Rehda sets up ESG committee to drive sustainability in property sector

• Rehda president Datuk Ho Hon Sang said more developers are embracing sustainability, showing that the industry players care about future-proofing its businesses, protecting the environment, and strengthening public trust.

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 14): The Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association Malaysia (Rehda) has established an environmental, social and governance (ESG) committee to strengthen the property industry’s sustainability agenda.

President Datuk Ho Hon Sang (pictured) said the committee will position the association as a national thought leader in sustainable and responsible development.

“The committee’s focus includes promoting ESG awareness among members, adapting international sustainability standards to the Malaysian context, monitoring new policy developments and providing feedback to the government on the impact of ESG-related policies,” he said in his speech during Rehda’s annual dinner here on Friday.

Ho said more developers are embracing sustainability, showing that the industry players care about future-proofing its businesses, protecting the environment, and strengthening public trust.

He said Rehda will later celebrate excellence through the GreenRE Sustainable Development Awards, honouring the nation’s top-performing green-certified projects.

Since its inception in 2013, GreenRE has certified more than 800 projects, representing over 400 million square feet of gross floor area, including homes, malls, data centres and townships not only across Malaysia but also in the United Kingdom, Australia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.

“We also appreciate the Ministry of Housing and Local Government’s proactive efforts to promote digitisation and align local planning requirements with national housing goals, measures that will enhance efficiency, transparency and investor confidence.

“A robust property sector contributes significantly to Malaysia’s gross domestic product, employment and social well-being. Hence, public-private collaboration must continue to evolve to ensure a resilient, inclusive and sustainable housing ecosystem,” he added.

As Penang girds itself towards the last lap of its Penang2030 vision, check out how the residential segment is keeping pace in EdgeProp’s special report: PENANG Investing Towards 2030.