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KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 12): The Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (Rehda) has welcomed the National Housing Policy (DRN) 2026-2035, while calling for a measured and phased approach in shifting from the existing Sell Then Build (STB) framework to the Build Then Sell (BTS) system.
Rehda president Datuk Zaini Yusoff (pictured) said any fundamental change to the housing delivery system must take into account its implications on overall housing delivery, including holding costs, financing, cash flow, housing prices and supply.
“This is especially important for small and medium-sized developers, which may not have the financial capacity to fund an entire development until completion,” he said in a press statement on Tuesday.
He said the existing STB system, which has been widely adopted and delivered more than 6.5 million houses over the years, should continue to co-exist with BTS if the latter is introduced.
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“Any transition towards BTS should also be progressive, supported by appropriate financing and regulatory mechanisms, and undertaken in close consultation with developers, financial institutions and other stakeholders to strengthen homebuyers’ protection without increasing housing costs or constraining supply,” he added.
Meanwhile, Zaini said DRN’s theme “Humanising Housing” reflected the association’s long-standing belief that housing should not only be about providing buildings but also quality, affordable, liveable and sustainable homes for people.
He is especially encouraged by the DRN's focus on data-driven planning, which leverages Big Data Analytics and detailed housing projections that take into account factors such as location, current supply, vacancy rates, property type, buyer income and price brackets.
“Better data will enable both the public and private sectors to make more informed decisions, particularly in ensuring that affordable housing is provided in the right locations, at the right price and according to actual demand while reducing supply-demand mismatches and unsold units,” Zaini said.
He said Rehda also supported the DRN’s broader focus on creating liveable neighbourhoods, improving the integration between housing and transportation, urban renewal and better housing standards.
The proposed integration of housing and transportation policies, including Transit Oriented Development (TOD), was particularly timely in ensuring homes were better connected to employment centres, public transport and essential amenities, he added.
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