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- “Cross-border integration is no longer just about geography or infrastructure; it requires coordinated planning, policy, and investment to ensure sustainable growth, and long-term value creation.”
PETALING JAYA (Jan 6): The Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (Rehda) CEO Series 2026 will feature a focused session on the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).
The conference, to be held on Jan 15 at Le Méridien Petaling Jaya, is set to bring together policymakers and industry leaders, and will be officiated by Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, with Transport Minister Anthony Loke also to be in attendance.
Rehda Institute chairman Datuk Jeffrey Ng Tiong Lip said the programme will start with a broad economic outlook covering Malaysia and Asean, before the highlight on JS-SEZ.
The CEO Series will examine how global and Asean trends are shaping investment flows, business confidence, and workforce readiness, with sessions on infrastructure, cross-border integration, and emerging real estate trends. .
“Infrastructure investments drive economic growth, and we want our industry participants to see where the opportunities lie.
“Cross-border integration is no longer just about geography or infrastructure; it requires coordinated planning, policy, and investment to ensure sustainable growth, and long-term value creation,” Ng elaborated during a press conference at Wisma Rehda here on Tuesday.
“Data centres, a growing area of interest for multinational companies, will be a key focus. Regional experts from Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Vietnam will share insights into market assessment, capital allocation, and emerging opportunities.
“Hospitality, and long-stay living trends will also be featured, reflecting a shift towards experience-driven accommodation, and aligning with Visit Malaysia Year 2026. The idea is to bring global trends to Malaysia so that our industry stays competitive and relevant in attracting investment,” he added.
“Beyond individual sector contributions to gross domestic product (GDP), the nation’s economic vitality and job creation rely on a dynamic, interdependent ecosystem including manufacturing, services, technology, infrastructure, construction, and real estate,” he noted.
Mentoring youths through university programme
Another highlight is the launch of the Rehda Institute Youth Initiative (Riyi), a mentorship programme linking university students with industry leaders across multiple sectors.
“Effective talent development must start upstream in education.
“Embedding early industry immersion and structured mentorship at the university level is critical for cultivating a workforce capable of thriving in an increasingly complex and competitive landscape,” he explained.
Around 12 to 13 universities are participating this year, including Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia, INTI International University, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Universiti Malaya, Universiti Kuala Lumpur, UCSI University, Monash University, Sunway University, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman.
“We want a broad and diverse group of students to gain practical exposure and mentorship across industries,” he said.
Impending rising construction cost
Meanwhile, Rehda president Datuk Ho Hon Sang added that overall construction costs for standard projects are expected to rise by about 2% to 3%, while selling prices may increase by around 1% to 2%, depending on developers’ business models and market conditions.
“Developers generally face constraints in passing on higher costs to buyers because of affordability concerns, and financing limitations. Any price adjustments are likely to be modest rather than sharp increases,” he said.
He added that most materials are sourced locally and readily available, but rising costs and enforcement measures, such as controls on lorry overloading, have contributed to higher construction costs.
“Imports may be considered if domestic prices become excessively high to create price competition, and prevent sharp escalation for essential materials such as steel and cement,” he said.
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