KUALA LUMPUR: The proposal to employ property managers who are licensed with the Board of Valuers, Appraisers, Estate Agents, and Property Managers (BOVAEP) to manage strata buildings in Malaysia is a move in the right direction, said Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM) president, Sr. Adzman Shah Mohd Ariffin.

Adzman said that RISM fully supports the government's measures and strategies outlined in the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the 12th Malaysia Plan (2021-2025), particularly those aimed at "improving strata housing management."

He said that RISM believes that this effort demonstrates the government's strong commitment to providing safe, sustainable, and positive living conditions for residents of stratified schemes.

According to him, this can be accomplished with the help of relevant authorities such as the Commissioners of Building and other stakeholders such as housing developers, property owners, residents, Joint Management Bodies, Management Corporations, and related non-governmental organisations.

RISM also welcomes the government's move to review the Strata Management Act 2013 (Act 757) and Strata Management (Management and Maintenance) Regulations 2015 to address certain shortcomings and different interpretations by various stakeholders.

"We fully support this move but would strongly suggest improvement of the finer details instead of the proposed revamping by Jabatan Perumahan Negara to avoid disruption of the processes during the transition period," he said.

However, he said that all stakeholders should be engaged in their views to ensure inclusiveness.

Meanwhile, Adzman praised the government's efforts to make affordable housing available to all Malaysians, calling it a commendable goal.

"It's vital to focus on not just affordability but also the quality and location of these housing options to meet the diverse needs of the population," he said.