Malaysia urged the international community to strengthen collective efforts to tackle the global housing crisis and accelerate sustainable urban development at the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) held in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, who also serves as president of the UN-Habitat Assembly, made the call during the forum's opening ceremony on May 20. He said no nation should face urban challenges alone and called on the world to "double its efforts to localise the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and accelerate the Sustainable Development Goals" [1].

On May 19, Malaysia launched the Asia Pacific Urban Agenda Platform (AP-UAP) at the opening of the Malaysia Pavilion during WUF13. The platform was developed through a partnership between the Malaysian government and UN-Habitat to promote coordinated urban development across 58 Asia-Pacific countries. Minister Nga described AP-UAP as "more than an initiative, it is a mission," aiming to embed the New Urban Agenda into national development frameworks throughout the region [2].

Malaysia highlighted its progress in affordable housing delivery, reporting over 1.1 million affordable homes provided and a national homeownership rate of 77%. The government’s Malaysia Madani framework guides implementation of the New Urban Agenda domestically with a focus on "Human-Centred Urbanism," prioritizing the dignity and aspirations of vulnerable groups, including informal settlements and climate-vulnerable communities [1].

Globally, nearly 2.8 billion people suffer from housing insecurity, according to Minister Nga. He warned that by 2040, over two billion urban residents would face escalating climate risks, making inclusive and resilient urban development urgent [1, 2].

Think City, a Malaysian urban planning organization, released a publication at WUF13 titled "Housing the Poor: Malaysia’s Journey from Slums to Resilient Communities," documenting Malaysia’s progress in public housing and urban planning [2].

Malaysia has also planted more than 115 million trees as part of its sustainability efforts [1].

The forum continues in Baku, with delegates discussing measures to implement the New Urban Agenda and meet Sustainable Development Goals globally.