KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA, 3 October 2025 – Southeast Asian Mobility Awards (SEAMA) held its inaugural ceremony on 19 September in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to recognize regional efforts in making transport systems safer and more inclusive.

 

Launched in December 2024, SEAMA draws inspiration from the Mobility Awards in the Philippines. This regional initiative spotlights the everyday lives of commuters who walk, cycle, and use public transport, and highlights the progress cities are making toward sustainable, low-carbon urban transport.

“[SEAMA is] more than a recognition; they're a powerful reminder that it is the voices of people, who everyday move around the cities and communities, that is our ultimate litmus test as to how [we are] making cities livable, enjoyable, and accessible for everyone,” said Golda Hilario, Southeast Asia Coordinator of the Clean Mobility Collective (CMC) and the Director for Urban Development of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities.

 

SEAMA’s Daily Journey category received over 150 video submissions from across the region including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

 

Participants documented their two-kilometer journeys either by foot, bicycle, or public transport, to capture the realities of navigating their cities– from the challenges they face to the solutions they aspire to achieve.

 

The Daily Journey is divided into two subcategories: the Public Transport Commuter-Friendly Cities, and the Bicycle-Friendly Cities.

The Daily Journey winners for the Public Transport Commuter-Friendly Cities were:

• 1st place: Gita Hermada and Abyan Haidar (Jakarta, Indonesia)

• 2nd place: Nur Hesti Ningrum (Bekasi, Indonesia)

• 3rd place: Wei Liang Ho (Johor, Malaysia)

“This award is not only for me or for Cipali, but this is also for the millions of people across Southeast Asia who walk, cycle, and rely on public transportation everyday. This is a reminder that change is possible as long as our stories are heard,” Nur Hesti Ningrum, second place awardee said in her acceptance speech.

 

On the other hand, winners for the Daily Journey for Bicycle-Friendly Cities were:

• 1st place: Daryl Gemawan R (Bandung, Indonesia)

• 2nd place: Nattapol Theeranirmit (Bangkok, Thailand)

• 3rd place: Febriant Abby Marcel (Jakarta, Indonesia)

“Being recognized with this award is very meaningful– it shows that even a small daily choice of riding the bike can inspire change and encourage others to keep reimagining our cities,” said third place awardee Febriant Abby Marcel through his video message.

 

Entries for the Daily Journey category were judged based on clarity in featuring cycling or using public transport; storytelling and narrative that spotlights local culture and city life; and visual creativity.

 

Special recognition was also given to entries with the most audience engagement, awarded the Viewers’ Choice Award, with two winners from Chiang Rai and Bangkok, Thailand.

 

From the video submissions, SEAMA also selected and reviewed top cities that strides toward safer, more inclusive, and people-centered urban spaces through the Most Promising Cities category. This award highlights cities that are making progress, albeit not yet perfect, but showing strong commitment to improving urban mobility.

 

Most Promising Cities Award is divided into two:

• Most Promising Commuter-Friendly Cities Awards, recognizing cities that improve buses, trains, and overall public transport connectivity, as well as having pathways that are well-lit, safe, and inclusive.

• Most Promising Bicycle-Friendly Cities Awards, spotlighting cities that create protected lanes, expand bike-share systems, and implement policies to make cycling safe and reliable.

Each award is further divided into two subcategories to acknowledge differences in scale and population: metropolitan cities, which often are major economic centers or capital cities; and component cities, smaller cities driving regional trade and development with less than five million inhabitants.

 

The Most Promising Commuter-Friendly Cities Awards went to:

Metropolitan Cities

• Singapore

• Jakarta, Indonesia

• Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Component cities

• Da Nang, Vietnam

• Surabaya, Indonesia

• Semarang, Indonesia

Meanwhile, the following were named the Most Promising Bicycle-Friendly Cities:

Metropolitan Cities

• Singapore

• Quezon City, Philippines

• Jakarta, Indonesia

Component Cities

• Iloilo City, Philippines

• George Town, Malaysia

• Bandung, Indonesia

“Mobility is not just about moving people; it is about equity, accessibility, and dignity. It means ensuring that workers have healthy and affordable transport options, children can bike to school safely, and public spaces are people-centered, green, and truly livable,” stressed Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte in her video message.

 

Muhammad Alvarizi Daffaakbar, Digital Manager of CMC Southeast Asia and Head of Social Media of Transport for Jakarta, concluded the ceremony by emphasizing the shared challenges across cities in the region, as well as the “endless chances to learn from one another and move forward together.”

 

“Now is the time for the voices of our people, especially our commuters, to be heard, as we work toward more sustainable and inclusive cities where moving people truly means prioritizing people,” Daffaakbar stressed.