The Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA) Sarawak held their annual dinner on 14 December at The Sarawak Club in Kuching and was attended by guest of honour Eric Lim, President of MIEA main branch in Kuala Lumpur.

The annual event is where MIEA Sarawak members gather to celebrate their work throughout the year and appreciate the performers. Big winner Kozin Real Estate Sdn Bhd was awarded State Real Estate Firm of The Year at the event while another award was handed out to Kelvin Lee Bun Siew, also of Kozin Real Estate who was dubbed Real Estate Negotiator of The Year.

Speaking on the state of real estate in Sarawak, MIEA Sarawak chairman Dato Alex Ting Kuang Kuo said that 2018 was not an easy year for the state saying, "We anticipate 2019 to be a better year especially towards the second half of 2019." MIEA is positive on the property market in Sarawak and is expecting it to strengthen due to the state's better economic outlook in the next two years. "As our Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is trying to implement many projects on a fast-track basis over the next two years, our state economy will also be expected to do well and this should help strengthen the local property market," said Ting. He adds that the recently launched Sri Pertiwi housing programme in an effort to offer more affordable houses while the federal government has also shown its seriousness to provide more affordable homes and come up with solution for first-time home buyers.

Property Hunter had the chance to present a talk on digital marketing at a seminar with MIEA Sarawak members a day before MIEA Sarawak's dinner event. The talk shared on ways to get make full use of the potential of online platforms. On another note, MIEA Sarawak announced that it has recruited 67 new Real Estate Negotiator (REN) members and trained 142 negotiators under the Negotiators Certification Course (NCC).