Escalating prices of building materials, higher manpower costs due to shortage of labour as well as hidden costs are among the main concerns of property developers in Johor.

KSL Holdings Bhd executive director Ku Hwa Seng said these problems did not just apply to Johor. He believes that developers nationwide also faced similar predicament.

He said the infrastructure projects outlined in the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) and Budget 2011 would further push up prices of building materials and labour costs in the next five years.

“The demand for residential properties in Johor, especially in the Johor Baru district, has improved as the economy gets better but developers might have problems kicking off new launches,’’ Ku told StarBiz.

He said building materials prices had increased between 10% and 15% in the last 12 months while labour costs had risen by 50%, compared with two or three years ago.

Ku said that shortage of labour was still the main problem for construction companies.

Mahabuilders Bhd group chairman Mustapha Hassan said while the increase in the prices of building materials was relatively stabilised, the same could not be said for the labour costs.

“Like it or not, we still need foreigners to work at project our sites, locals are not interested or else many projects will be delayed not only the ones by the private sector but also by the public sector,’’ he said.

Mahabuilders is among the few in Malaysia specialising in acquiring and reviving abandoned property projects and labeled as a white knight the construction industry.

Among the company’s revived projects to date include Taman Baiduri Johor Baru, Skudai Villa, Indera Wangsa Larkin, Senai industrial park and Pandan City Johor Baru.

Source: http://www.iskandarmalaysia.com.my/news/101116/rising-building-material-labour-and-hidden-costs-main-concern-for-johor-developers

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