PUTRAJAYA: A digital system for home buyers and developers will be implemented beginning next year to strengthen protection while enhancing the housing ecosystem, says the Housing and Local Government Ministry.
Beginning Jan 1, an integrated digital platform that regulates the entire housing development lifecycle, from project registration and progress monitoring to sales and handover, will be implemented.
From a manual to a digital system, the new approach will be transparent and data-driven management which is proactive, according to Nga Kor Ming (pic).
“Through this new ecosystem, every housing project can be planned, monitored and completed more systematically, thereby strengthening market confidence in the national property sector,” the Housing and Local Government Minister said in his speech at the launch of the Madani Housing Reform Ceremony here yesterday.
The move was part of measures to build an accountable and high-integrity housing ecosystem while driving the national property industry without neglecting home buyers’ welfare.
Nga said the reforms aimed, among others, to strengthen buyer protection, enhance housing system efficiency, close regulatory gaps and push the country towards a world-class digital housing ecosystem.
Other reforms include the introduction the Real Property Development Act, an electronic sale and purchase agreement (eSPA), the Housing Integrated Management System (Hims), Transforming and Empowering Data Usage in Housing (Teduh); and audits of the Housing Development Account.
“Under Hims, all project progress data, financial flows and even developer licence status can be monitored in real time, transparently and in an auditable manner.
“All financial transactions including consultant payments, legal fee claims under the Bar Council, vendor dealings and transactions with financing institutions will be recorded and processed digitally. This ensures all project inflows and outflows remain within regulatory control and are traceable at all times,” Nga said.
Teduh provides dynamic search functions for projects and developers related to public and private housing programmes in the country.
“It is equipped with an online complaints and monitoring system that allows buyers to check project progress and report any developer misconduct,” he added.
On the Real Property Development Bill, the ministry is expected to table it in June 2026.
The Bill is a comprehensive replacement of the Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Act 1966 (Act 118), to establish a modern, responsive regulatory framework.
“This new Bill has two main objectives: first, to expand the existing regulatory scope so it is no longer limited to residential developments, but also covers commercial projects.
“Second, it aims to update legal provisions according to current needs, taking into account market demands and land types.
“We want a more modern, flexible legislative framework capable of accommodating changes in the industry,” Nga said.
The eSPA will provide home buyers with digital signing from any location, secure digital identity verification or eKYC and automatic integration with the Inland Revenue Board’s eStamping system for a faster, secure and tamper-proof process.
“It will not only reduce time and save costs but also simplify the entire process. When someone signs the eSPA, payment is made immediately, and the government receives the revenue directly.
“We anticipate that if everything proceeds smoothly, next year’s eSPA implementation could increase government revenue by up to RM8bil,” he said.
