectors.

Malaysia would strive to ensure that national public policies and urban, as well as regional plans, supported economic growth while protecting natural and agricultural land use, he added.