Real estate solutions: Chan (left) presenting the StarProperty Budget 2026 Roundtable memorandum to Nga at the Housing and Local Government Ministry in Putrajaya. — YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
PUTRAJAYA: Recommendations from the StarProperty Budget 2026 Roundtable will be compiled and presented to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for consideration to be included in Budget 2026, says Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.
This reflects the three open policies practised by the government, he said, referring to the federal administration’s open door, open mind and open heart.
“This is a government that listens, and a government for the people,” said Nga.
The memorandum on the StarProperty Budget 2026 Roundtable was presented to Nga by Star Media Group (SMG) group chief executive officer Chan Seng Fatt at the ministry here yesterday.
Thanking SMG for its efforts, Nga said it played an instrumental role in collecting feedback from industry players.
“The input will be compiled and summarised, then later presented to the Prime Minister, who is also Finance Minister.
“Whichever appropriate recommendations shall be given due consideration for inclusion into Budget 2026,” said Nga, adding that he aims to present the input to the Prime Minister as soon as possible.
Also present were SMG chief operating officer Lydia Wang, StarProperty general manager Mindy Chia, StarProperty senior content manager Joseph Wong and StarProperty assistant content manager Pavither Kaur.
Chan said the StarProperty Budget 2026 Roundtable was a key initiative to provide the government with actionable feedback and strategic recommendations on the property industry.
“The roundtable was conceived from the understanding that SMG, through its subsidiary StarProperty, holds a unique position as a significant media outlet and a vital voice for the public.
“This role allows us to effectively bridge the gap between industry professionals and government policymakers, ensuring that critical insights from the ground are heard at the highest levels,” he said.
The roundtable, Chan said, brought together a diverse group of key stakeholders, including leading property developers and the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association, to collaboratively identify and address the sector’s most pressing challenges and opportunities.
“By facilitating this direct engagement, the initiative aimed to contribute to the formulation of Budget 2026 that is both responsive to market realities and aligned with the nation’s long-term economic goals,” said Chan.
The StarProperty Budget 2026 Roundtable is a wish list of recommendations from the real estate industry ahead of the tabling of Budget 2026 on Oct 10.
It contains five focus areas – development costs, regulatory bottlenecks, homebuyer financial accessibility, sustainability hurdles and completed but unsold units.
It also presents recommendations for property developers and industry players.
Full details on the StarProperty Budget 2026 Roundtable will be published in the StarProperty pullout on Oct 3.
