We applaud our Minister of Housing and Local Government YB Tuan Nga Kor Ming’s announcement of the proposed Building Managers Act.

This Act is overdue in the light of the increasing development of stratified buildings and also the development of mixed- use integrated developments requiring more complex management of such buildings owned by multiple owners and integrated buildings of different usage. A well-managed and maintained building will preserve and enhance property values and investments for the benefit of property owners.

All stratified buildings have significant common areas, which have to be managed and maintained. The current Strata Management Act (SMA) has provided the mechanism for such management of common properties through the Joint Management Body(JMB) /Management Corporation(MC) with duly elected strata owners carrying the responsibility for and on behalf of the entire body of property owners in a stratified building scheme.

The SMA structure basically empowers the JMB/MC the right to self- manage and the ability to engage “agent” to perform the day-to-day tasks of managing and maintaining the common properties of the building.

In the event the JMB/MC fails to perform, then the Commissioner of Buildings (COB) can appoint a “Managing Agent “ to take over the day-to-day management and maintenance of the common properties.

The rights to appoint “agents” by the JMB/MC and the rights of the COB to appoint “Managing Agent” must be preserved.

In view of the increasing numbers of stratified developments and the increasing complexity and adoption of technology, automation and energy efficiency, demand for experienced and skilled building managers are required with multiple skill-sets to meet the sophistication of modern buildings design. Managing such increasingly sophisticated buildings will require multi-disciplinary skills coupled with continuous upskilling and learning.

It is indeed timely for a dedicated Board of Building Managers to be established under the auspices of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT).

This is a natural continuum of oversight of KPKT from building design and approvals, Certification of Completion, Fire Safety and Health, Regular Structural Integrity Certification, Licensing of operations and businesses. Furthermore, the SMA together with the COB are the ready legal structures adopted to oversee and manage the building management of stratified buildings.

The Board of Building Managers shall be responsible to register and categorise all qualified Building Managers from different pathways from academia and also through skills horn from experience and as skilled practitioners. This will create a growing pool of talent and experienced practitioners to complement the growing need from the development of more and more stratified buildings.

Furthermore, with the proposed Property Development Act, which will expand the oversight of KPKT to encompass Commercial Developments, it is timely to establish the Board Building Managers to prepare for this professionalism needed to manage and maintain all such properties to ensure preservation of well-maintained living and working environment in such buildings and ultimately increase and preserve all value and investment in the built environment.