Modular construction and 3D printing will support faster, cheaper housing without compromising quality.
Malaysia is turning to advanced construction technology to accelerate affordable housing delivery while building stronger domestic capabilities in manufacturing, automation, and modular construction.
Malaysia Targets One Million Homes
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia aims to deliver 500,000 affordable homes by 2030 under the 13th Malaysia Plan, forming part of a wider target of one million homes by 2035. Speaking at International Construction Week and BuildXPO Malaysia 2026 in Kuala Lumpur on November 10, Anwar said technology should make housing construction more efficient and affordable without sacrificing safety, quality, or liveability.
Modular Construction Expected to Accelerate Delivery
Malaysia plans to use advanced modular construction to help meet the housing target. The method involves manufacturing building components in controlled factory environments before transporting them to construction sites for assembly. Anwar also highlighted cooperation between the Construction Industry Development Board and private companies, including exploration of three-dimensional concrete printing technology.
Government Projects Face Higher IBS Requirements
Under the 13th Malaysia Plan, major government and public higher education infrastructure projects valued at RM100 million or more must achieve a minimum Industrialised Building System (IBS) content of 70%. The requirement is intended to encourage wider adoption of modern construction methods and support more technology-driven project delivery.
Malaysia Wants Homegrown Construction Technology
Anwar said Malaysia should move beyond simply importing construction technologies and develop domestic capabilities in their production and commercialization, with the longer-term ambition of exporting them. He called for stronger manufacturing capacity, investment, skilled workers, market demand, and supportive regulations, while ensuring local contractors and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) gain access to knowledge, training, technology, and business opportunities.
Transparency and Skills Become Key Priorities
The prime minister also emphasized competitive tendering and good governance, saying greater transparency could reduce unnecessary costs and free more resources for development. He said the construction workforce will increasingly need expertise in digital design, automation, advanced manufacturing, robotics, and technology-enabled building processes as Malaysia modernizes the sector.
Malaysia’s one-million-home target combines affordable housing policy with a broader push to modernize its construction industry and strengthen domestic technology capabilities. For Malaysians, success will depend on whether faster construction translates into genuinely affordable, safe, and liveable homes. For Indonesians and Singaporeans, Malaysia’s adoption of modular construction and advanced building technology provides a significant regional example of how governments are addressing housing demand while developing new industrial capabilities.
Sources: Asia One (2026) , The Edge Malaysia (2026)
Keywords: Malaysia Affordable Homes, Modular Construction Malaysia, One Million Homes, Anwar Ibrahim, 3D Concrete Printing, Construction Technology
