I learned that urban planning is not only about building cities, but also about managing infrastructure, public spaces, and community wellbeing for long-term sustainability. The 30th World Congress of the Eastern Regional Organisation for Planning and Human Settlements (EAROPH), held in Melaka, shows how important collaboration between planners, developers, and policymakers is for creating better cities in the future.
One of the key things I learned is that the congress brought together professionals such as urban planners, architects, engineers, property developers, and government policymakers from across the Asia-Pacific region. This shows that city development requires cooperation from many different industries, not just the construction sector alone.
The main theme of the congress, “City Assets for Community Gains,” taught me that cities must carefully manage important assets such as roads, transport systems, public amenities, natural ecosystems, cultural heritage, and even digital infrastructure. These assets are not only for economic growth but also for improving the quality of life for communities over the long term.
I also learned that Malaysia played an important leadership role during the event when KPKT secretary-general Datuk Wira Dr M Noor Azman Taib was appointed as EAROPH president for 2026–2028. This is significant because the organisation’s international secretariat will now be based in Malaysia, and one of the major goals is to complete the EAROPH Strategic Plan 2040 for sustainable urban development across the Asia-Pacific region.
Another important lesson from the article is that challenges such as ageing infrastructure, climate change, limited government funding, and rising public expectations are common problems faced by property developers and local authorities. This means urban planning today must focus not only on growth, but also on resilience, efficiency, and environmental responsibility.
From this article, I learned that successful cities depend on good planning and strong management of urban assets. Sustainable development requires long-term thinking, and events like the EAROPH Congress help countries share ideas and solutions. It also shows that Malaysia is becoming an important regional leader in urban planning and property development discussions.
Vietnam