My Fellow Ministers, 
Madame Executive Director, 
Honourable Mayors, 
Your Excellencies, 
Ladies and gentlemen, 

I have the pleasure of recording this video message to mark the celebration of World Habitat Day 2025. It is appropriate that the theme of this year’s World Habitat Day is “Urban Solutions to Crisis”. With over 120 active conflicts happening in every region of the world, we need to redouble our efforts to deliver equitable development. 

As the Secretary-General Mr. António Guterres said: “sustainable and inclusive development is the first line of defence against conflict. A lack of it leads to instability.” According to the United Nations, a record 122 million people have been forcibly displaced by conflict and political instability. As human settlements are at the frontline of this challenge, displacement is also increasingly urban. Over 60% of internally displaced persons, refugees, and migrants are seeking refuge in cities, putting pressure on local systems. 

I would like to reference my own region - Asia and the Pacific - where the rate of urbanisation is one of the fastest and with many parts facing on-going conflict. Like in other parts of the world, we often find mayors and local governments receiving, supporting and meeting the challenges head on. I am therefore very impressed with this year’s World Habitat Day theme for its optimism. For solutions to urban crisis can help us deliver a better urban future. In crisis, there is opportunity to build back better, and stronger. 

I call upon all Member States to enhance multi-level cooperation to ensure that our city managers and local leaders have the necessary tools and resources at their disposal to ensure that no one and no place is left behind as we meet the challenges of displacement. I also call upon Member States to continue supporting UN-Habitat as they provide invaluable technical support to help cities and communities rebuild, integrate and increase resilience. 

At the resumed session of the United Nations Habitat Assembly in June this year, I stressed the priorities of my Presidency that includes supporting the implementation of the approved UNHabitat Strategic Plan 2026-2029. As we recover and rebuild from crisis response to sustainable solutions, let us not forget the need to evolve from the provision of shelter to adequate housing.

Without a house over our heads, we cannot dream of sustainable cities and communities. Just as we continue to invest in the provision of basic services in refugee camps, let us not forget to extend these basic rights to existing and host communities. Indeed, at the recently concluded ASEAN Sustainable Urbanisation Forum, more than 9,000 delegates from 66 countries including over 300 mayors, reiterated their commitment to closer cooperation to enhance local capacities and build future fit cities.

Let me also thank the Government of Kenya and His Excellency President Samuel Rutto for cohosting this year’s global observance of World Habitat Day at the United Nations Headquarters in Nairobi. For those of us celebrating World Habitat Day in our own countries and cities, I hope this marks the beginning of Urban October, where we increase awareness about the important mandate of UN-Habitat in our respective countries.

For us in Malaysia, we remain steadfast in ensuring that we double our efforts in the provision of adequate and affordable housing, which we are strengthening through the Urban Renewal Act. Not only will we complete the targeted building of 500,000 units of affordable housing but we will also make stronger land tenure security. Together with our commitment to Zero Waste, we are looking forward to meeting our climate commitments as well.

Finally, let me take this opportunity to wish all of you a very successful World Habitat Day 2025. Let us redouble our efforts to make our cities more liveable and loveable. 

Thank you.