BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 17. Local and regional
authorities stand on the absolute front lines of global efforts to
elevate the human quality of life, championing the core sustainable
principle that no person and no place should be left behind, Nga
Kor Ming, Minister of Housing and Local Government of Malaysia and
the sitting President of the United Nations Human Settlements
Programme (UN-Habitat) Assembly, said, Trend reports.
He made the remark during the World Assembly of Local and
Regional Governments held within the framework of the 13th session
of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku.
According to the minister, localized governance is the critical
layer of leadership needed to navigate the compounding crises
facing modern metropolitan areas.
"Whether it is mitigating the housing crisis, adapting to
climate change, overcoming cost-of-living pressures, or mitigating
geopolitical risks to ensure energy security—in all of these
matters, we rely on you, the leaders of local and regional
governments, as the primary driving force behind tangible
solutions," Nga Kor Ming stated.
The UN-Habitat Assembly President urged delegates to position
housing as an absolute priority within broader regional, spatial,
and social development strategies. "As I always say: a house is
built of bricks and beams, but a true home is created by hopes and
dreams," he noted.
Nga Kor Ming emphasized that to deliver real, measurable
results on the ground, municipal leaders must aggressively build
cross-sector partnerships and fully utilize their existing
localized tools—including strategic land resources, municipal urban
planning, and direct mayoral authorities.
