The Urban Renewal Bill will integrate smart city features nationwide to improve people’s quality of life, says Housing Minister Nga Kor Ming.
PUTRAJAYA: The Urban Renewal Bill will act as a catalyst for developing smart and sustainable cities nationwide to strengthen the people’s quality of life.
Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming stated that the bill’s main scope includes integrating smart city features like smart traffic lights and renewable energy systems.
He explained that smart traffic lights can detect vehicles and automatically change from red to green to reduce congestion and save commuters time.
Smart street lights will only activate at night and turn off when sufficient light is present, contributing to significant energy savings.
Nga also highlighted the implementation of smart toilets with automatic sensors and solar panels for enhanced energy efficiency and sustainability.
He shared these details with the media after launching the National Level World Urban Planning Day 2025 Celebration, National Planning Congress, and MyCity Expo.
The minister emphasised that the Urban Renewal Bill is crucial for empowering the government to implement comprehensive redevelopment initiatives.
“Without the PSB Act, my hands are tied regarding urban renewal efforts across the country,” Nga said.
This legislation will enable the government to assist, facilitate, and execute urban renewal projects more efficiently than current provisions allow.
His ministry is currently gathering feedback from various stakeholders through events like the four-day National Planning Congress.
The Town and Country Planning Department team will compile all views into a comprehensive report for Cabinet presentation.
An official announcement will follow after the Cabinet provides final approval for the proposed legislation.
Nga also revealed the success of the PBTPay application, which has collected over 600 million ringgit through digital tax and compound payments.
He envisions creating a single application encompassing all Housing and Local Government Ministry agencies for complete digital service management.
This digital transformation will be implemented in phases under the 13th Malaysia Plan framework.
The minister stressed that smart city development ultimately aims to ensure people’s wellbeing and happiness rather than just infrastructure.
“A smart country means nothing if its people are not happy, making public happiness our true success benchmark,” Nga stated.
Kuala Lumpur’s rise to 65th place in the Smart Cities Index 2025 demonstrates the government’s correct policy direction.
This ranking improvement from 73rd last year represents the city’s best performance in five years.
Nga believes implementing the Urban Renewal Bill will further boost Malaysia’s position in global smart city rankings. – Bernama
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