The Malaysia Building & Property Summit (MBPS 2026) took place at the Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur today bringing together more than 100 policymakers, developers, financiers, sustainability advocates and technology leaders who explored how Malaysia’s building and property sectors could adapt and thrive in an increasingly complex global environment.
Held under the theme “Powering Smart & Sustainable Development in the New Geoeconomic Era,” the summit served as a strategic platform for discussions on economic transformation, sustainable urbanisation, affordable housing, digital innovation and the future direction of Malaysia’s property ecosystem. The summit opened with welcoming remarks by Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr.) Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman, Honorary Chairman of MBPS 2026 and Executive Chairman of Rahim & Co International Sdn Bhd; Datuk Seri Mohamed Iqbal Rawther, Chairman of the Economic Club of Kuala Lumpur; and Dr. Yu Kee Su, President of FIABCI Malaysia.
The opening keynote address was delivered by YB Datuk Indera Mohd Shahar Abdullah, Deputy Minister of Economy, who addressed the implications of the 13th Malaysia Plan and the state of the economy on the building and property industry. The keynote highlighted the sector’s strategic importance as a key contributor to national growth and economic resilience.
One of the key themes emerging from the summit was the urgent need for industry to embrace sustainability, innovation and collaboration amid changing market conditions and geopolitical uncertainties. Speaking at the summit, Tan Sri Michael Yeoh, President of KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific and moderator for the technology session, said the property and construction sectors were entering a defining period of transformation. “The future of the building and property industry will depend on how effectively we integrate sustainability, technology and human-centric development. MBPS 2026 demonstrated that industry leaders are prepared to rethink traditional models and work collaboratively towards smarter and more resilient growth,” said Tan Sri Michael Yeoh.
The summit featured four major sessions addressing some of the most pressing issues facing the industry. The CEO panel on “The State of the Building and Property Industry – Key Challenges and Opportunities” brought together Mr Oliver Wee, President of the Master Builders Association Malaysia; Mr Previndran Singhe, Chief Executive Officer of Zerin Properties; and Mr Alistair James LaBrooy, Founder of AREA Market Intelligence and Director of AREA Group of Companies. Discussions focused on market resilience, investment sentiment, economic headwinds and strategies for navigating future property cycles. Another key session examined leadership and sustainability in construction and property development, where speakers highlighted the growing importance of ESG integration, green building practices and responsible urban planning. The panel featured Dr Yasmin Rasyid of Sime Darby Property Berhad, Adjunct Practice Professor Cheah Kok Hoong of the ESG Association of Malaysia, Mr Siva Shanker of Rahim & Co Chestertons and Ir. Ashwin Thurairajah of GreenRE Sdn Bhd. The summit also addressed concerns surrounding affordable housing and residential market imbalances. Experts from CBRE | WTW, Khazanah Research Institute, IPP Wealth Managers Ltd, Rahim & Co International Sdn Bhd and Olive Tree Property Consultants discussed strategies to improve housing accessibility, strengthen public-private partnerships and better align housing supply with actual market demand.
Technology and innovation took centre stage during the final session on Property Technology and Smart Solutions, where speakers explored how artificial intelligence (AI), PropTech and digital systems were reshaping construction and property development. Industry leaders discussed both the opportunities and implementation challenges associated with integrating AI-driven solutions into the built environment sector. Speakers in the session included Ts. Poo Ching Loong of YesBoss Corporation, Dr. Daniele Gambero of the Malaysia Property Technology Association, Mr Victor Soosai of Peterson Projects & Solutions (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd and Ts. Ahmad Thibri Mashri of VERITAS Environment Sdn Bhd. In addition to the panel discussions, the summit recognised outstanding industry achievements through the presentation of Special Property Excellence and Top Developers Awards. The organisers stated that the ideas, recommendations and policy insights generated during the summit would contribute towards shaping future industry dialogue and supporting sustainable national development priorities. A post-summit report compiling key findings and recommendations will be prepared for relevant stakeholders and industry leaders.
About KSI
KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific (KSI) is an independent not-for-profit think tank dedicated to improve socio-economic wellbeing through the development of public policy ideas, research, public interaction, and strategic insight. We provide policy advocacy, leadership development and strategic planning to policy makers and business leaders. We are the leading curator of impactful and innovative high-level conferences and forums, providing platforms for the best minds to meet, interact, discuss issues and trends impacting on business and competitiveness.
