REHDA Welcomes The New Economic Model

30 June 2009, Petaling Jaya

The Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (REHDA) welcomes the “New Economic Model” announced by the Prime Minister which saw the increment of foreign shareholding limits for the unit trust management companies from 49% to 70% to further enhance Malaysia’s position as a listing and investment destination.

REHDA Welcomes New Policy on Iron and Steel

The Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (REHDA) lauds the positive move made by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) to review the iron and steel policy under its new Minister, YB Dato’ Mustapa Mohamed.

REHDA Urges MPPP to Reconsider Inner City Hotel Projects Height Limit

The Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (REHDA) urges the Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) to reconsider the restriction made to limit Penang’s inner city hotel projects to 18m height or five - storey ruling.

REHDA welcomes removal of 30% Bumiputra equity requirement for service sub-contractors

The Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (REHDA) welcomes the announcement made by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on the removal of 30% Bumiputera equity requirement for services sub-sectors.

MDC URGES GOVERNMENT TO IMPLEMENT HIGH IMPACT MEASURES TO STIMULATE HOUSING INDUSTRY

JOINT COMMUNIQUE

10TH MALAYSIAN DEVELOPERS’ COUNCIL (MDC)
PENANG, 27 MARCH 2009

The Malaysian Developers’ Council, a tripartite affiliation between the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia, the Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers’ Association (SHAREDA) and the Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers’ Association (SHEDA) held its 10th meeting in Penang today.

Second Stimulus Package : Comprehensive Yet Lack High Impact Measures for Property Sector

REHDA welcomes the RM60 billion Second Stimulus Package announced by the Minister of Finance today. In particular, the Association felt that the additional RM200 million to build Rumah Mesra Rakyat by Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad will help ease the private sector’s burden of cross-subsidizing low cost housing especially in these trying times.

REHDA Hails Ministry’s Annoucement to Stimulate the Property Market

Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (REHDA) welcomes the announcement by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to stimulate the property market and help ease burden of house buyers and developers who are now hit by the contracting economic condition.

REHDA Welcomes Reduction of Electricity Tariffs

The Real Estate and Housing Developers Association Malaysia (REHDA) welcomes the recent reduction of electricity tariffs and views it as a positive move to help reduce consumers’ burden during this period of economic downturn.

Property Developers Welcome Government’s Decision To Allow Hillside Projects

Real Estate and Housing Developers Association Malaysia (REHDA) welcomes the announcement by the Minister of Works that development of hillside projects will continue to be allowed and there will be no blanket ban on such projects.

REHDA Welcomes Positive Moves to Help Borrowers

REHDA Malaysia welcomes the effort made by Bank Negara Malaysia to further cut the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) from 3.25% to 2.5% and reduce the statutory reserve requirement (SRR). The announcement was seen as a proactive move made by the Central Bank to lower the costs of borrowing for consumers.

Press Statement by REHDA on Bukit Antarabangsa Landslide Tragedy

REHDA Malaysia shares in the grief loss and the suffering caused by the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide tragic incident on 6 December 2008.

Overnight Policy Rate Cut Will Help House Buyers

REHDA Malaysia welcomes the move made by bank Negara Malaysia to lower its Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) by 25 basis points to 3.25% and views the measure as a proactive move by the Central Bank to lower costs of borrowing for consumers.

Press Release - REHDA: Allow For Hillside Development

The Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (REHDA) welcomes the statement in the Sunday Times, 16 November 2008 by Geo-technical engineer Dr Gue See-Sew, a Fellow of the Academy of Science Malaysia who stated that hillside projects can be carried out safely provided the slopes are stabilised.

Press Release on Budget 2009 New Measures

The Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (REHDA) welcomes the various measures announced by the Minister of Finance Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak to stimulate the economy.

REHDA objects to imposition of higher housing quota

REHDA Malaysia welcomes the statement by Housing and Local Government Minister, Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan that the move by the Kedah Pakatan Government imposing 50% from previously 30% housing quota for Bumiputera effective September 1 would be akin to killing the housing industry. The Association also opposes the compulsory allocation of 50% Malays lots for all housing development projects in the Kedah state, including those on freehold land.

Press Release on BUDGET 2009

Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (REHDA) President, Datuk Ng Seing Liong welcomes the various incentives and measures to promote home ownership and investment in the property sector announced in the 2009 Budget, namely: -

REHDA Welcomes Quota Setting on Steel Bars and Cement Exports

Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (REHDA) welcomes the Government’s initiative to study the possibility of imposing a quota on steel bars and cement exports to ensure adequate domestic supply.

REHDA Hails Move To Restructure Housing Loan

Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (REHDA) welcomes the Government’s initiative in getting the banks to restructure the repayment of housing loans to help ease the burden on borrowers.

REHDA Proposes Export Duty To Complement Cement Liberalisation

Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (REHDA) welcomes the Government’s decision to liberalise the cement market with the abolishment of ceiling price for cement.

REHDA Urges For Further Liberalisation on Steel Bars, Rods and Wires

The Honorable Prime Minister’s announcement on May 12 2008 for the liberalization of steel products was a welcomed and much-anticipated for decision as the price control mechanism had been abolished and imports of these products were allowed without the requirement of APs.   However, to the disappointment of the industry, this liberalization seems to favor manufacturers rather than the construction industry due to the escalation of steel bar prices. 

Property Developers Welcome Government’s Decision To Liberalise Steel Market

Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (REHDA) welcomes the Government’s decision to liberalise the steel market with the abolishment of ceiling price for steel bars.

Updates on Steel Bar Prices

The Malaysian Iron & Steel Industry Federation (MISIF) has advised that steel bar prices per metric ton to distributors are as follows:

From 25 November (between RM1,900 to RM2,000)
November 2008  (between RM2,850 to RM3,000)
October 2008   (between RM3,050 to RM3,200)
September 2008 (between RM3,350 to RM3,500)

These prices however depend on sizes and are on cash terms for delivery within Peninsular Malaysia only.

C&CA Public Hotline Centre

The Cement & Concrete Association of Malaysia (C&CA) has advised that they have set up a Public Hotline Centre w.e.f.20/10/08 for customers facing cement supply problems. The hotline nos are 603-7806 2028 and 603-7806 4939.Members can call to provide feedback or complaints on CEMENT SUPPLY issues. The Public Hotline Centre operates from 9.00am to 5.00pm, Mondays to Fridays.

Feedback on the Implementation of One Stop Centre (OSC)

In order to assist the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (MHLG) in the smooth implementation of the One Stop Centre (OSC), you are requested to report any problems or delays that have been encountered pertaining to the implementation of OSC.

Your feedback or complaints together with supporting information/documents may be forwarded to:

Pam:
Email: info@pam.org.my
Fax: 03-2692 8782

REHDA:
Email: secretariat@rehda.com
Fax: 03-7805 1206

Ministry Denies Connection to THE MITI DIRECTORY nor “The Malaysian International Trade, Industry and Consumer and Business Directory 2008/2009”

We are advised by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) that a company known as THE MITI DIRECTORY will be publishing a directory called “The Malaysian International Trade, Industry and Consumer and Business Directory 2008/2009”. The company is going around to various ministries, government agencies and private sector organizations inviting them to take up advertising space in their publication.

Feedback on Building Material Issues

The following HOTLINE has been set up for all members of REHDA starting May 2008 to December 2008 to receive complaints with regards to building materials. Feedback from members will be forwarded to CIDB on a monthly basis.

Members are requested to provide feedback or complaints on price increases, supply & delivery problems especially of steel bars and cement, using the enclosed form and faxing back to 03 - 7803 5285 or 03- 7805 1206.

HOTLINE: 03 – 7880 8000 is open from Monday to Friday, 10.00am to 6.00pm.

Implementation of the e-Application System for Housing Developers

In an effort to enhance the application process of electrical supply for housing development, TNB, with the support from REHDA has developed and made available an e-Application System for housing developers. The system will facilitate the application, particularly the process of filling up forms besides easing the monitoring status of the application.

The e-Application System has been successfully implemented and:
I) Effective 1 January 2008, developers are encouraged to use the e-Application
System;
II) After 1 June 2008, the use of the e-Application System to apply for electrical supply in housing projects above 150 units becomes mandatory.

Making the e-Application System mandatory will further widen its usage and enables TNB to estimate load requirement 1-2 years in advance. This allows TNB to take precautionary measures in meeting supply requirements in the future.

This new system is convenient to developers as it is user friendly and easily accessible via the TNB website at http://www.tnb.com.my.

Notice from SPAN to All Registered Plumbers

In line with the enforcement of the Water Services Industry Act 2006 (Act 655) on 1 January 2008 in all states of Peninsular Malaysia and Federal Territory of Labuan, Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Air Negara (SPAN) announced that no person shall be allowed to carry out any plumbing works without a written permit issued by SPAN.

Feedback on the implementation of One Stop Centre (OSC)

In order to assist the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (MHLG) in the smooth implementation of the One Stop Centre (OSC), you are requested to report any problems or delays that have been encountered pertaining to the implementation of OSC.

MEMORANDUM BUDGET 2009

REHDA’s Memorandum of Budget 2009 to the Ministry of Finance on 21 April 2008 are aimed to strengthen the enabling conditions, improve transparency of governance, promote home-ownership and sustain private sector investment in the housing industry.

To All Owners of Stratified Commerdcial and Residential Properties

Please be informed that the following Acts of Parliament are the ONLY legislative provisions that govern and regulate the ownership, administration, maintenance and management of stratified commercial and residential properties in the country:

• Strata Titles Act,1985 (Act 318) [ST Act] ; and
• Building and Common Property [Maintenance and Management] Act, 2007 (Act 663) [BCPMM Act]
  

Water Services Industry Act 2006 (Act 655) Enforced

The Water Service Industry Act 2006 (WSIA), which came into force on 1 January 2008, applies only in Peninsular Malaysia and Federal Territory of Labuan. Following are some highlights of the changes with the enforcement of WSIA.