Properties need Malaysian flavour

Local property players should place more emphasis on giving their products a Malaysian identity to ensure quality goods.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said imbuing local properties with the Malaysian flavour would help reinforce the country’s reputation for quality.
“The pursuit and promotion of quality Malaysian properties is another piece of the jigsaw that supports enhancing our cities as economic centres,” he said in his speech, which was read by Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, at the launch of Malaysia Property Incorporated here yesterday.
He said the pursuit of quality required rigorous attention to detail and the needs of consumers, even to the level of ensuring that the design of the lavatories would make them easier to be maintained and kept clean.
Najib said Malaysian properties must also be truly functional and take into consideration local factors, such as the weather and culture.
“A focus on function means that a property is not just a physical structure of brick and mortar but a structure which truly supports one’s activities and lifestyle and, at the same time, is well integrated into the surrounding community.
“The combination of strong identity, functionality and sustainability will no doubt augur well to reinforce Malaysia’s property proposition,” he said.
Najib said Malaysia provided value for money to foreign investors, offering high-end properties supported by world-class infrastructure and connectivity at relatively affordable prices.
Later, Nor Mohamed told reporters that the Economic Planning Unit’s study to find solutions to the issue of toll increases every three years was on track and that the results would be announced soon.
“It will be in due course. It will not be too long from now,” he said.
The Government had deferred the toll rate increase for five highways, which was scheduled to take place on March 1, resulting in it having to fork out RM287mil in compensation to the toll concessionaires.