PETALING JAYA: The government is seeking more feedback on the Residential Tenancy Act (RTA) and wants buy-in from all stakeholders before the proposed law is tabled in Parliament, says the Housing and Local Government Ministry.

       Its minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican said although the official date for feedback on the RTA through the Malaysia Productivity Corporation ended on Feb 28, it still welcomes more engagement on it.

       “Yes, the official date for public opinions is closed, but we are still open to more feedback.

       “Everything is still at a work-in-progress stage and I wish to see more extensive public engagement first before it becomes a ‘finished product’.

       “Feedback and opinions from related parties will be thoroughly looked into and discussed further before we put it forward to the Parliament,” he said when contacted.

       In a Facebook post on Feb 23, Reezal said that he was unhappy and disagreed with some of the initial proposals put forward in the RTA.

       Real Estate and Housing Developers Association Malaysia (Rehda) acting president Datuk NK Tong said although the association recognises the good intention behind the RTA, not all tenants and landlords have the same needs and capabilities, and require different levels of protection, particularly tenants from the B40 group.

       “Some of the main concerns highlighted is that the RTA should only be applicable in specific circumstances.

       “In principle, Rehda strongly opposes government intervention in what should be a private agreement between two parties,” Tong said in a statement on March 3.

       Rehda also strongly disagrees with any form of rent control, including the proposed restriction on the number and quantum of rent increases, he added.

       Rent control will only retard investment in property and ultimately negatively impact economic growth, Rehda has argued.

       It also said that the proposal to disallow a landlord from claiming the rent of an unexpired term in the event of breach by the tenant is unjust, adding that defaulting tenant should not be given protection since the landlord is the one who will suffer when a tenant is in breach.