Latest news with #Government
The Star
7 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Govt considering pay-per-use housing models, says Nga
PETALING JAYA: A 'pay-per-use' system for maintenance fees is being studied, says Nga Kor Ming (pic). The Housing and Local Government Minister said the ministry plans to introduce the system in future affordable developments as part of its housing reforms. He said the proposed system will see residents receiving access cards to track their monthly use of shared facilities. Nga added that they will be charged accordingly instead of the current flat fee for all. Nga said the Rumah Bakat Madani initiative led by SkyWorld Pearlmont in Penang featured a pay-per-use clubhouse with an infinity pool, pickleball and badminton courts, children's playground and gyms. 'This will serve as a reference model for future public housing projects, which may also include vertical schools to provide better access to education for vulnerable communities. 'This is aimed at elevating the standards of the real estate industry and promoting more equitable housing access to all Malaysians,' he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur Architecture Week (KLAW) 2025 event on Sunday. The Rumah Bakat Madani initiative is the largest affordable housing initiative to date with plans to build a number of 900-square-foot freehold condominiums, with modern features built into each unit and access to shared facilities such as the swimming pool and gym. Nga also said the ministry aims to involve private industry players in the development of IBS (Industrialised Building System) facilities to encourage wider adoption of modular construction methods, such as Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction. He said this would promote more sustainable urban development by reducing construction waste and minimising pollution. KLAW 2025 is held as a prelude to the Asean Real Estate Conference 2025 and 24th International Architecture, Interior Design and Building Exhibition 2025. Both events, which begin this week in Kuala Lumpur, are expected to attract over 50,000 international visitors and generate RM2bil in transactions.
The Star
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Strata management bodies welcome proposed property law
STRATA management bodies in Selangor have welcomed a proposed new law aimed at tackling long-standing issues concerning poor property and building management. During his keynote address at the International Strata Symposium last month, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming said the government was mulling such a law. Pandan Heights management corporation chairman Haresh Vikram Vijayakumar told StarMetro that a new law was necessary to help strata management bodies address the operational and legal challenges in maintaining buildings efficiently. 'A well-designed law could enhance governance, increase transparency and streamline dispute resolution processes, especially in dealing with delinquent owners, unlicensed contractors, and enforcement issues,' he said. Haresh says the government must improve the efficiency of the Commissioner of Buildings. Permata Residence joint management body chairman Tan Kuan Kit said a new law could ensure strata properties were well managed and protected. 'It will also send a message to unqualified property management companies that they are now on the government's radar,' he said. Haresh said the shortage of capable and licensed property management firms caused problems for management bodies, especially those located in non-prime areas. 'They are sometimes forced to settle for inexperienced or unlicensed firms, which opens the door to mismanagement. 'The process of appointing licensed property managers is also quite tedious as it involves issuing tenders, conducting multiple rounds of interviews, background checks, and striking a balance between costs and quality of work. 'Though transparency is key, practicality is also important. Tan says a new law can ensure strata properties are well-managed. 'Often, we face difficulties verifying the firms' track records due to the lack of accessible and centralised data on their performance,' said Haresh. It has been previously reported that there were currently only 594 licensed firms serving some 26,334 strata schemes or 2.9 million units of strata properties in Malaysia. Besides legislations, Haresh also urged the government to introduce more training programmes to leverage the capacity of the members of strata management bodies. 'The government should also improve the efficiency of the Commissioner of Buildings. 'Digitalising submissions and complaint management systems could also streamline processes and increase transparency,' he suggested. Tan urged the government to strengthen as well the enforcement on maintenance fee payment. 'It should be made a must for owners to pay their maintenance fees, just like how they must pay assessment taxes,' he stressed.
