Authorities to amend housing act to cowl business tasks

The federal government is drafting amendments to the Housing Improvement (Management and Licensing) Act 1966 (Act 118) to increase its scope to problematic business developments, together with store heaps and places of work.

Housing and Native Authorities Minister Nga Kor Ming mentioned the present regulation solely regulates residential tasks by requiring builders to acquire licences underneath strict situations, leaving business developments exterior its jurisdiction.

Beneath the proposed modifications, enforcement can be strengthened by blacklisting not solely the developer firm but additionally its board members, father or mother firm, subsidiaries and supreme useful house owners linked to deserted or sick tasks. Engagement classes with authorities and stakeholders are ongoing, and the invoice is predicted to be tabled in Parliament subsequent 12 months.

“With the proposed amendments, we would like extra holistic and efficient enforcement to safeguard consumers and strengthen accountability within the property sector,” Nga mentioned throughout a parliamentary question-and-answer session on Monday.

As of June 30, 2025, there have been 233 delayed developments and 360 sick tasks nationwide. A process drive underneath the ministry has revived 220 sick tasks, which have since obtained Certificates of Completion and Compliance, whereas one other 14 tasks have been reclassified as “projek lancar” (smooth-progress tasks).

Presently, builders and board members concerned in deserted or sick housing tasks are blacklisted, and another firms linked to the identical administrators are barred from making use of for brand new licences. Current housing improvement accounts underneath such entities are additionally frozen.

Nga harassed that increasing Act 118 will shut regulatory gaps and shield consumers of each residential and business properties.

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