We share insights from our recent panel session at the Strata Conference 2026: Toward First-Class Strata Management, held on June 11, 2026, at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Shah Alam.
Organised by the Commissioner of Buildings (COB) office of the Kuala Selangor Municipal Council (MPKS), the event brought together industry policymakers, developers, local authorities, and legal practitioners. The day’s core focus centered heavily on modernising legal frameworks to keep up with the operational realities of high-density and mixed strata developments in Malaysia.
Spearheading Legislative Changes to Act 757
Our partner, Mr. Lai Chee Hoe, was invited to speak as a core panelist during the afternoon forum, “Act 757 Reforms: Addressing Ongoing Issues in Property Management and Governance.”
Drawing from his experience in spearheading the amendments to SMA 2013, Lai shared vital insider insights into the legislative mechanics driving the industry forward. The panel conversation heavily highlighted his ongoing role as an expert advisor appointed by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) to lead and draft the 2026 amendments to both the Strata Management Act 2015 (Act 757) and involving in the amendments to the Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Act 1966.
Key Legal Insights Shared
During the interactive panel dialogue, the discussion broke down how these impending legislative updates aim to fix critical operational bottlenecks:
- Driving Statutory Reform: An inside look at the 2026 advisory panel’s work in reshaping Act 757 to address lingering legal gray areas.
- Mixed-Use Complexity & Rates: Resolving deep-seated disputes over differential maintenance rates and exclusive common property within mixed-use strata developments.
- Empowering JMBs and MCs: Providing legal frameworks that give Joint Management Bodies and Management Corporations clearer, actionable enforcement powers to secure and protect maintenance funds.
The session concluded with an urgent call to action: as urban boundaries densify, a robust, updated legal framework is non-negotiable for safeguarding strata communities and maintaining financial accountability.
Stay tuned here for deeper case breakdowns. For regular updates on legal precedents, bookmark our Strata Blog or browse our archives at Chee Hoe & Associates.
