The Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM) Sabah Branch is organising a 2-day property seminar with the theme "Investment Property Breakthroughs” on 21st and 22nd August 2017 officially known as "5th Sabah International Surveyors Congress”. 17 distinguished speakers from various property related fields are to speak in the conference to be officiated by YB Datuk Teo Chee Kang, the Minister of Special Tasks for Sabah Chief Minister Department.

The Congress key note address will be delivered by Sr Elvin Fernandez, who was recently awarded as "Malaysian Surveyor of the year 2017”. An experienced speaker with more than 217 papers on property related topics presented in Malaysia and Overseas, Sr Elvin had served as National President of RISM and PEPS while now still serving as Secretary General of ASEAN Valuers Association and professionally active in many professional bodies and business entities.

According to the Congress Chairman Sr Peter Moh, other speakers (topics) on the 1st day are: President of SHAREDA, Mr Chew Shang Hai (Property Development Strategies); Executive Director of Tanjung Aru Eco Development, Datuk Victor Paul (Update on TAED) as well as Sabah Director of Land and Survey who is RISM Sabah Past Chairman and also Congress advisor, Datuk Sr Haji Safar Untong (Big data). Mr Edmund Zhou (Shanghai Tongji University) representing China State Construction Engineering Co. Ltd (biggest China international construction firm) will present a paper on "High Rise Building Construction and Green Technology”. At the end of the 1st day of Congress, a Congress Welcoming cum 35th Annual and Installation dinner will be hosted by RISM Sabah at Hakka Hall at 7pm same night to be graced by our National President Dato Sr Lau Wai Seang as the Guest of Honour.

"AirBnB”, just like "Uber” is currently a debatable hot topic in Sabah. Hence special sessions has been purposefully arranged to educate the participants on legality, planning guidelines, consultant's design consideration as well as comparisons between conventional hotel and "AirBnB” business model. These interesting topics will be presented by Mr Stanley Chong (Planning Director of Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu), Senior Lawyer Mr. Christopher Chin Soo Yin (authorised by Sabah Law Association with special permission from Chief Judge of Sabah & Sarawak), Architect Arnold Kwan (Chairman of Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia Sabah Chairman) and Mr Christopher Chan (President of Sabah Hotel Association). Most "AirBnB” papers will be presented on morning sessions of 2nd day.

More technical papers will be presented in the afternoon sessions of 2nd day. Among the notable speakers (topics) are Sr Robert New (Management of Mixed Development), Sr Liaw Lam Thye (Property Investment) and Senior Construction Law Lawyer Mr Lam Wai Loon, President of Society of Construction Law Malaysia and Past Chairman of Chartered Institute of Arbitrator Malaysia who is also the author of "Construction Adjudication in Malaysia” (Key Consideration when negotiating construction contracts, Strengths/pitfalls and recent update of CIPAA 2012).

In order to allow more public especially property owners to learn about "AirBnB” topics, special day passes are made available at reduced price for them to attend only the 2nd day sessions. Sr Peter Moh who is the Chairman of Peak Condominium Management Corporation and a Past Chairman of RISM Sabah, also advised all chairman of property management committee of apartments and condominiums to attend at least the 2nd day sessions to update themselves on the "AirBnB” issues that are currently affecting many high rise buildings in Sabah. Also to learn about the new registration requirement of "Property Manager” under the Board of Valuers, Appraisers and Estate Agents Malaysia (BOVAE).

The Congress is supported by 4 main corporate sponsors namely Hap Seng Land Sdn Bhd (biggest property developer in Sabah), Nippon Paint (biggest local paint manufacturer in Sabah), Property Hunter (biggest property media firm in Sabah) and China State Construction Engineering Co. Ltd. (Largest international Construction firm from China).

To obtain a "special day pass", all you need to do is flash the PH Rewards section on your Property Hunter Mobile App at the registration counter and you will be able to attend the AirBnB talks for only RM200. More details of the event can be found on www.propertyhunter.com.my.

To RSVP your attendance or register your interest, please contact RISM Sabah Executive Secretary Puan Noryzan on 017-8152727/ rismsabah@gmail.com or Sr Peter Moh on 019-8823302/ petermohmy@gmail.com.