Condos within a mature neighbourhood for older and younger folks.

Do you think in future, even more older folks may prefer to stay in a condo instead of their current landed home? For my parents, I do not think so. Perhaps the likelihood of either my brother or me working in Ipoh and staying with them is far higher than for them to move to Penang to be with my brother or to KL to be with me. This may not be true for everyone. I was seated at the lobby area of a condominium in Penang island yesterday morning waiting for my CEO to pick me up for breakfast. He was late because Penang had its worst flood for a very long time happening today. One uncle gave me a smile and sat down opposite me. Probably 70 plus years old. Shortly another uncle came and they started to chit-chat before one of them left for breakfast with his son. The other uncle went back to his unit I think.

Soon after, two aunties sat down. Probably in their 60s. They started with the rain topic and moved on to their grandchildren stories. From the way they chat, you would know they have been friends for some time. You know what, I think this will be more common in future. They may have their homes nearby but their kids may prefer condo living and bought nearby so that both could stay nearby and yet separated. Let us be honest, both may not see eye to eye on every matter but family relationships will always form a strong bond. True? This is one major reason why condos built in mature neighbourhood can still sell well and could usually fetch better premiums compared to some newer and further away areas. In fact the buyers would usually be related to the people with the mature neighbourhood. They have friends, relatives and even favourite hawker food stalls there.

This is happening despite the daily jams into and out of the area due to narrow roads which were built to cater to much smaller populations, they are not bothered. Oblivious to it even. However, as soon as they

drive a little further, even with similar duration, it’s a huge hassle.
Anyway, this situation is only applicable when the younger ones are working in the same city as their parent’s home. My parents still prefer their home in Ipoh. All their friends are there. KL will always be a ‘stranger’ to them. Another real example, my aunty who

wishes to retire in Ipoh

and has been staying in condos for a very long time has just bought a condo in Ipoh less than 5 minutes away from her sister. (My mother)  She is not in favour of landed but she wants to be close by. My friends have asked me a few times if I would prefer landed. Frankly, if the landed has a club house and is gated and guarded with a proper strata title, yes, I would prefer it. Else, it will be a big sized condo for me instead. Well, in the future, when I grow old, I would hopefully be accepted to stay at my children’s high-rise. Happy thoughts.

written on 16 Sept 2017

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Maximising our resources, rent the home we currently stay?

From our 3rd property onwards, the banks would also loan us 70 percent, at maximum. Imagine buying a RM600,000 condo and needing to pay around RM200,000 in total including the stamp duty and legal fees. An investing friend recently reminded me that when we really think about maximising our property investments, we should even rent the home we stay today instead of a 30% downpayment which ties up a lot of our capital. He said, there’s no need to rush to own a home because whatever we paid into this home technically is ‘wasted.’ Okay, his view is supported by facts and figures but I would still prefer to own the place where I stay even if I would not be rushing to pay it off as soon as I could.

I love the place I stay today. I loved the place I stayed when I was still based in Penang. Both have lots of open and green spaces for my family and I. I could swim in the landscaped pools or just brisk walking in the morning. In short, I do not believe that we should stay in a less comfortable place for a cheaper price and thus have more capital resources for investments instead. However, the thoughts about renting instead of tying up our capital can be considered. It never crossed my mind many years ago but I think these days, investments are becoming ever more important, else we have to be contented to remain within the average middle class. With investments, we may not be rich like the successful entrepreneurs but we can aim at the upper end of the middle class who definitely enjoy a better quality of life here in Malaysia.

Maybe if I move again, I will consider this seriously. The first home I stayed in was RM123,000 and it moved upwards until the current one bought nearly two years ago for RM540,000. The next home would most probably be even higher priced and 30 percent is really a lot of money to be ‘stepped on or stayed in’ no matter how we love that new place. Oh yeah, the rental market is also on our side too, at least for 1-2 years at least because there are many new units entering the market too, Klang Valley wise. Happy thinking and deciding.

written on 6 Feb 2016

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Maxis Q3 2020 profit is RM365 million

This is an article about a telecommunications company which is doing well; Maxis Q3 2020 result. Yes, if employees continue to get their usual pay, I think they may just contribute to the property market transaction numbers too.

I was a super loyal Maxis subscriber since year 2000 all the way to 2019. 🙂  Too bad, there’s really nothing special for anyone who’s too loyal to the same brand.  Somehow, many promotions are aimed at new subscribers. Anyway, that’s an old story. Switching brands does not mean I do not care about a major telecommunication company here in Malaysia. Its results would definitely be an important sign that some businesses are not affected adversely by COVID-19. Here’s that latest Maxis Q3 2020 announcement. Yes, as per the title, it is considered a positive one, under current circumstances.

Photo by bongkarn thanyakij on
Pexels.com

Article in themalaysianreserve.com
 .  MAXIS Bhd’s net profit for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2020 (3Q20) rose slightly to RM365 million from RM358 million in 3Q19.

Its revenue declined 3.2% to RM2.21 billion from RM2.28 billion previously, it stated in a filing to Bursa Malaysia yesterday.

The company said the service revenue, excluding wholesale revenue, was up RM10 million to RM1.93 billion compared to 3Q19’s RM1.92 billion.

“Given the uncertainties, the group considered it prudent not to disclose a new outlook,” said Maxis in a statement.

Maxis is closely monitoring and assessing the impact of Covid-19, and once it becomes appropriate to disclose any material information, it will be made in accordance with the Main Market listing requirements.

“The group remains in a good financial position to weather the crisis created by the Covid-19 pandemic. Our balance sheet remains healthy, and our funding and liquidity are well positioned.

Do read here for the full article with more information:
Article in themalaysianreserve.com

Well, I think Maxis employees are certainly one group which may be buying properties. If I am the bank, I would definitely give some extra care to companies which continue to do well during the current COVID-19 situation. As for Maxis’ employees, I think they should be smiling after this announcement? After all, if the company is profitable, at least there should be some rewards even for 2020? Let’s wish them all the very best. Yes, I have a few friends working there too. They should be smiling with this latest announcement. Keep up the good work. (no idea if anyone from Maxis reads this and would like to convert me back?)

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May ‘lost’ seats, may lose her post too but government may remain

There are good news for Malaysian parents with children in UK universities. The British pound has just dropped further after the election results were announced. The Conservatives lost their majority in the government and would not have to form a government with support from other parties. Oh yeah, by the way, I do not agree that Brexit will be positive for Britain. To me, integration is much better than separation simply because of the bigger market access. Trading nations cannot trade if they have no partners to trade. Without any doubt, economically, Britain is in better shape than many of the European Union (EU) countries BUT going alone is not going to be sufficient. Alone (even if it’s the UK), it would need to quickly expand its trade partners or some of its domestic businesses would start to lose business versus competitors based within the EU. Well, my wish for Britain to reconsider Brexit is not coming true.

Theresa May has just announced that she would form a new government with the support of a small party. Full article here in
abcnews.go.com
 This is her statement, “I will now form a government.” Her ‘partner’ is Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party which won 10 seats. Together, they have 328 seats between them and this gives them a very slim simple majority in the parliament. A minimum of 326 seats are needed to form the new government. Oh yeah, this is what her ‘partner’ DUP leader Arleme Foster said, “I certainly think that there will be contact made over the weekend, but I think it’s too soon to talk about what we’re going to do.” Okay, does not sound enthusiastic but not negative lah. The article described the two parties as a friendly party to the other. The other point to note is that without DUP’s support, Labour party will not be able to form the government as it will never be able to reach the 326 seats needed. Well, unless DUP’s negotiation with Conservatives fail.

A few more interesting readings.
TheGuardian.com: How did Theresa May’s gamble fail?
 The title says it all. Most observers have expected May to lead her party to an even more comfortable victory but it did not happen. This article shows everything in numbers.

Next one is by the main newspaper that I read when I was a student in Britain.
independent.co.uk: Theresa May to remain PM after forming government with DUP
 Basically, what it expects is that Theresa May would remain PM as per what she vowed after getting an ‘Irish Bailout.’ She said, “Our two parties have enjoyed a strong relationship over many years, and this gives me the confidence to believe that we will be able to work together in the interests of the whole United Kingdom.”

There’s also one about the potential of another famous personality replacing Theresa May as PM. Remember Boris Johnson? Here’s that
article in cnbc.com
It quoted U.K. bookmakers betting odds. The odds for Johnson to replace May is now 5-1 from 66-1 previously. This is a funny one to say the least but let’s just say that if I could buy, then I would just bet a pound on Johnson. 🙂

Happy following and may the new government somehow change its view about Brexit? Cheers.

written on 9 June 2017

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One bank declared dividend already. Wondering about all other banks.

After reporting profits for the financial year ending 31st Dec 2020, Maybank has declared dividend (single-tier interim dividend) of 13.5 sen. Yes, I start to wonder how will all other banks be reacting to this. By the way, from all the reports I read, I have not read about any bank suffering huge losses because they provided the 6 months moratorium which has also been extended to 9 months and now some may have extended it further.

COVID-19 pandemic has not been kind to many companies. This included the banks too. Thus, their stock price has been battered hard. Let’s not go into numbers but suffice to say, it’s RED when compared to their prices prior to COVID-19’s arrival. Yes, I owned stocks in one bank starting with C.  Haha. Hopefully they will also declare dividends too though that’s not the main purpose I bought the stock in the first place. News as below.

Photo by Pixabay on
Pexels.com

Article in themalaysianreserve.com
 Maybank is the first local bank to offer a full dividend for the year despite COVID-19 pandemic. Other banks such as Public Bank Bhd, CIMB Group Holdings Bhd and Affin Bank Bhd has not yet declared any dividend for the year despite posting IMPROVED profits.

For its 3Q ended Sept 30, 2020, Maybank’s net profit declined 2% year-on-year (YoY) to RM 1.95 billion or 17.37 sen per share from RM1.99 billion or 17.78 sen per share in the same quarter last year, due to the continued impact from the pandemic. However, this was partly offset by reduced overhead expenses and a decline in impairments. Do read the full report here:
Article in themalaysianreserve.com

Important note

We are fortunate that Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has been very strict with the banks and thus when COVID-19 pandemic came, our banks were generally on a strong footing. Thus, the moratorium was able to be carried out easily. Imagine if the banks’ fundamental were wobbly and we ask them to extend the moratorium again and again. The banks’ employees may be the ones who will suffer the most when this happens. Luckily, the banks remain profitable and we have one who has announced a quarterly dividend. That’s really a good sign.

Conclusion

If the banks continue to show an improvement, their current share prices do look very attractive yeah. This is especially if they start declaring dividends based on their current share prices and it may be double or triple the yields from keeping our money in the fixed deposit for 12 months and getting just 2%. Not asking anyone to buy any stocks, this decision is for everyone to make. Do take care and stay safe.

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Maybank IB: Gamuda Bhd a ‘buy’ because…

Maybank IB: Gamuda Bhd a ‘buy’ because…

I do not own any Gamuda Bhd shares. However, I do think they are an interesting proposition. This is considered a high-tech engineering and construction company and if they win more projects to do, then they would be able to continue earning good profits which will certainly help in the movement of the share price.

Here is one latest analysis of what would the potential of Gamuda Bhd be. In fact based on their target price, it represents a 27 percent upside from the price of Gamuda Bhd end of 22 March 2022. Here that price and also some other details from google.com (the best place to find information)

Article in theedgemarkets.com
   Maybank Investment Bank (Maybank IB) has maintained engineering and construction, property development and water and expressway concessions group Gamuda Bhd as a “buy.” In a research note, Maybank IB said Gamuda’s recent RM6.5 billion win in Australia reaffirms its capability.

Higher pre-sales could also be expected of its property projects as it embeds sustainability into both design and concept. Maybank IB said, “A highway trust for its four tolled urban highways, if it materialises, will unlock value.”

The research firm remains optimistic on Gamuda securing the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit Line 3 (KVMRT3) undergound works based on its strong delivery track record and balance sheet, and cost advantage position with a fully depreciated tunnel boring machine (TBM) fleet. Please do refer to the details of the report here:
Article in theedgemarkets.com

Construction is not like a supermarket counter play yeah

When we buy into a supermarket share counter, it would usually have a stable revenue every quarter. They could expand but generally, their sales revenue from all existing supermarkets would be rather stable. Meanwhile for a counter like GAMUDA Bhd, it has to continue winning new construction projects. If it wins, then the profits for the next financial year will be more than the year before BUT when the project is almost completed, it has to find another project. Else, the revenue and profit will start to move downwards.

As a typical investor, we could only read news about their bidding. It’s not like a supermarket counter which we could actually drop by and see if it’s doing well or badly as part of the due diligence. Happy investing.

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Maybank’s first 9 months, Profit Before Tax is 11.9% lower than 2015

Did you know Maybank is the 4th largest bank by assets within South East Asia? I do but I was reminded about it again by an article in
 thestar.com.my
  Yes, good news for Maybank. It has posted a 55.1% up in profit before tax (PBT) for Q3 FY2016. I thought it has been a tough 2016? Actually it was a tough one because on a nine month basis ending Sept 30 2016, the PBT has actually fallen by 11.9% to RM5.97 billion from RM6.78 billion in the same period in 2015. The numbers are still healthy by the way. Three key reasons for it to continue its steady growth. Loans growth picked up pace in Q3FY16
(YES, FASTER….)
 , deposits maintained its modest growth trend and the group continued to benefit from its strong retail franchise in key markets.
(Branches do play an important part)

Some words from the top managements? Maybank chairman Tan Sri Megat Zaharuddin Megat Mohd Nor said that Maybank is well positioned in financing the infrastructure needs in the various Asean countries, whilst stimulating growth in the SME sector given lowering interest rates.
(Remember, SMEs are the key to growth in the country as we are talking about hundreds of thousands of them, thus providing jobs and contributing to economic growth)
Its

group president and CEO, Datuk Abdul Farid Alias is even more positive I feel. He said, “We intend to sustain this momentum going forward, while at the same time, remaining disciplined in managing costs, mitigating risks and enhancing efficiency, to better position ourselves for sustained growth in the future.”

I hope this news is considered positive by readers of kopiandproperty.com  Actually Maybank is a good barometer of the economy. It’s huge and if the
whole economy is down
, Maybank’s results would quickly reflect the situation. Please also look at two other huge banks too; CIMB and Public Bank. These three would provide to us a better glimpse of what’s really happening instead of all the ringgit news we hear everyday ever since America elected its new President. In Q1 2016, we were still the top 2 best performing currencies, today… well… Keep following and believing.

written on 24 Nov 2016

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Maybank’s Q1 is still going up. Erm… quarters ahead?

Maybank is Malaysia’s largest bank by total asset-size. It has just reported a growing profit for Q1 2020 versus a year ago. Movement Control Order (MCO) did not affect it?

Banks’ are a great sign of the market health. The market cannot be growing if the banks are not financing the growth. If the markets are in a crisis, the banks would also face the brunt of it. The Non-Performing-Loan (NPL) will also increase and this will soon affect its profit numbers too. Thus, we can say that banks’ quarterly numbers may also be reflective the country’s economic growth.

Article in themalaysianreserve.com
  Maybank’s net profit rose 13.3% to RM2.05 billion in Q1 2020 period. It recorded a 2% increase in revenue to RM13.22 billion in 1Q20 compared to RM12.98 billion posted a year ago. The reason it’s not so affected yet was because the MCO was only effective from 18th March 2020. However, this good news may not be continuous.

Group president and CEO Datuk Abdul Farid Alias said, “We expect the operating environment for the rest of 2020 to remain uncertain and sensitive to the kinetics of the pandemic, as well as the outlook for treatment and vaccines, which will have implications to public health and economic policies.”

Meanwhile Maybank’s allowances for impairment losses on loans, advances, financing and other debts rose by 59.2% or RM357.7 million to RM961.7 million in the quarter under review compared to 1Q19. Please do refer to the full article here:
Article in themalaysianreserve.com

It’s super important to understand that the Q1 results cannot be repeated for Q2 or Q3 because the moratorium is in place and this will definitely reduce the overall revenue for all banks. What is extremely important to look at how they are already making allowances for impairment and this will give us an indication as to the ability of the bank to absorb the current slowdown in the market.

For those who think that perhaps Maybank can still be considered a good stock to buy, here’s their latest numbers from my friend Mr.google. It is showing a negative movement and its 52-week low is RM7. This is lower than the current share price. It’s highest was RM9.10 This is obviously a price which it managed to achieve before COVID-19.

I do not own any Maybank shares. Happy deciding and following yeah.

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Maybe even lower home loan rates and lower fixed deposit rates this year.

It was a surprise for many when Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) reduced the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) recently. Article here:
Yeah, lower mortgage rates, Oops, lower FD rates too
  It’s loved by many home buyers and yet it’s not a good news at all for those with lots of fixed deposits (FD in banks. While there are no immediate changes but as soon as the current FD term expires, then the next rate will be lower. The good news or the bad news is not ending yet. There are already expectations that BNM will have to decide for another cut in the OPR within 2020.

Article in theborneopost.com
  Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd (Kenanga Research) expects the central bank to lean towards another cut in 2020. It said, “For the time being, BNM has signalled a pause, stating that ‘at this current level of the OPR, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) considers the stance of monetary policy to be appropriate in sustaining economic growth with price stability.” It added, “However, we suspect the growing concerns of the spread of Coronavirus might have partly influenced and hasten BNM’s decision to cut this round.”

OCBC Bank’s Treasure Research felt that the current cut is insufficient to support the current official growth projection of 4.8% in 2020. It said, “We had highlighted before that the 4.8 per cent growth rate in 2020 that underpins the fiscal assumption was too optimistic, and we reckon growth is likely to be closer to 4.2 per cent that we expect.” Please  do refer to the predictions and more details in the
Article in theborneopost.com

If we look at these interventions as necessary in order to support the economic growth, then we should also have interventions with our investments too. Are we looking deeper into the stock market for more good buys? Lower valuations are becoming more common currently. Are we also casting our net wider when it comes to the property market? Truth is, there is now the possibility to buy a unit which could provide better yields currently versus say 3 years ago.

Remember also that  BNM will react based on what they believe will be happening in the near future. If the growth slows, then the OPR cut will be sooner than later. Thus a rate cut cannot be considered a great news (for many people) but it will provide another window of opportunity for those who has yet to buy a unit. It does not have to be primary units too yeah.
Secondary market has its advantages too. (Read here)
  Happy deciding.

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Maybe, it’s also the owner and not just the tenant.

How many of us have heard of horror stories of tenants from hell? First up, they do not pay on time. Secondly, some do not even pay and yet refused to move out! Third would be those who messed up the place and we only got to know about it when they moved out. Next would be those who unreasonable and unbelievable requests. Somehow almost every time we rent out the place, the problem repeats itself. Think about it. When all these happens, it could be due to the tenant, the Fengshui (if you believe in it) or YOU.

Haha. Yea, it may just be the owner, maybe. Yes, I do have ONE (1) case where I had to go through a lot of hassle to move that tenant. However, other than this one case, we could also look at some of my tenants as below.  This is just my personal experience. No idea of it is true for all owners yeah.

One tenant (Malaysian Indian engineer) rented from me until he bought his own landed property in Penang. Tenant bought a home which was 4 times more expensive than the home he rented for 4 years. He has managed to save a lot of money I guess because of low rental which he paid and he drives an Iswara 1.3  He was never late in rental and the home was clean enough when he moved out.

Another tenant (Malaysian Indian) is now a corporate legal advisor and helped to look after my home and my other tenants too! Yes, he is still a friend today. He rented the master-room and acted like a leader of the home where two other ladies were also fellow tenants.

Another tenant (Malaysian Indian) is a doctor. I have NEVER ever reminded him to pay the rental even once. It’s always in and once he banked in on the 3rd of the month, he said sorry for being a few days late. Once, the door knob was spoilt. He told me and I said I will pay for it, just need him to liaise with the contractor. A few days later, he told me he bought a new door knob and replaced it. He paid for it in advance and when I wanted to tt him back, he said, he will just deduct it from next month’s rental.

A group of Petronas University students (3 Malay ladies) stayed at my place for 8 months. When it was the last day, I went to take the keys and on that day the mother of one of them came and chit-chatted with me and even helped to sweep the floor! Haha. Rental was always on time.

There are more of these but I think it’s enough as a sample. Perhaps I am just so lucky. Somehow my tenants are always so good to me. Actually, when I really look back, I think one of the main reason why they were good to me was because I was good to them. When the Malay university ladies said the washing machine was giving problems and it was already 5 years, I went to order a new washing machine and have it sent over within 48 hours.  I also paid RM30 to the lorry driver to remove the old washing machine.

When the doctor (the door knob case) said the air-conditioner was not cold, I immediately suggest that he call the air-con technician to check and just replace if needed. I will tt the money directly.  Just send the bill over to me. It was an immediate response and the air-con was replaced within days.

Whenever I visit Kelana Jaya when I was still based in Penang, I would drop by my condo which was rented out to the Indian legal advisor and I would buy some fruits and even invited all the tenants for a good lunch where we chit-chatted about the world and everything.

Yes, I deliberately mentioned the race because to me, everyone is equal and I do not choose my tenants because of race. I believe good people will always attract good people and I will always remember this story I read a long time ago.

A man who was about to move to a new city arrived at the train station. He asked the train master about the people in that new city. Are they good people?  The station master asked him, “how about all your friends here in this city, are they good people?’ The man answered, “oh… I will miss all of them here. They were all so nice to me.”  The station master said, “The people in that new city are also very good people…”

A few days later, another man who was also moving to that new city asked the station master about the people in that new city. Station master asked, “How are the people in this city which you are currently staying?” The man replied, “Oh… I hated the people here. No one is friendly at all.” The station master replied, “The people in that new city are the SAME as the people in this city.”  Happy understanding yeah. Cheers.

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MBO @ Starling Mall. Worth visiting and mall’s improving!

Do you wish to spend a quality 2 hour with your partner and yet still having your kids around you? Cafes are not a good idea as kids have nothing to do and would get bored fast. There’s an additional choice now. MBO Kecil. My kids love playground, even if they are repeating the same slide for half an hour. They love to watch movies too, well for the first hour anyway. When I read about a new MBO cinema with a new hall called MBO Kecil in Starling Mall, I told my wife and we agree that we should go one of these days. That was weeks ago. The main reason for not going until today? Well, I feel that there’s nothing else at Starling Mall plus the parking fee is also not cheap when compared to my favourite
1Utama mall.
 The ‘damage’ today? RM12. Ouch. The last time we went there (many months back), we struggle to even find a place for lunch. There were just too few options!

Anyway, this time, I must say that the experience was good. MBO cinema launched their MBO Kecil which is targeted at family with kids. The ticket price per adult is RM17 while my two kids are under the ‘free’ category currently. So, for RM34, we enjoyed ‘Wonder Woman’ for over 2 hours. My son was too tired and slept nearly the whole time while my daughter was running non-stop with many other kids at the playground which was within the cinema itself. My wife and I enjoyed the movie tremendously and it was the first time we need not be watching a cartoon (TGV Family Cinema)! Haha.  If you have a family with toddlers, perhaps this is a good choice too. The only hiccup may be that the playground had just one slide and there were many kids. Plus I feel that it could have been brighter. Well, as long as the whole family enjoyed, I guess it’s okay. Diaper changing room is clean too.

With regards to dining option, NAM HEONG has opened! Yes, it helped to satisfy my craving for Ipoh food (Yes, it’s the best food… Haha). Image of the food and the original cup of white coffee as attached. (Do note that nothing beats eating the original one in Ipoh yeah…) On an overall basis, there were today many more dining choices. Carpark was not that full but the number of visitors within the mall is okay. It’s no longer empty like my last visit. Oh yeah, to the management of Starling Mall, “I love your air-con. It’s cooling and I would rate you as the top. Please keep this up and not try to save some money by increasing the temperature yeah. The toilets are also clean and the Hari Raya decorations are already up. I think this is one good regional mall and yes, if I am given a choice between Tropicana City Mall or Atria or Starling, I think it is now Starling Mall. It has even a rooftop garden if you want to just take a stroll. Do make it towards 530pm la and not at noon. We will melt….  Happy spending quality time with family.

written on 4 June 2017

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Mc. Donald’s unhealthy? Mc. Cafe then?

I have friends who cannot stand Mc. Donald’s. I have no issues. Haha. I think majority of us are familiar with Mc. Donalds. Few years back, Mc.Donalds wants a slide of the premium coffee market as well, thus, they started Mc. Cafe. There are not that many around, especially in Penang. However, let me tell you my experience with Mc.Cafe.  One day, not too long ago when I visited Mc. Cafe for the first time. It was the one right next to the Petronas station near Jaya Jusco Ipoh. The barista seemed inexperienced but never mind, we ordered one latte and another mocca.

Guess what it does look quite good. But I said the barista seems inexperienced right, how can it look so good? The trick is, they have even provided the right equipments to these staffs so that without much practise, the can come up with a very professional looking engraving. Next time, take a look and you would know. Anyway, it matters not how they do it as long as they do it. Price is actually cheaper than Starbucks if I remember correctly but they have no loyalty card, thus even if you buy 10, you would not get one free.

The mocca was really quite good. The latte is above average too but of course can be better. My friend who opens a cafe told me, as long as the beans are very fresh and the machine they use is good, it does not need a genius to craft out a good cup of latte. Oh… no wonder. Mc. Cafe, my recommendation is, you should try.

written on 19th dec 2013

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McDonald’s selling China and Hong Kong stake for US$2.1 Billion

When organisations become extremely huge, they sometimes start losing out to smaller and faster competitors. It’s the same even if it’s the world’s most famous fast food restaurant, McDonald’s. These days, it is no longer just facing competition from fellow fast food restaurants but also increasingly local food which is also growing extremely fast. I can safely say that given a choice, I would choose a Japanese restaurant over McDonald’s. For many Malaysians, a nasi lemak with chicken rendang would beat a burger on most days. What about you?

Perhaps two major reasons why it continues to do well is also because it is a toy seller too, plus the fact that kids somehow likes the M sign. I still remember the Snoopy craze in Malaysia when I was much younger. In ebay Australia today, (refer to image) the bid for a full set of 16 Snoopy figurines starts from AUD50. (RM164). At its home in the U.S, McDonald’s faces slowing sales. It is said to be facing lots of competition which are moving faster than it. This meant that it has to consolidate itself and come back stronger. One way it is doing this is to sell its businesses to new shareholders which will help it expand faster. In China and Hong Kong, it is selling a controlling stake of 80 percent to Chinese state-backed conglomerate Citic Ltd., Citic Capital Holdings and U.S. private-equity firm Carlyle Group LP. The new investors would be looking to open up to 1,500 new restaurants within the next five years in smaller Chinese cities. Full article in
Bloomberg here.

I learnt two things from this McDonald’s deal. Competition is always present, even for seemingly strong businesses. Just look at the property market today. Are there fewer developers even during the current market slowdown? Actually, there are more new developers. I think this is good for property buyers. Second thing I learnt is this, when it’s a good business with good potential, there would be buyers for it. This is no different from buying a good property. Even during a slowdown, a great property at a great location with a good price would be snapped up fast. I remember my conversation withy ex CFO a year ago. He said, if the landed homes in Desa Parkcity falls by 10 percent, he would buy another unit immediately. Sorry, there’s the third thing too. McDonald’s would still be around for a very long time yet. Time for Prosperity Burger tomorrow. Cheers.

written on 11 Jan 2017

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MCM LONDON MUSICAL CIRCUS OPENS @ CAPITAL CITY, JOHOR BAHRU

Press Release by MCM London Musical Circus.  (Yes, my family enjoyed this thoroughly and I think it’s going to be fun to just enjoy a musical circus show. This is something that is now available in Capital City, JB. My earlier review article here:
My kids love it. Bring yours!
)

THE FIRST INDOOR MUSICAL CIRCUS IN MALAYSIA – MCM LONDON MUSICAL CIRCUS OPENS ITS DOORS TO THE PUBLIC AT CAPITAL CITY, JOHOR BAHRU

The MCM London Musical Circus is a musical circus that combines adrenaline-fueled stunt actions, traditional circus skills, great music and dance into dramatic stories

A new indoor live theatre and entertainment facility at Capital City

Aspire to bring the magic and fantasy of the circus world for the mass market at an affordable pricing

MCM London Musical Circus brings “The Greatest Showman” – the blockbuster Hollywood movie live to Malaysia

Capital City, an upcoming entertainment center situated in Tampoi, Johor Bahru, is pleased to announce that in conjunction with the 250th anniversary of circus shows in the world, the birth of the first musical circus in Malaysia by MCM London Musical Circus (under subsidiary of MCM Studio). The show will debut “The Greatest Showman”, at the Circus Hall – the new indoor live theatre and entertainment facility at Capital City.

The premiere show was graced by Datuk Bandar of Johor Bahru – Tuan Haji Amran bin A.Rahman, Pengawai Kewangan Negeri – Y.B. Dato’ Haji A. Rahim Bin Haji Nin, Pengawai Daerah Johor Bahru – Tuan Haji Mohammed Ridha B. Dato’ Haji Abd Kadir and many other influential government officials, business partners, media representatives and other invited guests.

Unlike conventional circus shows, MCM London Musical Circus is the first indoor musical circus in Malaysia that combines adrenaline fueled action, the finest traditional circus skills and great music into a dramatic story of ambition, greed and a surprising outcome.

With over 50 years’ experience of creating great shows in Europe and South East Asia, the Producers (collectively MCM Studio Entertainment Group Sdn Bhd and Big Kid Entertainment Group) bring to Johor Bahru a much-loved form of live traditional entertainment brought bang up to date in a jaw dropping spectacle created especially for the circus. The International cast includes the best circus artists from the UK, Russia, Chile, Venezuela, Mexico, Bulgaria and the USA.

Guaranteed to have audiences on the edge of their seats, the nerve tingling aerial acts and sensational ‘Double Wheel of Death’ are examples of the visual extravaganza. Mr Stubby, the Circus Clown, provides the fun and laughter and the glittering music and dance routines will have the audiences rocking in their seats!

The musical circus show will be on performance every day at Capital City with different timing throughout the week. Tickets can be ordered online at
www.mcmstudio.asia
. Alternatively, tickets are also available at our purchasing counter at Capital City with the hotline 016-407-1880.

Mr. Kiril Kirilov, Managing Director of Big Kid Entertainments said on behalf of the show producers,
“The Greatest Showman will provide a fantastic new entertainment experience for all ages and we look forward to welcoming everyone to the brand-new musical circus at Capital City.”

Mr. Siow Chien Fu, Executive Director and CEO of Capital World Limited Group, who develops and owns Capital City, said,
“Going to a circus has been many child’s fantasy, including myself when I was a kid. We have priced our tickets affordably so that more kids can have fun and experience a world-class musical circus show. The first indoor musical circus in Malaysia will enhance the appeal of Capital City as an astonishing and fun-filled entertainment destination for families and friends to spend quality time.”

About MCM Studio

MCM Studio is the largest indoor theme park in South East Asia situated in Capital City, Johor Bahru, Malaysia. MCM Studio stands for Movie, Cartoon and Music in which we want all visitors stepping into our theme park to have a memorable theme park experience that is fun, entertaining, educational and with a touch of magic.

Cartoon Planet will be opened on 27
th
 September 2017. Movie Planet and Music Planet will be opened subsequently on 4
th
 quarter of 2017 and 1
st
 quarter of 2018.

For more information, visit
www.mcmstudio.asia
 or MCM Studio Facebook page.

— end of press release —

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MCM’s London Musical Circus in JB – My kids love it. Bring yours!

Have you been to any circus? I have been to quite a number ever since I was still at the primary school. This afternoon, I brought my family to the premiere of MCM’s London Musical Circus in Johor Bahru. This is the first time that a musical circus was held in Malaysia and according to the emcee, it was even the first time in South East Asia that there is a circus held within a dedicated indoor venue. It was in the Level 7 of Capital City in Johor Bahru (JB). I was given free tickets because I was recognised as a media / blogger / influencer. Let’s just answer 5 questions about this musical circus.

#1 – Were my kids entertained?
 Yes. One is 5 year old and the other is 3. Both of them were excited and watched it from the beginning until the end. It was the second time that they get to watch a circus. The whole show was 2 hours and I do worry if I need to entertain my kids if they suddenly got bored with the show. Usually, when they go cinemas, they could only watch half-way before losing interest. I think this is a circus for family with young kids and wife too. My wife enjoyed it too. The acts are easy to understand and some of the circus acts were mesmerising too, for example, the dazzling trapeze. Image attached.

#2 – What’s with “Musical Circus”?
 Yes, this is the first time I saw so many singers and dancers within a circus show. There were musical acts including singing and dancing in practically every routine. Yes, even for the trapeze, they were accompanied by two singers on the ground as they perform high up in the air. There were many nice songs today. Two of them include
Madonna’s Material Girl. Click here to listen
 and of course, there’s my favourite song from
Pink – So What. Click here to know the song.
  For some of the sections, the song and the act was very much integrated too. This definitely helped to increase the level of interest. I think it’s a clever integration. Circus and Music.

#3 – Were the crowd entertained?
 Yes, judging from the response they gave to the emcee who’s a handsome guy, I think the answer is positive. They came from all walks of life and someone I knew told me that this was the first time ever that he saw a circus in JB. He’s 35 this year. At first however, I could see that some of the people were fanning themselves because the air-conditioner were not cold enough. Fortunately, this was okay before the show started. The whole show was in English but if my daughter could understand it, I think it will be a great show for most of everyone.

#4 – Was the indoor venue suitable?
 The venue is at Level 7 and the cars were also parked on Level 7, at least all those who arrived early. This is a good arrangement. As at today, the Capital City mall is not officially open and the renovations are still in progress, even for the hotel on the same mall. The air-conditioning system is just okay for me (I sweat easily) even though the two ladies seated in front of me had their jackets on. The sound system is okay for the singing but could definitely be upgraded for higher level of enjoyment. The toilets are of mall standard but my wife said there were just three cubicles which meant that during the break of 20 minutes, a queue formed at the ladies’ side.

#5 – Was it value for money?
 The tickets were fully sold out for today. At RM40, we get an air-conditioned arena (typical circus are usually conducted under a giant tent which meant the comfort level is by far lower. I paid RM35 for the last one in KL that I went to last year). We also get entertained for a cool 2 hours by live acts which required all these performers to train for years. Beyond just the circus, now we get the music and dancing too. Of course, if the mall is fully opened, then it would be perfect. Shopping, dining and circus all under the same roof. In brief, Yes, I think this is worth a visit. Go and enjoy yourselves.

Quoting my good friend, “The Greatest Showman is highly entertaining and worth our Ringgit!” Take a look at what MCM’s London Musical Circus has to offer:

Click here to follow the Facebook
 posts.
As for booking of tickets, please click here.
  For those who prefer to talk over the phone, please call:  +6016 4071880.

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MCO 2.0 is extended yeah. Stay home please.

Yes, MCO 2.0 is extended. It has been formally announced. No more rumour here and there. It’s officially announced to all. As announced today by Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the MCO 2.0 is now extended until February 18 2021 in all states except for Sarawak. This extension will also come with stricter monitoring guidelines too. He said that the new guidelines will be issued by the National Security Council (MKN) later. (I believe later here means very soon, hopefully within these few days?)

Photo by Anna Shvets on
Pexels.com

In the briefing today, he said, “The first is the tightening of enforcement, followed by the management of employees’ accommodation, the standard operating procedure (SOP) compliance at workplaces and more aggressive monitoring, as well as stricter overall compliance monitoring and inspection.”

He added, “This is also followed by active and more aggressive screening programmes, deployment of Covid-19 extermination squad or community volunteering in prevention, temporary placement of the natural sector, the national immunisation programme and the increase usage of technology in everyday life and lastly, to ensure the implementation.”

Important Advice

STAY HOME yeah. Unless really necessary, there is really no need to add to the statistics. Learn some new things to cook. Do not spend too much money buying unnecessary stuffs online. They will not be used and your money will be gone too. My wife just said this to me today, “Everyday also got stuffs coming from Shopee?”  Okay, I have to explain that all these are necessary stuffs. I am about to start baking some cheesecakes and sell them. Just for fun for now. Later, we will see.

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Ready or not, MCO extension announced. Till 4th February 2021

Actually, it’s not all gloomy for this MCO extension. The opening hours of eateries are now extended till 10pm from 8pm previously. Guys, PLEASE, stay home as much as possible. Ordering food for the next 2 weeks will not ‘kill’ us okay. We need to be united in this war against COVID-19.Beyond that, perhaps this is also a very good statement and hopefully we start to see a dropping number from tomorrow onwards?

“Senior minister for security Ismail Sabri Yaakob shared that the health ministry has noted a decreasing trend in cases, with the last case detected on Jan 15 with no new samples awaiting results.”

Article in freemalaysiatoday.com
.
  PETALING JAYA: The movement control order (MCO) affecting Penang, Selangor, Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Labuan, Johor, Kelantan and Sabah will be extended until Feb 4.

Senior minister for security Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced at a press conference today that said most districts in the states were still red zones and the trend of daily cases were still on the rise.

He added some states were also reporting new clusters and community transmissions.

“Based on the risk analysis and advice from the health ministry, the National Security Council today has agreed to extend the MCO in Penang, Selangor, Melaka, the federal territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Labuan, Johor, Kelantan and Sabah.”

Sarawak is the only state in the country not under MCO, and Ismail’s announcement today means the MCO will now end on the same date across the country.

The MCO in the six states and three federal territories was initially supposed to end on Jan 26.

On Tuesday, Ismail announced that Kedah, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Terengganu and Perlis would also be placed under MCO from Jan 22 until Feb 4.

Ismail also said the enhanced movement control order which started on Jan 26 at the Westlite workers’ dormitory in Taman Perindustrian Tampoi Jaya, Johor Bahru, will end tomorrow as scheduled.

He said the health ministry has noted a decreasing trend in cases, with the last case detected on Jan 15 with no new samples awaiting results. Full article can be accessed here:
Article in freemalaysiatoday.com

it’s 21st January today. 4th February is 14 days away. Not that tough, really especially since we have been trained well for the last 10 months or so. In fact eating a different kind of food everyday is possible too. Let me start the food list for the next 14 days. The list can go on forever yeah. This is Malaysia…

I just finished dinner and I am still hungry as I type these. Haha. Happy eating and staying at home.

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To do and Not to do during MCO Malaysia. Public Notice.

We have another 12 more hours and MCO Malaysia will start. The two infographics from Bernama for your reference.  This is about MCO Malaysia. We can defeat the rising numbers again. Stay safe everyone and stay home, if possible.

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Press Release: MCT Sees Upward Growth Momentum In 2021 Propelled By Seven New Project Launches

Subang Jaya, 5 January 2021:
Leading property developer, MCT Berhad (MCT), anticipates  a stronger performance in 2021 and is gearing up to launch seven new developments,  comprising residential units and commercial projects, with a combined Gross Development Value (GDV) of RM2.2 billion.

Commenting on MCT’s growth prospects for 2021, MCT CEO, Teh Heng Chong, said, “The  property market is expected to continue its path towards recovery with the global economy  gaining steady progress following the recent Covid-19 vaccine roll-out. Coupled with the low  interest rate environment and reintroduction of the Home Ownership Campaign, which  presents good buying opportunities, more homebuyers will once again be searching for their  dream home.”

MCT is targeting to launch seven new developments, including Aetas Damansara, a high-end  residential project in Tropicana Golf & Country Resort, Damansara, Alira in Metropark,  Subang, and Sanderling Lakefront Residences in Cyberjaya. The other projects include a  boutique commercial centre at Lakefront Cyberjaya, the maiden phase of Cybersouth Town  Centre in Dengkil, as well as new residential developments located in USJ Subang and one in Cybersouth.

“Recognising the prevailing uncertainties in the environment, we have quickly pivoted to  broaden our product offerings to support future growth and build business resiliency. Over the  past few years, we have been growing our presence in the southern region of Klang Valley,  focusing on residential developments in Cyberjaya and our first township development in  Cybersouth. Moving forward, we aim to expand our development footprint, targeting prime  areas within the Klang Valley, in order to reach out to various market segments. We are also  actively pursuing joint venture and land acquisition opportunities to fuel future growth,” Teh  explained.

The Group has listed Aetas Damansara, which will be officially launched in January 2021, as its ‘beacon’ project in setting the pace for growth this year. Aetas Damansara, a collection of  226 units of upscale residences, has garnered a healthy take-up rate since its soft launch in  November 2020.

With a GDV of RM564 million, Aetas Damansara is MCT’s maiden luxury residential project,  jointly curated with Ayala Land, Inc. The development sits on a 1.76 acre piece of prime land  which offers scenic views of the fairways of Tropicana Golf and Country Resort. It also  provides a wide selection of spacious and luxurious layouts, from three-bedroom to four bedroom units which are attractively priced at a starting point of RM1.97 million.

Teh explained that, as reflected by its tagline,
“A living, breathing home”
, Aetas Damansara is  the hallmark of refined residences designed to elevate people’s way of life and urban luxury  living. It echoes MCT’s new vision to set a new benchmark of living spaces anchored on three  key elements –
bespoke design, efficient space planning and best-in-class fittings
. Each unit  also has an exclusive private lift lobby, further enhanced with a multi-tier security system for  resident’s peace of mind.

On another note, MCT has also identified Phase One of Alira in Metropark Subang and  Sanderling Lakefront Residences in Cyberjaya as main contributors to the Group’s sustained  sales performance for the year.

Targeted for launch in Q1 2021, Phase One of Alira with a GDV of RM316 million, consists of  492 units of resort-style apartments with built up areas from 695 sq ft to 1,048 sq ft. Meanwhile,  the Sanderling Lakefront Residences consists of 606 units of condominiums priced from RM 475,000 will be launched in Q2 2021. The Sanderling Lakefront Residences has the potential  to attract millennials homebuyers as the development is surrounded by universities and  technology-related workplaces.

Reviewing the Group’s performance in 2020, Teh elaborated that the Group has achieved a  record high of over 3,053 completed units handed over to homeowners of Selangorku PR1MA  Lakefront Homes, Lakefront Residence (Phase Two) in Lakefront Cyberjaya as well as Casa  Bluebell and Casawood landed residential developments in Cybersouth township.

MCT has an undeveloped land bank of 289.5 acres with a total future GDV of approximately  RM11.4 billion. For more information on MCT’s upcoming developments, visit
https://www.mct.com.my/
.

— End Of Press Release —

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piandproperty.com FB page
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Measures to boost the property market

It’s not easy for the government and all stakeholders when it comes to a mismatch in the property market. The people wants to buy homes but they want it to be affordable and it must be in a good location and at least have good features which they want. The current
unsold units point to a mismatch in demand vs supply
 which the government intends to correct by building
100,000 affordable units within 2019. Earlier article here.
There are also calls to relax the lending rules for some of these potential buyers so that they could get
the loan they need. Earlier article here.
We should also note that between banks willing to lend and borrowers able to qualify are two different things
altogether too. Earlier article here.
As for the measures to boost the property market, here’s a roundup.

Article in NST here.
Malaysia’s economy this year is expected to be slower compared to the last two years with a projected growth of 4.9% in 2018, 4.7% this year and 4.6% next year. Based on the latest statistics available, the number of unsold residential properties rose 48.35% (30,115) from 20,304 units year-on-year while the total value increased 56.44% from RM12.49 billion. The 2019 Budget introduced some measures to encourage the residential property market growth.

 Some of the measures are:

Stamp duty exemption on the
first RM300,000 on the sale and purchase agreement for first-time buyers priced
RM500,000 and below.
Six-month stamp duty exemption for
first-time buyers for units between RM300,000-RM1 million.
Peer-to-peer crowdfunding
initiative to provide buyers an alternative source of funding.
Building of affordable homes
for the B40 group.
Help from Bank Negara Malaysia
for first-time buyers with an income of less than RM2,300 for homes priced
below RM150,000 with an 3.5% interest.
RM25 million by Cagamas to
provide mortgage guarantees for first-time home buyers with incomes of less
than RM5,000.

Boosting the property market is needed. People needing a home but could not yet have enough downpayment could be helped with rent-to-own schemes. Please include the secondary market too. However if there are moves which will be making the property market become more speculative, it should be avoided at all costs. Buyers who really do not qualify should not get the loan they applied for, period. Properties must be built in areas and specs which the buyers need. Looking at many of the unsold units revealed that many were built for the quantity alone. Hopefully the 100,000 units will all be sold out and not add into the unsold numbers when we look back in 2020. Happy following.

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Article written and edited by Charles. News article summarised by Dina Batrisyia.

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Media: Who’s mainstream, who’s downstream and who’s “upstream”?

I read a very interesting article in
thecoverage.my
 Let’s look at just a few quotes from Tan Sri Vincent Lee. He said, “Digital media is 24/7 , follows us everywhere we go, even to the toilets. Now it’s even in the semi rural areas as long as Internet is available.” Another one, “If you are a marketing person or a media specialist and even creative person in an ad agency please STOP calling Print as MAIN STREAM. ITS DOWN STREAM MEDIA!” In the article, he explained that mainstream media should be called ‘downstream’ media because it is encountering a drop in circulation while the digital media which has a higher reach should now be called the ‘mainstream’ media instead.

I have written on this topic a few times. The more rent two articles here:
Newspapers need to embrace online, fast

and also

The aging newspaper and the gaining online

Frankly, I think I have met no less than 100 marketing managers from the property developers and at least 500 HR Managers in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and even Thailand. It’s very safe to conclude that without online, these businesses would find it extremely tough to complete their tasks today which includes marketing the new developments or even hiring new staffs to ensure the company keeps growing.

Recently however, when I was seated with the media people at
South East Asia Property Awards (SEAPA) at Intercontinental Hotel
, I shared that actually these days due to the differences in preferences, the marketing managers of developers would really have to work even harder and understand their target market. It would be less effective use ONE (1) set of marketing content even for the same development across ALL medias. Property buyers or investors are not carbon copies of one another. Different contents would appeal to different segments and thus widen the reach of the marketing contents.

Seriously, some buyers think a popular location (malls, conveniences, cafes) is the most important but if I am a family looking for a home, I may be looking at schools instead. The SAME development may appeal to both groups but the main point loved by different groups of people should be highlighted instead. Of course, besides having more contents, it would also be beneficial to start looking at the potential of using different blogs for different purposes. These specialised blogs would be what I would personally term as “upstream” media. 🙂  Yes, “up” here stands for the same as “upcoming.” I think this should be the first article with these three terms together. Cheers.

written on 13 Aug 2016

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Nope, not about investing in ‘youngest’ country of the world

A good friend who read an earlier article asked if everyone should think about investing only in young countries. Here’s that earlier article:
Median age still below 30. Property…..

Maybe some readers may think like him and asking this same question. Well, if we should invest in young countries then there many younger countries than Malaysia.  Haha.  I agree. However,  that is not the main point.  In fact, I wish all these younger countries the best. One day, when I win the lottery and I want to invest in a big way overseas, I would look at these younger countries. (Too bad, as of this year, I have yet to buy a lottery ticket yet.) Surely many of these countries should have a bright future.  However if we are to compare Malaysia to those usual countries which people love to invest in or even those
 economic superpower of the world,
then we have the following: (Median age of selected countries)

Australia – 38.6 years

Singapore – 34.3 years

Hong Kong – 44 years

Germany- 46.8 years

United States of America – 37.9 years

Not just these. I must include two more countries which I think highly and I hope our economies are even more integrated.  They are Thailand (37.2 years) and Indonesia (29.9 years). They are not perfect of course but they are both right beside us. Just as Iskandar can be an awesome ‘partner’ to Singapore, we can be the same to both pf them too. You want to know the median age for even more countries? Here’s a link:
http://world.bymap.org/MedianAge.html
 Please, do not invest simply because of the median age okay. Despite the huge ageing population, I personally think Tokyo properties would be a great investment versus many other usual countries. From stability to currency and even the fact that property prices have not really grown that much and providing good yields, Tokyo has a good story to tell. I have no property investments outside Malaysia though. I am a working professional, not a businessman who has made it big. My retirement goals are also pretty simple.

Retire in hometowns and working in KL today

Look at all those younger countries, as long as you have evaluated them and finds them an attractive investment destination, do proceed okay. Always note that investments would be for a longer term than just 3-5 years. In fact I personally think anything below 5 years would be more of luck rather than just fundamental. One real example, even if an economy can grow 7 percent per year for 3 years consecutively, I would think a 4.5 percent for 5 years would be better and a 3 percent continuously for 7 years would be even better! In a ‘race,’ it is more of a marathon than a sprint. Which one would yield fast profits? You already know. Of course, this is just my personal view. Some other readings? Here’s what Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) says.
Malaysia’s economy in 2030? Here’s what PWC’s analysis says

By the way, even the analysts and researchers in PWC are humans. We are not supposed to be right all the time. Haha. Happy evaluating yeah.

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Median age still below 30. Property……

Even as many younger friends said they think buying is no longer necessary, I beg to differ. I hope they realise that Malaysia is a young country compared to some ‘older’ nations where the investment landscape may already be different. How different? Well, some are having median prices of over
AU$1 million per home
and some would be just over
160 sq ft and HK$4 million.

 A few reasons why they argued that renting is now best? Renting is cheaper, they may not stay in the same city forever and the other major reason which is normally prices getting too high. The last reason is really the main reason why they will be renting forever. This is also the exact same reason why they should own a place instead because the rental market will be safe for a very long time more to come.

More people would need to rent and not the other way around. Funny right, those who own a home, gets enough downpayment for another property after many years. Those who do not believe they can continue to move around for the best deal which can always be true but they are also merely enriching the home owners. I told a younger colleague the other day that even the rental yield these days are either way too low or sometimes negative. So there are definitely some truths to the argument that renting is better. Besides, with the feverish launches and construction of affordable homes, the property prices should not move too much. In fact the average property prices may even drop. However I remain very positive about the long term potential for property investment.

There’s actually one great reason too, based on stats. Here’s that
full article in TheStar about the demographics of Malaysia.
We have reached 32 million. Most importantly, the median age is now 28.3 years. Please note that this is NOT average age. If it’s average, the significance is not that awesome but median age meanwhile would tell you that Malaysians at this age is the most common! When we are 28 years old, what’s happening? Well, assuming we graduated with a degree at 24, by 28 we would already have 4 years of experience and perhaps looking to buy our very first property. Before we reach 28 however, we would need to rent a place for a few years. Great to know right. The percentage of those aged from 0 – 14 years old continues to drop. Yes, birth-rate is dropping… The largest group, around 70 percent would be those aged from 15 – 64. Yes, with this kind of numbers, Malaysia will definitely become an
ageing nation by 2035

Economic growth aside, as long as it continues to grow, our demographics would mean that property investment will remain an investment for a long time yet. By the way, there are a lot of calculations by many people which really do show that
rental beats owning a property
.

Plus all the hassles and worries and potential issues if the developer we buy from runs away. I have no such calculations but I would urge you to note that unless everyone starts to stay in tents, the future looks brighter for those owning a home versus those without. Happy believing. More importantly, whether renting or buying, both are just strategies. Just follow these with your eyes wide open. Cheers.

written on 15 July 2017

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Median home prices – Australian cities. (by Corelogic)

Average property prices are not the best numbers. Assuming transactions of 3 units of RM1 million and another 7 units of RM300,000 homes would reveal an average price of RM510,000. Totally not reflective of the property market at all for both ends. This is the reason why when we look at the average prices for Kuala Lumpur, it seems that NOTHING is affordable but this is not true. Here’s an earlier article:
KL average property prices down, now at RM714,000

I would prefer that Median home prices are used for properties because it reflects the situation much better. If we have noticed, for the Australian property markets, they use Median property prices instead of average property prices. Many times, they also divide it into landed versus high-rise. Want to know the latest numbers for Australian cities? Do you think it’s still affordable? Please refer below. The
 original article here.

Median property prices in Sydney is now AUD845,000 unit while that of Melbourne would be AUD623,500. The prices have risen by 67.2 percent for Sydney and 46.3 percent for Melbourne respectively for the period of 2012 – 2016. I do not think Australian professionals have seen their salaries increase by the same number during the same period of time. For fresh graduates, as per Graduate Careers Australia, “starting salary for bachelor degree graduates … was $52,500 … In 2014, the median starting salary for bachelor degree graduates aged less than 25 and in their first full-time employment was $52,500 (essentially unchanged from $52,450 in 2013, and $52,000 in 2012).”  Yes, essentially salary has not changed much over the few years.

Melbourne properties are loved by foreigners too.
Crazily hot, 28% of Melbourne apartments bought by foreigners

Yes, I do think some of these demand would have contributed to the rise in property prices too. There’s no need to dwell too much about why and where some of these buyers come from and why are they so rich. 🙂  You can google to read about them. Keep following yeah, for those who love Australia for whatever reasons. Cheers mate.

written on 2 Dec 2016

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Press Release: iProperty.com.my Highlights Median Housing Affordability Among Home Seekers in 2021

Median housing affordability was RM474,900 and median home loan instalment was RM2,000 in 2021
The median housing affordability of young property seekers aligns with one-third of new residential units launched in Q3 2021
Findings are based on 2021 user data on LoanCare, iProperty.com.my’s home loan eligibility indicator

KUALA LUMPUR, FEBRUARY 8, 2022
 – Property portal iProperty.com.my today announces several interesting findings based on the 2021 user data of LoanCare, the portal’s home loan eligibility indicator. Data collected from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 on LoanCare indicate an overall median housing affordability of RM474,900 and median home loan instalment of RM2,000.

Users of the home loan eligibility indicator comprise various age groups, with the bulk aged between 25 and 34 years old (57%), followed by 35-44 (26%), 18-24 (10%), 45-54 (7%), and the remaining is made up of users aged 55 and above.

The data is based on information submitted by these users that include ages, employment types, earnings and financial commitments. Additionally, the data are from unique users, ensuring no redundant data points by the same user. The data and findings are derived from LoanCare unique users only and do not represent the overall property market in Malaysia.

One-third of new launches in Q3 2021 within median affordability of young property seekers

Comparing the different age groups of LoanCare users in 2021, the lower end of the median housing affordability spectrum is made up of 18- to 24-year-olds (RM319,461) and 25- to 34-year-olds (RM438,300). iProperty.com.my notes that their median affordability is within the RM300,001 to RM500,000 price range of 34% of all newly launched residential units in Q3 2021, as reported by the National Property Information Centre (NAPIC) in its Property Market Q3 2021 Snapshot.

The mature property-seeking groups who used Loancare recorded median housing affordability of RM872,988 (45 to 54 years old), RM667,226 (55-64), and RM664,724 (35-44).

Shylendra Nathan, Country Manager, PropertyGuru Malaysia (PropertyGuru.com.my and iProperty.com.my) comments, “It is encouraging to see that the median affordability among young property seekers is within the price range of one-third of new units coming onto the housing market in Q3 2021.

We are pleased to see that property developers are launching residential properties that correspond with the demand of first-time homebuyers, who typically have lower median affordability. Considering the impact of COVID-19 on the purchasing power of many Malaysians, it is more crucial than ever for property prices to align with the financial capabilities of first-time buyers.

Having said that, property seekers would do well to have a complete picture, and LoanCare provides them with this edge by helping them calculate their DSR and compare their very own home loan eligibility across up to 17 banks in Malaysia.”

Importance of DSR to determine borrowers’ repayment capability

Many property seekers find it difficult to secure home loans due to insufficient knowledge of the loan application process. One obstacle is a lack of familiarity with debt service ratio (DSR), which indicates a person’s ability to settle their debt obligations.

A high DSR often results in the rejection of a loan application. Banks prefer a low DSR as it suggests an applicant’s ability to pay his/her monthly instalments on time and a lower risk of default. However, DSR is not a standardised notion in Malaysia – each bank has its own guidelines for the maximum allowable DSR threshold based on how it calculates income and commitment recognition. In any case, having DSR information is essential and will give prospective buyers a better idea of which bank(s) to approach for a better chance of getting their home loan application approved at first attempt.

Increased chances of home loan approval with LoanCare

LoanCare is a tool designed to help property seekers increase the chances of getting their home loan approved. This is important because a rejected home loan application can set them back three to six months in applying for another home loan. The tool provides users with detailed information about their DSR, indicative home loan eligibility, loan breakdown by monthly instalment and loan tenure and interest. It also allows them to compare their home loan eligibility across up to 17 banks.

Most users of a tool like LoanCare are serious property seekers. Since LoanCare uses the DSR method to compare a user’s loan eligibility across multiple banks, it helps these users determine the property price range they should be looking at in the first place, thereby saving browsing time and effort. However, it is important to note that one’s financial capability alone does not guarantee a home loan approval. Banks also count an applicant’s credit history and credibility as important factors when considering whether to approve a home loan application.

LoanCare is part of iProperty.com.my’s efforts to support homeownership among Malaysians and the portal is on a mission to be SEA’s property trust platform.  It does this by providing comprehensive data and insights that optimise property search and decision-making.

In addition to LoanCare, property seekers who use iProperty.com.my can explore the liveability of their desired homes with the customisable Point-of-Interest (POI) feature. The feature is integrated into a searched property’s map and enables buyers to determine how convenient it is to access amenities surrounding their target property
,
 such as public transportation, medical facilities and educational institutions. This is complemented by the Transacted Data feature which provides information on the last ten property transactions consisting of sale value and price per square footage, as well as capital growth figures and estimated rental yield for each searched property.

– End –

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Median income: 57,400  Median property price: 680,000   No Bubble Yet.

When property prices continues to rise without any relevance to the economic growth, salary growth or whatever growth, you should be worried. Property bubble is building. Once property becomes unaffordable to everyone and no one could buy anything and suddenly the sellers realised it and starts to offload their properties into the market with each trying to outdo the other, the bubble has burst. How do you know whether the property is affordable or not affordable then? Well, a median income to median housing price would be a good indicator. Remember a report which was on front page of many medias in Malaysia recently? Here:
Demographia said Malaysia is grossly unaffordable?
 When median property prices are over 5.1 times compared to median annual income, it’s grossly unaffordable. Okay, what happens when it is grossly unaffordable? Well, most of the time, the bubble bursts and house prices come tumbling down. Okay, what happens when it is twice that 5.1 times mentioned by Demographia? Well, nothing happens since it’s Melbourne Australia. In Melbourne, the median annual income is AUD$57,400 while the median property price is AUD$680,000. This is 11.8 times.

Well, no one knows what would happen now but today, less than 1.3 million Australians actually own an investment property. This is 6% of the total population. It meant that potentially, these are the people who is driving prices up? Of course, not just them, perhaps also the Asian buyers from outside Australia too as Australian property market is already considered an international one. Besides that, ANZ Bank executive Phil Chronican warned that currently, most people ‘would be better off in assets other than housing’. ‘Executive’ here meant Senior Management and ‘better off in assets other than housing’ meant that if you are investing, you better not buy property. Buy other things instead. In fact he said that these property investments were driving property prices to unaffordable levels. If Demographia’s study is to be believed totally, then he is not just right. He is VERY RIGHT. Fortunately, the property prices in Australia has not been rising like previous years. The article in Daily Mail further stated that house prices increased just 1 percent over October when all major cities are combined and an average is taken.

Many of my Malaysian friends studied in Australia and many of them are now staying there. Many have gotten PRs too. Many of them are not staying in the city centre but more on the suburbs. I think you can see the reason why. Also, with such high prices, after paying for one property, there’s hardly anything left for savings so not many would ever be able to join the top 6% Australians who have investment properties. As for Malaysians who have made it big and intends to invest overseas, always read more. Be reminded that as much as property prices in Malaysia are considered way too high, especially the hotspots, the Australian properties are also considered risky in my personal opinion. When economic in China slows, the appetite to invest overseas typically lessen. When property prices in Singapore slows and starts decreasing, the Singaporeans would invest within before external. As for Australians themselves, just google for ‘Australian property market’. Read the articles and decide for yourselves what is happening today.

written on 6 Oct 2014

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Median property price 2021 is now double of the median property price in 2010

Is Median Property Price the same as Average Price?

First of all, median property price does not mean ALL the properties are being transacted at this price. It is also not the average property price which does not make much sense because a RM800,000 property and a RM100,000 property may become an average price of RM450,000 which does not reflect anything at all.

Median property price according to investopedia is this:

The median is
the middle number in a sorted, ascending or descending, list of numbers
 and can be more descriptive of that data set than the average.
 (click here to read in full)

However, median price does represent a lot more of the transactions that the average price. It’s right in the middle of all the transactions. It’s also just another way to look at numbers yeah. So, we can see from the image below that the median property price for 2021 is RM310,000 and the median property price in 2010 was RM158,000.  Thus, the price is now nearly double when it was in 2010.

Anyway, if you bought a property in 2010

For those who bought a property in 2010 and it’s one of those typical ones, then the property price would have doubled. Lucky you. Or was it a brave you. Perhaps it was a clever you since you would have had some friends who discouraged you then. Whatever, your decision was a good one. Image is below.

Source: NAPIC

What’s the median property price in WP Kuala Lumpur like?

Let’s look at the condominium / apartment first.

On the lowest end, it’s RM120,000 and on the 75th percentile, it’s RM818,000. The median price may be a little more representative when we look at the minimum and maximum yeah. The Median property price is RM499,000.

Source: NAPIC

Now, let’s look at terraced house which is usually the more affordable type of landed homes for the people. For WP Kuala Lumpur as a whole, the minimum price was RM202,555 and the highest was RM3,980,000. Meanwhile the median price is RM745,000. We can see the average price is really not representative at all.

Source: NAPIC

What’s the median property price in Selangor like?

This time let’s look at terraced property first. For Selangor as a whole, the lowest end would be RM100,000 while the maximum is RM2,050,000. Meanwhile the median price is RM510,000.  If you bought a property around this price, hey you are right smack in the middle. The district with the highest property price is Petaling. Not a surprise yeah. You know those few neighbourhoods.

Source: NAPIC

Now let’s look at condominium / apartment. On an overall basis for Selangor, the minimum price was RM100,000 per unit while the highest is RM1,445,000. The median price is RM316,500. The district with the highest price for condominium / apartment is Petaling.

Source: NAPIC

All the best in buying your home sweet home in WP Kuala Lumpur and Selangor yeah. Do sufficient due diligence and it should be just fine. Do not buy something just simply because someone told you yeah. That’s definitely not a clever way to buy a property and since it’s the most expensive thing you will usually buy, it’s very risky.  Cheers.

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Median property price in Malaysia is dropping! Good or bad?

Median house price in Malaysia is dropping! Is this a bad sign for the market? 😛
The full article in edgeprop.my here.

The median house price for the whole country is now at RM280,000 as at Q1 2018 and this is a drop from RM303,000 in 2017. It was much lower in 2012 which was RM170,000 and in 2013 it was RM250,000. I think what this tells us is that the affordable homes being built by the various quarters have started to show some potency. This is definitely good for the average Malaysians who need a home and is still struggling (really) or “struggling” (kept spending too much) before they could have enough down payment for a home. Oh yeah, the
there was supposed to be something special for the M40 and B40 in August promised by the Minister of Housing and Local Government
. Yes, I think everyone is waiting for that new announcement.

Coming back to reality, for KLites / Selangorians working people like me, we must be wondering where could we find homes at such a price; RM280,000. Well, the affordable schemes could be one choice but the truth is, the median home price for KL is RM550,000. For Selangor, it’s RM380,000. In brief, anyone staying in homes which are more expensive than these median prices can be considered ‘above average’?  Be grateful yeah. Please refer to the below chart by edgeprop.my  with information from National Property Information Centre (NAPIC)

Median house prices in Malaysia from 2010 to 1Q18. (Chart by National Property Information Centre)

As for Kedahans and Malaccans working people, you will have median homes prices of RM160,000 and RM181,000, respectively. (I must seriously put more effort into saving for a place in Melaka before it goes ever higher)  Average price wise which actually does not make too much sense for KL and Selangor are
RM836,420 and RM486,474. NAPIC says that
the residential prices data is generated from residential transactions (excluding vacant land, detached plot and others) submitted to the Valuation and Property Services Department (JPPH) by the Inland Revenue Board for stamp duty valuation during the review period. (REMINDER: TRANSACTIONS yeah. Earlier article here:
No transactions, no changes in prices lah
.
NAPIC says that the transactions data include both primary and secondary property transfer within the review period that are in all stages of construction – completed, under construction and planned. For reference,
Here’s that article in edgeprop.my
: Malaysia 1Q18 median house price is RM280k.
 Focus on having a home sweet home yeah. Cheers.

written on 18 Aug 2018

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Medical fees will always be more expensive in future. Think.

My wife gave birth to my son in Parkcity Medical Centre nearly two years ago. The delivery cost was 30 percent higher than when she gave birth to my daughter in Pantai hospital in Penang two years earlier. When we first started to visit Parkcity Medical Centre, it was newly opened and there were hardly any cars parked in its multi-storey carpark. Parking was free. Last weekend, I found out that parking is no longer free. Well, just this experience already tells us three things that will happen in the near future.

When demand increases and supply stays the same,
prices would be adjusted upwards.
 Applicable for the food we eat (SORRY, it’s definitely not because of the movement of Ringgit these two weeks), the services that we use (everything from doctors to baby sitters to nurseries and more) and even the properties that we buy, especially in areas where it is deemed to be more convenient and perhaps safer for our children.

When there are more new kids, look out for all the different demands for everything which is kids related. This is the start of another demand boom because the Gen-Yers are starting to start their families and even more babies are on the way. Of course, the older kids from the Gen-Xers are starting university which is a major reason for ever more institutions. However, with the ever fewer babies, the demographics for the whole Malaysia is changing. We are becoming an
‘ageing’ nation, perhaps by 2030.

The medical fees are getting ever more expensive. It’s really time to think harder and farther what will happen if we are not equipped with medical coverage; medical cards / insurance. Stop thinking about that potential that in the end, we did not fall sick and
thus ‘lost’ all the money we paid.
 What if something really did happen? There’s no need to ask me what medical card to get. I am very sure you have friends who are agents, find them and ask. If you seriously want to use my agent, drop me an email. Yes, she’s an awesome agent.

When you visit any private hospitals in the near future, take a look at the number of patients. Count the number of kids and what kind of cars are parked in the car park. Demand for goods and services remains strong because we are living in a materialistic world. Even the car designs are getting nicer! With a huge younger population which is growing up, I think we should think and take opportunities to protect what we have and earn more to cover our future. Better start today. Cheers.

written on 30 Nov 2016

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Medical suites of 223 sq ft and starting price of RM414,000

A friend read this article about
KL Wellness City which was just previewed (click here to know more)
and asked if it makes sense for a 223 sq ft unit to be sold at starting price of RM414,000.

Before I explain based on my personal understanding of medical suites, let’s listen to what Datuk Dr. Colin Lee, managing director of KL Wellness City Sdn Bhd (KLWC) has to say. He said, “We have infused the design and elements that offer practising medical specialists the flexibility to optimise the use of space to suit their precise requirements and the freedom to make changes according to evolving needs.”

“We are confident this will enhance the specialists’ interest to own the suites as an investment in addition to running a practice here. We expect a take-up rate of 80 per cent, within the first three months of the first phase’s official launch.”
Read here for the full article: KL Wellness City

Ownership of specialist clinics in hospitals

When we visit any specialist’s clinics in private hospitals, these clinics or can also be known as suites do not belong to the specialists. It belongs to the private hospitals.  However, these units are very valuable to the specialists because many of their customers could have been the customer to this private hospital and thus, the potential patients were recommended by the private hospital. It’s a win-win situation for the specialist and the hospital.

Imagine a private hospital where there are no specialists… or one with very few specialists… This hospital is unlikely to be popular. At the same time, imagine the best specialists opening their own clinic outside the private hospitals. Chances are, they would have to slowly build up their patients from scratch unless they are just too good and the word of mouth becomes a powerful marketing tool.

Paying half a million for a medical suite?

I am very sure some of us have visited some of these specialists. I am also very sure we learnt later that the total ‘investment’ for us to get better is many hundreds just for a consultation and probably some medicine. If there are surgeries, even a minor one, the cost is likely to be in the thousands. I know because I have gone for kidney stone ops as well as appendicitis ops. The kidney stone one was many thousands per occasion and the appendicitis one, due to complications and ICU admission was over RM10,000.

Now imagine one full day of 8 hours. How many patients do you think a specialist could see per day? Let’s say every patient needs one full hour of the doctor’s time. That’s a minimum of 8 patients per day. As for the cost per visit, I am very sure most people would know, especially if you have been to any private hospital before. It’s certainly not RM100 yeah… I paid many times more than that even for a regular visit to the gynaecologist for my wife around 10 years ago. We did not calculate the number of surgeries for the specialist every month yet.

So, can the specialist afford the half a million ringgit for a medical suite? The answer is, it depends on how popular the specialist is. Generally, yes but not for all specialists and certainly not for the not-so-good ones.

Should the specialists get a unit then?

I have no idea yeah. I am not a medical specialist. I think the medical specialists need to make their own decision. Perhaps they can even just buy a unit and see how the situation pans out in the end. Perhaps the number of patients they could receive from their clinics within the private hospital is already too many? Only they would know. What I know also is that the number of specialists will continue to increase over time too.

Statistically, 1.22 million people travelled to Malaysia for medical and healthcare purposes. The revenue from these travellers was RM1.7billion.
Info source here.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1013817/medical-tourism-revenue-malaysia/

Based on these numbers, the average per person was close to RM2,000. These are just number of patients from medical tourism travellers yeah. It has yet to include the potential customers from the people residing in the Klang Valley and other states in Malaysia.

Medical Tourism will rise again

Yes, medical tourism will definitely be on a growth path once people could travel freely again. My ex-GM who’s a Japanese told me this long time ago and I think it is still be true today. “It’s easier and cheaper to fly to Malaysia for a minor operation including a few rounds of golf versus trying to book both the surgery and a few rounds of golf in Tokyo.” Happy understanding all the numbers yeah.

There are no links in this article to sign up and buy anything. Feel free to search for KL Wellness City contact via google.com if you do have interest. There is also no need to mention kopiandproperty.com as we do not receive any commission for units sold. Cheers.

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Header Image by
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Medical tourism booming in Penang

Some stats and facts from online newspapers about the medical tourism industry in Penang.

1) In 2011, the state received some 300,000 medical tourists which accounted for 60% of those arriving to Malaysia to seek medical treatment according to Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Rashid Hasnon.

2) According to Dr Hilmi, Deputy Health Minister with the efforts of MHTC (Malaysian Health Tourism Council), it has transformed Malaysia’s health tourism sector. Actual number of health tourists in 2011 increased from 392, 956 in 2010 to 583,296. It is expected to increase further to 671,727 in the year 2012 representing a 15% increase.

3) A few Penang hospitals are amongst the top 10 in receiving the medical tourism patients. They are Island Hospital, Penang Adventist and Lam Wah Ee Hospital.

This augurs well for Penang economy as a whole. Some of these patients may buy properties in Penang but more importantly, the money they spent would enable Penangites who are working in the healthcare industry to be able to afford to buy or upgrade their current property. I hope all these private hospitals would continue to upgrade their service and more importantly, increase their beds. They need to also serve Penangites, not just foreigners. 🙂

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