nobody can answer that question for you, how long you need to hold. Because nobody knows how the market will turn. If you can rent it out, even cheap cheap, then Rent it out and get some money back. This is the best and only financial recourse you have at the moment. Consider yourself lucky that you can probably find a tenant. There are some projects in Malaysia, absolutely you can't find a tenant.

of course, what you actually want to do with it (holiday home etc) is your own call.

I know of a serial investor (multiple properties around Malaysia) once told me that one must enjoy the whole process of buying property. He also told me some of his properties he leaves vacant because he goes for holiday once in a while and likes to stay in his own property whenever he visits. What i mean is that some people are doing so well, they prefer to buy instead of rent even when he stays only a few weeks a year. This particular guy he told me it's too troublesome to rent out some of his properties. However i know that his business is doing really well.