Official: 80% of Malaysian population to live in cities by 2030

By 2030, nearly 80% of Malaysia's population – about 30 million people – will live in urban areas, Rizal Osman, Chief Operating Officer of URBANICE Malaysia under the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, said during the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Report informs.

According to him, this reflects rapid urbanization, which brings both opportunities and challenges: "To address these challenges, Malaysia prioritizes Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) as a key strategy for sustainable urban growth. The goal is to increase the share of public transport users to at least 30–40%. TOD promotes compact, efficient, and inclusive cities by integrating high-density mixed-use developments with strong public transport connections, walkable neighborhoods, and better access to services."

He added that Malaysia is increasingly adopting the TOD model and urban green transformation as part of its sustainable urbanization agenda, especially in Greater Kuala Lumpur and other major cities.

"We are integrating high-density, mixed-use developments with public transport systems. At the same time, green transformation initiatives aim to create low-carbon, environmentally resilient, and pedestrian-friendly cities," the official said.