KUALA LUMPUR, Sept. 1 -- Malaysia's towns and cities are changing, and so are the challenges that come with them.

The country can no longer afford to delay in dealing with ageing buildings, outdated infrastructure and inefficient land use, said Housing and Local Government Minister Nga KorMing.

"Many of our housing estates were built in the 1960s and 1970s. After more than 50 years, their structures, utilities and facilities are no longer up to standard.

"Urban renewal is about giving these communities a new lease of life," Nga told reporters in a recent media interview.

The concept of urban renewal is not a new idea in Malaysia; it existed 12 years ago and back then, the leaders all agreed to it in principle, he said.

He added that ...