KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia must not lose its identity and cultural vibrancy as it strives towards development, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He said the country is made up of different races, and it would be a shame "if we don't take the cultural features into consideration" when it comes to architecture, design and other related fields.
He commended Malaysian architects, including the young ones, who were committed to showing that what the country has to offer is not just a concrete jungle.
"It (a building) has to have character, be culturally vibrant in the context of Malaysia and the Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures that are part and parcel of our community.
"If you look at Sabah and Sarawak, you'll see a fantastic cultural mix.
"It would be shameful if we don't take those features into consideration," he said during the Asean-China Ministerial Roundtable on Construction and Housing (ACMROCH) 2024 today.
He said this should be done as the industry fulfils needs in the construction of buildings, digital requirements, skilled labour, regulatory compliance and meeting market demand.
He said the construction sector faces challenges in ensuring that buildings are environmental-friendly, as well as addressing the issue of marginalisation of a large section of people in the urban setting, while maintaining a competitive edge as it takes into consideration these various complex factors.
"As we clamour for change, we must not forget the core principle in ensuring that we preserve our culture."
He emphasised sustainability, citing the Penang Cable Car project which he launched last week.
He said the government has a clear policy that aligns with the people's needs, as well as addresses concerns about environmental issues.
"Cities must be inclusive, while their design fosters innovation, digitalisation, and promotes sustainability in order for the construction industry to remain competitive on the global stage."
On the ACMROCH, Anwar said the strategic partnership would benefit both Asean countries and China, including in promoting sustainable practices, creating a robust and dynamic industry in a landscape that benefits all stakeholders.
Meanwhile, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming later told a press conference that the ministry was working closely with the Malaysian Institute of Architects' (PAM) in preserving Malaysia's cultural identity in designs.
The emphasis on the cultural aspect does not only apply to mega buildings, but also public structures such as markets, he said.
"Recently, there was an architectural design competition for the Bukit Mertajam market.
"Markets should also be tourism spots where they showcase the culture and history of the place, and not just for us to buy groceries."
He said Malaysia needs a comprehensive and holistic policy on future urban development, with the ministry currently reassessing and updating the existing acts and policies to better align with the current and future needs of all Malaysians.
In conjunction with ACMROCH 2024, the 23rd International Architecture, Interior Design and Building Exhibition (ARCHIDEX) 2024 is also being held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre until Saturday.
Nga said there are about 700 exhibitors, including from China participating in the expo, with a target of transactions of over RM1 billion and 40,000 visitors expected at the event.
It offers a wide range of exhibition themes tailored to the needs of the industry, including audiovisual and lighting technology, Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Industrialised Building Systems (IBS), building materials and landscaping, among others.