No anti-competitive practices in housing market, says Fuziah

KUALA LUMPUR: A study by the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) found no evidence of anti-competitive practices involving housing prices or residential property packages in the housing market, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy domestic trade and cost of living minister Fuziah Salleh said MyCC had conducted various studies and monitoring exercises and received no specific complaints of anti-competitive practices linked to house prices.

Citing the Malaysia House Price Index 2025 published by the National Property Information Centre, she said house prices recorded moderate and sustained growth throughout 2025.

“After reaching a growth rate of 4.4% in the fourth quarter of 2024, the rate gradually eased to 3.5% in the first quarter of 2025.

“It subsequently fell to its lowest level in the fourth quarter of 2025. This indicates that housing market prices have generally remained stable,” she said in response to Ismail Muttalib (PN-Maran) during Ministers’ Question Time.

Fuziah said MyCC had undertaken several studies to determine whether anti-competitive elements that could affect house prices exist within the housing sector and the construction material supply chain.

Among the initiatives were investigations involving sand operators in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, and a market review of construction materials covering four key products: steel, cement, ready-mixed concrete, and sand.

She said the review of cement prices was carried out as cement is a major contributor to construction costs and, by extension, housing prices.

“The findings showed that increases in cement prices were driven by higher raw material costs, particularly coal, as well as rising production expenses, including energy and fuel costs, and logistics and transport costs linked to geographical factors and plant locations,” she said.

Fuziah said MyCC also monitored government procurement processes to detect possible bid-rigging activities, including those related to the housing sector.

However, no investigations involving government housing projects have been initiated to date.

She said the ministry would also consider Ismail’s proposal for a more accessible public reporting mechanism for homebuyers to lodge complaints about suspicious practices or sales pressure exerted by property agents and developers.