PEPS opens every year with the Malaysian Property Summit. The 2026 edition, the eighteenth, took place on 29 January in Kuala Lumpur.
This recap sets out what was on the programme, who spoke, and the questions each session put to the industry. Valuers, property managers, estate agents and investors will be working with those questions for the rest of 2026.
Key takeaways
- 18MPS: Thursday, 29 January 2026, Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel & Convention Centre.
- Theme: "Reshaping Real Estate: Alternative Assets, Adaptive Reuse & the Future".
- Three sessions: the 2026 market and macro outlook; SEZs and industrial real estate; ESG, digitalisation and commercial assets.
- Speakers came from NAPIC (JPPH), MIDA, SERC, Knight Frank, CBRE | WTW, Rahim & Co., Northmod, UTM and Pelaburan Hartanah Berhad.
What was the 18th Malaysian Property Summit 2026?
The 18th Malaysian Property Summit (18MPS) was PEPS's annual flagship conference, held on Thursday, 29 January 2026, at the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel & Convention Centre. Its theme was "Reshaping Real Estate: Alternative Assets, Adaptive Reuse & the Future", covered across three sessions with ten moderators and speakers.
Sr Subramaniam Arumugam, President of PEPS, gave the welcoming speech. The day then ran as three moderated sessions. Each session ended with questions from the floor, and a press conference took place over the morning break. Between them, the sessions moved from the national market picture to two asset classes under pressure to change: industrial property and commercial buildings.
What did the 2026 market outlook session cover?
Session 1, "Malaysia Property Market Trends & Macroeconomic Outlook: Insights for 2026 and Beyond", combined property market data with the wider economy. It examined sectoral demand, lending behaviour and interest rates, and set the market against the 13th Malaysia Plan (2026–2030). NAPIC's director, a MIDA board member and SERC's executive director spoke.
- Moderator: Ms Amy Wong Siew Fong, Executive Director, Knight Frank Malaysia Sdn Bhd
- Sr Norhisham bin Shafie, Director, National Property Information Centre (NAPIC), JPPH
- Prof Ong Kian Ming, Board Member, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA)
- Mr Lee Heng Guie, Executive Director, Socio-Economic Research Centre (SERC)
Why are SEZs and industrial property Malaysia's next growth frontier?
The programme describes industrial real estate as one of the most resilient parts of Malaysia's property market. Demand is being reshaped by global supply chain shifts, growing e-commerce and new Special Economic Zones, drawing investment into logistics hubs, warehouses, data centres and green industrial parks.
Session 2, "SEZs and Industrial Real Estate: Unlocking Malaysia's Next Growth Frontier", also covered valuation trends, financing and long-term risks.
- Moderator: PMgr Dr Sr Kamalahasan a/l Achu, Senior Lecturer, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
- Sr Allan Sim, Senior Executive Director, Knight Frank Malaysia Sdn Bhd
- Mr Jon Sim, Investment Director, Northmod Pte Ltd
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How are ESG and digitalisation changing commercial property?
Offices are being redefined by hybrid work, retail is adapting to e-commerce and experiential demand, and hotels are adjusting to new travel patterns. The summit's third session looked at what that means for valuation, redevelopment, repositioning underperforming malls and building ESG and digital strategy into asset plans.
Session 3 was titled "Adapting to New Realities: ESG, Digitalisation, and the Future of Commercial Assets".
- Moderator: Ms Nisa Hashim, Senior Manager, Corporate Strategy (Research), Pelaburan Hartanah Berhad
- Sr Tan Ka Leong, Group Managing Director, CBRE | WTW Malaysia
- Mr Siva Shanker, Director, Estate Agency, Rahim & Co. International Sdn Bhd
18MPS sessions and speakers at a glance
| Session | Focus | Moderator | Speakers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Market trends and macroeconomic outlook, 2026 and beyond | Amy Wong Siew Fong (Knight Frank Malaysia) | Sr Norhisham bin Shafie (NAPIC, JPPH) · Prof Ong Kian Ming (MIDA) · Lee Heng Guie (SERC) |
| 2 | SEZs and industrial real estate | PMgr Dr Sr Kamalahasan a/l Achu (UTM) | Sr Allan Sim (Knight Frank Malaysia) · Jon Sim (Northmod) |
| 3 | ESG, digitalisation and commercial assets | Nisa Hashim (Pelaburan Hartanah Berhad) | Sr Tan Ka Leong (CBRE | WTW Malaysia) · Siva Shanker (Rahim & Co. International) |
Why was adaptive reuse on the agenda?
Adaptive reuse means giving an existing building a new use instead of demolishing it. The 18MPS theme placed it beside alternative assets as one of the forces reshaping real estate. PEPS explored the idea earlier in January in its article on extending the life of existing buildings.
Read it here: Building adaptation: the way forward to extend existing building life.
Frequently asked questions
When and where was the 18th Malaysian Property Summit held?
On Thursday, 29 January 2026, at the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel & Convention Centre.
Who organises the Malaysian Property Summit?
PEPS, the Association of Valuers, Property Managers, Estate Agents and Property Consultants in the Private Sector, Malaysia. It holds the summit every year.
What was the theme of 18MPS?
"Reshaping Real Estate: Alternative Assets, Adaptive Reuse & the Future."
Who spoke on the 2026 market outlook at 18MPS?
Sr Norhisham bin Shafie of NAPIC (JPPH), Prof Ong Kian Ming of MIDA and Lee Heng Guie of SERC, moderated by Amy Wong Siew Fong of Knight Frank Malaysia.
Each of the three sessions ends on a question your clients will ask you this year. Registered valuers (V), estate agents (E) and property managers (PM) need 10 LPPEH (BOVAEP) CPD credit hours a year, or 5 if over 55. Book Board-approved seminars through PEPS CPD, or contact the PEPS Secretariat at Plaza Damas, Sri Hartamas.
Source: PEPS, Malaysian Property Summit programme for the 18th summit, 29 January 2026.