KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor has called  on surveyors to work together with all players in the industry to find a way to lower  property and construction costs in Sabah. 

"I note that surveyors have been contributing enormously to the development of Sabah,  especially in the property and construction industry. 

"I encourage the surveyors and together with all the players in the industry to work  together to find solutions to create a more efficient housing supply chain and delivery  system in order to lower the cost of construction and property prices so that the lower  income earners will benefit," he said. 

The government will always work to ensure more affordable housing for the people in  the state, he said at the Seventh International Surveyors Congress at Magellan Sutera  today. 

His speech was delivered by Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister  Phoong Jin Zhe. 

In this respect, Hajiji called upon the Royal Institution of Surveyors Malaysia (RISM)  Sabah Branch, being versed in land administration and development planning to take  up the challenge of formulating a sustainable and affordable housing policy, to  complement the government’s efforts in this area.  

"My goal as the Chief Minister of Sabah is not only to steer our development path that  outlines our aspirations and strategies for the upcoming years but also to foster a Sabah  that’s united, prosperous, and inclusive. Achieving this vision requires the combined  effort of all," he said. 

Hajiji said the theme for this year’s RISM Congress “Navigating the Future: Embracing  Change and Transformation” is apt in a world where the only certainty is change.  

"In this fast-changing world, we cannot afford to be complacent. The way forward is for  us to remain competitive, embrace change and transformation to navigate the future. I  am certain, RISM has the capacity to lead this with your expertise and resources," he  said.

According to him, the world does not remain static and change is inevitable with many  new discoveries leading to technological advancement and innovations. 

Most of these changes would have an impact in changing living lifestyles, modulating  personal tastes and preferences, enhancing the living standard of the demography and  the way everyone works, he said. 

"Hence, in order to survive in a fiercely competitive business environment, we must  learn, adapt, improve and change so that we can tackle the challenges facing us and  capitalise the opportunities that come our way," he said. 

The Chief Minister said the Congress was an excellent platform for surveyors to discuss  challenges and opportunities in surveying meaningfully.  

"Use this opportunity to learn from the learned speakers through their wealth of  knowledge and business strategies to adopt innovative solutions and insights," he said. 

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