With Xiamen officially operating in Sepang, this will be a real game changer especially in coming years. Thought the pioneer group is only about 187 students, the numbers are believe to be drastically increase within years. With such demographic and economic growth, Sepang will be drastically benefit from these game changer.

Here's the news refer from The Star site:
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/02/23/xiamen-officially-opens-pioneer-group-of-students-start-studies-at-malaysian-campus/

SEPANG: A pioneer group of 187 students have started their studies at the Xiamen University Malaysia Campus here, China’s first university to be set up abroad.

An opening ceremony for these students was held at the university’s newly opened multi-purpose hall.

The Prime Minister’s Special Envoy to China Tan Sri Ong Ka Ting said that the opening of the Xiamen University Malaysia Campus is a historical event.

“China has not allowed and does not simply let its universities be set up overseas as they strictly maintain the institution’s quality.

“It is a privilege to have this institution set up in the country,” he said in his speech on the first day of classes at the university.
“We hope that these pioneer students at Xiamen University Malaysia Campus will work hard to achieve good results to make the university proud as well as set the bar for the next intake of students,” he said.
Ong said that Sepang was chosen as Xiamen University Malaysia Campus’ location because it is strategic.
“The students’ parents will not worry that they are studying in the middle of nowhere as the campus is located between Putrajaya and the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA),” he said.
Ong said he had also briefed Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh and other ministers on the university’s opening ceremony a day earlier.
In his speech at the opening ceremony, Xiamen University Malaysia Campus president Prof Wang Ruifang said he hoped the students would be happy there and also take part in all the co-curricular activities at the campus.
“It would be good if the students could join the activities to test their capabilities and skills, as well as challenge themselves with new things,” he said.
The Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Dr Huang Huikang said that Xiamen University Malaysia Campus would offer scholarships to its top 10 students.
The original Xiamen University was founded in 1921 by the late entrepreneur and philanthropist Tan Kah Kee.
Xiamen University Malaysia Campus was mooted during a meeting between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and then Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in 2011.
Najib and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang then continued to discuss the matter over several bilateral meetings.

Here's some global market outlook from professional. What do you think?

Global Property Market Outlook 2016
BY MAK KUM SHI

Slowing China economy and speed of further US interest rate rises will determine performance of global property markets.
DEVELOPMENTS in the global economy and currency markets will determine the performance of property markets across developed and emerging markets alike for 2016.
FXTM chief market analyst Jameel Ahmad shared that year 2015 saw emerging currencies challenged by a resurgent US dollar rising alongside the US economic recovery. There were additional concerns over how a slowing China economy would impact general sentiment towards emerging markets. These developments added to challenges faced by emerging economies linked to commodities amid a global slowdown in oil and gold prices.

Ahmad said, “The results were a clear downward trend for emerging currencies and we continued to highlight emerging market currency weakness as a global phenomenon throughout 2015. The emerging market currencies that were the most heavily crushed during the year were those that belonged to economies dependent on commodity exports.”
Ahmad added that concerns surrounding the China economy entering a deep slowdown was another contributor behind losses in emerging market currencies. “A slowing down China economy was not a problem for China itself, but for all those economies reliant on trade with China.”
Knight Frank global head of research Liam Bailey and Knight Frank international residential research Kate Everett-Allen shared that the scale of the slowdown in China and the speed of further US interest rate rises will determine the performance of property markets across developed and emerging markets alike over the next 12-18 months.
They expect the strongest and weakest performing prime markets to be separated by around 20 percentage points by the end of 2015. They expect this figure to slip to 15 points in 2016 as price growth converges.
The pace of price growth in Sydney is expected to slow from 15% year-on-year in 2015 to 10% in 2016. Australia’s economic slowdown, weaker stock market performance in recent months and the introduction of foreign investment fees explain the lower rate of growth in 2016.

Hong Kong is forecast to overtake Singapore as the weakest performing luxury residential market in 2016. A number of new developments are due to enter the market in 2016. This new supply, together with a strengthening HK dollar, will see prime property prices soften.
The price decline seen in Singapore’s prime residential market is expected to persist at least until the end of 2016, following the government’s assertion that it has no plans to relax its property market cooling measures.
Ahmad commented that the major turning point for all the emerging currencies will in some ways be in response to higher interest rates from the United States. While falls in emerging market currencies were due to external factors, such factors could transform into internal and domestic pressures, such as reduced spending power and reduced budgets that might lead to jobs being lost.
The continued depression in commodity markets is also going to limit potential for a recovery in fortunes.
Ahmad said, “Slowing growth will continue to occur in China and will likely be a threat to India, although it is possible that the proactive easing of monetary policy from the Reserve Bank of India might encourage borrowing domestically and help drive growth. It is worth remembering that the central banks in China and India have been actively intervening to shore up their own economies through monetary easing. There will be some hope that this could help drive industry growth. As commodity importers, the lower import costs should help create budget for investment elsewhere.”
Colliers International head of UK research and forecasting Mark Charlton, Colliers International senior research analyst EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) and forecasting EMEA Bruno Berretta, and Colliers International director of UK research and forecasting Walter Boettcher cited in Colliers International’s Global Investment Outlook (GIO) that investors, globally, still wish to invest in real estate.
Transaction volumes across regions are expected to increase, with fewer investors expecting to be net buyers. Allocations to direct property by multi-asset funds will continue to increase globally.
The most liquid markets, found in gateway cities such as London, New York and Tokyo, will continue to appeal to cross-border investors. Increasingly, investors are looking to partner with local expertise to provide greater confidence in overseas diversification.
Macroeconomic and political threats, such as further interest rate hikes in the US, or Chinese economic uncertainty, as well as geopolitical risks, will see investors curb their risk appetite in some markets. More investment decisions will be made on a long-term basis. Hence prices for matching assets will rise further, especially in safe haven markets.
They concluded, “While the next 12 months will pose macro challenges for investors, the overall positive mood shown by most respondents offers a compelling case for supporting direct real estate investment’s continued growth.”

Properties below RM2mil sold last year GST exempt

KUALA LUMPUR: Only commercial property and land worth over RM2mil and are sold by individuals after October last year are required to pay the 6% goods and services tax (GST).
A source from the Customs Department told Sin Chew Daily that the department had on Oct 28 last year amended the individual supply commercial property section of the Director General’s Decision.
He said the amended law had made it mandatory for property or land owners to register with the Customs Department if they planned to sell their assets worth more than RM2mil of the market price.

Failure do so could see them being fined between RM1,500 and RM20,000, he added.
“However, we have not really taken action against anyone because many people still do not know about this. We are educating them now,” the source said while urging lawyers to advise their clients of the new amendment.
He added that although the GST came into effect in April last year, property or land sold before the amendment were not affected.
Before the amendment, a person was required to only pay tax if he sold more than two properties or over one acre of commercial land.
Before October, individuals selling commercial properties were given a concession from GST because the transactions were not considered business in nature. Companies conducting sale of land or property at any value are taxed.
Previously, there was some confusion whether the buying and selling of properties could be considered as investment and not commercial transactions, and as be liable for GST.

Article Refer from http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/02/22/properties-below-rm2mil-sold-last-year-gst-exempt/

Non Property Related Topic:

We wish all of you a Happy Valentines Day! Be it your partner, your girl friend, your parents or even with your friends together. So coincident, today is "人日" which is the 7th day of the CNY. It mean its the happy birthday for everyone. So why not just be happy.

Anyway, here's a video to share to those who don't have partner or girl friend or boy friend yet. Or you can use it to cheer up your partner :) Enjoy the video!

Its 5th days of CNY. What we believe here is after the New Year, our luck and life will refresh and having a new start. Whatever bad from last year will brush off and start even brighter this year. Whatever good year you have last year, you will be getting a better one this year. Yeap, that's the believe!

Believe alone doesn't help if nothing is done. Yeah that's the catch. You still need to plan and work it well.
We have start the topic on health. So what's next?

Since we are only two days away from Valentine Day, lets start with ROMANCE.
It doesn't matter whether you have a partner, you can decorate your house with love.
Here's another interesting article on how to decorate your house with romance.

Style at Home: Romancing your home
BY MARY CAROL GARRITY
http://www.starproperty.my/index.php/articles/living/style-at-home-romancing-your-home/

Valentine’s Day is lots of fun, by why reserve the romance for just one day of the year? It’s so easy to make your daily life more romantic just by adding a few special touches to your decorating. Here are a few ideas to inspire you.
MAKE EVERYDAY DINING A TREAT

Daily dinners don’t have to be ho-hum. Make midweek dinner a delight by adding a few romantic touches to your table. If you’re in the mood to go big, surprise your family by pulling out the china, silver and crystal.

Even if you are serving ordinary foods like fresh strawberries or raspberries, your table will look extraordinary is you present everything in lovely serving pieces. I love glass pedestal bowls – they just look regal. Fill one with fresh fruit. Instead of serving your same old dinner beverage, try tumbling fresh fruit in a pitcher of water and chill. Then serve in wine glasses.

HARNESS THE POWER OF FLOWERS
Flowers aren’t just for Valentine’s Day! So treat yourself to a lovely bouquet of cash-and-carry flowers every time you’re at the grocery store or at your favorite flower shop. One of my favorite ways to use these inexpensive bouquets is to trim the stems very short and either mound a cluster in a small vase or place just a bloom or two a narrow mouthed vase. Tuck the little bouquets into unexpected places, like on a bookshelf, your kitchen windowsill, next to your nightstand or in your powder room.
CREATE A SPECIAL SPOT TO REST AND REFILL
Do you have a place where you can retreat and refill your empty tank? It’s hard to pour from an empty cup. So an important part of filling your home with beauty and your life with romance is taking time out to fill up your own tank. For me, it’s a cozy chair overlooking our little lake.
TRIM YOUR BED IN ROMANCE
Spoil yourself with beautiful bedding. Shop the white sales for a lovely set of sheets, or if you’re crafty, get some plain white sheets and embellish them yourself with trim. Then cover your bed with a snuggly duvet, and finish off with a mix of accent pillows. I know it sounds like a small thing, but when you head to bed after a long, hard day, and you see those lovely linens waiting for you, you feel like a princess.
MAKE YOUR DAILY ROUTINES SPECIAL
Isn’t it wonderful to be at an upscale hotel or quaint bed and breakfast where they serve your morning coffee from a silver carafe? You can do the same thing at home! Instead of heading to the coffee pot and filling up that same old coffee mug you’ve used for years, make your morning caffeine ritual special by using a silver coffee pot and china cups.
Do you have pretty bath products that are stored under your sink? Get them out and display them on a silver tray next to your tub. Add some candles for extra romance.

CELEBRATE THE PEOPLE YOU LOVE
Raise your hand if you have hundreds of wonderful photos of your loved ones stored on your phone’s camera, in your computer or on a flash drive. This week, resolve to print your favorites and display them in your home in lovely frames. Tuck one on your bedside table, another on a shelf in your kitchen and another on your desk at work.
MAKE ROUTINE TASKS LESS TEDIOUS BY USING PRETTY CONTAINERS
No one likes to do the dishes. And some of us (me!) don’t like to cook. But chores are more fun when you make your everyday functional items lovely to look at. Pour your dish soap into a crystal decanter. Put your cooking oils and sauces on a pretty tray.
I like to put the silverware Dan and I use every day into little glass containers so they look sweet and are at the ready when we are ready to eat.

Its 5th days of CNY. What we believe here is after the New Year, our luck and life will refresh and having a new start. Whatever bad from last year will brush off and start even brighter this year. Whatever good year you have last year, you will be getting a better one this year. Yeap, that's the believe!

Believe alone doesn't help if nothing is done. Yeah that's the catch. You still need to plan and work it well. Anything we start from health. Without health, frankly you cant do much and enjoy much. I believe most of us have a great treat during the holiday and CNY. We have our "Good" time on the food.

How we get a healthier year? Maybe we should start from our home.
Here's an interesting article pluck from The Star.

8 ways to create a healthier home, according to science
BY SOPHIE MIURA
http://www.starproperty.my/index.php/articles/living/8-ways-to-create-a-healthier-home-according-to-science/

Picking out new dinnerware or buying fresh linens might seem like a purely aesthetic decision, but a string of studies suggest the way you style your home can have a subtle but powerful impact on your health. From the color of your plates to where you charge your phone, we chart the small tweaks you can make to turn your space in to a healthy home. Here are eight easy changes to make at home to boost your health and well-being.

1. DINE WITH COLORED DINNERWARE
White chinaware might be the most common dining choice, but studies suggest it’s not the healthiest. Researchers at Cornell University Food and Brand Lab tested the link between plate color and serving size at a New York dinner party. Guests were given a red or white bowl and asked to serve themselves a tomato- or cream-based pasta. Diners who ate white cream pasta from a white plate served themselves 22 percent more than those who ate from a dish in a contrasting hue.
Confused? It’s simple. Portions look smaller when they appear against a contrasting color. Something as easy as switching your crockery could have a huge impact on how much you eat, without you even noticing.

2. TURN DOWN THE THERMOSTAT AT NIGHT
In the depths of winter, the thought of a warm, cozy bed can be what gets you through the day, but turning the thermostat down while you sleep can have a big impact on your metabolism.
Experts from the National Institutes of Health found that sleeping in a cooler room can cause your body to burn more calories while you sleep. It might sound too good to be true, but changing your sheets to lightweight linen or turning down the thermostat could better your health overnight.

3. WASH YOUR LINENS WEEKLY
We know dirty linens can be a hotbed for bacteria and dust mites, but how often should you wash them? Philip Tierno, a microbiologist and pathologist at the New York University School of Medicine, says you can only use bath towels a few times before bacteria breeds.
“If you can dry it completely, no more than three times max,” he told Tech Insider. As for bed linen, a weekly hot water cycle is enough to rid sheets of dust mites. If you have allergies, wash your sheets at a minimum of 130 degrees Fahrenheit for a thorough clean.

4. ADD A MIRROR TO YOUR DINING ROOM
If you’re styling a kitchen or dining room, consider this: Researchers at University of Central Florida have found that introducing a mirror to eating areas can influence you to make healthier choices. Students who ate indulgent food in a room with a mirror said they didn’t find it as delicious or satisfying. Researchers believe it’s because mirrors force us to view ourselves objectively.
“A glance in the mirror tells people more than just about their physical appearance,” said researcher Ata Jami in a statement.
“(It) helps them to judge themselves and their behaviors in a same way that they judge others.”

5. CREATE A CHARGING STATION
If your bedtime routine consists of browsing Pinterest on your tablet at night and checking your phone on first rise, we’ve got news for you: The light emitted from your devices is wreaking havoc with your internal clock.
A Harvard Medical School study found that using your phone or tablet at night throws off your circadian rhythm, leading to a bad night’s sleep.
Create a charging station outside your bedroom so your phone and tablet won’t interrupt your sleep pattern. If the thought of cellphone separation gives you nightmares, try an app like Twilight, which masks the blue light with a warm filter, allowing you to use the device at any hour.

6. DOWNSIZE BOWLS AND GLASSWARE
This healthy lifestyle trick is as simple as it gets: Switching to smaller plates and bowls can seriously reduce the chances of overeating. A recent study found that halving your plate size can cause you to eat 30 percent less. What’s even better is study participants still reported feeling full because they weren’t actually aware their portions had changed.
When it comes to glassware, science says tall, narrow glasses are best. Short, wide glasses give the illusion of containing less liquid, so you’re more likely to overpour.

7. ADD GREENERY
The latest influx of indoor plant hangers and geometric pot stands are enough to entice us to add greenery to our homes, but according to NASA, houseplants are also a great way to improve air quality. Chrysanthemums were named the best at absorbing pollutants, making them ideal for those who suffer from allergies.
Styling your home with greenery can also lead to a good night’s sleep. Since plants give off oxygen, placing them on a bedside table can be a great way to boost your well-being as you sleep.

8. BUILD A HOME PLAYLIST
We turn to architects to craft buildings and interior designers to style spaces, but what about sound? Sound consultant Julian Treasure says it’s time for interior sound designers.
“It’s about designing not appearance but experience, so that we have spaces that are fit for purpose, that improve our quality of life, our health, and well-being,” he said in a TED talk.
Sound is especially important for those living in cities. Traffic noise and living under a flight path can have serious health side effects, including learning issues and even cardiac arrest. Use music as a destressor, and create a home playlist to relax your mind and drown out street noises after hours.