14/06/2025

SATURDAY | JUNE 14, 2025

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Abandoned buildings bane of property market

KUALA LUMPUR: Resembling haunted houses from horror films, abandoned buildings – from stalled projects to neglected heritage sites – are a familiar sight in urban areas. Overrun by thick bushes, with some even sprouting trees from within, these structures are more than just eyesores. They pose serious risks to the surrounding communities, providing breeding grounds for mosquitoes that spread diseases such as dengue, and attracting dangerous animals such as snakes. Experts believe it is time to resolve the long standing issue, especially as Malaysia prepares for Visit Malaysia Year 2026. Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia department of civil engineering associate professor Dr Norwati Jamaluddin said abandoned buildings should not be left to deteriorate. “Apart from their dilapidated appearance, abandoned structures often create hazardous environments, with risks such as collapsing fixtures due to lack of maintenance. “They also tend to attract individuals who o Neglected structures devalue surrounding units, burden authorities and let criminal activities fester

engage in activities such as vandalism, drug abuse and other crimes, leading to public unease,” she told Bernama. Norwati added that abandoned units drag down the value of surrounding properties and could become an economic burden for agencies, including local authorities. “They also burden local councils through lost tax revenue and increased maintenance, restoration and enforcement costs.” She also linked abandoned buildings to the Broken Windows Theory, which suggests that visible neglect propagates deeper, systemic problems if left unresolved. “If a structure continues to deteriorate, it could lead to higher losses down the line, especially if it requires complete reconstruction. “Even if these buildings are privately owned, government image still suffers due to perceived poor management,” Norwati said, adding that the authorities should assess whether to reuse, demolish or rebuild on such sites. Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia faculty of engineering and built environment senior lecturer Nasrudin Sharkawi said stalled projects reflect failures in coordination and implementation in the construction industry. “There are several contributing factors, including impractical designs that ignore local context, resulting in projects failing to attract buyers or tenants even after completion.” He added that delayed or cancelled funding, particularly for government projects, could leave structures partially built and abandoned.

According to Kuala Lumpur City Hall records, a total of 48 abandoned buildings have been identified around the capital as of Feb 20. – A D I B RAWI YAHYA/THE SUN

were commercial premises. She added that abandoned buildings are not limited to suburban areas but are also found in high-value commercial areas in the city centre, such as Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Pudu and Jalan Gombak. According to the National Housing Department, as of May 31, there were 17 static category abandoned private housing projects nationwide, some dating back to 1989. The department added that 45 other projects are in the process of being revived. Apart from private commercial and residential properties, abandoned government owned premises also contribute to the problem, such as the heritage-status Federal Court building opposite Dataran Merdeka, reported to be abandoned in January. Similarly, the state government office complex on Jalan Changkat Jong in Teluk Intan, Perak – once a bustling centre for official affairs – now stands unused.

“If such projects are later resumed, the cost of completing them is often higher than the original budget due to additional expenses such as repairing damage, vandalism or theft at unmonitored sites.” Nasrudin said similar issues affect heritage buildings, which are caught between the need to preserve their historical value and the challenge of adapting them for modern use. He also said in many cases, efforts to restore such buildings are hampered by various problems, including legal constraints, overly strict conservation guidelines and a lack of appropriate incentives for building owners. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa was previously reported as saying a total of 48 abandoned buildings have been identified around the capital as of Feb 20. She said according to the latest records from Kuala Lumpur City Hall, 25 of them were residential buildings while the remaining 23

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