KUALA LUMPUR: The Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (Rehda) has described the newly launched National Housing Policy 2026-2035, as an important framework in charting the future direction of Malaysia’s housing sector.
It is aligned with the association’s long-standing view that housing was not merely about building structures, but about providing quality, affordable, and liveable homes, said Rehda president Datuk Zaini Yusoff, as seen in its theme “Humanising Housing”.
The policy, he said, showed an emphasis on data-driven planning, including the use of Big Data Analytics and housing projections based on locality, supply, housing type, income and price categories.
“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-demand mismatches and unsold units,” he said in a statement.
The policy was launched on Monday by Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.
Zaini welcomed the policy’s recognition of the need for more diverse pathways to home ownership, including Rent-to-Own schemes, the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme, shared ownership and long-term fixed-rate mortgages.
Rehda also supported the policy’s broader focus on creating liveable neighbourhoods, improving housing standards, urban renewal and strengthening the housing delivery ecosystem.
Zaini said better integration between housing and transportation, including Transit-Oriented Development, was timely to ensure homes were better connected to employment centres, public transport and essential amenities.
However, he said some measures under the policy required further study and engagement with the industry, particularly the proposed transition from the current Sell-Then-Build (STB) system to Build-Then-Sell (BTS) between 2027 and 2035.
“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 overall housing delivery, including holding costs, financing, cash flow, housing prices and supply, among others,” he said.
“This is especially important for small and medium-sized developers, which may not have the financial capacity to fund an entire development until completion.”
“Any move towards BTS should be progressive, supported by appropriate financing and regulatory mechanisms, and undertaken in close consultation with developers, financial institutions and other stakeholders,” he said.
