The Malaysian Annual Real Estate Convention 2009 (MAREC09) held on 14 and 15 February this year at the Sime Darby Convention Centre in Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, was a more relevant and comprehensive programme this year, especially with current market conditions.

The annual event, organised by the Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA), was themed ‘Reinventing the Profession’ this year. Among some of the topics discussed during the two-day convention, which included estate agent-focused and negotiator-centric issues, were: The Malaysian Real Estate Profession - The Malaysian Dilemma, Estate Agents Act Reviewed – The Way Forward, The Role of Negotiators in the Real Estate Profession, Good Habits of Successful Negotiators, and How to Motivate Yourself in a Downturn.

There was also a ‘Million Dollar Producer’s Forum’ where practitioners had the opportunity to get first-hand information on how the top producers in the fraternity have made their millions. Speakers at the convention include Kumar Tharmalingam, chairman of Hall Chadwick Asia Sdn Bhd; Nicholas Brooke, chairman of Professional Property Services Limited, a Hong Kong-based specialist real estate consultancy; and K. Soma Sundram, president of MIEA.

Also speaking at the convention were Sam Gian, Singapore’s most sought after real estate sales consultant; Dr Teoh Poh Huat, a fellow of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (UK); and Stephen Tew, former president of MIEA and executive director of Axis Reits.