STRATA SUBDIVISION TERMINATION: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK TO INTEGRATE SUSTAINABLE URBAN REDEVELOPMENT GOALS IN SOLVING MALAYSIA’S DILAPIDATED HOUSING SCHEME

Abstract

Dilapidated high-rise strata residential buildings in Malaysia offer a significant potential for sustainable urban redevelopment. Beyond their unsightly and uncomfortable state, these structures also pose potential safety risks to the residents. However, the existing legal framework governing strata subdivision termination causes significant challenges that may hinder redevelopment efforts. Despite the presence of dilapidated strata schemes in Kuala Lumpur and Penang that are suitable for redevelopment, the lack of applications for termination in the Land Office suggests that the current legal framework may be a barrier to progress. To address these issues, this study investigates the current challenges of strata subdivision termination process in these two states through a qualitative approach. By conducting semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, key challenges were identified, including a rigid consent threshold, conflicts of property rights, and ineffective decision-making processes. To address these challenges, a conceptual framework is proposed that suggests the current process can be significantly improve by reducing the consent threshold, improve the safeguard for dissenting owners, provide platform for dispute resolution and create a time-based engagement process to ensure that the redevelopment can be achieved within stipulated times. This study incorporates the SMART goals to ensure that the conceptual framework is clear, achievable, measurable, relevant, and time bound. By streamlining the termination process and aligning it with SDG 11, this framework aims to contribute to a more efficient and effective urban redevelopment landscape in Malaysia.