Noor Azman (ninth from left) flanked by Rehda deputy president Datuk Zaini Yusoff (eighth from left) and immediate past president Datuk NK Tong (tenth from left) taking a group photo with the platinum sponsors representatives.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association (Rehda) Malaysia recently hosted its annual dinner at the Sime Darby Convention Centre, bringing together industry leaders, government officials and partners to celebrate resilience and collaboration within the property sector.
The event, which was attended by Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) Secretary-General Datuk Wira M Noor Azman Taib, served as a platform for Rehda to reaffirm its commitment to sustainable development and for the government to detail key policy reforms aimed at improving housing welfare and market efficiency.
In his speech, Rehda president Datuk Ho Hon Sang acknowledged the complex landscape facing the industry. He cited global economic volatility, supply chain disruptions and escalating costs as major factors impacting both housing delivery and affordability.
"While demand remains strong, the widening gap between what homebuyers can afford and the actual cost of building homes is worrying. Rising land and compliance costs, coupled with procedural delays, add further pressure," Ho said. "At the same time, we are called to embrace sustainability, from reducing carbon footprints to achieving green certifications while maintaining project viability. It is a delicate balancing act that demands innovation and cooperation."
Ho expressed deep appreciation for KPKT's proactive stance and open-door policy, which has facilitated meaningful reforms through dialogue with various ministries. These reforms include streamlining planning and approval processes, reviewing housing-related Acts and promoting the wider adoption of Industrialised Building System (IBS) and Building Information Modelling (BIM) technologies.
"A robust property sector contributes significantly to Malaysia’s GDP, employment and social well-being. Hence, public-private collaboration must continue to evolve to ensure a resilient, inclusive and sustainable housing ecosystem," he said.
Taking a snapshot with the GreenRE's Sustainable Development Awards winners are Noor Azman (ninth from right) with Rehda past president Datuk Seri FD Fateh Iskandar Mohamed Mansor (eighth from right) and deputy president Datuk Zaini Yusoff (seventh from right).
Leading the green charge
Highlighting the industry’s commitment to self-regulation and future-proofing, Ho announced the establishment of a dedicated ESG Committee to position Rehda as a national thought leader in sustainable and responsible development. The committee will focus on adapting international sustainability standards to the Malaysian context and providing feedback on new policy developments.
The dinner also served as the venue to celebrate excellence through the GreenRE Sustainable Development Awards. Since its inception in 2013, GreenRE—an initiative of Rehda—has certified over 800 projects, representing more than 400 million sq ft of gross floor area, with its reach extending to markets like the UK, Australia and Vietnam.
In a special tribute, the association conferred the Rehda Patronship upon Datuk Muztaza Mohamad, recognising his three decades of exceptional service and leadership to the association and the industry.
Government prioritising buyer welfare and stability
Representing the ministry, Noor Azman said KPKT recognises Rehda's vital role in shaping the national housing landscape. He emphasised the government’s core belief, quoting sociologist Matthew Desmond: “Housing is absolutely essential to human flourishing. Without stable shelter, it all falls apart.”
He also detailed major initiatives by KPKT to stabilise the market and protect consumers:
- Amending Act 118 and rehabilitating sick projects
KPKT is actively moving to amend the Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Act 1966 (Act 118). This revision aims to strengthen buyer welfare, fortify developer governance and enhance transparency in transactions.
Addressing a chronic issue, he noted the success in rehabilitating delayed projects. Since 2023 up to September 2025, the KPKT special task force has successfully recovered 1,289 sick or delayed private housing projects, involving a gross development value (GDV) of RM123.7bil. He confirmed the government’s commitment, citing the allocation of RM25.84mil in Belanjawan 2026 for further recovery efforts.
- Financial incentives for homeownership
To spur the market and support homebuyers, the government has:
- Added RM10bil in financing guarantees through the Skim Jaminan Kredit Perumahan (SJKP), expected to benefit 80,000 homebuyers.
- Extended the full stamp duty exemption on the Instrument of Transfer and Loan Agreement for first-time homebuyers (for homes priced up to RM500,000) until December 31, 2027.
- Affordable housing and policy direction
Noor Azman announced a major milestone in affordable housing, confirming that as of Sept 30, 2025, a total of 501,033 units of Rumah Mampu Milik (RMM) have been provided across various phases of implementation nationwide, reaching 98.8% of the 12th Malaysia Plan target.
Looking ahead, KPKT is drafting the new National Housing Policy 3.0 (2025–2030). Key focuses include tackling housing affordability, addressing overhang units, expanding the Rent-to-Own (RTO) scheme and exploring the wider adoption of Build Then Sell (BTS) over the conventional Sell Then Build (STB) model.
- Urban renewal for sustainability
The ministry is also prioritising urban renewal and has initiated the process for drafting the Urban Redevelopment Act (URA). This new act is critical for ensuring the safety, sustainability and aesthetic enhancement of Malaysia’s historic cities like Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru and Ipoh.
While acknowledging that change can cause concern,Noor Azman emphasised that urban redevelopment is an unavoidable step forward to improve the quality of life and resilience of urban environments for future generations.
He added that Rehda for its semangat togetherness and reaffirmed that the ambitious targets of the 13th Malaysia Plan are achievable only through the continued, strong partnership between the public and private sectors.
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