PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Malaysia) programme tackles Covid-19 market trends and consumer sentiment in 2021

Malaysia’s most prestigious real estate awards will harness the power of digital and social media amidst the pandemic

• People’s lives are digitalised under the Movement Control Order, with social networking and streaming taking centre stage
• Malaysia remains a buyer’s market as one in three Malaysians intend to continue their property purchases this year
• Market recovery is in sight for the second half of 2021, coinciding with the annual PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Malaysia), which will be held virtually for a second year
• New award categories include honours for the Best Pandemic Response/New Normal Design and the Best Integrated WFH (Work From Home) Development

KUALA LUMPUR — 20 April 2021

The PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Malaysia), presented in 2021 by platinum sponsor Kohler, hosted a virtual roundtable on Tuesday (20 April) as the organisers issued a call anew for nominations and entries to the programme’s eighth annual edition, which will also be the programme’s second consecutive virtual ceremony.

The online roundtable discussion was moderated by Jules Kay, managing director of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards and Events, who spoke about the 2021 awards series, including the shift to virtual or hybrid events, and broadcasting the awarding ceremony digitally to reach more audiences including property consumers and agents.

With 75 percent of construction affected in the past year, Malaysia remains a buyer’s market during the shutdown, according to Sheldon Fernandez, country manager of PropertyGuru.com.my, citing highlights from the latest Consumer Sentiment Study H1 2021 during the roundtable.

The PropertyGuru consumer report revealed that people’s lives have been digitalised under the Movement Control Order (MCO), with social networking platforms, online property portals and streaming taking centre stage. The extended period of the MCO also saw the rise in popularity of virtual tours as one of the primary tools for sellers and buyers, with one in three Malaysians expressing intent to continue with property purchases this year, the study revealed.

Prem Kumar, chairperson of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Malaysia) and deputy managing director of Jones Lang Wootton, discussed during the roundtable his pragmatic look at the state of the real estate sector amidst the MCO and shared his insights for a market recovery post-pandemic. Kumar also reiterated the credibility, transparency and independence of the judging process, and how the new categories this year reflected the strength of the market.

Pandemic response and new normal

Acknowledging the property sector’s adaptability to the new global health and business realities, the latest edition of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Malaysia) will have honours for the Best Pandemic Response/New Normal Design, and the Best Integrated WFH Development.

Other new categories this year include accolades for Best Smart Home Development, Best Investment Development, Best Senior Living Development, Best Co-Living Development, Best Clubhouse Design, and Best Commercial Interior Design.

Dato’ Patrick Chew, senior partner with HLB Ler Lum Chew – HLB Malaysia, talked about the exciting new role of the company as the official supervisor of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Malaysia). Chew also shared some market observations and the global advisory and accounting network’s prospects in the era of Covid-19.

More: Malaysia’s robust industrial property sector reinforces an otherwise bleak outlook for 2021

The roundtable was also joined by Leo Leong, general manager of Kohler Kitchen & Bath, South & North East Asia, who spoke about design trends in kitchen and bathrooms in the region, as well as the global brand’s philanthropic response to the pandemic. Kohler is the returning platinum sponsor of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Malaysia), which currently accepts nominations and entry submissions until Friday, 27 August 2021.

Malaysia’s winning and Highly Commended developers and projects will be revealed on Thursday, 25 November during a virtual gala event and awards ceremony that will stream live on AsiaPropertyAwards.com/tv-podcast and the official channels on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube.

Key dates for the 2021 edition: 

• 1 January 2021 – Entries Open
• 27 August 2021 – Entries Close
• 6 September-1 October 2021 – Site Inspections
• 6 October 2021 – Final Judging
• 25 November 2021 – Virtual Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony (Malaysia Edition)
• 9 December 2021 – Regional Grand Final Gala Event (Virtual Edition)

Nominations from the public and official entries from eligible companies and projects are currently being accepted here: AsiaPropertyAwards.com/nominations

As a virtual gala event and awards presentation, the forthcoming PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Malaysia) in November 2021 will observe proper protocols in accordance with Malaysian health and safety standards at all stages, including the site inspections.

In 2020, the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards online gala series, which included the first virtual gala edition of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Malaysia), was viewed more than 516,000 times and reached viewers and property investors in more than 75 countries worldwide. Giving the programme a more international scope, highlights of the 2021 Malaysia gala event will air on the History Channel, the official cable TV partner of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards.

More: 6 reasons why Mont Kiara has become a sought-after address in Malaysia

Those who win in the main categories will have an opportunity to compete at the 16th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final and gain the titles of “Best in Asia.” Last year, i-Park @ Senai Airport City by IPark Development Sdn. Bhd. won Best Industrial Estate Development (Asia) at the regional competition.

This year’s 16th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final will premiere on Thursday, 9 December. It will be preceded by the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit, the tech and thought leadership platform of PropertyGuru Group.

Organised by Southeast Asia’s leading property technology company, PropertyGuru Group, the 8th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Malaysia) programme is supported by platinum sponsor Kohler; official portal partner PropertyGuru.com.my; official cable TV partner History Channel; official magazine PropertyGuru Property Report; official PR partner Klareco Communications; media partners KopiandProperty.com, Malaysian Business, Penang Property Talk, and The Grid; official charity partner Right To Play; official ESG partner Baan Dek Foundation; and official supervisor HLB Ler Lum Chew – HLB Malaysia.

For more information, email [email protected] or visit the official website: AsiaPropertyAwards.com.