Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association Malaysia

Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association Malaysia
Name	Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association Malaysia
Founded	1972
Headquarters	Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Region served	Malaysia
Membership	Developers, builders, contractors
Leader title	President

Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association Malaysia is a national trade association representing residential and commercial property developers in Malaysia. It acts as an industry body connecting stakeholders in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor, Penang and Sabah with institutional actors in finance, urban planning and construction. The association engages with regulatory agencies, professional bodies, chambers of commerce and multinational investors to shape housing policy and housing supply.

History

Founded in 1972 amid rapid urbanization in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya, the association emerged alongside contemporaries such as the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, Bank Negara Malaysia, and state development agencies in Selangor and Johor Bahru. Early decades involved coordination with professional institutions like the Institute of Architects Malaysia, the Board of Architects Malaysia, and the Royal Institute of British Architects on design, while working with construction stakeholders including Gamuda Berhad, IJM Corporation, Sunway Group, and SP Setia. During the 1980s and 1990s it responded to crises connected to the Asian Financial Crisis and collaborated with financial institutions such as Malayan Banking Berhad and CIMB Group to address liquidity and financing for housing projects. In the 2000s it expanded engagement with international partners including World Bank, Asian Development Bank, UN-Habitat, and multilateral lenders, and aligned with sustainability initiatives championed by organizations like the United Nations Environment Programme and World Green Building Council.

Organization and Structure

The association is governed by an executive committee and a president elected by members, operating through regional chapters in Kuala Lumpur, Penang Island, Kota Kinabalu, George Town, and Johor Bahru. Committees mirror corporate governance practices observed by listed corporations such as Malayan Banking Berhad, Axiata Group, Petronas, and Sime Darby. It liaises with statutory authorities like the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Malaysia), the Town and Country Planning Department of Malaysia, and state land offices in Negeri Sembilan, Perak, and Kedah. Collaboration extends to professional accreditation bodies such as the Board of Quantity Surveyors Malaysia, Malaysian Institute of Planners, and Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB).

Membership and Accreditation

Membership comprises major developers, landed-house builders, and affordable-housing specialists including firms akin to SP Setia, EcoWorld Development Group, UEM Sunrise, IOI Properties Group, Tropicana Corporation, and smaller regional developers in Sabah and Sarawak. Corporate members include publicly listed companies on Bursa Malaysia and private entities collaborating with institutional investors such as Khazanah Nasional and sovereign wealth counterparts like Permodalan Nasional Berhad. Accreditation pathways reference professional standards from bodies like the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and align with certification schemes of the Malaysian Green Building Index and international norms advocated by ISO committees and the World Bank Group.

Activities and Services

The association organizes trade fairs, property exhibitions and conferences similar to events hosted by MIPIM, FIABCI, Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre, and regional real estate forums in Singapore, Bangkok, and Hong Kong. It provides training programs in collaboration with universities such as University of Malaya, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, and professional schools linked to RMIT University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology through exchange initiatives. Services include dispute resolution referral with entities like the Kuala Lumpur High Court, arbitration through the Asian International Arbitration Centre, and liaison with finance providers such as Affin Bank and Public Bank Berhad.

Industry Standards and Regulations

The association promotes construction standards referencing Malaysian Acts such as the Strata Management Act 2013 and regulations enforced by the Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia (Bomba), as well as technical codes developed alongside the Department of Standards Malaysia. It interfaces with building code authorities in discussions about amendments to the Uniform Building By-Laws and collaborates with specialist bodies including the Malaysian Society for Engineering and Technology and the Institute of Engineers Malaysia on structural and safety standards. Environmental compliance aligns with legislation from the Department of Environment (Malaysia and regional accords influenced by ASEAN frameworks and UNFCCC commitments.

Advocacy and Government Relations

The association advocates on housing affordability, land supply, and mortgage accessibility with ministries such as the Ministry of Finance (Malaysia), Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Malaysia), and agencies like Perumahan Rakyat 1Malaysia (PR1MA). It engages legislators in the Dewan Rakyat and coordinates briefing sessions with parliamentary committees and state legislative assemblies in Johor, Penang, and Selangor. International engagement includes dialogue with trade delegations from Japan External Trade Organization, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, and investor groups from United Kingdom Trade & Investment (UKTI), while negotiating policy positions with multilateral institutions like the International Monetary Fund.

Publications and Research

The association publishes market reports, white papers and statistics on property trends, supply-demand analyses and affordability metrics drawing on data from Department of Statistics Malaysia, Bank Negara Malaysia, and research collaborations with think tanks such as Khazanah Research Institute and the World Bank. Periodicals and newsletters disseminate insights comparable to publications by The Edge Malaysia, The Star, and property journals like PropertyGuru and EdgeProp. Research topics include urban regeneration case studies referencing Bukit Bintang, transit-oriented development examples around Kuala Lumpur Sentral, and comparative studies with projects in Singapore and Seoul.

Category:Trade associations Category:Housing in Malaysia Category:Real estate developers