Khazanah Research Institute Breaking Perceptions on Affordable Housing

## Overview
Khazanah Research Institute (KRI) today launched its latest publication “The Status of the Paddy and Rice Industry in Malaysia” (KRI Rice Report) at its event “The State of Food in Malaysia”.

## Key Topics
- **Housing affordability in the country has not improved significantly between 2002 and 2016, partly stemming from the unresponsiveness of housing supply to effective demand.** A comprehensive housing agenda needs to move towards guiding and managing the housing sector as a whole, recognising housing as a basic need and a base for asset accumulation.

- **The government has different roles for the social and market sectors.** It can concentrate on building good quality homes for the former and provide regulations for a competitive operating environment for the latter.

- **There is a need to modernize the construction and real estate sector.** By embracing technology and innovation, house prices can be made generally more affordable.

- **The development of good quality housing standards should be executed through a participatory process.** Without public feedback on the process, policymakers might find themselves enforcing a standard that is disengaged from the true needs of the people.

## Conclusion
"Making good quality housing more affordable is a long-term joint-venture initiative from all parties; the government, the firms and the society at large."

To learn more about the housing industry in Malaysia, visit KRI’s website at [www.krinstitute.org](http://www.krinstitute.org/) for the full report.