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KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 21): A government backbencher on Tuesday called on the government to speed up the tabling of the long awaiting Residential Tenancy Act (RTA), pointing to a growing reliance on renting among younger and urban households.
Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad (BN–Simpang Renggam) said national housing policy must confront current realities.
“We must be prepared to face reality: are our housing policies being adjusted towards affordable ownership, protected long-term rental, or a new hybrid model suited to today’s needs?” he said while debating the motion of thanks on the royal address in Parliament.
Hasni noted that many young Malaysians, particularly in urban areas, are choosing to rent, not because they reject home ownership, but because they prioritise flexibility, proximity to work and access to urban amenities.
The former Johor menteri besar stressed that there is a need for clear, fair tenant protection laws. The proposed act could safeguard against unjustified and sudden rental hikes through established regulatory mechanisms, he said.
The RTA was first mooted in January 2019 under the National Housing Policy (2018–2025) by then-housing and local government minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin. The policy aims to establish a regulated rental market to protect both landlords and tenants, while improving access to affordable housing.
Despite being in development for seven years, the bill has yet to reach Parliament. Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming recently indicated that the drafting is still ongoing, with renewed engagement sessions held with state governments and stakeholders as recently as late 2025.
Earlier in his debate, Hasni also urged the government to work harder to address deep-seated public anxiety over the cost of living, noting a "disconnect" between headline economic indicators and daily experiences of Malaysians.
“GDP (gross domestic product) is rising, unemployment is low and statistically wages are increasing. Yet, at food stalls and supermarkets, people still ask: ‘Why does money run out so quickly? Why does life feel more constrained?’ This is the gap between statistics and daily reality,” he said.
He cautioned that relying solely on macroeconomic data to dismiss public concerns could make policymakers appear out of touch. “Cost of living is not just an inflation issue — it is an issue of economic sentiment,” he said, adding that policymakers must ask whether families feel stable and confident of their children's future.
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