By Joseph Wong

KUALA LUMPUR: Policymakers, developers, architects and industry leaders should move beyond constructing simple housing towards building sustainable, inclusive and lovable urban communities.

This message was delivered during a keynote address at the joint opening ceremony of the Asean Real Estate Conference (AREC) 2026 and Archidex 2026 by Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.

Welcoming delegates from across Asean and around the world, Nga emphasised that as Asean solidifies its position as one of the world's fastest-growing regions, the public and private sectors must collaborate closely through People-Public-Private Partnerships (4P) to navigate rapid urbanisation.

"A house is built by bricks and mortar but a home is built by hopes and dreams. A liveable city begins with a simple principle: that every family deserves access to a quality home at an affordable price. A lovable city connects people to employment, quality education, healthcare, and green spaces," said Nga.

With over half of Asean's population residing in urban centres, cities face pressing challenges ranging from housing affordability and traffic congestion to climate resilience and ageing infrastructure.

Addressing these issues in Malaysia, Nga highlighted key achievements under national development plans:

• 12th Malaysia Plan Success: Approved over 511,000 affordable housing units nationwide, surpassing set targets and supporting a national homeownership rate of approximately 77%.
• 13th Malaysia Plan Direction: Public housing programs will integrate Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) principles to connect residents directly to employment hubs, schools, public transit and medical facilities.
• Urban renewal: Active investments are upgrading existing public flats by replacing broken lifts and converting underutilised common spaces into children's libraries and community centres.

Showcasing Malaysia as a trusted built-environment hub, Archidex 2026 welcomed 860 exhibitors across 15 countries and 40,000 trade visitors from over 100 nations, expecting to generate RM1.4bil in business transactions.

To further stimulate local homeownership during the conference, Nga announced that the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), in partnership with the Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association Malaysia (Rehda), is introducing a 10% home purchase discount on selected residential properties in conjunction with AREC 2026.

Concluding his address as UN-Habitat Assembly President, Nga challenged architects and master planners to apply their creative talents where they are needed most:

"Anyone can design a luxury penthouse with an unlimited budget. The true genius of the modern architect lies in creating beauty, sustainability and joy within the constraints of affordable housing. Show us how we can build with heart, without leaving anyone behind," he said.

AREC, organised by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), and Archidex 2026, jointly organised by the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) and CIS, are held until Aug 1, 2026, at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC). 

Meanwhile, Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival (KLAF), held in conjunction with the two events, is bringing together a powerful combination of professional expertise, industry engagement and business opportunities for the architecture and building community, said PAM president Dexter Koh.

KLAF provides a strategic platform for policymakers, developers, investors and industry leaders to discuss the future of housing, real estate and sustainable urban development across Asean, he said.

As a key component of Archdex and the KLAF, Datum, organised by PAM, continues to serve as one of the region’s largest and most influential architectural conferences, providing a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange and professional advancement.

Held under the theme Future Culture, Datum 2026 brings together renowned architects, designers and industry thinkers to explore how the profession is responding to evolving challenges including climate change, digital transformation, material innovation and changing urban needs. 

On World of Works (WoW), curated and designed by John Jong of Thinkscape Design Group, CIS president Datuk Vincent Lim said it explores how technology, workplace culture and human experience are reshaping the future of workplaces. 

Making its debut this year, A Hospitality Anthology (AHA), curated and designed by Lai Siew Hong of Blu Water Studio, provides a dedicated platform for professionals to explore emerging trends in hospitality, he added.

Moreover, Digital @ Archidex, featuring smarteX in partnership with Messe Frankfurt, brings expertise to the region while showcasing how digital technologies, Building Information Modelling (BIM), artificial intelligence and smart building solutions are transforming the way buildings are designed, delivered and managed, said Lim.

Together, these curated showcases reflect Archidex’s commitment to staying ahead of industry trends while creating meaningful opportunities for professionals to discover new ideas, exchange expertise and forge lasting collaborations. 

Complementing the exhibitions are also the business matching sessions, buyer programmes, specialised conferences, Biz Talks, and Focus Forums. Together, Archidex lines up more than 100 knowledge-sharing sessions featuring over 170 local and international speakers, to deliver valuable insights for its architecture and allied professionals. 

Archidex also continues to champion innovation and talent development through the Archidex Star Awards, which recognise outstanding product innovation, and Architalent, which provides emerging architects and designers with opportunities to connect with established professionals while offering a platform to showcase the next generation of creative talent. 

For updates, visit https://archidex.com.my/ or follow Archidex on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn. 

Stay ahead of the crowd and enjoy fresh insights on real estate, property development and lifestyle trends when you subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media.