Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) has emphasised that every new housing development must prioritise quality-of-life standards and foster community-building, in line with the aspirations of Malaysia MADANI, rather than merely increasing the number of residential units without identity or character. Its Deputy Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu stated that the ministry, through the Town and Country Planning Department (PLANMalaysia) and local authorities (PBTs), is enhancing monitoring efforts to ensure all projects comply with planning guidelines, which include the provision of green spaces, community facilities, and areas encouraging social interaction.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, local authorities in the Peninsula have begun incorporating new parameters into local plans, focusing on human-scale design, pedestrian networks, functional green spaces, and social integration. This was shared by Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu during a question-and-answer session at the Dewan Negara, responding to Senator Datuk Sivaraj Chandran’s query on housing development policies aimed at creating landscaped environments and distinct community identities.
Datuk Aiman Athirah noted that developers’ adherence to these guidelines will be monitored and reported regularly at the National Council for Local Government (NCLG) meetings starting in 2026. The implementation report of the Fourth National Physical Plan will also be presented to the National Physical Planning Council, chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, to ensure ongoing development aligns with national policies.
She further reported that as of 2024, a total of 197,311 affordable housing units have been completed nationwide, including units under various schemes such as the People’s Housing Programme (PPR), Rumah Mesra Rakyat (RMR), Syarikat Perumahan Negara Bhd (SPNB) projects, and PR1MA units.
Addressing concerns from Senator Jufitri Joha regarding defects in completed housing projects, Datuk Aiman Athirah explained that buyers can rely on the 24-month defect liability period or approach the Home Buyers’ Claims Tribunal if issues arise post-handover. Monitoring of private housing projects, affordable units, and those that are delayed, sick, or abandoned is being conducted through the National Affordable Housing Council and the Task Force for Sick and Abandoned Private Housing Projects (TFST).
Since December 2023, 1,333 projects have been revived, involving 159,638 housing units with a gross development value of RM126.47 billion. As of October, the number of late and sick projects has been reduced to 335. These comprehensive efforts are seen as crucial to ensuring public access to quality, safe, and habitable affordable housing.