Theeba

“Who is PPR really serving?” With private housing catering mostly to higher-income groups, the government has expanded the Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) to support vulnerable communities. Beyond providing shelter, PPR offers social protection by securing tenure, reducing homelessness, and helping low-income households break free from poverty. But how well is it meeting the needs of its residents? Theebalakshmi Kunasekaran, Researcher at Khazanah Research Institute, notes that while gaps in facilities and maintenance remain, enhanced standards and clearer roles across government could strengthen the future of public housing. 🎧 Tune in to the full discussion on @BFMradio here: bfm.my/content/podcas… 🎙️ Host: Keith Kam 🎧 Producer: Keith Kam #rumahkusyurgaku #malaysia #AdvancingMalaysia #socialhousing #PPR #SocialProtection

@KRInstitute As usual, the budget details more affordable housing & financing incentives to encourage homeownership. But stronger efforts are needed to ensure the industry can actually deliver homes at affordable prices for all segments of society & successfully transition to BTS model.

Belanjawan bukan sekadar angka; ia mencerminkan komitmen #Belanjawan2026 memperlihatkan tekad Malaysia untuk melaksanakan reformasi, namun setiap reformasi pasti berdepan rintangan. Mungkinkah ini menjadi titik perubahan di mana kewaspadaan menjadi pemangkin kemajuan? Apa pandangan anda? #Budget2026

Budgets reveal more than numbers; they reveal intent. #Belanjawan2026 shows Malaysia’s intent to reform, but reform always meets resistance. Can this be the turning point where prudence fuels progress, not limits it? What’s your take?

Are We Taking Loans on Behalf of Developers? In Malaysia’s housing market, many buyers pay for homes before they’re even built. Mortgages taken by households are used to finance construction, while developers and banks lock in their profits. The risks? Delays, poor quality, or abandoned projects. And buyers are the ones left to bear the cost. What happens when buyers take the risks, but developers secure the profits? KRI’s latest article by Dr. Nur Fareza Mustapha explores the flaws of the Sell-then-Build (STB) model and why Malaysia must move towards a Build-then-Sell (BTS) system to truly protect homebuyers. Read the full article here: krinstitute.org/Views-@-Sell-t… #KhazanahResearchInstitute #KRI #AdvancingMalaysia #Housingloan #Malaysia #property

Everyone in Malaysia deserves housing as a basic human right Homelessness can happen to anyone, and it’s often not something people can control. Housing shouldn’t just be seen as something to buy or sell, it is a basic need that should be part of a strong social support system. Our researcher, Dr. @farezamustapha, shares that the Program Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) has thousands of people on its waiting list. She stresses that homes need to be safe, comfortable, and dignified, which is part of looking at poverty in a broader way. Being homeless isn’t a personal failure, it’s a test of whether our communities and systems are doing enough to support everyone. 🎧 Catch the full conversation on @BFMradio here: bfm.my/content/podcas… 🎙️ Hosts: Philip See, Elaine Boey, Shazana Mokhtar | 🎧 Producer: Natalie Tan #KhazanahResearchInstitute #KRI #AdvancingMalaysia #HousingForAll #Homelessness

Be aware of the risks you face as a homebuyer in the primary market!

With rising renters cohort in urban areas, it's high time for the govt to implement Rental Tenancy Act (RTA) to better protect both parties - tenants and landlords.

Will the Urban Renewal Act (URA) Serve Communities or Push Them Out? When redevelopment comes to a neighbourhood, it often arrives with promises of a better quality of life. Yet, past experiences show that this may not necessarily be true. New buildings do not always guarantee better living conditions. Redevelopment projects in areas such as Kampung Kerinchi and Flat Pekeliling highlight the risks of forced evictions for those who opposed the plans, prolonged delays in receiving new units, higher maintenance costs in the new buildings, and the erosion of affordability. True urban renewal is not merely about constructing new structures but it is also about ensuring that both the financial and social benefits remain with the communities that have long called these places home. Read the full article by our researcher, Theebalakshmi Kunasekaran @theeba_k on @malaysiakini here: #google_vignette" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">malaysiakini.com/letters/750875… #KhazanahResearchInstitute #KRI #AdvancingMalaysia #URA #UrbanRenewal

URA should prioritize maintenance over demolition. Redevelopment should only be pursued when clearly necessary, based on thorough needs-based assessment. It must place communities at the centre, treating residents as active partners in shaping the future of their neighbourhoods.

Poor design & substandard materials = higher maintenance costs. Due to this, many low-cost housing projects facing deterioration - driving calls for urban renewal. But this could've been prevented with stronger construction standards & adherence to national housing guidelines.

High-end homes sit empty while everyday Malaysians struggle to rent, let alone buy. The issue isn’t merely a housing shortage. It’s a structural mismatch between what’s being built and what people can actually afford. Despite strong demand for affordable homes under RM300,000, the market continues to cater to top income groups, resulting in a clear oversupply in the high-end segment. This disconnects between supply and demand raises a larger concern: "Are Malaysians being presented with a clear and transparent view of the actual state of the property market?" — Sr Dr @SurayaIsmail22 📖 Read the full article from @NST_Online featuring insights from our Director of Research, Sr Dr @SurayaIsmail22 by scan the QR code or visit the link here: nst.com.my/property/2025/… #KhazanahResearchInstitute #KRI #AdvancingMalaysia #HousingJustice #MismatchCrisis #AffordableHomes #PropertyCrisis

In 1970, the national vacancy rate was 9.5%. By 2020, it had doubled to 19%, indicating a growing tendency to treat housing as a speculative asset rather than a basic need. Click here: shorturl.at/l7zsP to know more on how a vacancy tax can help curb speculation.

Not saying we don’t need urban renewal but it must be done right to create long-term value for communities. It should start with understanding what residents truly need - look at whether existing buildings can be maintained & upgraded first, instead of rushing into demolition.

KAJIAN EKONOMI PENJAGAAN: MEMPERKASA SURI RUMAH, MEMBINA KELUARGA DAN MASYARAKAT SEJAHTERA Adakah anda seorang suri rumah sepenuh masa / separuh masa? Institut Penyelidikan Khazanah (KRI) dan Persatuan Suri Rumah Rahmah Malaysia (SRR) sedang menjalankan tinjauan untuk memahami pengalaman, keperluan dan cabaran yang dihadapi oleh golongan suri rumah di Malaysia. Maklum balas anda akan menyumbang kepada cadangan polisi berkaitan ekonomi penjagaan dan pasaran buruh. Kami mencari wanita yang: ✅ berstatus suri rumah sepenuh masa atau separuh masa (masa bekerja tidak melebihi 22.5 jam seminggu) ✅ Berkahwin atau pernah berkahwin ✅ Berumur antara 20 sehingga 55 tahun ✅ Mempunyai tanggungjawab penjagaan (cth. menjaga anak, orang tua atau orang kurang upaya) ✅ Menetap di Malaysia ✅ Warganegara Malaysia 🕒 Anggaran masa: 30 minit 📱 Boleh diakses melalui telefon bimbit / komputer 🌐 Boleh dijawab dalam Bahasa Melayu atau Bahasa Inggeris Puan adalah dijemput untuk melengkapkan tinjauan ini menerusi pautan: 🔗surveymonkey.com/r/surirumah Untuk maklumat lanjut, sila e-mel kepada: ✉️ consultant.nuralyasarah@krinstitute.org ✉️ admin@penyelidikan-srr.com Perhatian dan kerjasama anda dalam memberi maklum balas serta menyebarluaskan pemakluman tinjauan ini amatlah dihargai. Terima kasih. #KhazanahResearchInstitute #KRI #Research #Survey #ParticipantNeeded

Recently, I was featured on #ConsiderThis to discuss the current #abandonedhousing situation in Malaysia, drawing from the main findings of my article titled, “Abandoned Housing: An Unfinished Dream”. Check out the article here: shorturl.at/jwPEQ

Your experiences matter! Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) is looking for individuals to participate in a qualitative interview session on behavioral factors that influence the choice of one’s mode of transport. If you live in Klang Valley and have used both private vehicles and public transport in the past 30 days, we would greatly appreciate your insights and perspectives on this topic. Interested in contributing to our research? Scan the QR code on this poster or click the link here: forms.office.com/r/FMBL92TJfp ___________________ Pengalaman anda amat kami hargai! Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) sedang mencari individu untuk mengambil bahagian dalam sesi temu bual mengenai faktor tingkah laku yang mempengaruhi pemilihan mod pengangkutan seseorang. Sekiranya anda tinggal di kawasan Lembah Klang dan pernah menggunakan kedua-dua kenderaan persendirian dan pengangkutan awam dalam tempoh 30 hari yang lalu, kami amat menghargai pandangan dan perspektif anda dalam topik ini. Berminat untuk mengambil bahagian dalam kajian penyelidikan kami? Imbas kod QR dalam poster ini atau klik pautan di sini: forms.office.com/r/8nwiTUE1nX #KhazanahResearchInstitute #KRI #PublicTransport #Research #QualitativeInterview #Interview #KlangValley #ParticipantNeeded

On #ConsiderThis @Melisa_Idris speaks with Theebalakshmi Kunasekaran @KRInstitute & Datuk Chang Kim Loong of the National House Buyers Association about abandoned housing projects in Malaysia. twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

KRI Webinar 2025 The State of Households 2024: Households and the Pandemic 2019–2022 Wednesday, 23 April 2025 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (MYT) Online Via Linkedin Live | Register now to receive a reminder. How did Malaysian households cope through the COVID-19 years, and what does recovery look like? Join Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) as we unveil findings from The State of Households 2024 report, which examines the socioeconomic impact of the pandemic on households across the country between 2019 and 2022. Gain insights into shifts in income, employment, resilience, and inequality — and explore what it means for policy and everyday life. Speakers & Panelists: Moderator: • @yinshaoloong, Deputy Director of Research, KRI Presenters: • @yanaSYA, Research Associate, KRI • @ANTeoh3, Research Associate, KRI • @shazrul_suhaimi, Research Associate, KRI • @AmirahUsamah, Research Associate, KRI Whether you're a policymaker, researcher, civil society advocate, or simply someone who cares about how Malaysian families are really doing, you're warmly invited to join this webinar. #KRIWebinar #StateOfHouseholds2024 #HouseholdWellbeing #DataDrivenPolicy #MalaysiaResearch

Remembering Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi 1939–2025   Khazanah Research Institute extends our deepest condolences to the family of Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Malaysia’s 5th Prime Minister—fondly known as Pak Lah.   A statesman of quiet strength, Pak Lah led Malaysia with calm, dignity, and a steadfast belief in good governance. His leadership was not marked by bold proclamations, but by profound policy changes that sought to restore and strengthen the nation’s fabric.   Under his leadership, the Government-Linked Companies Transformation Programme (GLCT) set the stage for performance-driven governance, transparency, and national progress. The National Integrity Plan (NIP) and the introduction of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) redefined accountability in the civil service, while his institutional reforms—such as the transformation of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) into the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the establishment of the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC)—demonstrated his commitment to institutional integrity and fairness.   Pak Lah’s vision extended to gender equality, advocating for constitutional amendments to prevent discrimination and granting women equal property rights—efforts that reflected his belief in a fairer, more inclusive Malaysia.   His economic strategy was equally visionary. The Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) prioritised rural development, human capital, and innovation, while the economic corridors he launched—Iskandar Malaysia (IM), Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), East Coast Economic Region (ECER), Sabah Development Corridor (SDC), and the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE)—promoted balanced growth beyond urban areas. His recognition of the agri-food sector’s potential for food security and growth was particularly prescient.   Pak Lah's emphasis on pembangunan insan (human development) was a reminder that a nation's true strength lies in its people. His approach, focused on nurturing human capital and fostering an enlightened society, was not just a vision—it was a legacy that resonated deeply with the people, and his leadership was vindicated by the 2004 General Election results.   Pak Lah believed in building—not breaking. His leadership was marked not by fanfare, but by integrity. His legacy lives on in the policies he shaped and the integrity he championed.   May he rest in peace. Al-Fatihah.

I shared some thoughts on how Budget 2025’s tax relief benefits may not be universal as many still won’t qualify for housing loans. To tackle housing affordability, we need more than just financing mechanisms. Structural reforms like build-then-sell matter too. Read more here.

In my latest article, I discuss whether forced eviction is an ethical solution for dealing with rent arrears and subletting. My view is that while eviction may be unjust for tenants in extreme poverty, it is justified when subletting is involved.