Malaysia’s Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) is creating a big data analytics platform to help private developers improve housing planning and better match supply with demand, Minister Nga Kor Ming announced on July 31 at the AREC Forum 2026 in Kuala Lumpur [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].

Once fully implemented, KPKT will allow developers to subscribe to the platform, enabling them to base their housing feasibility studies on data rather than assumptions, Nga said: “When all the developers come up with a scheme, their feasibility studies will be data-driven” [1].

The ministry stressed that Malaysia does not face a housing shortage but rather a mismatch between the types of housing available and the needs of buyers [1, 2, 3, 4]. To address this, KPKT is studying the housing needs of the M40 income group to align future housing products more closely with market demand [1, 2, 3].

The Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme (SJKP) has helped over 95,000 homebuyers secure financing, supporting the nation’s home ownership goals [1, 2, 3, 4].

KPKT has formed a special task force led by the ministry's secretary-general to review and reduce compliance costs for developers. Nga explained these efforts aim to streamline regulatory requirements while safeguarding public interest: “Reducing unnecessary compliance costs would help improve project viability without compromising safety and regulatory standards. We have to safeguard the public interest. At the same time, we also have to make sure that the private sector is commercially viable” [1, 2, 3, 5].

The ministry also supports transit-oriented developments (TOD) without parking bays in areas with comprehensive public transport, such as near MRT 3 and LRT 3 lines. Eliminating parking bays could lower construction costs and make homes more affordable. Nga said, “Jika kita mengurangkan syarat seperti pembinaan tempat letak kereta, kos pembangunan boleh dikurangkan. Tetapi harga rumah juga mesti turun jika tiada bangunan tempat letak kereta setinggi 8 tingkat, rumah tidak boleh dijual dengan harga mahal” (If parking bay requirements are reduced, development costs can be lowered, but housing prices must also drop accordingly if parking buildings are removed) [1, 3, 5].

However, any increases in building density must carefully consider impacts on traffic, public facilities, and community welfare to protect public interest, KPKT noted [5]. The ministry views high-density developments as the future but only when supported by strong public transport networks [5].

The big data platform is slated for rollout following the July 31 announcement. It represents a concrete step for KPKT to enhance data-driven housing planning and coordination between the government and private developers [1, 2, 3, 4].