Rehda names S P Setia’s Zaini Yusoff as new president for 2026–2028 term

PETALING JAYA (June 29): The Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (Rehda) Malaysia has elected Datuk Zaini Yusoff of S P Setia Bhd as its new president for the 2026–2028 term, following the conclusion of Datuk Ho Hon Sang’s two-year tenure at the helm.

The leadership change was confirmed at Rehda’s Annual Delegates Conference last Saturday (June 27), held at Wisma Rehda in Kelana Jaya, Petaling Jaya, where members also approved the association’s new National Council line-up for the term.

Ho, who has served as president since June 2024, now assumes the role of Immediate Past President within Rehda’s council structure. Datuk NK Tong moves to the position of Most Recent Past President, maintaining continuity in the association’s senior advisory tier.

The transition comes as the Malaysian property sector continues to navigate cost pressures, shifting homebuyer affordability thresholds and ongoing policy dialogue with the federal government over housing supply and land matters.

The appointment of Zaini — a senior figure from one of Malaysia’s largest listed property developers — reflects Rehda’s continued engagement with Putrajaya and industry regulators.

Zaini previously served as Rehda’s deputy president, a role now taken up by Datuk Edward Chong Sin Kiat of IJM Corp Bhd, who also chairs Rehda’s Selangor branch. The pairing places representatives from two prominent listed property groups at the association’s top level.

The newly constituted National Council fills out Rehda’s broader leadership tier. Datuk Tan Hon Lim continues as secretary-general, with Carrie Fong Kah Wai serving as deputy secretary-general. Datuk David Lim Boon Huat takes on the dual responsibilities of national treasurer and chairperson of the Wilayah Persekutuan (Kuala Lumpur) branch.

Three vice president positions are listed, with two currently held by Datuk Charlie Chia Lui Meng and Datuk Tiah Oon Ling, and one remaining vacant. Similarly, one of three exco member slots is unfilled at this stage, with the occupied positions held by Datuk Seri FD Iskandar and Datuk Seri Azmir Merican Azmi Merican. The youth branch chairperson position is also currently vacant.

Regional representation on the National Council spans all major states, with branch chairpersons from Johor, Kedah/Perlis, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perak and Terengganu sitting on the council, alongside an additional cohort of National Council members.

In his acceptance remarks, Zaini framed his presidency as a continuation of the work undertaken by his predecessors. “It is my utmost honour to serve as President of Rehda Malaysia, and I will do my very best to build upon the strong foundation laid by Datuk Ho and the past presidents,” he said.

He added: “I would like to thank Datuk Ho for his dedication and diligence over the past two years. I look forward to continuing working with you in your new capacity as the Immediate Past President, together with the other exco and National Council members of this esteemed Association. With your support, I am committed to carrying out my responsibilities diligently, guided by our principles of being Responsive, Respected, Responsible and Relevant.”

The “four Rs” cited by Zaini are an established framework within Rehda’s organisational culture, and their reiteration signals that the new president intends to hold course on the association’s strategic positioning rather than pursue abrupt change.

During his tenure, outgoing president Ho engaged with stakeholders across both the public and private sectors on issues affecting the real estate industry, and was appointed as a board member of the Construction Industry Development Board. He also serves as a council member of the Institution of Engineers, Malaysia, giving Rehda representation within regulatory and professional bodies linked to the built environment.

Rehda Malaysia is the primary national body representing private housing and real estate developers in the country. It engages government ministries, regulators and public agencies on matters covering housing policy, development approvals, construction costs, affordable housing targets and industry standards, with membership spanning developers operating across all 13 states and the federal territories.

With the new council in place, attention is expected to turn to Rehda’s policy agenda for the coming term. Key items likely to remain on the association’s radar include housing affordability mechanisms, input into ongoing reviews of development charges and compliance costs, and engagement with federal initiatives aimed at supporting homeownership among younger Malaysians.

The press statement did not disclose whether the vacant council positions — including the youth branch chairperson role — will be filled through subsequent internal processes.

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