KUALA LUMPUR: The government just announced that Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya will be placed under Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) effective midnight Oct 14.


This was decided upon following advise from the Health Ministry after Covid-19 cases continue to increase in several districts within the Klang Valley namely Klang, Petaling and Hulu Langat, said Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in a live broadcast today.


The CMCO will come into effect at 12.01am Oct 14 until Oct 27.


Inter-district travelling will be barred during this period and workers will need to show their work pass or consent letter from employers in order to move from one district to another.


Ismail Sabri said only two persons from a household will be allowed to go out and buy essentials.


All schools, higher learning institutions, skills training institutes, kindergarten, nursery, tahfiz centres, public parks and recreational parks will close as well as mosques and non-Muslim houses of worship.


All sports activities, recreational, social, cultural and wedding receptions are not allowed to take place and entertainment centres and night clubs are not allowed to operate, he informed.
​

However, all economic activities in Selangor, KL and Putrajaya can proceed as usual with a more detailed standard operating procedure (SOP) to be announced by the National Security Council soon.


Refer from www.nst.com.my

SCAM CALL have been getting more aggressive than ever in lately period. 
Author just got a SCAM CALL and this encourage me to share to the public to help raise awareness about it.
Do you know Malaysia is the Top 20 Nation in the global that is most affected by scam calls?
The below is part of the Articles I refer from nst.com.my.

“Malaysia is the market that receives the biggest percentage of scam calls in the world at 63 per cent.
“Most of the calls are from financial services (21 per cent), insurance (10 per cent), operators (five per cent) and debt collectors (one per cent).
“For the past 12 months, Malaysia has seen a 24 per cent increase in spam calls, from 6.7 to 8.3 spam calls per month. Scam calls from fake insurance and debt collectors are common. The Macau and Astro scams too have been flooding the market over the past year."

And this is my experience over the Scam Call which claim to be calling from Public Bank. The guy have mention my name in Full and saying that I have not been paying the credit card bill for two months. 
I told him that I don't even have a credit card and he mention that in his system showed that I have a credit card under Public Bank and my name is Mr XXX.
(Then I think this is the next step where he is going to ask me for personal details to clarify and perhaps offer me some good deal or card number etc.)
Then I mention to him that I dont even have a Public Bank account. He mention that in the system have and bla bla bla... End up I told him, is it according to your Fraud List system, then suddenly he just hung up. The number showed in is 03-9418 5197.

Well folks, just be more careful and Bank will never call in to ask for very detailed personal details for clarification. If you worry on what being mention in the phone call, you can go to the bank and verify. So PLEASE DO NOT give any sensitive personal details in Phone Call!

The 486-acre Bandar Malaysia development is more than a financial and business centre; the development comprises offices, retail, residential, arts and entertainment, medical and education components that offer convenience to the residents and working population there.


Another key feature that enabled IWH-CREC Sdn Bhd to win the Bandar Malaysia deal is the idea of creating an underground canal city — an inspiration which executive chairman of Iskandar Waterfront Holdings Sdn Bhd and chairman of Ekovest Bhd, Tan Sri Lim Kang Hoo obtained during a holiday in Montreal, Canada.
​

The plan is to turn the underground space into a 24-hour retail and entertainment centre that caters to the needs of the working population in Bandar Malaysia.


Designed as an integrated terminus, the connectivity and accessibility to public transportation and road system are the greatest advantages of Bandar Malaysia.

It comprises multi-level public transport networks including the upcoming Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR), soon-to-be-completed electrified double-tracking project, KTM Komuter, MRT and LRT, Monorail and Express Rail Link.

In terms of road connectivity, it is easily accessible via Duke 3, KL-Seremban Highway, SMART tunnel, Maju Expressway, East-West Link Expressway and future elevated highways.

This is one of the most positive and happiest video I ever watch in past months... Its not 100% successful but its positive enough for every single one of us. What if we finally get the vaccine?

Will all of us get back to normal life? Or there new norm is still within our life?
​Lets enjoy this wonderful video done by Nas Daily.

The below video is done by Nas Daily (2020, Aug 8th). "The Exciting Covid-19 Vaccine!" Retrieved from https://youtu.be/lJaR-tkiwV8. 

How about the effect on property?
Once the vaccine is ready and work well. I suppose a lot of thing will back to the old norm but mixture with the new norm such E-Commerce and online meeting will be even more popular than ever. Tourism will back to close to old norm with more safety measures taken. Once tourism is back, short term stay especially in Tourism Spot will be back in business as well. Suppose more cleaning measures will be taken but that's the necessity for it to work. 

During this tough period since MCO started in Malaysia, there shall be more units been auction in the market. There is secret buyers group who are secretly but aggressively increase their portfolio during these hot period of Auction Market which lots of under value properties is in the Auction Market. Once the tourism market is back, short term stay such as AirBNB etc will be back and shall thrive as many is already itch for travelling. Currently, its the local tourism within Malaysians that getting attractive with lots of promotion in rushing to market. 

So lets the time tell if these vaccines be ready soon so we can get partial of our old norm back. At least life without MASK. Especially we are living in such a warm country. Aren't you enough of the MASK?

Selamat Hari Raya Haji to all our muslim friends, colleagues and family
🌈 Travel Safely if any of you balik kampung

For the rest of us
​Happy Holiday, Keep Safe, Keep Health and Keep in touch!😃

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's central bank is expected to cut interest rates to a historic low next week, according to a slim majority in a Reuters poll, as it seeks to protect Southeast Asia's third largest economy from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

​Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) will cut its overnight policy rate (OPR) by at least 25 basis points (bps) to 1.75%, according to seven out of the 12 economists polled, with two of them betting on a bigger 50 bps rate reduction.

The remaining five economists expected interest rates to stay at 2.00%, already a record low, after three consecutive rate reductions in as many meetings this year.

Alex Holmes, Asia economist for Capital Economics, was one of the analysts who forecast a bigger move in the upcoming meeting.

"Given the poor outlook for growth and deeply negative inflation, we suspect the BNM will make use of its policy space and opt for a 50bp cut," he said.

Malaysia began easing some lockdown measures imposed to contain the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus in May. After growing just 0.7% in the first quarter, BNM said Malaysia is in an "unprecedented economic crisis" and was poised for a contraction in April-June.

While trade-reliant Malaysia had begun a "long and slow" recovery after some lockdown curbs were relaxed, Holmes said poor external demand and deflation warranted more policy easing.

Malaysia's exports fell 25.5% in May, its biggest drop in 11 years.

The consumer price index fell 2.9% in May from a year earlier, as the economy grappled with subdued consumption for a third straight month.


The government in March rolled out a 260 billion ringgit ($60.69 billion) stimulus package to offset a sharp slowdown in domestic economic activity, and steep declines in tourism and demand for its commodities such as palm oil, crude oil and natural gas. ($1 = 4.2840 ringgit) - Reuters

Refer from thestar.com.my

New opportunities

Old dated buildings that have low occupancy can be repurposed for new alternative uses depending on the location, neighbourhood and surrounding developments. 

With the current drop in property prices, it is a good time to track down such properties that can be used to generate a profitable income.

For businesses which are facing financial difficulties, they should consider a sale and leaseback opportunities to free their cash flows, Lim said.

“Such a move would lower fixed costs, and release capital for re-investment into their core businesses,” Moreover, there is no moving cost as these businesses can continue to operate from the same premise after their sale, he said.

There will always be new opportunities, but the key is knowing where to look.


Refer from starproperty.my

KUALA LUMPUR (May 20): Fire broke out at the construction site of Millerz Square on Old Klang Road, Kuala Lumpur at around 9.30am today. Developer Exsim Group said in a statement that no injuries have been reported so far.

“The local police and Bomba services were immediately alerted and the fire has now been put under control. Investigation on the cause of fire is ongoing.

“Our sincere apology to those who have been affected by this mishap, especially to the immediate neighbours,” the developer said in a statement on its website.

Thick smoke from the construction site of the mixed development could be seen from afar this morning.

“We will provide updates as and when more information is made available, we will be delivering further updates,” the developer said.

Refer from edgeprop.my

Wow! Bank Negara Malaysia have decide to further reduce the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) by 50 basis point to 2% ONLY. Its ALL TIME LOW!

Monetary Policy StatementAt its meeting today, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of Bank Negara Malaysia decided to reduce the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) by 50 basis points to 2.00 percent. The ceiling and floor rates of the corridor of the OPR are correspondingly reduced to 2.25 percent and 1.75 percent, respectively.

Global economic conditions have weakened significantly. Measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic have disrupted economic activity across most economies. Recent indicators show that the global economy is already contracting, with global growth projected to be negative for the year. Financial conditions have also tightened amid elevated risk aversion and uncertainty. Substantial policy stimuli introduced by many economies, coupled with the gradual easing of containment measures globally, would partially mitigate the economic impact of COVID-19. Growth prospects should improve in 2021 with the expected containment of the pandemic.        

For Malaysia, domestic economic conditions have similarly been affected by the pandemic. Widespread containment measures globally, international border closures and the consequent weak external demand environment will exert a larger drag on domestic economic activity. The Movement Control Order, while necessary to contain the spread of the virus, has also constrained production capacity and spending. Labour market conditions are also expected to weaken considerably. Economic conditions would be particularly challenging in the first half of the year. The fiscal stimulus measures, alongside monetary and financial measures will, however, offer some support to the economy. With more businesses allowed to operate under the Conditional Movement Control Order, economic activity is projected to gradually improve. The outlook for growth continues to be subject to a high degree of uncertainty, particularly with respect to developments surrounding the pandemic.

Inflationary pressures are expected to be muted in 2020, with average headline inflation likely to be negative this year, due mainly to projections for substantially lower global oil prices. Nevertheless, the outlook remains significantly affected by global oil and commodity prices, as well as evolving demand conditions. Underlying inflation is expected to be subdued given the projections of weaker domestic growth prospects and labour market conditions.

The financial sector is sound, with financial institutions operating with strong capital and liquidity buffers. Liquidity remains ample, augmented by liquidity injections by Bank Negara Malaysia. Since March 2020, Bank Negara Malaysia has provided additional liquidity of approximately RM42 billion into the domestic financial markets, via various tools including outright purchase of government securities, reverse repos and the reduction in Statutory Reserve Requirement. Bank Negara Malaysia stands ready to provide liquidity in the interbank market to ensure orderly market conditions, conducive to support financial intermediation activity.

With the decision today, the OPR has been reduced by a total of 100 basis points, complementing other monetary and financial measures by Bank Negara Malaysia as well as fiscal measures this year. Together, these measures will cushion the economic impact on businesses and households and support the improvement in economic activity. The MPC will continue to monitor the outlook for domestic growth and inflation. The Bank will utilise its policy levers as appropriate to create enabling conditions for a sustainable economic recovery.


Bank Negara Malaysia
05 May 2020

Refer from bnm.gov.my

Several Malaysian banks have announced that they are now allowing customers to apply for temporary deferment in repaying loans that could be affected by the 2019 novel coronavirus outbreak.
This is in light of the various travel and logistical restrictions imposed in China due to the virus outbreak, which saw many business owners face various challenges that will affect cash flow. As such, these Malaysian banks hope to lighten their customers’ financial burden in this period of difficulty.
This sentiment is echoed by the Association of Banks Malaysia. “Concerted efforts by our member banks are underway to ensure that bank customers are able to weather through this trying time and ensure business continuity,” it said in a statement.

KUALA LUMPUR: KL East Mall has announced the line-up of its key tenants comprising well-known brands such as Jaya Grocer, Camp5, MBO, Blue Ice-Skating Rink, Toys ‘R’ Us, Harvey Norman, Jungle Gym and Café Chef Wan. 

The KL East Mall is a new retail and lifestyle boutique mall located at KL East, a 160-acre integrated development by Sime Darby Property. The mall is the group’s first 100% owned retail mall development, with a gross build-up of approximately 1.2mil sq ft.

​Sime Darby Property acting group CEO Datuk Wan Hashimi Albakri Wan Ahmad Amin Jaffri said that KL East Mall aspires to become the catalyst for the KL East development of Sime Darby Property. It is positioned as a boutique lifestyle retail mall that will serve the surrounding upmarket neighbourhood of middle to middle-upper income brackets.
​

Refer from Starproperty

The government is going to announce Budget 2020 in three days!
What is on your wish list? What do you expect?
​Tell us more in the comments below.

​Having been raised from a 1,800-acre rubber plantation to host the 16th Commonwealth Games in 1998, this compact neighbourhood now includes a manicured recreational park, a sprawling golf and country resort, the International Medical University, and a 100,000-seat multi-purpose stadium of National Stadium Bukit Jalil – a regular venue for the Malaysia Cup.

Further developments are slated to occur in the coming years – with developers planning to provide Bukit Jalil with additional residential options and a new shopping centre. 
Over the last 10 or so years, Bukit Jalil has developed from being a sporting hub centred around the National Stadium to a complete residential suburb touted as one of the prime property development locations for younger generations of buyers.
Prime residential developments coupled with education institutions such as the International Medical University (IMU) and Asia Pacific University (APU) have caused a shift in the demographics to younger, mid-to-high income earning levels of society.

The article is refer from Starproperty
With contributions from Shamir R., a crime and safety consultant from PreventCrimeNow.com

Zoo Negara needs your help! Please help to circulate to get more visitors to preserve those time our memory lived. Lets pay a visit soon! Its definitely some experience for our family and kids. A national Zoo shouldn't be close down. Here's some of the moment of Zoo Negara in the past.
Lets get them going on forever! It's should be one of the pride and symbol of our nation.

By Veena Babulal - May 17, 2019 @ 12:31pm

KUALA LUMPUR: Zoo Negara desperately needs more visitors and sponsors for its animals, particularly its Malayan tigers, to cover its operational costs and expansion in line with its status as a national zoo.


Zoo Negara Malaysia deputy president Rosly @ Rahmat Ahmat Lana said the management needed RM500,000 a year to care for its tigers.


“It costs RM100 a day to feed the Malayan tigers while the Bengal ones eat 10kg of meat, or RM200 worth, a day. This boils down to RM40,000 per tiger a year, including their medicine.


“Factoring in the zookeepers’ expenses, we need about RM500,000 a year. Ideally, to expand and make the zoo a focus of Asian tiger observation, we need about RM1 million annually.


“This can also come through private sponsorship, where companies can sponsor one or more animals for as long as they like. They can also name the newborns.”


He said five-year federal grants of RM5 million that the zoo used to receive had ended in 2004, and it now survived on one-off government aid for maintenance and upkeep.


“We have been spending RM1 million to RM1.2 million a month for the last three years and we need to have at least 500,000 visitors to break even from ticket sales, among others.


“The fact that we are spending all we are getting leaves no room for expansion of the zoo as a facility for education, conservation and scientific research.”


Rosly also lamented the decline in visitors from 2015 onwards.
Zoo Negara had clocked a record of 708,000 visitors in 2014, when China presented Malaysia with two giants pandas, Xing Xing and Liang Liang.


“In 2016, we had 435,000 visitors only and it sank to 345,000. But the figure recovered slightly with 368,000 people coming in last year. But it’s still an overall decline.”


He, however, said the zoo looked forward to meeting Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr A. Xavier Jayakumar, who is expected to open their new tiger “immersion centre”, complete with an elevated passageway that the ministry funded.


“We will be inviting Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Gombak member of parliament Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, 
who is the economic affairs minister.


“We look forward to sitting down with the government to chart the way ahead for Zoo Negara as a conservation, education and research facility, as well as play a role as a stakeholder in drafting policies for conservation, zoos and captive breeding as a whole.


“We also hope that they actively campaign to publicise our zoo in Malaysia and internationally as it is the emblem for conservation.”

By Teh Athira Yusof - May 10, 2019 @ 7:52am

KUALA LUMPUR: Fresh questions have been raised on whether the West Coast Expressway (WCE) will open in time for Hari Raya Aidilfitri as promised, following the collapse of a section in Klang on Saturday.


The collapse of the 110m section caused water disruption in 65 areas in Klang due to three damaged main pipes under the 223km highway project, which connects Banting, Selangor, to Taiping, Perak.


WCE Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Neoh Soon Hiong rebutted claims that the project would not be completed by Hari Raya.
He said the company would announce soon whether the deadline would be met.


He said the project’s physical work was almost complete.


“Physically, we are almost complete. The four packages are 95 per cent done, but the remaining work that needs attention will take some time as there are certain agencies that need to go through federal gazettes, speed limit gazettes as well as safety gazettes.

“WCE will make an announcement on May 20 on whether the project will be ready in time for Aidilfitri or otherwise.”


On Wednesday, the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) said the highway’s completion could be postponed as there was still work to be done to ensure the stretch was safe for motorists.


On the collapsed section, Neoh said soil movement was involved, adding that it would be best to wait for the investigation report to be completed.


“It is best that we don’t jump to any conclusion and start pointing fingers before we receive the investigation report.


“A consultant has been appointed to look into the matter.”

On the road collapse, MHA director-general Datuk Aziz Abdullah said there were standard guidelines that need to be taken into account in such instances.


“There is a standard guideline, based on the highway’s traffic rate indicating the number and type of vehicles that ply the area, which needs to be adhered to ensure a safe environment.


“The safety, comfort and function of the road for motorists are our priority.


“MHA hopes to have the four packages opened before Hari Raya, but only after safety measures are taken.”


He said packages under the project were the Hutan Melintang-Teluk Intan line (19.1km), Lekir-Changkat Chermin line (28km) and Changkat Chermin-Beruas line (16.6km) in Perak and the Selangor package, which only involved the northern part of the state.


The Banting-Taiping WCE project, which was initiated in 2013 and divided into 11 packages, was set to be completed by 2020, but was postponed to 2021.
It is understood that about five packages were scheduled to be carried out this year.


WCE is expected to complete work on the highway, which stretches from Jalan Banting-KLIA (B18) to the Tanjong Karang interchange (93.8km) in Selangor and from Jalan Persekutuan (FR5) in Hutan Melintang to the Changkat Jering Plaza Toll (139.2km) in Perak, this year.


It is jointly developed by the Public Works Department and toll concessionaire WCE Holdings Bhd’s West Coast Expressway Sdn Bhd.

The articles is refer from https://www.nst.com.my

PRESS RELEASES
Monetary Policy Statement
Bank Negara Malaysia
07 May 2019

At its meeting today, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of Bank Negara Malaysia decided to reduce the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) to 3.00 percent. The ceiling and floor rates of the corridor for the OPR are correspondingly reduced to 3.25 percent and 2.75 percent respectively.
 
The global economy continues to expand moderately. While growth outcomes for several major economies were better than expected during the first quarter, underlying economic conditions continue to suggest moderation going forward. Considerable downside risks to global growth remain, stemming from unresolved trade tensions and prolonged country-specific weaknesses in the major economies, further dampening global trade and investment activities. Although the tightening in global financial conditions has eased somewhat, heightened policy uncertainties could lead to sharp financial market adjustments, further weighing on the overall outlook.
 
For Malaysia, latest developments point towards moderate economic activity in the first quarter of 2019. Looking ahead, slowing global demand conditions and subdued growth of key trading partners will continue to weigh on the external sector. Domestically, stable labour market conditions and capacity expansion in key sectors will continue to drive household and capital spending. The baseline projection is for the Malaysian economy to grow within the projected range of 4.3% - 4.8%. However, there are downside risks to growth from heightened uncertainties in the global and domestic environment, trade tensions and extended weakness in commodity-related sectors.
 
Headline inflation increased to 0.2% in March 2019 (February: -0.4%), due mainly to the less negative transport inflation at -3.0% (February: -6.8%). Underlying inflation, as measured by core inflation[1], remained stable at 1.6% in March 2019. In the immediate term, inflation is expected to remain low mainly due to policy measures. These include the price ceiling on domestic retail fuel prices until mid-2019 and the impact of the changes in consumption tax policy on headline inflation. For 2019 as a whole, average headline inflation is expected to be broadly stable compared to 2018. The trajectory of headline inflation will continue to be dependent on global oil prices. Underlying inflation is expected to remain stable, supported by the continued expansion in economic activity and in the absence of strong demand pressures.
 
The domestic financial markets have remained resilient, despite periods of volatility primarily due to global developments. While domestic monetary and financial conditions remain supportive of economic growth, there are some signs of tightening of financial conditions. The adjustment to the OPR is therefore intended to preserve the degree of monetary accommodativeness. This is consistent with the monetary policy stance of supporting a steady growth path amid price stability. The MPC will continue to monitor and assess the balance of risks surrounding the outlook for domestic growth and inflation.



[1] Core inflation is computed by excluding price-volatile and price-administered items. It also excludes the estimated direct impact of consumption tax policy changes.


Refer from Bank Negara Malaysia

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd and China Communications Construction Company Ltd have signed a supplementary agreement that will pave the way for the resumption of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project.

The signing was achieved after months of negotiations between the companies involved as well as the governments of Malaysia and China, said the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

“We are pleased to announce that the construction cost of Phases 1 and 2 of the ECRL has now been reduced to RM44bil.

“This is a reduction of RM21.5bil from the original cost of RM65.5bil.


The supplementary agreement covers the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning aspects of the ECRL, it added.

The PMO also said that further details of the improved deal will be made known at a press conference next Monday (April 15).

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is expected to give the press conference.

According to earlier reports, Phase 1 of the 688km rail line will be from Klang Valley to Kuantan while Phase 2 will cover Kuantan to Kuala Terengganu.

The project’s Phase 3 will see the rail line connecting Kuala Terengganu to Kota Baru and Tumpat.

Refer from www.thestar.com.my

This Video from Nas Daily is so amazing that the City design with Feng Shui elements. 
The Good Energy flow is one of the very important element to be considered in Feng Shui. 
Lets have a look and enjoy the video.

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is set to host the world’s largest Ship-to-Ship (STS) transfer hub, which can accommodate the berthing of 30 vessels for the transfer of petroleum-based products and liquefied natural gas (LNG).The development of the STS Hub, which will be located off Johor Baru port waters, will see marine service provider KA Petra Sdn Bhd teaming up with world-renowned Hutchison Ports Holdings Ltd.

The project cost is estimated at US$150mil to US$180mil (RM612mil to RM735mil) and construction is expected to be completed by 2021.

KA Petra executive chairman Datuk Shahrul Amirul said the STS Hub would trigger a “resurgence of the Malaysian maritime sector” by becoming a catalyst to other related businesses in the industry.

“The STS Hub and activities in the related maritime ecosystem will create more job opportunities and generate an additional RM18bil to the Malaysian gross domestic product annually, which is about 1.5% of today’s GDP rate.



“The hub will also attract many highly skilled Malaysians abroad to return and provide skills and training to the next generation of professionals in the maritime industry,” Shahrul said in his speech at the official signing ceremony of the STS Hub project here yesterday.

Also present at the event were Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.Dr Mahathir witnessed the signing between Shahrul and Hutchison Ports group managing director Eric Ip.

Under the terms of agreement, KA Petra will have 70% interest in the project while Hutchison Ports will have a strategic 30% stake.

Shahrul said KA Petra was proud to have Hutchison Ports as its strategic partner due to its presence in 51 ports in 26 countries, as well as its global network and strong relationships with shipping companies.

The STS Hub project will increase the current vessel capacity from nine to 30.

Strategically located along the crude oil route from the Middle East and Europe to the Far East, the hub will be able to house approximately nine million tonnes of petroleum products and LNG.

Refer from www.thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA (March 13): The average cost of rental for expatriates in Kuala Lumpur (pictured) has seen an increase in 2018 after a sustained decline between 2015 and 2017, according to international research house ECA International in a press release today.

Data based on ECA's September 2018 Accommodation Survey, which was based on the average rental price for an unfurnished, three-bedroom apartment in the mid-range of the expatriate market had revealed that the average rental cost for expatriates now stands at US$1,621 (RM6,632) per month, an increase of US$112 from the year before.

“The domestic economy has been comparatively weak in Malaysia over the past few years, and the delivery of large stocks of properties to the rental market was not balanced by weaker demand. Rents for apartments staged a recovery in 2018,” said ECA International regional director of Asia Lee Quane.

Nevertheless, Kuala Lumpur is still very affordable for a major city in the region, he added,

Across the border in Singapore, rental prices for expatriates have continued to drop and are now at an average US$500 cheaper per month than in 2016.

The report noted that rental prices for an unfurnished, mid-market, three-bedroom apartment in areas commonly inhabited by international executives in Singapore average US$4,215 a month, a drop of 1.3% compared to the previous year.

“Reductions in the population of non-residents in Singapore, a key driver of rental demand, has led to continued drops in rental prices for expatriates. On top of that, recent announcements in the Singapore Budget 2019 have further limited the proportion of foreign workers that companies in the services sector can employ, to 35% by 2021. This seems to imply that the downward trend in rents will continue, as the availability of properties increases with little anticipated rise in demand,” Quane noted.

Meanwhile, the most expensive location in the world for expatriate rental was Hong Kong, with typical expatriate accommodation costing an average of US$10,929 per month.

One of the contributing factors to this is the limited availability of housing, which has been a long-term issue for the Hong Kong housing market.

“Rent increases are not just limited to central Hong Kong anymore either; rents are expected to rise throughout outlying neighbourhoods in 2019 too, as international firms seek more affordable office spaces and leverage options in cheaper suburbs,” Quane highlighted.

Taking one spot just below Hong Kong is Tokyo, which has seen rental costs rising at an even quicker rate compared with Hong Kong, with typical expatriate accommodation now averaging US$8,668 per month.

“While Tokyo’s rental market has been historically tight, 2018 saw a significant upturn in the rate of rent increases. A rise in tourism, coupled with the accompanying increase in landlords preferring to lease out accommodation on a short-term basis, have contributed to rising costs in recent years.

“With both the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Olympics set to be hosted in Tokyo, we have observed a major surge in business interest in Japan's capital. All of these factors will contribute to the increasingly limited availability of suitable rental accommodation in Tokyo, with rent increases expected to continue into 2019,” Quane pointed out.

Coming in third place is Shanghai, with rental price averaging US$5,305 per month.

With a new property tax mooted to be introduced in Shanghai from 2020, many landlords are now choosing to sell their properties rather than to continue renting them out.

“This has led to a reduction in the availability of rental accommodation, prompting some rent increases,” said Quane.

Meanwhile first time entry, Bangkok into to the top 10 list is due to a continuation of foreign investment in Thailand, the report said.

“Thailand remains a popular regional destination for many MNCs. However, they have been joined by new globalising companies from China, which has led to a higher demand for rental accommodation from an expatriate population that typically rents in a relatively small geographical area in central Bangkok.


“Furthermore, the growth in tourism in Bangkok has also had an impact on rental prices, given the increase in the number of properties being converted from long-term to short-term rental to cater to this demand,” explained Quane.

Refer from www.edgeprop.my

By Kevin Eichenberger

Sleep is one of those things youngsters seem to think they can do without – but for those of us who do adulting on a daily basis, adequate rest can prove difficult to come by.

World Sleep Day is on 15th March, so sleep is slightly more on our minds than usual – but in our increasingly fast-paced world, sleep can sometimes be hard to come by. Whether the reasons are stress, worry, or ambient noise, there are some things an aspiring sleeper can do to the bedroom to ensure a restful slumber.

Opaque Curtains

​It probably goes without saying that one of the usual suspects getting in the way of sleep is light. For those who operate during the night shift, it is usually the fault of that sphere of hot plasma in the sky – for urbanites, it is generally due to the glare of city lights – and the only way to prevent either artificial or natural light from streaming in and poking you in the eyeballs is to hang a set of heavy-duty drapes over the windows.

Soft Lighting

​Besides the presence of light from the external world, the most common impediment to decent sleep would be the quality of light sources within the room itself. Artificial light fixtures tend to be available in varieties known as “cool bright” or “warm white” – the former is appropriate for surgical theatres and any other situation where details need to be expressed or security is paramount, while the latter produces a softer light that is more suited for relaxation.

Subdued Screens

It may seem obvious but electronic screens in the bedroom inspire the kind of activities that prevent restful sleep from happening. Falling asleep while watching television might be a necessary bedtime activity for some people but the fast-moving imagery and bold colours of modern programming are definitely not conducive for sleep. If a television screen in the bedroom feels like an absolute necessity, a cloth cover – or some discipline in the form of a screen curfew – may be required.

Low Temperatures

Body temperatures fluctuate during the course of the day – and being animals that evolved on a planet that cycles neatly between the heat of the day and the cold of night – sleep tends to be easier when the body is cool. Low ambient temperatures can be artificially achieved with a fan, an air-conditioner, thin fabrics on the bed – or even a careful choice of mattress.

​A quality mattress keeps body temperatures low with the use of materials designed to conduct heat away from the body and the open-cell construction of memory foam. If the expense of a high-quality mattress seems out of reach, consider putting in an air-conditioner – or introducing a quiet fan to the bedside.

Fuzzy textures

The tactile sensations that come with a high-pile carpet or a quality bedspread may be reassuring even for those without furry pets – but they entail a delicate balance to be found between the comforting feel of fur and the kind of fibres that trap heat. For best results, keep fuzzy fibres away from the bed, and any fabrics that do end up on the mattress should be smooth to the touch in order to facilitate sleep.

As we have pointed out before, some plants put out more oxygen than they take in during the night. These varieties of plants can be introduced into a stuffy bedroom to increase the amount of breathable air – and you will find the natural forms and colours to be more conducive to sleep than a blank and featureless space devoid of any organic decoration.

Do you wake up feeling tired after what should have been a great night’s sleep? Maybe you should re-think your bedding

The article is refer from starproperty.my

BANKS are not lending? Well, you have your Employees Provident Fund (EPF) savings to tap into!

The Middle 40 per cent(M40) or Bottom 40 per cent (B40) group have high savings, but in the form of the EPF fund.

An average of 24 per cent of their monthly income goes to the EPF (11 per cent from employee and 13 per cent from employer).

“The solution for all Malaysians to own a house before retirement free from encumbrances would be to use the EPF monies to pay for the monthly instalment so that they have extra real residual income.

“Basically, own and stay at your unit, with your EPF monies contributing to your monthly instalment,” said See Kok Loong, executive director of Metro Homes Realty Bhd.

See, who is also deputy president of Malaysia Institute of Professional Estate Agents and Consultants, said if the payment comes directly from the EPF monies, banks would be willing to finance the purchase, even for the B40 group, because the instalment is secured as long as they are employed.

The EPF allows members to withdraw their savings in Account 2 to finance the purchase of a house so they can own at least a home before their retirement.

The terms of withdrawal include members buying a residential house (bungalow/terrace/semi-detached/apartment/condominium/studio apartment/serviced apartment/townhouse/small-office-home-office) units, or a shop lot with a residential unit.

Withdrawals are not allowed for buying land/house lot; renovations/repairs; acquisition of property not done via sale and purchase transaction; member who has taken an overdraft loan; buying a third house; or buying a property overseas.

But some may argue that the EPF is a forced saving policy for retirement. Would it be risky to withdraw the fund to buy a property?

See said the government can set a policy where the withdrawal is applicable to first buy and instalment payment is up to 45 years old.

“If the young generation comes into the market when they are 20 years old and start owning a house at the age of 21 or 22 using their EPF monies for instalment, by the time they are 45, they would have a mortgage free home. They can do other things with the retirement saving at the age of 45 to 60 whereby their wages would also be much higher by then,” he said.

See believes that more people would be able to own a house if they are aware of the EPF withdrawal plan.

“Every Malaysian can in fact own a house before retirement together with our current mortgage system. It will be business as usual for banks and developers are able to sell their units because real demand is coming in.”

He added that if the property is sold before full installment, the monies goes back to the member’s EPF account just like unit trust investment plan.

This article is refer from https://www.nst.com.my/