LETTER | Dear editor, I’m an ordinary Malaysian with some experience navigating our property market.

The recent announcement by Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming on the proposed Real Property Development Act (RPDA) and the digitalisation of processes such as electronic sales and purchase agreement (eSPA) is a welcome one.

For too long, homebuyers have had to deal with uncertainty and unclear processes, and I believe these proposed reforms will finally give ordinary Malaysians some clarity and reassurance once they are passed.

While not personally affected, I have seen too many friends and relatives impacted negatively. Some waited years beyond the promised date for their keys. Others learnt too late that their project was “sick” or abandoned and ended up losing their money.

Each story is heartbreaking because buying a home is one of the biggest commitments we can make in life. Malaysians sink their life savings and Employees Provident Fund (EPF) withdrawals into a property, only to receive a shock when things go wrong.

This is why the RPDA matters. Our current Act 118 was written nearly 60 years ago, when the housing market was much simpler. Now, we have mixed-use developments, commercial-titled residences, and small office/home office (Soho) units being sold like homes.

Many of these newer developments fall outside the jurisdiction of Act 118, and when problems happen, buyers often discover too late that their rights are unclear or limited.

By expanding protection to more types of developments, buyers are covered no matter what kind of property they purchase, and this is long overdue, in my opinion. Anyone spending hundreds of thousands of ringgit on a property deserves proper safeguards.

During his announcement, Nga also highlighted stronger enforcement and earlier intervention. This is a necessary step.

Right now, action is usually taken only when a project is already facing trouble. By then, it’s too late. Stepping in earlier can prevent projects from falling into distress, while rebuilding trust in the property sector at the same time.

I must also commend the move to introduce eSPA as a fully digitised sales and purchase agreement. This is a practical improvement that I think many Malaysians can agree on.

With identity verification, secure online signatures, and a clear audit trail, we can reduce the chances of manipulation, missing signatures, and disputes down the line.

Of course, what matters most in Malaysia is implementation. We want a system that is user-friendly, stable, and secure, and enforcement that is responsive and firm, so that developers take their responsibilities seriously.

As someone who went through my own trials to own a home one day, I believe these reforms can make the journey safer and more secure for all Malaysians. Thank you.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.