KUALA LUMPUR: The Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association (REHDA) Selangor has called for greater regulatory clarity, consistent policy implementation and closer government-industry cooperation to address challenges facing the state's property development sector.
Its chairman Datuk Edward Chong Sin Kiat said rising development costs, changing market conditions and growing demands for affordable, quality and sustainable housing have made regulatory certainty increasingly important.
He said effective planning, adequate infrastructure and coordinated approval processes were essential to delivering quality homes while safeguarding homebuyers' interests.
"Certainty does not mean that every application must be approved. It means understanding what is required, knowing how decisions are made, and having the relevant parties work together to resolve practical challenges," Chong said in a statement issued in conjunction with the REHDA Selangor Housing Convention 2026.
Chong said the association remained committed to working with the Selangor government, its agencies and local authorities to address practical challenges affecting property development.
He stressed that clearer regulations and approval processes should not come at the expense of development quality, public interest or developers' responsibilities to homebuyers.
Discussions at the convention covered planning guidelines, national housing policy, property market intelligence, land administration, electricity supply processes and geological risk management.
REHDA Selangor has also engaged PLANMalaysia Selangor on the fifth edition of the state's planning guidelines, providing industry feedback on implementation issues.
The convention also explored the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies in property development, including their potential to improve infrastructure planning, project delivery and urban management.
Chong said the industry's success should be measured not only by the number of homes built or the scale of development, but also by how effectively it meets the needs of communities.
"Ultimately, the success of our industry should not be measured simply by how many homes we build or how much development takes place. It should also be measured by how well we deliver, how effectively we respond to the people's needs, and how our efforts improve the lives of communities in Selangor," he said.
