News by Datuk Chang Kim Loong

In Malaysia, it is not uncommon to hear of protests against proposed developments, such as new high-rise, urban renewal or transportation infrastructure projects, when the affected community perceives them to be detrimental to the neighbourhood with over-population or negative impacts on life quality or the environment. 

The Madani Government has made several press statements and announcements during the past year and more recurrently in recent months regarding its intention to introduce a new law aimed at facilitating the urban renewal, redevelopment, rejuvenation and regeneration of certain identified private properties in the urban areas, namely Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Penang.

The Tribunal for Homebuyer Claims, aka Housing Tribunal (Tribunal), has been intended as a fast, cheap and simple avenue for aggrieved house buyers to seek redress. Since its establishment in 2002, numerous buyers have successfully obtained compensations ranging from late delivery of vacant possessions to defective workmanship.

The National House Buyers Association (HBA) views with concern the reports of a new public housing scheme by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) named Program Residensi Rakyat (PRR), where it was reported that the construction cost of each PRR unit will be raised to RM300,000, but will be sold only at RM60,000.

Building surveyors (BS), or more commonly recognised as building inspectors (BIs), is a relatively new profession which was introduced to Malaysia back in 2000. Back then, not many people or industry players were aware of the roles and functions of this new profession.

The National House Buyers Association (HBA) has time and again reminded the housing minister and those under the ministry’s charge on the need to rein in the conduct of those so-called court-appointed officers, namely liquidators.

The Government, through the Special Task Force to Facilitate Business (Pemudah) platform, is drafting a document entitled “New Deal for Business” (NDFB) to boost business confidence, stimulate economic growth and drive national digital transformation, reported the Business Insider recently.

Malaysia is facing a unique housing problem.  On one hand, the median property prices are too high and are beyond the mass population's affordability. As a result, even middle-income groups, not to mention the lower-income groups, find it almost impossible to buy their first homes.  

To woo purchasers in a competitive property market, developers often offers various freebies, including air-conditioners, kitchen cabinets, automatic gates, club memberships and legal fees.

The prerequisite issues must be settled by KPKT before the Urban Renewal Act can be enforced, or else the ministry would end up biting more than it could chew and leave house buyers in a worse-off state than when they began.