KPKT Proposes Green Building Incentives and Big-Data Housing Tool at Mapex 2026 Opening

Key figures

• ●Mapex 2026's second instalment opened Sept 4 at Mid Valley Exhibition Centre, Kuala Lumpur, with 22 developers and a sales target of nearly RM500 million
• ●KPKT submitted a green building incentive proposal to the Finance Ministry on Sept 3, covering lower financing costs, higher financing margins and tax relief (The Star; EdgeProp)
• ●The Finance Ministry approved KPKT's big-data analytics model for housing demand and affordability, to take effect from next year (The Star; EdgeProp)
• ●Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme to be widened to self-employed and gig workers, targeting 100,000 beneficiaries by end-2026; more than 97,000 first-time buyers have benefited (The Star)
• ●Planned legal reforms include the Real Property Development Act, Building Managers Act, Rental Tenancy Act and Strata Management Act amendments (The Star)

News summary

The second instalment of the Malaysia Property Expo (Mapex) 2026 opened at the Mid Valley Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur on Sept 4, with Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming using the launch to push for a greener and more data-led property sector. EdgeProp Malaysia reported that the three-day expo, themed "Future Living Starts Here", is organised by the Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association Malaysia (Rehda) with Rehda Selangor and Rehda Wilayah Persekutuan, and features units from 22 developers with a sales target of nearly RM500 million.

Nga said the Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) had proposed to the Finance Ministry a package of financial incentives to encourage building owners and management bodies to adopt greener practices. EdgeProp reported the proposals cover lower financing costs, higher financing margins and tax relief, while The Star said on Sept 5 that the proposal was submitted to the Finance Ministry on Sept 3 and, in a follow-up report, that green-certified buildings could enjoy lower tax rates. Details such as eligibility and implementation have yet to be announced.

Green practices should not be viewed simply as an additional cost, Nga said, because buildings that consume less energy and water, manage resources more efficiently and maintain healthier environments can reduce long-term operating and maintenance costs. He said KPKT plans to establish a dedicated division to monitor and coordinate green building rating tools in Malaysia, and to work with GreenRE and other industry bodies to encourage more building owners and management bodies to pursue green certification. The Star noted that KPKT is leading by example, with its 38-storey headquarters in Putrajaya recently becoming the first ministry building to receive both the GreenRE Gold Rating and a Gold energy certificate rating.

Beyond sustainability, Nga said the Finance Ministry had approved KPKT's proposal to develop a big-data analytics model to improve understanding of housing demand and affordability in different locations, with the data to be made available to industry players once the system is developed. The Star reported the data-driven approach would replace a one-size-fits-all affordability benchmark from next year with measures that better reflect local incomes, purchasing power and transport costs. "The price of a house in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, cannot be measured using the same affordability benchmark as one in Tanah Merah, Kelantan," Nga said, adding that the system would help address housing supply-demand mismatches, property overhang and the risk of abandoned projects.

The minister also said the government is widening access to home financing for entrepreneurs, freelancers, gig workers and the self-employed who lack conventional payslips, under the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme, targeting 100,000 beneficiaries by the end of the year, according to The Star. More than 97,000 first-time homebuyers have benefited from the scheme, which provides eligible buyers with financing of up to RM500,000. Nga also said KPKT is pursuing legal reforms including the proposed Real Property Development Act, Building Managers Act and Rental Tenancy Act, as well as amendments to the Strata Management Act. Meanwhile, Rehda president Datuk Zaini Yusoff said developers continue to contend with rising construction, compliance and regulatory costs, and called for greater flexibility and innovation in housing financing as well as the return of the Home Ownership Campaign.

This summary draws on EdgeProp Malaysia's report of the Mapex 2026 opening and two reports by The Star on the ministry's green building incentive proposals.