
RM113 bln sick and abandoned housing projects revived by KPKT
Deputy Minister Aiman Athirah Sabu stated that this achievement involved the revival of 139,848 housing units since TFST's first meeting in 2023.
She added that, as of June this year, TFST successfully revived 244 private housing projects covering 27,101 units with a gross development value (GDV) of RM21.07 billion.
TFST also completed five abandoned projects involving 887 units worth RM55.74 million by ensuring they obtained the Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC).
The completed projects include Taman Meru Makmur and Pangsapuri Impian Meru in Klang, Selangor, as well as Taman Mega 1 in Kemaman, Terengganu.
Other revived projects are Taman Desa Kempas Phase 3 in Tebrau, Johor, and Taman Megah Edora in Bachok, Kelantan.
Aiman Athirah noted that TFST is currently monitoring 233 delayed, 360 sick, and 109 abandoned private housing projects nationwide.
Regarding the Residensi Hektar Gombak project, she confirmed positive progress with Bina Permai Sdn Bhd accelerating construction through overtime work. - Bernama
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The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Over 27,000 housing units revived after ‘intervention'
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 27,101 housing units with a gross development value (GDV) of RM21.07 billion have been successfully revived as of June 2025 from 244 delayed, sick and abandoned projects, thanks to the intervention of the Task Force on Sick and Abandoned Private Housing Projects (TFST). Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Datuk Aiman Athirah Sabu said up to June 30, the task force had also identified and monitored 233 private housing projects categorised as delayed, 360 as sick, and 109 as abandoned across the country. Aiman Athirah said the achievements of the task force are very positive since it was established in 2023. 'A total of 1,171 private housing projects have been successfully revived, involving 139,848 housing units with a GDV of RM113.55 billion,' she said during a press conference at the Parliament Media Centre yesterday. The Sepang MP added that previously, the TFST would only intervene in projects from developers licensed by the Housing and Local Government Ministry, but has since changed its stance based on urgent needs. 'But now we see that there are also projects developed by unlicensed developers that actually require our help,' she said adding that TFST will also assist any housing projects found to be delayed, sick, or abandoned. 'For example, if a project was supposed to be completed last year but remains unfinished this year, we will step in. 'At the same time, this task force will also prevent delayed projects from becoming further delayed and being classified as sick or abandoned projects,' Aiman Athirah said. She added that there are abandoned projects that have been stalled for nearly 30 years that were successfully resolved through TFST's intervention. Aiman Athirah said TFST will continue to go on the ground to ensure that problematic projects are resolved. 'We cannot allow buyers to be left in a hopeless situation,' she added. Aiman Athirah said TFST will continue to serve as a solution platform to achieve the goal of zero abandoned housing projects by 2030. The definition of a delayed project is one that is behind schedule by between 11% and 15% compared with the timeline stated in the sale and purchase agreement (S&P), while a sick housing project is one that has failed to be completed by the developer according to the S&P schedule. Meanwhile, Aiman Athirah said her ministry is not involved in the proposed drafting of a workers' housing Act championed by the Socialist Party of Malaysia. 'If it is brought to our attention, under the Madani government, every ministry does not work in silos and we will cooperate, but for now it is not under our purview,' she added. More than 200 people joined a march to hand over a memorandum at the entrance of Parliament yesterday to urge the drafting of a new law to resolve plantation workers' housing issues.


The Star
3 days ago
- The Star
1,171 sick, abandoned housing projects successfully revived
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 1,171 previously sick and abandoned private housing projects, with a combined gross development value (GDV) of RM113.55bil, have been successfully revived by the Task Force for Sick and Abandoned Private Housing Projects (TFST), under the Housing and Local Government Ministry. Its Deputy Minister Aiman Athirah Sabu said this achievement involved the revival of 139,848 housing units since TFST's first meeting in 2023. "For this year up to June, TFST successfully revived 244 private housing projects involving 27,101 housing units with a GDV of RM21.07bil. "TFST also completed five abandoned projects involving 887 housing units with a GDV of RM55.74mil," she said at a press conference in Parliament, on Wednesday (Aug 13). Aiman Athirah said the five projects were Taman Meru Makmur and Pangsapuri Impian Meru in Klang, Selangor; Taman Mega 1, Mukim Kerteh, Kemaman, Terengganu; Taman Desa Kempas, Phase 3, Tebrau, Johor; and Taman Megah Edora, Bachok, Kelantan. To date, TFST has detected and is monitoring 233 private housing projects categorised as delayed, 360 as sick, and 109 as abandoned nationwide, she said. On the recovery of the Residensi Hektar Gombak project, Aiman Athirah said the latest developments are very positive, with the new developer and main contractor agreeing on overtime work to expedite the project's completion. "Even when the parliament is ongoing, we still go to the site and on the ground during the weekend," she said.


The Sun
3 days ago
- The Sun
Science-driven tobacco taxes can reduce harm
AS the government considers raising tobacco taxes in Budget 2026, the Consumer Choice Centre (CCC) urges policymakers to adopt a more effective and science-based approach. Risk-based taxation, where nicotine products are taxed according to their level of health risk, offers a practical solution that supports public health while avoiding unintended consequences, such as the growth of black market or barriers to harm reduction. While reducing non-communicable diseases is commendable, a uniform tax on all tobacco and nicotine products may do more harm than good. We support the government's health goals but applying the same tax to cigarettes, vaping products and other reduced-risk alternatives is counterproductive. Taxation should reflect relative harm so smokers are encouraged to switch to safer products. Malaysia already faces a significant challenge from the illicit tobacco trade. High excise rates on cigarettes have long pushed many consumers – particularly those in lower income groups – towards cheaper, unregulated products. Between 2002 and 2010, legal cigarette sales in Malaysia fell by 31%, from 19.5 billion to 13.5 billion sticks. During the same period, illicit consumption surged to 8.8 billion, pushing the black market share from 21% to 39% of total sales. The experience of other countries can provide essential lessons. In Australia, one of the countries with the highest tobacco taxes in the world, economists and public health experts had warned that continued tax hikes had failed to reduce smoking prevalence and instead have expanded the black market. The Guardian reported in June 2025 that the policy may have reached a tipping point, enriching criminal networks while producing diminishing public health returns. Since then, calls have been made for the government to freeze further excise increases and focus on reducing illicit trade and promoting access to safer alternatives. In contrast, countries that have embraced risk-based taxation are seeing positive outcomes. In Sweden, lower taxes on snus, a smokeless tobacco product, has helped bring smoking rates to under 5%. Sweden now records 41% fewer tobacco-related cancer cases and 44% lower tobacco mortality compared to the European Union average. Rather than punishing all nicotine use, Sweden encourages smokers to switch to less harmful options and the results are precise. New Zealand followed a similar path by reducing the excise tax on heated tobacco products by 50% in 2024 to support its national smoke-free goal. The measure was made permanent this year. This bold step was based on the understanding that tax incentives for reduced-risk products can support smokers looking for practical alternatives to combustible cigarettes. Malaysia can learn from successful and unsuccessful global examples. The experiences of Australia, Sweden and New Zealand show that the structure of taxation matters. We get better public health outcomes if we design a tax policy that supports switching. If we over-rely on punitive measures, we risk pushing people into the black market and losing control over the system. At the regional level, policy inconsistencies are already causing an impact. The ban on e-vaporisers in Singapore and Thailand has contributed to cross-border smuggling of vaping products from Malaysia, one of the largest producers of e-vapour devices in the world. Similarly, significant price differences between countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia can create financial incentives for illicit trade that undermine national regulation and tax collection. Malaysia should not repeat these mistakes. We need to build a system based on science that protects consumers and does not unintentionally support criminal networks. Risk-based taxation is not about removing regulation; it is about improving it. CCC recommends a tiered taxation model under Budget 2026. Products such as vapes, heated tobacco and nicotine pouches – which have lower risk – should have a lower tax than combustible tobacco products. This structure would encourage adult smokers to make healthier choices without compromising public revenue or regulatory control. As Malaysia seeks to modernise its health system and address the burden of smoking-related diseases, risk-based taxation offers a responsible and forward-looking path. It aligns with international best practices while responding to local challenges. Taxation should support public health, not undermine it. By adopting a balanced and science-driven approach, Malaysia can lead the way in creating policies that protect consumers and the integrity of our public institutions.