Creating awareness amongst the stakeholders of the importance of adopting and embracing technology in property development and management to ensure efficient allocation of scarce resources and materials by highlighting some case studies and their effectiveness. The following are discussed:

Moderator: Ir Othman Zainal, Executive Director – Wira Muhibbah Sdn Bhd & Gap Engineering Consultants Sdn Bhd

Importance of Building Information Management (BIM) in pre, during and post-construction. A valuable tool for asset management.

Leveraging nature as an ecological infrastructure is the way forward to prevent unnecessary wastage and ensure sustainable development to preserve the treasures of the earth for future generations. But at what costs?

Using the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) project as an example of the technological advancement in property development, tapping on excellent connectivity, both land and rail, with a creative yet sustainable master plan, received neighbourhood-level provisional Green Buildings Index (GBI) certification. It is designed as a porous development, acting as a catalyst to rejuvenate the Imbi and Pudu surroundings. What makes it the most sought-after address and how technology seeks to create the premier address for the financial hub in this region.

How do you revive aging properties? The evolution of development will call for new ways to optimise the use. How do you unlock the value of an established development? The panel members will discuss on:

Moderator: Dr Azmizam Abdul Rashid, Deputy CEO – Head Of Knowledge Platform And Partnerships, URBANICE Malaysia

Many real estate stakeholders suffer from the mismatch between demand and supply.  The situation is worse as the property aged.  How can the properties be adapted to fulfil the changing demands over time. How can the local authority play a role in accommodating and supporting such initiatives by the stakeholders and industrial players?

Sharing experiences in undertaking rehabilitation of functional obsolescence properties each adapted to new purposes and responding to different requirements  encompassing social and physical aspects and especially in unlocking the value of the individual properties. In promoting environmental sustainability and subscribing to the principles of circular economy, he strives to give old buildings a second chance as an alternative to demolition and rebuilding which are are evident in some the urban renewal projects he had undertaken.

For older developments built at the early years, how do we upgrade the properties and amenities to give a new economic life to the development to stay relevant with the modern living trends? This talk will focus on sharing the case studies in Singapore on the thoughts, considerations, and the challenges in taking such efforts.

Faced with shifting of consumer behaviour trends and stiff competition of e-commerce, how can the retail malls, especially aged and dated malls to reposition to stay competitive? Our speaker will share some of his overseas case studies including those in China that he has successfully repurposed and repositioned to create attractions and to draw patronage.

Invited Panelist: Sr Chan Wai Seen, Executive Director – CCO & Associates (KL) Sdn Bhd

Global climate change led to new investment opportunities in ESG in Real Estate that arises as a solution to the climate crisis. How much do you know about sustainable real estate? Be an early adopter to look into sustainable investment. The following are discussed:

Moderator: Sr Dr Ainoriza Mohd Aini, University of Malaya

The built environment is emitting more than 40% of the total carbon emission.  How much do the participants know about sustainable real estate? Are the key players from the real estate industry ready to lead the way in championing a more sustainable environment for work, live and play?

The speaker will provide an overview of ESG in Real Estate from the Global perspective and realising its potential in the Asia Pacific region.

The increasing concerns on ESG among investors have caused many companies to incorporate ESG practices in their investment decision process. EPF as a leading institutional investor in Malaysia, with its sustainability ambitions and vision-driven corporate practices, will impact other businesses and investors to be part of the sustainable ecosystems.

This will ensure responsible and sustainable investments in the real estate market, and eventually brings positive impacts to the environment and society.

The speaker will discuss the environmental considerations and decisions as developers, owners, and occupiers’ take in different stages across the real estate lifecycle.

Too often, property developments are design-led based on the vision of the developer, planner or designer. This approach has been said to disregard the needs and wants of the market and in most cases, leads to a mismatch between demand and supply. It has always been widely and inaccurately propagated that property value will always appreciate. This speculative led propagation fuels a sense of false demand and drives an artificial increase in price. In addition, conventional developments contribute to overhang statistics whilst mega projects create white elephants and ghost cities. These myths will be further deliberated in this session so that a solution could be put forward by real professionals in order to mitigate the much-talked-about property bubbles and housing affordability crisis.

Moderator: Sr Khaidzir Abdul Rasip, Managing Director - Ian Scott International (M) Sdn Bhd

Myth: The likes of HSR, ECRL, RAPID and other mega infrastructure projects defy logic in terms of the scale and investment dollars they demand but these are game-changers that our economy needs in order to alleviate Malaysia to a higher level.

Reality: However, as has happened before in the past, there is always the risk of these becoming white elephants that the country may not be able to recover from at all.

Myth: Developers compete against each other to build and sell the dream lifestyle that everyone aspires towards. Something cool, something niche, or something out-of-this-world, people will just love and buy them.

Reality: However, aspiring towards and being able to actually afford to buy are paradoxes of life. This is how we have many overhang properties.

Myth: Property is a hedge against inflation and will always appreciate in value as land is scarce and properties are never homogeneous.

Reality: The property market is cyclical and thus, property values do depreciate as well as appreciate just like any other form of investment.

Myth: Policies related to property transaction and ownership are formulated in order to protect the public interest as housing is a basic necessity. Regular policy reviews are necessary to maintain this principle of fairness to the rakyat.

Reality: Policy changes are always seen as flip-flops and knee-jerk reactions that confuse and stifle the property market rather than helping their noble cause. Some policies are archaic and need to be in tune with the times.