Kuala lumpur: The Kuala Lumpur Sustainable Declaration on Localising ASEAN Community Vision 2045 will be submitted to the 47th ASEAN Summit in October as an official input, said Housing and Local Government Minister, Nga Kor Ming.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Nga, who is also President of the UN Habitat Assembly (UNHA), emphasized that the declaration underscores the crucial role of urban leadership and the importance of local voices in shaping the future of ASEAN. He remarked that these milestones signify not just agreements on paper but a commitment to stronger regional cooperation aimed at building resilient, sustainable, and people-centred cities.
Nga highlighted the urgency for concrete actions during the joint closing ceremony of the ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Forum (ASUF), ASEAN Governors and Mayors Forum (AGMF), and the Meeting of Governors and Mayors of ASEAN Capitals (MGMAC) 2025. The three-day events, which saw participation from over 9,000 attendees across ASEAN and beyond, addressed critical urban challenges such as climate change, housing affordability, and urban sprawl.
In addition to the declaration, Nga introduced the KL Call to Action for COP30, describing it as the 'central engine' to drive ASEAN's joint climate response. The initiative aims to integrate the New Urban Agenda into the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process, ensuring that local governments and communities effectively implement environmental policies.
He further noted that the ASUF reinforced its commitment to the ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Strategy (ASUS) and the ASEAN Community Vision 2045. Malaysia is set to launch an ASEAN Smart and Sustainable Centre, led by Urbanice Malaysia, to foster scalable projects and city-to-city partnerships.
Meanwhile, the AGMF adopted shared commitments to promote greater inclusion of women and youth in urban governance. The MGMAC agreed to establish a permanent secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia, which will facilitate the formalisation of the MGMAC City Network, the advancement of Voluntary Local Reviews, and a united appeal for increased local-level investment from international bodies like the UN and the World Bank.
Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif, in her speech, highlighted that the secretariat in Jakarta will monitor commitments and provide support as the Philippines prepares to host the next ASEAN summit. She acknowledged the support of the Governor of Jakarta, The Honorable Pramono Anung, in coordinating resources and managing projects.