KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 29): The National Property Information Centre’s (Napic) e-data will be available to the public for purchase starting Feb 1, according to Napic director Norhisham Shafie at the 18th Malaysian Property Summit (18MPS) held at the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel & Convention Centre on Thursday. 

Previously, Napic’s e-data service, comprising details of property transactions, was only available for purchase to valuers, appraisers and estate agents registered with the Board of Valuers, Appraisers and Estate Agents (Boveap).

“Starting Feb 1, 2026, (Napic) e-data will be available for anybody to purchase — whether you’re in prop tech, an academician or you just want to know the price of your property. This includes rental data,” said Norhisham during a panel discussion at the summit.

Norhisham added that this move is in line with the government’s efforts to offer data transparency to the public and encourage the use of technology for more efficient data analysis. 

Emphasising the need for accurate and unbiased data to make sound decision-making, Rahim & Co International Property Consultants director of research and 18MPS committee member Sulaiman Saheh said, “Data transparency is outrightly important. It is only with correct data, that you can make correct conclusions, which is enabled through correct skill sets and qualifications. Unbiasedness, professionalism and integrity are also very important.”

Speaking at the press conference that took place after the panel discussion, Sulaiman added that while comprehensive data is critical, it should be complemented with professional execution to ensure sound decision-making across authorities in the public and private sectors. However, he stated therein lies a risk of data generalisation.

“[Data] needs to be interpreted in a correct manner within the right context. As property consultants, we look into specific contexts, and [our findings] need to be synergised between data sources from Napic and research from economists, land economists, valuers, property consultants and related professionals,” said Sulaiman.

On the broader impact of improved data granularity and public access, former Malaysian Investment Development Authority board member and Taylor’s University professor Ong Kian Ming, at the press conference, said local authorities could benefit significantly.

“Different government agencies are able to use this data for different planning purposes, so even for the local councils that approve a lot of these buildings, they may not have access to very accurate data that is easily analysed. This then can help their planning, help committee[s] do the necessary approvals in terms of density, and so on,” he said. 

Ong referenced the redevelopment of the National Address System by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, announced on Jan 6, 2025, and said Napic data should be restructured similarly. 

“One postcode [in Malaysia] represents too big of an area. If you look at most developed countries such as the UK, their postcode is actually more or less a GPS coordinate. So having this reclassification would be helpful in terms of granularity and benefit data variables,” he said.