Share
- Rahim & Co International Property Consultants director of research Sulaiman Saheh said growth opportunities are strongest along the RTS and JS-SEZ corridor, but it remains uncertain how far the spillover effect will reach other parts of the state.
KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 8): The Johor property market is booming thanks to projects like the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link and the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), but there are risks of over-speculation beyond the areas directly benefiting from them, according to a consultant.
Rahim & Co International Property Consultants director of research Sulaiman Saheh (pictured) said growth opportunities are strongest along the RTS and JS-SEZ corridor, but it remains uncertain how far the spillover effect will reach other parts of the state.
Some of the growth, he noted, particularly around new property launches, is being driven by optimism over the upcoming RTS Link, with prices for some units already exceeding RM1,000 per sq ft.
“This is actually a bit speculative in those areas,” Sulaiman told reporters on the sidelines of Rahim & Co’s property market review 2025/2026 briefing. He added that demand needs to be closely monitored so that new supply is matched with actual demand.
He also called on all parties to grow the market responsibly and sustainably, stressing the need for a dynamic yet balanced property market.
According to Rahim & Co’s latest report, Johor was among the top-performing states, recording its highest property transaction levels in the first half of 2025 since 2010.
During the first six months of 2025, Johor’s residential market saw a 12.9% increase in transaction volume and a 9.3% rise in value, with 21,061 residential transactions worth RM9.86 billion, averaging RM467,955 per transaction.
Johor’s industrial sector recorded 732 transactions valued at RM3.63 billion, up 12.3% in value despite stable transaction volume, with an average transaction value of RM4.95 million.
Meanwhile, the state’s shop office sub-sector saw a 1.6% decline in transaction volume, as transaction value rose 10.4% with 1,935 deals worth RM2.17 billion.
At the national level, Malaysia’s total property transactions slipped slightly by 2.1% to 304,482 units in the first nine months of 2025, while total transaction value rose 5.6% year-on-year to RM172.06 billion.
Sulaiman said Malaysia’s property market should be supported by strong fundamentals and balanced development across all regions, including Johor, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, the East Coast and East Malaysia.
He welcomed renewed investor interest in Johor and called for clearer and more proactive government promotion of the JS-SEZ, noting that existing incentives give the state a comparative advantage in the region due to its proximity to Singapore.
However, Sulaiman said infrastructure development must go beyond physical projects to include improvements in labour supply, workforce quality, and policies to attract and retain talent, including better tax incentives for returning Malaysians.
At the same time, policies must remain business and investor friendly while safeguarding the interests of Malaysian buyers to prevent locals from being priced out of the market.
“This is not just about Johor, but about Malaysia as a whole. Growth must be inclusive,” he added.
Unlock Malaysia’s shifting industrial map. Track where new housing is emerging as talents converge around I4.0 industrial parks across Peninsular Malaysia. Download the Industrial Special Report now.
