Technology helps to raise building management standards

TECHNOLOGY can help elevate the standard of living of a building’s occupants both within their units and outside.

“Before we talk about nation building, we must first focus on society building. For example, in a building there will be common areas for residents to utilise. Residents can come together to make use of the area. In these common areas, there needs to be proper security, air ventilation systems and energy efficient systems to ensure that the residents can enjoy all these facilities in a comfortable and safe environment,” Panasonic Malaysia managing director Cheng Chee Chung tells TheEdgeProperty.com.

Innovative technologies in the form of appliances and solutions can cater to the needs of individual homebuyers, joint management bodies and even property developers, he adds.

He also notes that Panasonic’s global promise of “A Better Life, A Better World” is in line with TheEdgeProperty.com Malaysia’s Best Managed Property Awards 2017 to elevate the living quality of a building’s residents.

Panasonic Malaysia is a partner of the inaugural Awards together with Nippon Paint Malaysia.

“Panasonic is so well known in the market for appliances but little do people know we have solutions such as for security, communication, energy and LED lighting, and indoor air quality,’ he says.

In fact, it will be opening a new solutions centre to educate the various stakeholders on how they can improve their living standards, adds Cheng.

The solutions centre is set to open in February 2017 at Bangsar South and the public can visit by appointment.

“Consumers will be able to see and feel all the products and solutions we can offer to them whether it is for residential or commercial use. We will have a showroom manager to explain what best suits their needs and wants. You can have a choice to cherry pick according to your affordability and put all of the solutions and appliances together,” he says.

“On top of that, we also want to reduce wastage and energy. In Malaysia, most of the time when a new homeowner gets the key to the property, he or she will knock down half the house and renovate it. That takes up a lot of time, money and energy. Why not we pre-plan ahead on what suits the homebuyer before the construction of the home to avoid the unnecessary wastage?”

Panasonic is also working with its sister company, PanaHome Malaysia Sdn Bhd, who is collaborating with property developers such as MKH Bhd and Tropicana Corp Bhd to build innovative eco homes which will provide Japanese-quality technologies in areas from construction development to fitting homes with smart systems and applications.

According to Cheng, a property must be well maintained on the outside as well as on the inside, from the façade to its individual units.

“I would say that there needs to be synergy between the joint management committee as well as the property as a whole to provide a healthy and comfortable living environment for the homeowners.

“A home is a place where most of us spend our time after work. A property that is well managed must be sustainable as it promotes not only the well-being of a family but the community as a whole,” Cheng adds, stressing that it is the desire of all homeowners to have a well-managed property.

Such a property will result in homebuyers having peace of mind with regards to their home security whether they are at home or outside. “They also want to have a conducive environment for interaction and positive communication,” he says. Furthermore, a well-managed property will most likely rise in value, which will result in capital appreciation, he says.

Cheng believes TheEdgeProperty.com Malaysia’s Best Managed Property Awards 2017 will set a benchmark for well-managed buildings as it is judged by professionals.

Other building managements can also learn from the winners and try to improve on what is lacking in their buildings, he adds.

The Awards is now open for submissions until Jan 16, 2017. There are three categories — residential, commercial and mixed developments. Entries are open to all stratified and non-stratified buildings, managed in-house or by property managers. Each entry will receive a RM500 paint voucher from Nippon Paint Malaysia while winners will get a RM10,000 paint voucher.

The Awards is supported by the Malaysian Institute of Professional Property Managers, Building Managers Association of Malaysia, Malaysian REIT Managers Association and The Edge Malaysia. The winners will be announced in April 2017.

Visit www.theedgeproperty.com or call (03) 7721 8289 for more information on the Awards.

This story first appeared in TheEdgeProperty.com pullout on Dec 30, 2016, which comes with The Edge Financial Daily every Friday. Download TheEdgeProperty.com pullout here for free.