JOHOR BAHRU, 8 February 2015 – Iskandar Malaysia in collaboration with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) successfully hosted the International Forum on Future City Initiative (FCI) that brought together 250 local and international subject matter experts from both public and private sectors.
Held for the first time outside Japan, this forum was organized by the Cabinet Secretariat, Cabinet Office, Government of Japan in collaboration with the Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government of Malaysia (Kementerian Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan), Federal Department of Town and Country Planning Peninsular Malaysia (Jabatan Perancangan Bandar dan Wilayah Persekutuan Semenanjung Malaysia), Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) and Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru (MBJB).
The one day forum was hosted with the objective to share and exchange views on ‘FutureCity’ efforts and initiatives. Delegates were presented with insights into several success stories from Japan and two from Malaysia, namely, Iskandar Malaysia and Putrajaya.
IRDA Head of Economic & Investment Unit, Yang Mulia Engku Ahmad Kamal Engku Taib in a press conference session held at Thistle Hotel, Johor Bahru said that this initiative is very much in line with their efforts towards developing Iskandar Malaysia into a strong and sustainable metropolis as aspired in the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP).
“FCI is one of the many international and national platforms inspired by the Low Carbon Society Blueprint which also include the current Urban Green Growth Study collaboration between Organisation for Economic Corporation and Development (OECD), IRDA, Johor State Government, MBJB, Majlis Perbandaran Johor Bahru Tengah (MPJBT), Majlis Perbandaran Pasir Gudang (MPPG), Majlis Perbandaran Kulaijaya (MPKu), Majlis Daerah Pontian (MDP) and SE4ALL (Sustainable Energy for All),” said YM Engku Ahmad who was representing the Chief Executive Officer of IRDA, Datuk Ismail Ibrahim.
Engku Ahmad also felt honoured that Japan has chosen Iskandar Malaysia as a showcase on “FutureCity” Initiative.
“It is an endorsement of our continuing work with Japan on the Low Carbon Society Project which started in July 2012 and will be completed in 2016,” Engku Ahmad added.
The Iskandar Malaysia Low Carbon Society Blueprint (LCSBPIM) 2025 was launched by IRDA at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP18) in Doha, Qatar which aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions intensity by 50 percent by 2025.
The forum which was held at Thistle Hotel, Johor Bahru involved distinguished and well-known speakers from both Japan and Malaysia like Prof. Dr. Hiroko Akiyama, Dr Junichi Fujino (NIES Japan), Dr Tadashi Matsumoto (OECD), Toyama City Mayor, Masashi Mori and Dr Akira Nakamura, Prof. Dr Ho Chin Siong (UTM Low Carbon Asia Research Centre), Prof. Ir. Datuk Dr Wahid Omar (UTM Vice-Chancellor) and Dato’ Omairi Hashim (Putrajaya Green City).
