The Association of Consulting Engineers Malaysia (ACEM) participated in The CEO Series 2026, an annual property developer and economic conference organised by REHDA Institute, held on 15 January 2026 at Le Méridien Petaling Jaya. ACEM was represented by its President, Ir. Anuar Mohd Aris and ACEM Council Member, Ir. Amin Ramli. The conference brought together more than 400 senior stakeholders from government and the private sector, including leaders from banking and finance, manufacturing, construction, and real estate, reinforcing its role as a key platform for strategic dialogue on investment and development trends in Malaysia and the ASEAN region.
The conference was graced by several distinguished national leaders, including YB Tuan Loke Siew Fook, Minister of Transport, YB Senator Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Minister of Finance II, and YB Tuan Chiew Choon Man, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture. Keynote addresses and policy discussions focused on ASEAN and Malaysia’s economic outlook for 2026, particularly in the context of ongoing global headwinds, geopolitical tensions, shifting supply chains, and tightening financial conditions. Such discussions provide ACEM members with early visibility on national and regional policy directions, enabling consulting engineers to better anticipate changes in infrastructure investment priorities, development pipelines, and regulatory expectations.
A significant portion of the programme examined how macroeconomic and geopolitical forces are reshaping real estate markets globally and within ASEAN. Sessions on institutional capital and new economy real estate highlighted a growing shift away from purely sales driven development models toward recurring income assets such as rental housing, logistics facilities, data centres, and long stay accommodation. International perspectives from Europe, Australia, and Singapore illustrated how investors increasingly prioritise resilience, income durability, and asset adaptability. For ACEM members, these insights are valuable in understanding evolving client and investor expectations, where engineering solutions are expected to support long term asset performance, sustainability outcomes, and lifecycle value rather than focusing solely on initial construction delivery.
The special focus session on Johor and Singapore, including the Johor Singapore Special Economic Zone, underscored the importance of cross border integration, transit oriented development, and coordinated infrastructure planning in supporting regional competitiveness. Discussions on urban development, manufacturing ecosystems, and cross border residential demand reinforced the critical role of professional engineering services in enabling complex multi jurisdictional developments. These forums also strengthen ACEM’s position within the broader built environment ecosystem by facilitating engagement with policymakers, developers, and allied professional bodies, while supporting member capability building through exposure to global best practices and emerging development models.
