Kota Kinabalu: Sabah is seeing robust development in the property sector with a steady rise in development plan applications worth billions of ringgit submitted to the State Planning Council under the State Local Government and Housing Ministry.
Its Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin bin Mohd Arif said it is a strong indication of positive economic growth and healthy development momentum in the sector.
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He said the Council approved more than 30 development plan applications with a combined gross development value (GDV) of about RM1.4 billion in June this year.
“The Council meets on a monthly basis and is tasked with identifying, assessing and streamlining the processing of development proposals, and granting interim approval, including those involving housing, industrial and tourism projects.
“Approvals granted are subjected to developers fulfilling all requirements set by the relevant ministries and agencies, including those involving environmental protection, road infrastructure and other technical compliance,” he told a press conference after opening the three-day Shareda’s 25th PropEX 2026 and launching the JSK Group’s latest residential project, Taman Universiti Utama, at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), on Thursday.
He said the (interim) approvals last month covered mainly residential and industrial developments, as well as several tourism infrastructure projects.
According to him, the Council receives many applications every month, reflecting healthy economic growth and continued investor confidence in Sabah.
In May alone, he said the Council received about 70 development plan applications, involving an estimated GDV of RM4 billion.
He said the streamlined approval process is aimed at accelerating development planning while ensuring projects complied with existing regulations.
He said his Ministry would continue to facilitate development proposals through the State Planning Council to ensure projects that benefit the people could be implemented more efficiently.
On affordable housing, Dr Mohd Arifin said the State Government is working closely with the Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (Shareda) and the Sabah Housing and Town Development Board (LPPB) to increase the supply of homes for first-time buyers and lower-income groups.
He said LPPB would continue to develop affordable housing projects priced between RM60,000 and RM100,000 in several districts across Sabah, to cater for B40 and lower income groups, especially those married couples.
“These initiatives complement the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development agenda and are intended to ensure more Sabahans have access to affordable home ownership,” he said.
Earlier, Dr Mohd Arifin commended Shareda for organising the annual property exhibition, describing it as an important platform for connecting homebuyers with suitable housing developments while supporting the State’s overall economic growth.
Also present were Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Ceasar Mandela, Local Government and Housing Assistant Minister Datuk Fairuz Renddan, Deputy State Secretary Stanley Chong, Shareda President Datuk Johnny Wong Chen Yee who is also JSK Group Managing Director, WSG Group Managing Director Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen and other officials.
