Illegal brokers from neighboring countries giving Malaysia bad rep — deputy housing minister

The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) plans to work with relevant stakeholders to tackle the issue of more illegal brokers in Malaysia, said its Deputy Minister Raja Kamarul Bahrin Shah Raja Ahmad.

Raja Kamarul said some of these illegal brokers are from neighboring countries and many of them go home after committing crimes and developing a bad reputation here, he told EdgeProp.my at the National Real Estate Awards (NREA) gala dinner organised by the Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA) here tonight. "I hear concerns and disgruntlement that there are a growing number of illegals and that enforcement is the biggest issue.

"I am also made to understand that there are illegal brokers disguised as marketing firms to represent the developers," Raja Kamarul said.

He said that while the police were empowered to act against these illegal brokers, not even one of them have been charged in the courts.

Hence, his ministry is concerned that illegal brokers are "having the time of their life" practicing illegally due to the lack of enforcement, thus resulting in the public being cheated or misrepresented.

"Since this is a housing issue I am willing to discuss with MIEA, the board [the Board of Valuers, Appraisers, Estate Agents and Property Managers (BOVAEP)], the police and all parties concerned as to how best we can mitigate this problem to ensure the real estate practice is safeguarded.

"I wish to stress that as a developing nation we have no place for illegal brokers. There need to be some forms of regulations," he emphasised.

MIEA president Eric Lim, who was also present at the event, pointed out that illegal brokers are "spreading wildly" throughout the country, causing the government to suffer huge revenue losses while affecting the professionalism of registered estate agents.

"We appeal to the relevant authorities to take action against illegal brokers," he said, adding that illegal brokers should register themselves under BOVAEP before the authorities take action.

Ref: Property Report