Latest news with #StrataManagementAct2013
Free Malaysia Today
7 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Developer harassing us for redevelopment consent, claim residents
The residents of the Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park flats said the developer had approached them directly, in breach of the Strata Management Act 2013. KUALA LUMPUR : Residents of the Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park flats are urging the government to intervene and stop what they claim is harassment by a developer pushing for the area's redevelopment under the proposed Urban Renewal Act (URA). Nasrun Ismail, a member of the residents' action committee, claimed that the developer was bypassing the flats' management corporation and approaching residents directly for consent without proper explanation, in breach of the Strata Management Act 2013. 'They sent us letters and asked whether we agree or not. Then, they set a date for us to reply,' he told reporters after a public briefing at the flats today. FMT is withholding the name of the developer pending a response. Nasrun alleged that some residents were offered RM100 or RM200 to support the redevelopment, which he described as a form of bribery. He said some visits took place at night, causing concern among the residents. 'We will request our management corporation to take any necessary action, including lodging a police report and obtaining a court order, as the developer has violated the Strata Management Act,' he said. He also urged the government to prioritise rejuvenation over redevelopment, especially for low-cost and heritage housing, warning that a shift to condominium living would impose higher maintenance fees, sinking funds, and other hidden costs on residents. Spearheaded by the housing and local government ministry, the URA seeks to lower the threshold of strata owner consent to 80% for buildings under 30 years old, 75% for those over 30 years old, and 51% for abandoned properties. The bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament this month. The Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park flats consist of five blocks, with a total of 480 housing units and 20 shoplots. The flats' leasehold tenure is expected to expire in 2081.
New Straits Times
31-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
13MP targets 500,000 affordable homes by 2030 in major housing reform push
KUALA LUMPUR: Two selected targets have been set to support national housing reform during the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), including the completion of 500,000 affordable housing units by 2030, compared to 179,769 units as of March 2025. The Strata Management Act 2013 and the Strata Titles Act 1985 will be amended to separate the jurisdictions of ownership and management in an effort to strengthen the governance of stratified buildings. Housing reform is one of the key priorities under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13) to address the cost of living and improve the well-being of the people. This reform will focus on increasing the supply of quality, livable, and inclusive housing, improving access to financing, and enhancing the efficiency of housing regulation and management.
The Sun
04-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
Malaysians invited to join KPKT strata video competition 2025
PUTRAJAYA: The Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) is calling on Malaysians to take part in the 2025 Strata Video Competition, open for submissions until August 22. The competition, themed 'Strata Management: Quality Strata, Harmonious Neighbourhood,' aims to promote awareness of effective strata community management for better living environments. KPKT stated that the initiative seeks to enhance understanding of responsibilities under the Strata Management Act 2013 (Act 757). The competition features two categories: short or animated videos and TikTok videos, open to Malaysians aged 18 and above, either as individuals or groups. Videos must be one to three minutes long, original, and avoid sensitive topics. Judging criteria include theme relevance, creativity, originality, and video quality. The grand prize for the short video category is RM8,000, while the TikTok category winner will receive RM1,000. For the TikTok category, participants must use a public account, follow @KPKT_Malaysia and @unitkorporatJPN, and include hashtags #StrataKPKT2025, #Strata2025TTContest, #StrongerTogether, #UnityInDiversity, and #DemiPertiwi. More details are available at rel="nofollow" href=" target="_blank">my or KPKT's social media platforms. Queries can be directed to the secretariat at 03-8891 4214 / 4315. -Bernama
Barnama
25-06-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Financial Park Labuan Owners Receive Strata Titles After 28-year Wait
BUSINESS By Jailani Hasan LABUAN, June 25 (Bernama) -- After nearly three decades of ownership, 31 shop unit owners and nine Alpha apartment unit owners at the Financial Park Complex finally received their long-awaited strata titles today. The issuance follows an application process by Financial Park (Labuan) Sdn Bhd that began in 2018, after the enforcement of the Strata Management Act 2013 in Labuan. The titles were officially handed over by the Director General of the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia (JUPEM), Datuk Hazri Hassan, at Financial Park Complex here today. Financial Park (Labuan) Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Johari Mesar said the mixed development comprises 419 commercial lots designed for various business activities and related facilities. 'This is a long-awaited achievement for our unit owners who have invested here since 1996. 'The strata title grants them formal ownership recognition and opens doors to better asset value management,' Johari said to Bernama after the handover ceremony. He said Financial Park Labuan has undertaken upgrading works across several areas of the complex to enhance the value of its commercial assets. 'In addition, we are working closely with Labuan Corporation to ensure all business operators at the complex are properly licensed. This is crucial for maintaining regulatory compliance and supporting a healthy business ecosystem,' he said.
New Straits Times
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Right to Charge Part 2: Adapting Global Policies to Malaysia's Unique Context
LAST week we examined Malaysia's electric vehicle (EV) landscape, the challenges posed by its multi-unit housing structure, and the global 'Right to Charge' models that could inform Malaysia's approach. This week let's explore how these global policies can be adapted to Malaysia's unique context, considering its legal framework, property governance structures, climate conditions, and socioeconomic factors. Creating an effective 'Right to Charge' framework for Malaysia requires more than simply copying policies from other countries. It demands a thoughtful adaptation that respects Malaysia's existing legal structures while providing clear pathways for residents to install EV charging infrastructure at their homes. According to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, as of 2023, Malaysia had over 23,000 stratified schemes with about 7.4 million residents. Any 'Right to Charge' legislation must work within or strategically amend this framework. Let's start with the basics, Malaysia's stratified properties are governed by the Strata Management Act 2013, which creates a distinct legal environment for implementing 'Right to Charge' policies. The dual ownership structure in stratified properties means individual units are privately owned while common areas are collectively owned and this requires careful consideration especially for older and more common type of arrangements. In newer developments where parking bays have individual strata titles, a streamlined approval process with minimal restrictions could be implemented but most developments parking spaces are owned collectively and here is where attention is needed. To make this work there has to be a standardised application process that includes a defined timeline for management corporation response (let's say 30-60 days) and it has to clearly define criteria for what constitutes reasonable grounds for denial and, perhaps more drastically, default approval is issued if there is no response within the specified timeline. To help it along, the Strata Management (Maintenance and Management) Regulations 2015 could be amended to include specific provisions for EV charging installations, creating a standardised process nationwide. This would address the current situation where, according to a 2023 survey by the Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association Malaysia (Rehda), 72 per cent of management corporations have no formal process for handling EV charging requests. This correlates close to the Commissioner of Buildings which says, only 14 per cent of management corporations currently have by-laws addressing EV charging. Let's not get in the weeds but enough to suggest that amendments that explicitly recognise EV charging installations as permitted modifications to common property, subject to reasonable conditions. This would prevent blanket rejections while still allowing management corporations to establish reasonable guidelines. Perhaps specific provisions and bylaws that lays out standardises application and approval processes for all stratified properties can be drawn up for adoption by management corporations. These are rigorous technical requirements that may be well out of the reach of the typical management committee. It's also important to look at climate specific challenges for EV charging infrastructure so that all parties feel that this often little understood position has been properly considered. Factors like weather proofing standards should be developed for Malaysia, together with unique heat dissipation requirements and all that moisture in our air may require specific anti-corrosion specifications and in some areas there is a need for addressing flash flood protection. It's important not to brush aside any concerns raised because management boards are always worried about their liabilities should anything go wrong, sometimes something as simple as not having a shade over a charger may lead to overheating. Then there is the issue of maintenance. Schedule and type of work that should be carried out must be well understood, standardised and perhaps even codified to make clear areas of responsibilities of all parties involved and who should be responsible for liabilities should anything go wrong. Nobody wants to talk about things going wrong. Then there is the matter of who should bear the cost because some of it are clearly individually born but others are forced on the common area. For example the cost of hacking and installation of cables to the individual chargers and all related requirements are born by the party requesting the installation, however the change in the aesthetics and comfort level in the common area is a cost born by all. It sounds petty but it will be raised and if it has not been properly considered, there will be no good answer to the question. When it comes to the financial aspect, the government may want to step in with an extension of the Green Technology Financing Scheme (GTFS) to specifically cover residential EV charging infrastructure. Perhaps a tax incentive similar to the current RM2,500 personal tax relief for EV charging could be created for management corporations and property owners and maybe Tenaga Nasional Bhd can develop special tariffs and infrastructure support programs specifically for residential EV charging, similar to their existing special industrial tariffs. Further amendments of legislations including the Electricity Supply Act and building by laws will be required to create a comprehensive legal framework that addresses the current regulatory gaps and there are a lot of gaps. According to legal experts at the Malaysia Automotive, Robotics and IoT Institute (MARii), 87 per cent of current EV charging installations in multi-unit dwellings operate in a regulatory "gray area" due to the lack of specific legislation. Once we have worked out the specifics of the rules and regulations we must not forget about enforcement and dispute resolution that covers specifically EV charging issues. For example Strata Management Tribunal may need better defined jurisdiction over EV charging request disputes with clear compliance guidelines that explains what constitutes reasonable denial. These could include safety concerns that cannot be mitigated through standard engineering solutions, documented electrical capacity limitations that cannot be reasonably addressed and perhaps installation of the charger requires significant structural modifications that would compromise building integrity. The guidelines would address the current situation where, according anecdotal evidence a large portion of denied installation requests cite vague "safety concerns" without specific details. Adapting global 'Right to Charge' policies to Malaysia's context requires careful consideration of the country's unique legal framework, property governance structures, climate conditions, and socioeconomic factors. In the third and final article of this series, we will explore the implementation details, stakeholder roles, and a practical roadmap for putting this framework into action.
