Bank Negara: Risks contained for non-residential property sector despite challenges
Risks in the non-residential property (NRP) sector remained contained in the second half of 2024 (2H 2024) despite continued challenges
Group managing director Keith Ooi said the property market is evolving in tandem with regional trends, with growing demand for environmental, social and governance (ESG)-compliant offices and green-certified developments driving notable investment activity.
“Insights from Real Estate Highlights (REH) for the second half of 2024 (2H24) and the Commercial Real Estate Investment Sentiment Survey (CREISS) 2025 emphasised the nation’s potential for sustainable growth and opportunities for innovative asset repositioning in the coming year.
“The office sector continues to adapt as companies place greater emphasis on high-quality, ESG-certified spaces to attract and retain talent,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Ooi said that this shift towards “premium offices” has spurred significant investments in renovations and redevelopments, particularly in key locations like Kuala Lumpur.
“Our recent findings from CREISS 2025 and REH 2H24 highlighted the increasing focus on green-certified solutions aligned with corporate sustainability goals, positioning Malaysia as an attractive market offering a balance of cost-efficiency and premium office spaces,” he added.
The report revealed that 45% of office transactions earmarked for redevelopment or renovation focused on upgrading and enhancing office specifications in 2024.
The issue of building obsolescence became more prominent over the past year, as Grade B and lower-tier buildings face increasing challenges in leasing due to a growing “flight-to-quality” trend among corporate occupiers.
