Looking to buy into a stratified property on the secondary market? Besides the usual questions such as the cost of maintenance and facilities, Chur Associates founder and managing partner Chris Tan added another crucial aspect that could help a prospective buyer decide whether the property is a good investment - the project's Annual General Meeting (AGM) minutes.

AGM minutes can tell a prospective buyer a lot about a stratified property

The Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA) expects the property market to be adversely affected by the current challenges being faced by the country particularly the ongoing novel coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak and the political crisis which has seen the fall of the Pakatan Harapan government and the resignation of the prime minister.

Property market recovery scuttled

The residential property market in Malaysia is expected to make a comeback in 2020, evident from the higher number of launches in the second half of 2019 (2H2019), said Knight Frank Malaysia managing director Sarkunan Subramaniam in a press statement in conjunction with the launch of the real estate consultancy’s Real Estate Highlights 2H2019 today.

Knight Frank: Residential market to make slow comeback in 2020

The revival of notable mega infrastructure projects in 2019, namely the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and the Bandar Malaysia project in Kuala Lumpur that will house one of the stations of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR); and the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) will continue to improve market sentiments and restore investors’ confidence, according to Knight Frank Malaysia in its Real Estate Highlights for 2H2019 released today.

Knight Frank: Logistics sub-sector to see uptick in 2020

Agricultural land value is expected to grow in 2020, thanks to the ongoing "durian delirium'', says Savills Malaysia managing director Paul Khong.

According to Khong, agricultural land value in the country barely rose by 10% since 2014 while the industry is strong and palm oil prices are approaching record highs

Savills: Durians to drive agricultural land values in 2020

Malaysia-based integrated hospitality owner and developer Cornerstone Partners Group is developing its maiden property project in Melbourne, Australia.

In a press release yesterday, the group said the 30-storey tower with hotel and office components has an estimated gross development value of RM420 million. The project will see the first YOTEL hotel in Melbourne which will be located on City Road in Southbank within walking distance from the Crown Melbourne, Southbank Promenade, Arts Precinct, Federation Square, as well as surrounded by other world-class entertainment outlets, amenities and education institutions.

Cornerstone Partners in maiden Melbourne development venture

(July 10): New homes at SP Setia Bhd’s two latest projects, Setia Safiro and Setia Mayuri, have been sold out during their launches last weekend.

Phase 1A of Setia Safiro, called Rosario comprising 97 freehold double-storey link houses is located five kilometres from another SP Setia township, Setia Eco Glades in Cyberjaya.

Inspired by Barcelona’s widely-adapted modern integrated grid plan, Setia Safiro was designed to ensure seamless living between man, nature, and transportation.

Setia Safiro Phase 1A and Setia Mayuri Phase 1 semidees sold out

Malaysia is among the top 10 countries in the Asia Pacific region to receive cross-border capital from foreign investors, said global property consultancy firm Knight Frank in a press release today on its latest Active Capital report.

Malaysia among top 10 recipients of cross-border capital in Asia Pacific

The DATUM:KL 2019 is back for its 17th installation this July and is expected to attract more than 2,000 participants.

DATUM:KL is the Malaysian Institute of Architects’ (PAM) annual international architectural design conference which acts as a platform for discourse and showcase of exemplary architectural works from all over the world.

DATUM:KL 2019 to attract more than 2,000 participants

S P Setia is confident of achieving the RM5.65 billion sales target for FY2019 despite registering lower property sales in 1Q2019 of RM718 million, down 35% y-o-y.

This is largely due to the upcoming RM6.4 billion worth of property launches from now until the end of the year as only RM339 million worth of projects was launched in 1Q2019 as well as the bookings the developer has received from potential homebuyers.

S P Setia on track to achieve RM5.65b sales target for FY2019

Energy transformation should be a top priority for Asean as it tackles climate change, and the key strategies should be the development of connected infrastructure and capitalising on the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution.

Jeffrey Sachs, president of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions and Research (UN-SDSN), said during his presentation at the Asean Workshop on Sustainable Development that regional integration has become a strategic necessity for every nation in the world, and Asean must have diplomatic unity to have influence in the world.

Sustainable Asean-wide policies with connected infrastructure and AI

Bursa Malaysia Bhd (KL:BURSA) has introduced a new renewable energy (RE) subsector within its energy and utilities sector classification. This move aims to provide more focused classification for public listed companies (PLCs) operating in the RE space.

The new RE classification includes PLCs involved in providing equipment and services for RE production, as well as those producing or distributing electricity through RE sources.

Bursa reclassifies 13 companies as it introduces new renewable energy subsector

BIMB Securities Research has advised investors to focus on stocks that are poised to gain from a stronger US dollar, particularly commodity assets like gold, which is expected to see heightened demand as a safe-haven investment and a hedge against inflation.

BIMB Securities advises defensive portfolio positioning ahead of Trump’s inauguration

Thailand said foreign and domestic companies pledged to invest 1.14 trillion baht (US$33 billion or RM147.8 billion) last year, as the Southeast Asian nation emerged as a hot destination for data centres, cloud services and advanced electronics manufacturing.

Thailand says investment plans hit decade-high US$33b last year

Engineering and construction services provider Kimlun Corp Bhd (KL:KIMLUN) is selling a plot of freehold land measuring 56.5ha in Kota Tinggi, Johor, for RM55 million to KT Techpark Sdn Bhd.

Its indirect wholly owned unit Kitaran Lintas Sdn Bhd has inked the agreement for the sale, according to its bourse filing on Monday.

Kimlun sells plantation land in Kota Tinggi for RM55 mil

Four individuals, including a senior executive officer from a local broadcasting company, who were detained last Friday, have been remanded for another three days to assist in a money laundering case.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Razarudin Husain confirmed that the extension had been obtained until Wednesday.

Remand of four, including senior broadcasting executive, extended — IGP

Energy infrastructure firm Yinson Holdings Bhd (KL:YINSON) is close to signing up investors for a funding round in its unit that makes equipment used by the offshore oil and gas industry, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Yinson close to deal with investors including Abu Dhabi for US$1b funding — Bloomberg

The Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) has advised all parties on Monday to respect the court proceedings concerning Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's application for judicial review at the High Court.

In a statement, the AGC informed that during Monday’s case management, the High Court issued directions concerning the filing of affidavits for the substantive judicial review application.

AGC advises all parties to respect court proceedings in Najib's judicial review

apan, the Philippines and the US vowed to further deepen cooperation under a trilateral arrangement in the face of rising tensions in Asia's waters, the three countries said following a call among their leaders.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and outgoing US President Joe Biden met virtually on Monday morning Asian time.

Japan, Philippines, US vow to deepen cooperation in face of China's behaviour

Singapore Post's (SingPost) former group chief executive Vincent Phang has resigned as the company’s non-executive, non-independent director, according to a bourse filing by the company on Monday.

SingPost's ex-CEO Vincent Phang resigns from board

Prospect Medical Holdings Inc, once an active buyer of cash-strapped hospitals, filed for bankruptcy after struggling with debt piles and soaring costs.

Private hospital owner Prospect Medical files for bankruptcy

Malaysian stocks were broadly lower on Monday led by construction and property companies, while the country’s benchmark index fell to a five-month low.

Investors in Asia reacted poorly to the latest jobs data in the US that pointed to a robust economy, threatening the prospects of rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. The ringgit also depreciated along with other emerging Asian currencies under pressure from a strengthening US dollar.

Malaysian stocks broadly lower as KLCI falls to five-month low, ringgit weakens

Gamuda Bhd (KL:GAMUDA) said its consortium has been appointed as the main contractor to deliver the first civil works package worth over RM8 billion for the Penang Light Rail Transit (LRT) project.

Gamuda gets first package worth over RM8 bil of Penang LRT project

City Motors Group has officially opened its 42-storey Alfa Bangsar mixed-use development located at the intersection of Jalan Maarof and Jalan Tandok in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, last Friday (Jan 10).

City Motors Group officially opens Alfa Bangsar and Holiday Inn Kuala Lumpur Bangsar

The government on Monday wants to apply for a gag and prohibitive order to refrain the public from discussing issues pertaining to a purported addendum allowing former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest, as it involves sensitive matters.

Govt wants gag order on addendum

CAPE EMS Bhd (KL:CEB), which started its Bursa Malaysia journey on a high note in 2023, has found itself in the midst of a corporate storm this year.

A sequence of financial missteps, margin calls and declining investor confidence has left the electronics manufacturing services (EMS) pr...

Turkeys Of The Year: Cape EMS’ dramatic fall from grace

Europe’s largest pension fund sold its entire €571 million (US$585 million or RM2.63 billion) stake in Tesla Inc&nbsp;in the third quarter, partly due to disagreement with Elon Musk’s remuneration package.

Europe’s largest pension fund sold Tesla stake over Musk’s pay

Allianz Malaysia Bhd’s (KL:ALLIANZ) earnings outlook is clouded by uncertainties over future premium increases, Maybank Investment Bank said and downgraded the country’s largest general insurer.

Allianz Malaysia's earnings outlook clouded by premium uncertainties, Maybank says in downgrade to 'hold'

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 13): Rising production and delays in implementing biodiesel mandates in Indonesia may weaken palm oil prices beyond the first quarter of 2025, even as latest data show a 19-month low stockpile, analysts say.

Rising production, Indonesia’s biodiesel delays likely to weaken CPO prices — analysts

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 13): Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad failed in his judicial review application to challenge the Pulau Batu Puteh Royal Commission of Inquiry’s decision not to allow the presence of his lawyers during the proceedings.

Court dismisses Dr M’s bid to challenge decision to not allow his lawyers to be at Batu Puteh RCI

(Jan 13): The UK is planning special districts for constructing data centres and will explore dedicating nuclear energy to the sites as part of a Labour government project to boost technology growth and the ecosystem for artificial intelligence (AI).

UK will explore nuclear power for new AI data centre plan

Local institutions supported Bursa Malaysia for the 12th consecutive week, with net purchases of RM281.9 million, according to MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd.

MIDF: Local institutions back Bursa Malaysia for 12th straight week

DATA centres (DCs), which have grown in importance in the age of digitalisation, took centre stage in 2024 owing to the massive foreign direct investments (FDI) into the sector and Putrajaya’s recent approval of a total DC capacity of 4gw, making Malaysia a “DC powerhouse” in the region and a pro...

Stories Of The Year: Can Malaysia capitalise on its data centre ambitions?

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 13): Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that he returned the purported Arab donation, because the 13th general elections were over and he didn’t need a large sum of money.

1MDB-Tanore: Najib says GE13 over, no need for such large sum, returned monies

Malaysia’s wholesale and retail trade growth decelerated to 4.7% year-on-year in November, largely driven by sales in non-specialised and specialised stores, official data on Monday showed.

Malaysia's wholesale and retail trade growth slows in November, official data show

The Joe Biden administration's plans to introduce new export restrictions on artificial intelligence (AI) chips under a three-tiered system by country have sparked concerns in Malaysia.

How will restricted AI chip access impact Malaysia?

Al-Salam Real Estate Investment Trust (KL:ALSREIT) will see “significant” rental growth from this year onwards thanks to higher occupancy at its most valuable property, BIMB Securities said.

Al-Salam REIT to see significant rental growth in 2025 onwards, BIMB says in starting coverage with 'buy' call

Thailand’s Cabinet approved in principle a bill seeking to legalise casinos, with the government pitching the initiative as a major step to boost tourism and tackle rampant illegal gambling in the Southeast Asian nation.

Thai Cabinet approves draft casino bill in boost for tourism

Eden Inc Bhd (KL:EDEN) said on Monday that it has been selected to develop a 29.99-megawatt (MW) large-scale solar photovoltaic plant in Gebeng, Kuantan.

Eden picked to develop 29.99MW solar plant in Kuantan

SINGAPORE/BANGALORE (Jan 13):&nbsp;Oil prices extended gains for a third session on Monday, with Brent rising above US$80 (RM360.63) a barrel to its highest in more than four months, as wider US sanctions are expected to affect Russian crude exports to top buyers China and India.

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