By Balqis Jazimah Zahari
IPOH: The city of Ipoh has been selected as the host for the 3rd City Windows Series: Smart Green ASEAN Cities, held yesterday at the AC Marriott Hotel.
This marks the first time the programme is being held in Malaysia, with Perak chosen as the inaugural location for this international-level event.
The three-day event, which began on April 21, brings together 70 participants from 10 countries including Indonesia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Singapore.
Chairman of the Perak State Housing and Local Government Committee, Sandrea Ng Shy Ching, officiated the event on behalf of the Perak Chief Minister, Dato’ Saarani Mohamad.
Also present were Ipoh Mayor Zamakhzhari Hanipah; Deputy Undersecretary Ministry of Natural Resources & Envious Sustainability, Muhammad Hidayatullah; Regional Project Origination Representative of the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), Chencho Gyao Dorje and Telekom Malaysia’s State Business Vice President, Meor Shahril Anuar Ahmad Rathuan.
Sandrea stated that SGAC is not merely a conference, but a regional platform for city leaders and development partners to exchange insights and solutions.
“This is a proud moment for Malaysia, as it marks the first time SGAC is being held in our country.
“We are truly honoured that Perak has been given this recognition,” she said.
She also highlighted that the event signifies a key collaboration involving Ipoh and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF).
“Ipoh is one of the ASEAN cities working with UNCDF to design local financing mechanisms, and this partnership is already showing results,” she said.
Sandrea added that with UNCDF’s support, Ipoh is in the process of securing a performance-based grant to implement projects like the Unified Enforcement System (UES).
“What’s exciting is that this model isn’t limited to Ipoh — it can be adopted by other local authorities across Malaysia, offering a new approach to funding urban initiatives without relying solely on federal allocations.
“This is how we build capacity — by empowering cities to generate, manage, and reinvest their own resources wisely,” she said.
