KOTA KINABALU: Sabah property developers introduced more affordable homes at the 25th Property Exhibition (PropEX) 2026 in response to sustained demand from genuine owner-occupiers, despite rising construction costs and global economic uncertainties.
Sabah Housing and Real Estate Developers Association (Shareda) President Datuk Johnny Wong Chen Yee said the trend was evident at the annual exhibition, where developers showcased 2,124 affordable housing units worth RM475.65 million, accounting for nearly 25 per cent of all properties on display.
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The affordable homes, priced between RM272,000 and RM400,000, are located in Luyang, Menggatal, Kinarut and Papar, targeting first-time buyers and young families.
“The exhibition features a record 8,506 residential and commercial properties with a combined gross development value (GDV) of RM5.49 billion, compared with 6,306 units worth RM5.6 billion last year.
“The overall property value is slightly lower because developers are introducing a significantly larger number of affordable homes to meet current market demand,” he said at the Sabah International Convention Centre.
According to Johnny, the exhibition also featured 11 single-storey terrace houses, 756 double-storey terrace houses and 78 semi-detached homes, with landed property prices starting from about RM390,000.
Prospective buyers had the opportunity to explore residential and commercial developments in Kota Kinabalu, Sepanggar, Telipok, Tuaran, Putatan, Penampang, Kinarut, Papar, Beaufort, Sipitang, Sandakan and Tawau.
He said eligible Bumiputera purchasers would continue to enjoy a five per cent discount under the Sabah Government’s 30 per cent Bumiputera quota policy.
“The global economy continues to face uncertainties arising from geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, rising construction costs and fuel price adjustments.
These challenges inevitably increase the cost of property development.
“Nevertheless, Sabah’s residential property market remains fundamentally resilient because demand continues to be driven largely by genuine home ownership rather than speculative activity. This provides a stable foundation for sustainable long-term growth, and this resilience was clearly reflected at Shareda PropEX 2026,” he said.
Johnny welcomed recent legislative reforms and ongoing efforts to streamline development approvals, saying the measures would improve regulatory efficiency and support the delivery of more affordable homes across the State.
He said Shareda’s close collaboration with the State Ministry of Local Government and Housing had resulted in significant progress on several initiatives benefiting both the Government and the property industry.
“We are particularly grateful for the recent passing of the Building Management Bill 2026 and the Land (Subsidiary Title) Bill 2026. These landmark legislations resolve long-standing issues relating to strata management, subsidiary land titles and ownership certainty, while providing greater confidence for homebuyers, developers and investors alike.
“The enactment of these laws will strengthen Sabah’s overall property ecosystem,” he said.
Johnny also welcomed the ministry’s commitment to finalising the Sabah Dealing with Construction Permits (DCP) Manual, accelerating the digitalisation of development approvals and enhancing regulatory efficiency.
He said the initiatives would strengthen governance, improve the ease of doing business and facilitate the timely delivery of quality housing developments throughout Sabah.
Looking ahead, Johnny said Shareda looked forward to working more closely with the ministry and relevant agencies to further reduce development costs by improving transparency and consistency in infrastructure contribution requirements imposed by utility providers and technical agencies.
He said lowering costs related to external infrastructure provided by agencies such as the Water Department, Sabah Electricity (SE) and the Department of Sewerage Services would enable developers to pass on the savings to homebuyers.
