SELANGOR: The Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (Rehda) welcomes the newly launched National Housing Policy (Dasar Perumahan Negara - DRN) 2026 - 2035 as an important framework for the future direction of Malaysia’s housing sector.
The theme Humanising Housing aligns with Rehda’s long-standing view that housing is not merely about building structures but about delivering quality, affordable, liveable and sustainable homes for the people.
Rehda is particularly encouraged by the policy’s emphasis on data-driven housing planning, including big data analytics and housing projections based on locality, existing supply, vacancies, housing type, income and price categories.
“Rehda has long been a strong advocate for the establishment of a comprehensive and centralised housing data system that is accurate and provides a timely picture of demand in specific locations,” said Rehda Malaysia president Datuk Zaini Yusoff.
“Better data will enable both the public and private sectors to make more informed decisions, particularly in ensuring that affordable housing is provided in the right location, at the right price and according to actual demand while reducing supply and demand mismatches and unsold units,” added Zaini.
Rehda also welcomes more diverse pathways to homeownership, including rent-to-own, the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme (SJKP), shared ownership and long-term fixed rate mortgages.
“Access to financing remains one of the key challenges faced by prospective homebuyers. We therefore welcome more flexible and inclusive financing solutions, particularly for middle-income households that may not qualify for affordable housing programmes but continue to face affordability constraints in the open market,” said Zaini.
Rehda also supports the DRN’s focus on liveable neighbourhoods, better integration between housing and transportation, urban renewal and improved housing standards, including transit-oriented development (TOD) to connect homes with employment, public transport and essential amenities.
At the same time, Rehda believes the proposed transition from the current sell-then-build (STB) system towards build-then-sell (BTS) between 2027 and 2035 requires careful study and meaningful industry engagement.
“While Rehda appreciates the Government’s intention to further strengthen homebuyers’ protection, any fundamental change to the housing delivery system must take into account its implications on the overall housing delivery which includes holding costs, financing, cash flow, housing prices and supply amongst others. This is especially important for small and medium-sized developers which may not have the financial capacity to fund an entire development until completion,” he concluded.
Given that the STB system has delivered more than 6.5 million housing units over the years, Rehda believes STB should continue to coexist alongside BTS, should the latter be introduced. Any move towards BTS should be progressive and supported by appropriate financing and regulatory mechanisms, with close consultation among developers, financial institutions and other stakeholders.
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