Ministry asks media to publish only licensed property ads
The Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Ministry has asked media organisations to publish only property advertisements that have been approved by the ministry, in an effort to curb the fraudulent sale of housing projects that had violated the law. Developers must obtain the Advertisement Permit Development Licence (APDL) from the ministry before they could place ads in any media channel. The APDL will be made mandatory on developers involving more than four housing units. (The Sun Daily)

Strata maintenance charges proposed to be included in assessment
The Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government has proposed for strata housing maintenance charges to be included in the assessment collected by the Local Authorities (PBT) to overcome the problem of overdue payments. Joint Management Bodies (JMB) often face problems in collecting maintenance fees from residents since the Strata Management Act 2013 was introduced. (Malay Mail Online)

PR1MA to start four more housing projects in Johor
PR1MA will embark on four new projects in Johor involving 3,616 houses, in addition to existing projects here, said CEO Datuk Abdul Mutalib Alias. The projects will be built at Larkin Indah, Taman Pelangi Indah, Nusa Damai and Kota Tinggi. PR1MA Larkin Indah will consist of apartments with common amenities, PR1MA Kota Tinggi would comprise landed houses, while Taman Pelangi and Nusa Damai both are high rise houses. All projects are opened for booking. Along with the two other existing PR1MA projects in Tebrau and Bandar Layangkasa, the total GDV of all six PR1MA projects in Johor is about RM1.32 billion. (Malay Mail Online)

Najib announced RM2.56bil BRT system for Johor
Johor’s Iskandar region will soon have its own Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system worth RM2.56bil. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced four initiatives for the state, including the BRT system and the latter will be in place by 2021. It would cover 90% of Iskandar Malaysia and will span over 51km. Other initiatives include affordable homes in Johor by 2020, as well as a technical and vocational education (TVET) master plan for Johor. (The Star Online)

SP Setia’s project to set record for Australia’s most expensive penthouse
SP Setia Bhd is about to set a new benchmark for Australia’s most expensive apartment, with the impending sale of a 650 sq m luxury penthouse on top of the recently launched Sapphire By The Gardens in Melbourne. The A$$29mil (RM95.5mil) penthouse, which occupies the entire top floor of the 57-storey residential tower, will boast spectacular 360-degree views of Melbourne. Sapphire By The Gardens is a residential tower with GDV of A$376mil (RM1.24bil), that is connected by a sky-bridge to a second tower, which will house Melbourne’s newest five-star Shangri-La Hotel. (The Star Online)

PPR flats

RM6bil allocated for PPR projects nationwide
About RM6 billion has been allocated by the government for 120 People’s Housing Projects (PPRs) with 83,759 units completed throughout Malaysia. Sabah has the most number of PPR housing projects implemented by the National Housing Department (JPN) with 26,199 units of low-cost houses. Implementation of PPR depends on several factors including high demand from the people in the area, applications from the state government to obtain low-cost housing as well as targeted at those living in squatter areas and low income earners with household income not exceeding RM3,000 per month. All PPR projects involved two types, PPR-For-Rent at only RM124 a month and PPR-To-Own that can be purchased at RM35,000 per unit (Peninsular) and RM42,000 (Sabah and Sarawak). (The Sun Daily)

Surveyors offer to inspect tahfiz schools amid safety concerns
The Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM) has offered to assist the authorities in checking potential safety hazards in buildings like tahfiz schools following the fatal fire last month. Mohd Amin Mohd Din, the vice-president of RISM, noted that Building Condition Assessment is the surveyors’ core responsibility to the construction industry. He was responding to the deputy prime minister’s call for surveyors to reassess the conditions of buildings in Malaysia. “However, there should be a coordinated committee from various other agencies too, such as Fire Brigade, JAKIM, KPKT, etc,” he added. (Malay Mail Online)