No fully vaccinated people have required hospital care (thus far in Sydney)

Have you read about Sydney’s lockdown because of the infectious Delta variant? Australia is one of the countries which has managed to keep the Covid-19 cases under control and definitely one of the countries which has managed to take quick actions as and when necessary. For example, a closure of the borders to all international passengers. In recent days, there has been a surge of cases but the number is still below three digits.

This is the latest article about the situation in Sydney.
Article in freemalaysiatoday.com
  There are 47 cases in hospital, or about one in 10 people infected in the current outbreak. Of those, 19 people are under the age of 55 and 16 people are in intensive care, including a teenager.

No fully vaccinated people have required hospital care
….

79% of those admitted have not had any doses, health authorities said.

Its vaccination rollout has been among the slowest due to supply constraints and changing medical advice for its mainstay AstraZeneca shots.

Please do read the full article with a lot more details:
Article in freemalaysiatoday.com

Key learnings

If you saw the highlighted and bold text above, now we know the super importance for everyone to be vaccinated. Despite the infectious Delta variant which is considered to be the most powerful and with highest infectivity rate, not even one of the FULLY vaccinated people have required hospital care. This is really an important sign.

Overwhelmingly, all the infected ones whom were  admitted were all the ones without ANY covid-19 vaccination doses. This also tells us that if someone has had at least one dose, the chances of them needing hospital care is also reduced tremendously. However, without any dose at all, then once one get infected, the chance of hospitalisation is way higher than those with one dose of covid-19 vaccination.

Last but not least, Australia also suffers from an issue which has plague many developing nations; vaccine supply shortage. Plus the fact that they do not recommend the vaccination with AstraZeneca for those below 60 only. Latest news is the advice to all those vaccinated with at the first dose to quickly get their second dose within 6 weeks.
This is that latest news in TheGuardian.com

I hope everything will be fine with the current lockdown implemented and I definitely would love to visit Sydney again after last visiting Sydney for 9 days just a year before Covid-19 arrived.

For Malaysians, hope that we have learnt three very important things from the current Sydney situation. Get vaccinated because that will reduce the chance of us getting infected and assuming we still get infected, with full vaccinations, it will reduce the need for hospital care even if it’s the Delta variant. At the same time, I do want to see the first time our vaccinations hit 400,000 per day too.

Love news like this and more?
Sign up for daily investment news updates.
 Alternatively, Follow me on
 Telegram here
.

Please LIKE
kopiandproperty.com FB page
 to get daily updates about the property market beyond kopiandproperty.com articles. Else,
follow me on Twitter here.

Sign up for KopiWeekly. (only once per week of property, finance, investment news and more)

Next suggested article:
My AstraZeneca experience and what to expect in WTC, KL

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


Fully vaccinated Malaysians? Here are extra things you can do. Yes, dine-in is one of them**

This is the
article where you can click for the full text of Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s speech in BM.

Translated into English and where there are discrepancies, please refer to the text in Bahasa Malaysia as the final version.

In terms of Fully Vaccinated, it is not just having 2 doses. A minimum of 14 days must have passed for those who receive the two-dose vaccine types, namely Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Sinovac as the first criteria.  For single-dose vaccine recipients, namely, Johnson & Johnson and Cansino, they are considered Fully Vaccinated 28 days after the injection date.

The relaxation for ALL Phases under National Recovery Plan: (For Fully Vaccinated ones)

Quarantine at home is given to all citizens who arrived in Malaysia from overseas as long as they have received full vaccinations.
Husband and Wife who have both received full vaccinations are now allowed to travel inter-state to meet one another.
Parents who have received full vaccinations are allowed to travel inter-state to see their children below 18 years old.
Prayers are now permitted in mosques for everyone who has received full vaccinations. (SOP compliance is by mosque committee. As usual, the digital cert for the vaccination must be shown before being allowed entry)
This convenience is also given to all non-Muslims to attend their places of worship too. Same SOP yeah.

For Phase 2 onwards, below are the additional relaxations for all with full vaccinations of two doses. **

Inter-District Travel is allowed (be ready to show the proff; digital certificate showing full vaccinations)
Dine-In is now allowed. (Not encouraged but it is now permitted)
The premise owner will have to ensure SOP is complied and only admit those with full vaccinations.
For couples with full vaccinations who wish to bring their children below 17 to dine in, they should make sure everyone follows the SOPs.
Sports activities without physical contact and not group sports are now permitted. (6am to 10pm)
Sports Clubs MUST NOT open the shower / changing rooms (this is to deter from groupings of people in confined area)
Activities allowed include jogging, taichi, cycling, skateboarding, fishing, hiking, tennis (single), badminton (single), golf etc
Tourism activities within the SAME STATE is allowed for homestay and hotel.
Premise owners for these homestay and hotel must ensure SOP compliance and only allow fully vaccinated customers to enter.

All these above new conveniences based on phases will be valid starting from 10th August 2021.

Further details will be revealed by Majlis Keselamatan Negara (MKN) shortly.

For the conveniences and relaxation for economic sectors, it is currently being discussed and once finalised, I will announce them.

 This is the
article where you can click for the full text of PM’s speech in BM.

— end of the message —

PLEASE Follow SOP and yes, more relaxations means that the number of cases may also be going up too.  Just note that the most important thing is the hospitalisation number and not the infection number because there are NO vaccines which can stop the infections totally, not even in those countries where they administer the vaccine brands you love. Not even them.

However, when vaccinated, ALL vaccines are able to prevent hospitalisation very strongly. it’s not for everyone but suffice to say, ALL vaccines could do its job well thus far. This is applicable whether it was countries with AstraZeneca, Pfizer or even Sinovac full doses. Happy understanding and enjoy your first meal seated in a restaurant soon.

Love news like this and more?
Sign up for daily investment news updates.
 Alternatively, Follow me on
 Telegram here
.

Please LIKE
kopiandproperty.com FB page
 to get daily updates about the property market beyond kopiandproperty.com articles. Else,
follow me on Twitter here.

Sign up for KopiWeekly. (only once per week of property, finance, investment news and more)

Next suggested article:

We really do need to live with Covid-19

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


FundMyhome, 20% ONLY and the 1 million affordable homes target

Own a property without bank loans and monthly payments to worry about?  This is possible according to The Edge Media Group’s subsidiary
EdgeProp Sdn Bhd. Full article here in Edgeprop.my
 It’s called FundMyHome.com and this new portal enables buyers to own a home by paying 20% of the property price, while the balance 80% of the cost of the property is contributed by participating institutions who share the returns from changes in the future value of the home. Edgeprop says that the result is a “simpler, safer and faster” home ownership arrangement that provides greater emotional and financial security.

All homes on FundMyHome.com are either completed or nearing completion. The properties which are all below RM500,000 comes from nine participating developers including Eco World Development Group Bhd, UM Land Bhd, IOI Properties Group Bhd, Mah Sing Group Bhd, Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor, PNB Development Sdn Bhd, Sunway Bhd, Trinity Group Sdn Bhd and UEM Sunrise Bhd. This meant that buyers can move in very soon or immediately after the completion of the buying process. Another flexibility is that buyers may also rent the homes out to earn rental income.

The Edge Media Group chairman Datuk Tong Kooi Ong said of FundMyHome, “Besides helping homebuyers, it helps developers to sell their properties. It also includes estate agents to facilitate sales and to guide their clients interested in becoming property investors.” Tong also said that there will be more homes available under FundMyHome in the months ahead. FundMyHome will feature approximately 1,000 units of homes in the first phase of its rollout, all costing less than RM500,000 each. Under the FundMyHome concept, the homebuyer can choose to either sell or stay on after a fixed commitment period of five years.
More details here in the article.

Well, this is just another alternative for the first-time homebuyers who may not be so attracted to the current normal process. The choices are homes which are offered by the respective developers as above. In
another article related to FundMyHome in sundaily.my
, our Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir said that the government’s pledge to build 1 million affordable homes is not just the government’s effort alone. The private sector will be contributing most of these homes. Someone asked me for my thoughts on this alternative arrangement. Well, if it could help more Malaysians to own a home, we just have to be positive for them. I would prefer for these initiatives to be government driven because if it’s private driven (and just one company), then the exposure will be more limited because the competitors to EdgeProp.my is definitely not to promote it. It’s obvious that kopiandproperty.com is not a competitor to Edgeprop.my Happy understanding.

written on 4 Nov 2018

Next suggested article:
lH1 2018 launches are all below RM500k, affordable enough?

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


Funny questions answered with questions

This happened in Penang. My good friend who’s a manager in a real estate firm shared with me about a conversation during a recent property show in Penang. One potential investor asked about a certain development in Penang. My friend Mr. V shared about the development and why the investor should consider buying a unit. The investor replied, ‘I think better not. I still think KL’s property market is a better choice. It’s also less risky.’ Mr. V just smiled and wish him a great day ahead. I laughed and said why not Mr. V asked him back for the reason why he is buying? Is it for investment? If it’s for investment, then what’s the time horizon? Sell when completed or continue to get rental income? Is it for own stay? Where would he buy in KL? Why does he say KL property market is less risky? Actually, when we are faced with funny questions, we should answer them with questions. Seriously, there’s no point in answering someone who did not want to buy in the first place. Of course, answer courteously. Customer service is always important.

A fellow forum panelist in a recent property event, Ms. Prudence Wong shared this important question to ask before we buy.
Ask this first: Who is your target market?

As an investor, whether we buy in Penang or KL, do we know what’s the reason to buy? If it’s for rental income, immediately refer to the rental for the particular area in property sites. Can the rental income cover the mortgage? If NO, should we still proceed? If yes, is this the target market we want? If we intend to rent out to students, could they afford? Are there many other cheaper choices around?  If it’s for capital appreciation, do we already have a target for it? How did we derive the target? What’s the timeline for this to happen? WHY do we believe so? I always believe an investor should already have many of these questions answered. Else, I wish them best of luck because if we do not know anything, then it’s a waste of time listening to real estate agents or even developers. There’s no way we could compare objectively.

I told my friend Mr.V that many times, people do not listen to what we say. They just want to believe what they believe. If that’s the case, ask many more questions before we even start giving answers. Many times, the potential buyer may find the answer when you ask them questions. For example, ‘May I understand why you say Penang is a riskier buy than KL?’ Is the purpose for buying Penang the same as that of KL? Penang is an island which cannot grow too much, thus land size is LIMITED. KL is growing into Greater KL and urbanisation continues to happen, thus the potential growth is there. As both the property markets are different, there’s no such thing as which is riskier. The riskiest is definitely buying the wrong property, regardless of whether it’s Penang or KL. Do you agree? Buy where we love, after we have evaluated it.

Please LIKE
kopiandproperty.com FB page
 or
Sign Up for free
 to get daily updates about the property market.

written on 21 Feb 2017

Next suggested article:
Is it good value? Good question, how to answer?

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


Further hits to sentiment but market expected to bounce back

Press Release:
PropertyGuru: Further Hits to Sentiment, Market Expected to Bounce Back

Sentiment down in short-term as Malaysians focus on bread-and-butter issues
House price, transaction volume and value historically resilient amid economic uncertainty
PropertyGuru to launch GuruCares initiatives in support of property agents

Kuala Lumpur, 2 April
– As the nation endures its third week under the extended Movement Control Order (MCO), Malaysians from every walk of life face increasing uncertainty in the face of unprecedented sociopolitical and economic change.

The impact of the MCO amid the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak on the Malaysian economy has yet to be fully realised. Conservative estimates forecast
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 2.0% to 2.5%
 for 2020, while other analysts foresee
domestic and global recession
.

However, PropertyGuru Malaysia, in line with its commitment to being the nation’s property advisor, anticipates corresponding effects on home seeker sentiment to be short-lived,with prospects for recovery in the near term.

Bread-and-butter issues take centre stage

“Income and employment have been adversely affected by the closure of non-essential businesses during the MCO, and many Malaysians are prioritising bread-and-butter issues,” says Sheldon Fernandez, Country Manager, PropertyGuru Malaysia.

“This dampened sentiment is likely to persist through to H2 2020, though measures such as the government’s Economic Stimulus Package (ESP) announcements and Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM’S) six-month moratorium on financing payments are laying the foundation for the market to bounce back.”

Sentiment among home seekers was already in decline at the start of the year, with the PropertyGuru Malaysia Consumer Sentiment Study H1 2020 reporting
a drop in the Property Sentiment Index
 to 42 points, down from 44 points in the corresponding period last year.

This will likely see a fall in home loan applications, despite catalysts such as BNM’s recent revision of its Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) to 2.50%. Other markets experiencing Covid-19 outbreaks have seen
mortgage applications drop by as much as 30%
.

Beyond these short-term impacts, research by property data analytics and solutions provider MyProperty Data Sdn Bhd underscores the property market’s resilience in the face of prior economic downturns and viral outbreaks, notably the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic of 2002.

The resilience of property

While recent events have brought industries such as tourism and hospitality to a standstill, property transaction volumes and values have remained strong throughout periods of uncertainty (see Chart A).

Chart A: Property Transaction Volume vs Value Growth (Source: MyProperty Data, NAPIC data)

“The 1998 recession, in conjunction with the outbreak of the Nipah virus, saw volumes and values declining by 32.3% and 47.6% respectively, the largest downturn in recent decades,” says Fernandez.

“However, the industry still moved forward, with 186,000 transactions worth RM27.9 bil. In addition, house prices as a whole have only continued to grow over the past few decades, highlighting the merits of property as an asset class.”

According to the National Property Information Centre (NAPIC), the national house price index has not exhibited an overall decline since 1999, though its growth moderated to a low of 1.1% in 2001.

In terms of property types, high rises exhibited the most volatility in prices from 1999-2009, from a high of 15.1% growth in 2003 to a low of –5.9% the previous year (see Chart B).

Chart B: Malaysian House Price Index Growth (2000-2009) (Source: PropertyGuru Analytics, NAPIC data)

From 2009 to 2018, this volatility spread to other property classes such as detached and semi-detached homes. Since 1999, terrace homes have shown the most stability and consistent price growth among property types, with prices in the segment growing by 6.5% in 2018 (see Chart C).

Chart C: Malaysian House Price Index Growth (2010-2018) (Source: PropertyGuru Analytics, NAPIC data)

As such, terrace homes will likely be a key focus for property seekers moving forward. This is supported by the PropertyGuru Malaysia Consumer Sentiment Study H1 2020 report, which found that terrace homes are the residence of choice (39%) among Malaysians.

Locational variations in demand

The aforementioned price trends were seen in the market as a whole, with variations in demand by area. For instance, MyProperty Data research shows that terrace homes emerged as the clear favourite in Greater Klang Valley from 1999 to 2004, in terms of transaction volumes.

However, Kuala Lumpur saw high demand in luxury condominiums and service apartments throughout these crisis years. High-rise properties were also popular in Penang, particularly lower-end apartments and flats.

“For Selangor, it was the city fringe, with terrace houses in Subang Jaya, USJ and Putra Heights as the hottest market. Median prices went from about RM220,000 in 1999 to up to RM400,000 by 2004. Around which time, demand similarly progressed to Setia Alam, Klang and other outlying areas towards 2012,” says Joe Hock Thor, CEO, MyProperty Data.

“Developers such as Sime Darby, SP Setia, Gamuda Land and IOI caught the wave perfectly, building larger homes within master planned townships at prices found closer to the city. High-rise popularity in Kuala Lumpur over this period picked up post-2003; this may have been due to cashed-up investors taking the opportunity to pick up glossy headline properties at discount prices.”

This resulted in substantial price appreciation, with median high-rise prices rising from RM350,000 in 4Q 2003 to RM765,000 in 4Q 2009.

Inflection point and recovery

Whether in terms of price, transaction volume or value, the property market has repeatedly showcased a tendency to bounce back immediately following a downturn.

This is seen in surging transaction volumes and values in the years following 1998 (the Asian financial crisis and Nipah virus outbreak), 2002 (the SARS outbreak) and 2008 (the global financial crisis and H1N1 outbreak).

Similar recoveries are seen in national house price growth in the years following 2001, 2006 and 2009. “Price growth, as well as transaction volumes and values, have slowed down in recent years, with measures in place to address the residential overhang. This may cushion potential impacts on the market as it rolls with the blow,” says Fernandez.

“Moving forward, investors tend to restructure their portfolios in uncertain times to manage risk, with property as a potentially lucrative venture. This, along with natural corrective forces as the market regains equilibrium, may account for the sharp recoveries seen in domestic property following crisis years.”

These patterns are set to repeat themselves following the MCO and Covid-19 outbreak, with various initiatives contributing towards significant domestic liquidity moving forward.

These include BNM’s reduction of the Statutory Reserve Requirement Ratio to 3.00%, moratorium on financing payments, OPR revision as well as revised voluntary EPF contribution guidelines in the government’s earlier ESP announcement.

“For those struggling to make ends meet, these measures help address costs of living while presenting an opportunity to rebuild savings. For those with leverage, it may be a good time to invest,” says Fernandez.

“There
have already been calls from some quarters
 for revised loan-to-value ratio caps for third home purchases. This would accommodate demand from property seekers with leverage, driven by developer initiatives to
add value for purchasers
 amid the changing property landscape.”

GuruCares reaches out to property agents

The Covid-19 outbreak and MCO have highlighted existing structural weaknesses in domestic businesses when it comes to technology-driven remote operations. However, while property players are tapping further into online platforms to drive sales, the underlying business model is likely to remain.

“Developers have already invested in virtual show units and the online paradigm, and these can be useful for informational purposes. Due to the large emotional and financial investment required for property purchases, though, there will always be a need for the human touch, as well as physical showrooms and site visits,” says Fernandez.

However, PropertyGuru acknowledges the potential impact of the MCO and other recent events on industry stakeholders, particularly property agents, who are often overlooked amid the larger national housing agenda.

In its role as Asia’s largest property technology company, PropertyGuru has announced the launch of a
suite of GuruCares initiatives
 (
http://bit.ly/PGMYstandbyyou
), aimed at easing the burden on agent partners. These include:

100 free advertising credits, valid for a 12-month period to support listing activities
Complimentary account upgrades for renewing agents
40% price reductions for any agent package, for first-time applicants, and
Four months’ unlimited access to Property Transaction Reports.

With this, PropertyGuru wishes health, safety and security for agents, home seekers and Malaysians as a whole as the nation finds its way forward amid these challenging times.

— end of press release —

Please LIKE
kopiandproperty.com FB page
 or
Sign Up for free
 to get daily updates about the property market. Else,
follow me on Twitter here.

Next suggested article:
7th PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Malaysia) delays presentation ceremony and gala dinner

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


In future: All Malaysian cities with own integrated rail networks?

I shared this with many friends before. Rail networks, especially LRT, MRT or even monorail is never profitable. Then, they would tell me, ” then why Singapore could make their MRT profitable?” I asked how did they get such information, no one could answer me. Well over the past 10 years, Singapore government has been subsidising the public transportation to the tune of SGD4 billion per year, on average. This is because fares alone, despite nearly everyone I know is using the public transport is never enough. Coupled with the fact that despite insufficient revenue to cover costs, it’s not easy to increase the ticket fare ever year. Perhaps none for 10 years! Read here to understand a bit more on the
subsidy to the public transportation  in Singapore.

This brings us to something I read today. It’s titled, “Growing urban centres also need public transport, says Liow.” Actually, the only urban centre that the article talk about was Johor Bahru. It did not mention all the other urban centres in all other cities in Malaysia. Perhaps that makes more sense since for less congested cities, a bus transit system would work better and by far cheaper too. The article also shared that only 20% of the population actually uses public transport today and that the government is aiming at up to 40 percent by 2030. That’s also the time when
Malaysia becomes an ageing nation.
Liow also said that the government is also looking into the LRT or monorail possibility for Johor. He also said that Iskandar Malaysia officials have briefed him on the need for a train system in Johor Bahru.

Okay, it’s clear that for all other cities not mentioned, perhaps a train system within the city is not feasible. Government does not have the funds to do train services in all Malaysian cities. Private sector? I am not sure if there are companies with lots of money and wishes to do charity. It can sponsor some Monorail cars perhaps. Get another private entity to sponsor the construction. Suddenly all the private developers disappear. haha. by the way, Hong Kong’s MTR is profitable. Reason? Rental of buildings on top of the MTR. They are owned by the MTR corporation. Clever move right. Read here:
MRT and rental starts at the same time. Good.

Happy waiting for more connections. Just remember to ditch our car when the lines really do pass our offices yeah.

written on 19 Dec 2016

Next suggested article:
Who says don’t buy Johor properties? you should buy.

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


Using future money today is not a wise move.

Future money is usually meant for the future. Usually, there would be a time when we stop working altogether. If the income continues, that is great news. Kudos to everything you are doing today. However, if income stops when we stopped working, that’s when we needed to rely on money which we have started saving way earlier. We can also call this savings or sometimes, forced savings as future money. Since this is future money, using all of it today is definitely not a wise move.

It’s for those who REALLY needed the money for survival

Yes, we are talking about the i-Sinar which is SUPPOSED to be for EPF members who lost their jobs and needed the money to SURVIVE. I repeat, to survive and NOT to take it out for investments… or for some online purchases or even as downpayment for a new car. Well, this has happened yeah. Over 30 percent of EPF members have withdrawn their money from Account 1 under i-Sinar. This is a total of 1.6 million people. Total members who have lost their jobs since COVID-19? Actually, probably about 10% of this number. Sigh… Read on for the news.

Photo by Meru Bi on
Pexels.com

Article in themalaysianreserve.com
  About 30% or 1.6 million members of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) may have exhausted nearly all of their retirement savings in Account 1, leaving a minimum required balance of RM100 in the aftermath of various Covid-19 related programmes. This is not the only bad news. Outgoing EPF CEO Tunku Alizakri Raja Muhammad Alias also shared that close to 60% or three million members have or will use up all savings in Account 2.

He said, “We are very concerned about these numbers, but we will be doing a lot more activities to educate our members and come up with products and services to ensure that members will see EPF as the place to put their retirement savings.” Do refer to the full article with a lot more details here:
Article in themalaysianreserve.com

Please note that we need to have enough for maybe an extra 20 years?

When we stop working at 60 years old, we still need to have enough money to last until 80 years old yeah. This is going to be the typical life expectancy for Malaysians in the near future. This is no longer like long time ago when we are expected to only live till 65. This is why beyond just savings alone, we need to invest our money for higher returns. Diversification is super important too and perhaps property could be
that hedge against inflation. (read here for the reason why)

As we get older, it gets harder

Whatever amount we have in our EPF account, if we use this years’ dividend
(Read here for  what EPF declared)
as benchmark meant that the money will double in less than 10 years. It meant that if we have RM10,000 by 30, this money would become RM20,000 (even without including additional deductions from 30 years old to 40 years old). By the time we reach 40, this money would have become RM40,000 and by the time we reach 50, this money would have reached RM80,000. When we stop working at 60, the money in EPF has reached RM160,000. We have not included any additional deductions for the last 30 years yeah. Now, imagine if we have withdrawn all the amount and our account has just RM100 left…

Happy understanding that the ability to multiply depends on what we have at the start.

Love news like this and more?
Sign up for daily investment news updates.

Please LIKE
kopiandproperty.com FB page
 to get daily updates about the property market beyond kopiandproperty.com articles. Else,
follow me on Twitter here.

Sign up for KopiWeekly. (only once per week of property, finance, investment news and more)

Next suggested article:
It’s always in this order. Salary – Savings – Invest. Which stage are you today

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


I would love my future office to be like this. Even for a Gen-X.

Some years back, when I was still with a company I served for a total of 14 years, a colleague told me that a few junior programmers have rejected to join our company because of our office condition. I was like, ‘Huh? For real?’ I asked if our salary was competitive and the answer was that the salary that was offered was definitely above the average market salaries. The reason? There are better looking offices elsewhere. Actually, what they meant was the office environment. Instead of the usual cubicles, the younger workforce wants nice looking pantries with free coffee from espresso machines. They want to have a ping pong table somewhere inside the office which they have access to ANYTIME they feel stressed. The whole environment should look trendy, modern and well if possible a GAMES room too. Video games should be part and parcel of a good company to join today. It’s already 2018…

I found a very nice one (office) the other day when I was at iProperty.com’s office as a fellow judge for iProperty.com’s Agents’ Advertising Awards 2018. Please take a look at the photos.

Professional looking reception

Pantry. Cool.

With fellow judges

Meal and coffee, comfortably.

Room Melaka! (A Famosa wall)

Room Penang

Room Johor

Individual lockers!

A view, good one.

Yes, I must say that the younger generation would think this is the kind of office which will appeal to them. Actually, it will appeal to even Gen-X like me. I even had a game of ping pong while I was there. Well, if you like the office and you think you qualify as their future staffs, you can definitely
deposit your resume here.
 As for me, will be finding a day to drop by and challenge their
senior writer Reena to a ping pong ‘fight.’

Only one winner at the end of our duel… One day, all offices would have to be of this standard if not higher because the ‘younger’ workforce are coming into the market very strongly. The median age for Malaysians? 29… Happy enjoying your working place.

written on 6 June 2018

Next suggested article:
Security? Safety? Gated and Guarded. Checked.

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


Future predictions? How about looking directly at the ‘future?’

Predictions, predictions and predictions. Of course usually the bad ones get forwarded many more times than the good ones. Except if the good ones are meant to help in selling some services which sells exceptionally well when the expectations must be a positive one. A very real example, we do NOT invest in properties in some countries unless we believe it’s future outlook is positive. Else, we lose everything because we could not just move the property elsewhere and liquidating it requires months!  This is true even in kopiandproperty.com Usually the negative articles are ready many more times than the good ones. I have no idea why. The world is already pretty negative. What are some of the negatives?

Some countries have ‘crazy’ leaders. I said SOME, not one or two. It does not need to be in Asia too and can even be advanced nations ok.   😛  Some countries have ‘everlasting’ leaders who does not retire unless voted out somehow. I said SOME, not just one or two and definitely is in MORE than one country within ASIA. Oh yeah, just days ago, Financial Times (FT) asked readers to
‘Start preparing for the next financial crisis now.’
 It seems that it may just be around the next bend? The writer of the article in FT is not a journalist in Financial Times but William White who is currently the chairman of the Economic and Development Review Committee at the OECD which makes policy recommendations to associated countries. What happens if the country that we are trying to predict is NOT yet an advanced nation? Perhaps my dear Malaysia? (Yes, I have rejected no less than 3 invitations to attend some migration talks to some advanced nations. Those two lah as usual. )

Instead of the overall economy, how about if it’s just to predict the potential for property investment? One very good example. ‘Severely unaffordable property market.’ This is Malaysia, as some friends who does not yet have a property have rightly pointed out. Most wanted to buy sub

RM500,000 landed homes in Petaling Jaya.

 Well, this tag is also given to these countries too. Australia, Canada, China, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.
 Here’s that full report.
Under this comprehensive report, Malaysia’s not mentioned at all in the top 1`0. What about ‘how high can prices go?’ At RM1,500 per sq ft, there are only one small area in Greater KL with this pricing currently. This kind of pricing, even if we do not look at currency is ALREADY pretty common in many of the top 10 nations mentioned above. In case everyone has forgotten to notice, the ‘severely unaffordable’ in the other countries was NOT based on ringgit but on the local currency. People earn AU$ and they use properties in AU$.  If they earn S$, they buy properties in S$… Even then, their property prices are still regarded as severely unaffordable.

What if the property prices suddenly drop a lot!?  Please look at all these advanced nations over the years. When property prices do drop because of some kind of crisis, what happens within the next few years after that? We are very fortunate because Malaysia’s property market is only a ‘follower.’ We are nowhere near those top property markets. There is little need to do too much predictions. What has happened and may happen, has already happened earlier in many advanced property markets. Someone asked me this question about the Penang property market many years ago. ‘How do you know Penang property market will continue growing?’  I asked him how many years would he rank Penang properties behind the Singaporean property market? He answered, ‘Fifteen.’ I asked if he believe Singaporean property market will continue to grow for the next 15 years.  He said, ‘Of course!’  I smiled and said, you already have your answer. Happy predicting.

Please LIKE
kopiandproperty.com FB page
 or
Sign Up for free
 to get daily updates about the property market.

written on 20 Feb 2018

Next suggested article:
Currency risk to Malaysia. Budget deficit and uncertainty

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


In future, it can just be ‘redeveloping’ instead of only building new

I have stayed in high-rise units ever since I bought my first high-rise unit way back in 2002. It’s not going to change soon. I would like to stay I like the facilities, the security and the lifestyle that comes with it but perhaps it’s also because I could not really afford an awesome landed home which is also gated and guarded, comes with a proper clubhouse and one which is a semi-detached corner unit. 🙂  Assuming I have stayed in the same high-rise for 50 years and it’s now in need of a total makeover. I do not have much choices today because even the banks may not want to lend to the next buyer who wants to buy my place. In comes a ‘white knight.’ A developer which is able offer everyone a new unit in a redevelopment of my 50-year old high-rise development. On top of the new unit, we may get some cash too. The new unit would be similar sized but when completed, we will own totally new units and totally new facilities, maybe even more facilities than today! Would I take it? Of course I would. However, the legal aspects would need some tweaking so that this developer is not stopped simply because a few people in the whole development does NOT want to accept such a deal.

In Singapore, there’s a similar concept called
 The Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS). Read about it here.
In brief, old units are redeveloped by the authority and owners of these old units would be offered compensations as well as a choice to own a new unit in some designated sites. Singapore is not that big and it’s very well connected. So, this scheme is loved by many as per the surveys done. In fact, this is so popular that its National Development Minister Lawrence Wong had to warn buyers NOT to buy old flats in anticipation of SERS. He said, “just 4 per cent of HDB flats have been identified to undergo SERS since it was launched in 1995.” The issue with older flats is that it may be close to the expiry of its lease. Once the lease expires, the flats would be returned to the HDB and HDB would return them to the government. The buyers gets nothing in this scenario. Anyway, the lease is 99 years and there are NO flats which are nearing the expiry yet. Thus far however, the SERS has usually been applied to flats older than 30 years.

What do you think? There are locations within the city centre that has old flats. Should these be redeveloped so that more supply of homes could be made available within the city centre? I would think the number of units could easily be more than double due to the technology today.

Build higher.

Perhaps the number one thing is to have the legal side sorted out. Else, the potential returns may be lower than the work needed. If this is the case, then the only choice for developers would be to build ever smaller (just like in Hong Kong) to maintain affordability. Else, everyone better be prepared to stay further away because only land parcels further away are affordable. Remember, high land price is always accompanied with high selling price. Unless of course the developer is a not-for-profit organisation. Seriously, this is also another consideration beyond just the usual affordable initiatives such as PR1MA, RUMAWIP and Rumah Selangorku. Happy waiting.

written on 11 July 2017

Next suggested article:
Paying off 358 owners and building over 1,000 new units

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


In future, renting is the best option?

This article first appeared in New Straits Times (NST) on 17 August 2015.

A friend said that in future, no one would be able to afford a new home. Future generations would all be renting their homes. Look at the prices today. It’s already so high, how could anyone afford their own homes in future? I think he is not alone. Many have the same opinion and thus many have since either quickly try to buy one or taking the stance that since it’s too expensive, might as well rent instead of buy. So, would the
 future homes be too expensive
 that no one could afford to buy? It’s not possible to solve this by looking at Malaysia’s property market today. Let’s take a look at the property markets which are already years ahead of Malaysia. They would be a better example of what may happen in the future.

Let us look at property markets in countries more advanced, more expensive than Malaysia today. When we look at the property prices, even without conversion into RM, the prices in Singapore, Hong Kong, London or even Australia is already higher and worst in terms of affordability when compared to Malaysia. One recent example, the
median price in Melbourne is already AUD668,030 (RM1.87 million) as at June 2015.

I am not sure if there are really that many Australians who can keep buying at this price level. Oh yeah, an engineer in Australia is still earning a similar salary in figure as an engineer in Malaysia. I think even for a senior engineer in Malaysia, not many would be ready to buy a RM668,030 condominium today.

Hong Kong is getting unaffordable. However, we do not see everyone sleeping in the streets. What has happened today? Well, prices are indeed high but the developers are now launching units which are around the size of a hotel room. Yes, we are talking about sizes such as194 square feet. A prominent Hong Kong developer, Cheung Kong launched it last year and it was an immediate hit due to its affordable price tag; HK$1.9 million. (RM956,000) With such a size, it has enabled the price to be lowered to a level considered affordable for the middle income earners who has saved for a few years to buy their first home. My current home bought for RM540,000 is 1,743 square feet. I think it has a long way to go if it wants to catch up with Hong Kong’s price.

When we look at Singapore, the government continues to
try and build HDB flats based on demand and offer them to qualified Singaporeans
. For the singles, it’s harder to get a unit. The secondary units of today, even for HDB flats are already considered quite unaffordable. There are not many choices and the sizes are all below 800 square feet from my research. Yes, property remains the single largest purchase in our lifetime. As an example, even if we do not eat breakfast, lunch and dinner for 30 years, the saved amount would only be enough to pay for a 10% downpayment of a S$300,000 (RM837,000) property. For S$300,000 the choices are very limited and the sizes are small. You may search for more information in the leading property portal in Singapore:
http://www.propertyguru.com.sg

Both Hong Kong and Singapore has very limited land space and ever growing population. As at today, for both of them, the homes remain accessible in terms of prices. The only setback is that the size gets ever smaller. If they are taken as an example of what may happen in future, I think we can already see it. There would be smaller units to maintain its affordability. However, when we take into account the available land within Greater Kuala Lumpur, this would be many, many years away.
Further away should be acceptable in future too
. These ‘distant’ areas are supported by new and upcoming MRT lines. From
MRT 1 till MRT 3
 as well as the existing and new LRT lines, monorail and trains. Yes, Malaysians can also still choose to drive too. Still believe that it’s best to rent and not buying? Happy believing whatever you think would happen, even if you believe renting is the best option.

written for NST.

Next suggested article:
12 Tips on inspecting condos

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


Gamuda Land’s 661 Chapel St in Melbourne, Australia

Australia’s property market is considered a more developed one than Malaysia. In fact majority of all property surveys in terms of overseas preference would always have Australia in the midst. For example:
Malaysians’ overseas preference:Australia, Singapore, Indonesia and the UK

Of course the property market could not be supported if only Malaysians are buying. In fact it receives interest from throughout the world including Chinese (China) too. Another established Malaysian developer, Gamuda Land has just announced to the world about their new luxury residences in the heart of Melbourne’s coveted Chapel St to local Melbournians. 661 Chapel St will be launched in Melbourne in the third quarter of 2016. Gamuda will hold an exclusive sales event in Kuala Lumpur on 18
th
 and 19
th
 of June for potential Malaysian investors who wish to own a property on Melbourne’s most desirable street.

Melbourne was ranked the world’s most liveable city for five consecutive years by
The Economist
 and has become a hub for luxury property investors. The cosmopolitan city scored second highest for inflow of millionaires in 2015, beating Dubai (4
th
), San Francisco (5
th
) and Vancouver (6
th
). With an additional 3,000 millionaires in 2015, Melbourne now boasts a total of 66,800 millionaires residing within the city. The value of homes have risen with auction clearance rates at a consistent high showing a strong and resilient market.

The millionaire trend likely bodes well for luxury real estate in affluent suburbs. For 661 Chapel St, the statistics are certainly favourable as Chapel Street itself is positioned in the wealthy, mature neighbourhood of South Yarra, where indicative median incomes are almost double that of greater Melbourne. Creating further value is the fact that South Yarra was acclaimed “the most liveable suburb” in 2011, due to factors such as excellent connectivity and amenities, a rich cultural mix of cafes, restaurants, galleries and boutiques, as well close proximity to lush parklands and the famed Yarra River.

According to Chief Operating Officer for Gamuda Land, Ngan Chee Meng, “Chapel St has always been alluring for both locals and foreigners alike. The location is an embodiment of a luxurious lifestyle complete with the modern day amenities that are perfect for any family.”

The project’s site location is ideal with a tram stop just outside its doorstep, a mere eight minutes’ walk to the South Yarra train station, less than one minutes’ walk to Woolworths Supermarket and just five minutes’ walk to the Palace Cinema.

The sales event in Malaysia could not have come at a better time since the Victorian Government has announced an impending increase in stamp duty surcharge for foreign buyers from 3% to 7%, from 1
st
 July 2016 onwards.

However, while the stamp duty increase does create an urgency to buy, 661 Chapel St holds its own timeless appeal. Ngan compares the project to a blue-chip investment for several reasons: “661 Chapel St’s position next to Melbourne High School gives us several unique competitive advantages – firstly, the school is unlikely to be re-developed which means our views towards the CBD will remain unobstructed. Almost all unit types at 661 will have panoramic postcard perfect views. Secondly, the prestige of Melbourne High itself, being one of the top schools in Melbourne, is a strong pull factor.” Views are highly revered by local Australians and can command around 20% more than similar units without views; while properties in a good school zone can command approximately 10% more.

For 661 Chapel St’s Malaysian sales event, Gamuda has yet to reveal the full scope of incentives that will be given. However, one of them will be the chance for buyers to turn back time to even before the 3% foreign buyer stamp duty surcharge took place, offered for a limited number of units. There will be a rebate of 3% back to the buyer to offset the current stamp duty and furthermore, buyers will not have to pay the AUD $5,000 foreign buyer fee.

At a gross development value of AUD$154 million, the 30 storey development comprises 142 units of 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom units and Penthouses with internal areas range from 40 square meters to 271 square meters.

An impeccably designed home, 661 Chapel St is the embodiment of 6-star living with its modern clean lines and attention to detail, a signature design statement of award winning architects Bird de la Coeur. An additional feature that exceeds all expectations is the fact that 661 is the first residential project in Melbourne to have limited-edition Lalique crystal artworks showcased in its Grand Lobby.

As much as it is an aesthetic wonder, the architects, have created an enriching life within the walls of 661 with their unique Vertical Village concept. The community centric design comes with outstanding facilities for entertaining, hosting dinner parties, a luxurious mini theatre, a 25 meter cantilevered lap pool, gym, sauna, spa pool, a well-stocked double volume grand library and even a climate controlled wine cellar.

Designed to leave a lasting impression, 661 Chapel St promises an experience residents and guests will never forget. From its classic elegant exterior to the inspiring artistic interior, every space is a warm “welcome home” and a testament to Gamuda’s commitment to provide the very highest quality of life.

edited on 6 June 2016

next suggested article:
Garuda: S$755 per sq ft forToa Payoh’s residential land tender

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


Gamuda Cove’s a 1,530-acre development with RM20B GDV.

Short note: It’s important for buyers who wishes to buy a little further away to understand that the township development they are buying into has a comprehensive and long-term plan the whole area. From the explanations during a recent press conference, we think Gamuda Land’s Gamuda Cove deserves some attention for the many things they have for it. I think they are advertising in many mass media currently. Please do refer to some details as below:

Gamuda Land’s latest to-be-launched project is Gamuda Cove. It has a GDV of RM20 billion and it will be unveiled in two months. It’s called Gamuda Cove. The total size is 1,530-acre and it is a leasehold township located in southern Klang Valley along the Elite Highway and opposite Cyberjaya. Gamuda Land project director Aw Sei Cheh shared, “The entire project has a GDV of RM20 billion. It will take about 20 years to complete the whole project. We are going to soft launch the masterplan and the first three phases by the end of this month while the official launch will be taking place in two months after the soft launch.”

The township will be divided into a few districts comprising landed and non-landed residential areas, a central business district, leisure and entertainment, knowledge and information corridor, wellness oasis, central park and an art, culture and tourism village. The entire project will have more than 23,000 residential units. Gamuda Land introduced two phases of terraced houses and one apartment project. The selling price for the terraced houses will be from RM680,000 onwards while the apartment units will be priced from  RM350,000. Total GDV for Phase 1 is RM1.5billion.

Aw further shared, “In Gamuda, we listen to the land and blend in the development into the surrounding environment. The site is surrounded by
Kuala Langat
 North Forest Reserve and Paya Indah Wetlands, therefore nature is key to Gamuda Cove.” He also said that Gaumda Land will also be creating a 60-acre Central Park and the Gamuda Cove Discovery Park concurrently. This meant that when the first batch of buyers move in, the park and some other facilities will be ready. It will not be just houses on bare land.

Aw also shared that the project has received some 10,000 online registrations of interest in the past few months. He added, “Gamuda Cove is located in a strategic location and next to the Elite Highway. It will be a comprehensive township where people can work, live and play all in one place.” An interchange will also be built by the developer to enhance connectivity. Beyond connectivity, there’s also the green transportation concept.

“We will have shuttle buses connecting Gamuda Cove to surrounding amenities, as well as dedicated cycling paths surrounding the township, a smart traffic system and trams,” Aw shared. There’s also a tram system which is being finalised currently for Gamuda Cove. “Stage one is about 4km-long on the main street of the business district. It will eventually connect the entire township. Most importantly, it is free for use,” he concluded.

Next suggested article:
Great for family, Dinosaur Kingdom in Rawang

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


11 Billion GDV in KUNDANG, by Gamuda Land

One colleague who’s active in cycling and hiking was telling a few of us over lunch that one of his favourite place for hiking called Kundang would be developed. I looked at him and asked, ‘Where’s Kundang?’ Haha. Yes, I really did not know.  Take a look at where Kundang is in the image. Using “Kundang Estates” as a starting point and using Google Map, it is 36 minutes away from KLCC, Jalan Ampang. Distance wise, 41km away.  All the comparisons within kopiandproperty.com articles in terms of duration uses this same benchmark. So, where distance is concerned, this is similar if not closer to many other new integrated developments within Selangor by many other prominent developers.

The project will be launched by Gamuda Land and its chief operating officer, Ngan Chee Meng said, “This boutique residential development situated on a 90-acre parcel of leasehold land in Kundang town comprises 573 units of 2-storey terraced houses surrounded by lush greenery.” The development would have four phases with a gross development value (GDV) of RM600 million. This would then be followed by another 810 acre development, just 5km away. It’s a township called Gamuda Gardens and will be launched early 2017. On an overall basis, the total GDV of this 900-acre development would be RM11 billion and it will take a totalof 10 – 15 years to complete.

The developer said that Kundang Estates would be perfect for locals as well as those who are working or staying in the north of Petaling Jaya currently and aspires for a suburban living environment. In comparison to Petaling Jaya where prices are already above what most people could afford, Kundang offers a more affordable choice with
good accessibility
through the various highways — such as the KL–Kuala Selangor Expressway (LATAR Expressway), the North–South Expressway, and the Guthrie Corridor Expressway. There would be four parks to appeal to people from different walks of life. For example Lakeside Gardens, Community Farm, Esplanade and Adventure Parks.

I think it’s important for buyers to drive there and have a feel for themselves. Environment wise, there’s really no comparison. Greenery in these suburban areas are by far better than the
 congested hotspots
 of today. However, many may not be that ready to stay further away and having to drive an hour during peak hours in the morning or after work everyday. For those with two young kids like mine, this may be worth considering. I needed a safe environment but I also hope for my kids to be able to enjoy parks and just run around. My daughter certainly spends more time running around or even watching educationalTV programmes than just sit on the chair with a smartphone. That would be so sad. Happy driving and taking a closer look. The launch should be pretty soon.

written on 5 July 2016

next suggested article:
Hap Seng’s Kuala Selangor land buy and GDV of RM9.3billion

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


Gamuda Land Virtual Experiential Gallery: VR and 3D with full 360° view

Press release: Gamuda Land Virtual Experiential Gallery launched, first of its kind in Malaysia.

A new initiative by Gamuda Land has seen the launch of its innovative digital gallery called Gamuda Land Virtual Experiential Gallery. As the name suggests, this is a gallery built entirely on a virtual reality platform, in 3D format and full 360° view, the first of its kind in Malaysia.

“Gamuda Land’s Virtual Experiential Gallery is based on carefully thought-through customers’ experience from the moment they enter the virtual gallery. We ensure that the virtual gallery is relevant and complements our physical galleries,” said Gamuda Land CEO, Ngan Chee Meng.

The Gamuda Land Virtual Experiential Gallery officially went live on 23 October 2020. It is web based and can be accessed at
www.gamudaland.com.my/vegallery
 through any mobile devices or computer, without having to download any apps.

“Our primary goal was to create a space for customers engagement without having to physically be on the project site. Gone are the days when customers have to look at 2D floor plans. Now they can walk in their future home and check out its surrounding environment, before it’s built. Not only can they view our projects in Malaysia, they can also view our overseas project. Akin to our physical galleries, social activities and events will be held virtually from time to time, further heightening our engagement with customers,” said Ngan.

Ngan said that the development of this virtual gallery comes in timely, especially with the Movement Control Order (MCO) and many people would opt to stay at home more.

A world of information at your fingertips

Any visitor to Gamuda Land Virtual Experiential Gallery will be treated to a host of features that are vibrant, engaging and refreshing. Far from being just another website with clickable information, the Gamuda Land Virtual Experiential Gallery allows visitors to explore the gallery in full 360° and obtain information regarding Gamuda Land’s local or overseas properties on display.

Combining a mixture of rich, digital content, visitors have access to a host of information to learn about their property of interest. From the moment a visitor enters the virtual gallery, a dedicated Gamuda Land Relationship Associate (RA) will provide a quick guide on how to maximise their experience in the virtual gallery. An RA is placed at each of the township display to highlight their latest property and explain the unique features of the township.

One feature that sets the Gamuda Land Virtual Experiential Gallery apart from other “virtual” sales galleries is the Video Live Chat function within a 360° virtual environment – also a first in the property industry. Taking the cue from a video conference concept, this feature now allows an RA to answer questions from visitors in real-time, face to face. Not only that, but the platform also allows the RA to give a guided tour of a 360° virtual show unit. The Video Live Chat will be available at all the property or township in the display section. The Video Live Chat is available daily from 10am to 6pm.

Visitors can also book their preferred property from the virtual gallery, without having to make trips to the physical sales gallery – giving rise to a new level of convenience. For starters, customers can make use of the debt service ratio calculator and obtain a report at the Personalised Ownership Hub section. Next, they can obtain a conditional pre-approved loan by selected banks. With the loan eligibility amount in mind, customers can then choose their preferred unit and pay for the booking online. This process alone makes securing a property so much easier and efficient.

Gold Investment Account with Successful Purchase

Buying properties, be it traditionally or virtually has one thing in common – the hunt for the best deals and rewards.

In conjunction with the launch of the Gamuda Land Virtual Experiential Gallery, buyers will be rewarded with a gold investment account worth up to RM9,000 with every successful property purchase made online via this platform. This promotion is valid for a limited period of time only.

Visitors to the virtual gallery can also explore about GL HOME (Gamuda Land’s Home Ownership Made Easy) customised solutions. There are various packages or solutions to help customers own their desired property.

Then there is GL Friends – a loyalty programme that gives members discounts on subsequent property purchases, offers from participating retail merchants, and referral rewards. Visitors who are currently not Gamuda Land’s property owners are also eligible for referral rewards when they sign up for GL Acquaint.

More attractions in the pipeline

More features and attractions will be added to the virtual gallery in stages.

This includes live webinars and virtual events, EPF withdrawal applications within the virtual gallery and interactive games. An interesting upcoming feature is the properties for lease within a virtual environment and more convenient tools to enhance user experience. Announcements will be made in due time. The best way to avoid missing out on the notification is to like and follow Gamuda Land’s social media channels – Facebook and Instagram.

— End of Press Release —

Love to be updated on all investment news?
Sign up for KopiWeekly. (only once per week of property, finance, investment news and more)

Please LIKE
kopiandproperty.com FB page
 to get daily updates about the property market beyond kopiandproperty.com articles. Else,
follow me on Twitter here.

Next suggested article:
Gamuda Garden’s hillside Illaria sold out in 2 hours

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


Gamuda Quayside mall opens. My visit report here.

Gamuda Quayside mall opens. What? Another mall? There are already too many malls already.  Stop building more malls. Well, perhaps you tell that to the buyers who are always attracted if the new township happens to come with a community mall. Where most of the things they need could be just a few minutes away. Some may need just a 5 minute stroll. Not many of us would want to drive 10 minutes just to buy a bubble tea from within a mall.

As for a bubble tea stall in the middle of the road, it does not work too. So, the bubble tea stall needs to be within a mall and the mall needs to have more than the bubble tea. That’s why another mall opens. The photos would be from my visit today to Gamuda Quayside mall. There are many flamingoes inside and outside Gamuda Quayside mall.

If they call it Flamingo mall, I think the name’s okay too. Flamingoes are everywhere within the mall and outside the mall

This is the top level. High ceilings are good but the stops are still in progress to open.

Walking outside is comfortable enough even if without aircon. There are some restaurants open too.

Supermarkets are always needed. Here they have Jaya Grocer in Gamuda Quayside mall

Yes, this greets you outside the mall or you can say this may be the reason to drop by the mall in future

Not sure about your kids but my kids love this KIDS TOILET.  Nope it’s not built within the gents / ladies. It’s their own.

Fancy for some fried chicken from Lim? March 2021.

Fitness centre in Q2 2021.

Were there a lot of people?

Compared to many smaller malls I have visited lately, today is definitely considered ‘many people’ but this is also because there are a lot of promotions by the developer, this is also the first day, they have invited many of their buyers to come visiting because there are free gifts and more. I thoroughly enjoyed the choco coated ice-cream which one gets if you were to LIKE their page and share it out. (NOTE:  Celcom and U-Mobile does not have signal at the entrance area of Jaya Grocer.)

Would this Gamuda Quayside mall thrive?

For the sake of everyone staying nearby, yeah I hope so. This is so that you could have a mall which you could bring your guests, you could bring your kids, you could have a place to cool down after your jog around the lake and more. Would I be dropping by again? Not tomorrow or next week, definitely. Perhaps if there are events which I am interested in and it’s happening there, then yes. So, for all of you who are staying nearby, drop by and give it a support yeah. it’s your community mall.

Would malls be needed?

If the mall is anywhere nearby any established malls, it will be tough to survive. Fact of life yeah. However, if the mall has enough of everything which the community nearby needs, yeah, I would love to have one which I could drop by anytime. I did not buy anything today because I was also rushing to go home and be ready for my talk in
PropertyQueen. (click here to view the video).
Oh yeah, they also have the typical Starbucks… Skechers… Good2U… and more. Happy visiting yeah.

Love to be updated of investment news?
Sign up for KopiWeekly. (once per week for property, finance, investment news and more)

Please LIKE
kopiandproperty.com FB page
 to get daily updates about the property market beyond kopiandproperty.com articles. Else,
follow me on Twitter here.

Next suggested article:
My first visit to KL East Mall by Sime Darby

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


Gamuda JV will design and construct Singapore’s new MRT Line; Defu station and tunnels

It’s always a good news to me when Malaysian companies are able to secure business overseas. Whether it’s property developers or even Ipoh white coffee. As long as it’s Malaysian companies finding success, it’s worth celebrating. Here’s another one which is considered our MRT builder; Gamuda.

Gamuda Bhd Singapore Branch (GBSB) has been awarded a RM1.45 billion design and construction work. Read more below.

Article in edgeprop.my
  Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded Gamuda Bhd’s operating unit Gamuda Bhd Singapore Branch’s (GBSG) joint venture (JV) with Wai Fong Construction Pte Ltd, a design and construction contract for the proposed Defu station and tunnels, which form a part of Singapore’s 29km Cross Island Line Phase 1 (CRL1) mass rapid transit (MRT) line.

Gamuda said in a statement. “Commencement date for the Defu station and tunnels project is scheduled within the “second quarter of 2022”, while completion date is expected within 2030.”

“The Defu station and tunnel project is expected to contribute positively to the revenue and earnings of Gamuda Group for the financial year ending 31 July 2022,” Gamuda said.
Article in edgeprop.my

MRT is definitely key to economic activities

According to the report, this latest line will be Singapore’s 8th MRT line. Yes, 8th line versus Klang Valley with MRT Putrajaya Line (Line 2) on the way. Why does Singapore build so many MRT Lines anyway? The potential catalysts are huge.

Super briefly. MRT is important to connect people to places. When connectivity happens, then increase in consumption of goods and services will increase; economic activities. When increase in demand happens, then the supply would have to follow and this is where more businesses will start, hiring more people and well, more people would have more salaries too. The cycle continues.

Happy understanding.

Property News Malaysia?
Sign up for daily investment news updates (FREE since Nov 2013 and FOREVER).
 Alternatively, Follow me on
 Telegram here
.

Please LIKE
kopiandproperty.com FB page
 to get daily updates about the property market beyond kopiandproperty.com articles. Else,
follow me on Twitter here.

Next suggested article:
MRT Putrajaya Line Phase 1. Completed but not ready to start

Header Image by
Jason Goh
 from
Pixabay

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


Gamuda: S$755 per sf for Toa Payoh’s residential land tender

When I was in Singapore just a few weekends ago, I went to a new office building and was surprised to learn that it was built by IOI. The office building was a very modern looking and it’s called South Beach. There were no buttons inside the lifts, you merely swipe the access card given by the security and it will bring you to the floor you are SUPPOSED to go. I think these developments would continue to see cooperations from development companies from both Malaysia and Singapore. It’s one way to also increase interest in the project from investors of both countries as well.

Another Malaysian developer, GAMUDA is also in Singapore, bidding for a piece of high-demand residential land in the Toa Payoh Estate. It’s bidding for this together with a few other partners, namely Evia Real Estate (7) Pte Ltd and Maxdin Pte Ltd. In fact it seems that they have put in the highest bid of S$345.86 million (RM962.5 million) and this works out to an average land cost of S$755 per square feet. According to Gamuda’s head of property division, Chow Chee Wah, “It was a very close tender. The top five tenderers’ bid prices are within a close range of four per cent and we are merely one per cent above the second highest bid.”

The tender results are not yet available but if GAMUDA is successful, it would be their first project in Singapore. As this is a private residential unit, the prices are definitely much higher than the usual HDB flats that majority of Singaporeans are staying. Current prices? Some information from Singapore’s leading portal: property guru.com.sg

When we look at the current property market in Singapore, it is showing weakness for luxury condos. As market would not be weak forever, perhaps GAMUDA is well placed to benefit from a recovering market when they launch the property in the near future. Of course, it has to win first. Let’s await the results then.

written on 20 June 2015

Next suggested article:
Losing still selling, money needed, 7% of all transactions

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


Gardens Square by Gamuda Land launching in October 2021.

These days, more people are used to working from home. It’s not just the IT people yeah. This is also one reason why landed properties further away from the city centre continue to have a surge in interest too especially because for the same price of a typical high-rise unit, one could get landed home in a new township development.

It’s worth noting that for new township developments, it could not happen in city centres. There’s just not enough space to do anything beyond just a few blocks of mixed developments in city centres. Thus, township developments would always be out of town. In this particular case, we are peaking about Rawang and it’s Gamuda Gardens by Gamuda Land.

They will be launching a commercial development within Gamuda Gardens called Gardens Square in October 2021.

Article in theedgemarkets.com
  Gamuda Land will be launching the first phase of Gardens Square, comprising 19 double and three-storey shops and 19 office lots in Gamuda Gardens, Rawang in October.

In a press statement, Gamuda reveals that three anchor tenants are in the pipeline, which include an established grocer occupying more than 20,000 sq ft as well as a double-storey drive-through fast food franchise.  Gardens Square covers 6.7 acres (2.71ha) and, once completed, will feature 133 double- and triple-storey shop and office lots.

“The area features a ready catchment population of 340,000 residents within a 15-minute drive. Spending priorities for these households are groceries, essentials and food, and Gardens Square’s tenant mix is specifically tailored for these segments, bringing in fresh retail and F&B (food and beverage) options for the community,” said Gamuda Gardens assistant general manager Wong Siew Lee. Please do refer to the article for the full article:
Article in theedgemarkets.com

Would these further away places attract visitors from city centres?

Let’s just say that if I stay nearby KLCC, I will most probably be visiting the Pavillion. However, if I stay somewhere within 10km away from Gardens Square, then it’s definitely a place to be in some weekends or even weekdays. What will happen is that the migration from outside Klang Valley into Klang Valley will continue to increase. Thus, the population growth will support all these new townships. It’s just a number game.

Happy deciding and if you have interest, google for Gardens Square to know more.

Love news like this and more?
Sign up for daily investment news updates.
 Alternatively, Follow me on
 Telegram here
.

Please LIKE
kopiandproperty.com FB page
 to get daily updates about the property market beyond kopiandproperty.com articles. Else,
follow me on Twitter here.

Sign up for KopiWeekly. (only once per week of property, finance, investment news and more)

Next suggested article:
Overhang property. Too high and thus causing prices to drop?

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


Gateway @ KLIA2 – Opening May 2014

Do you believe shopping can be exciting even when you are in airports? Think Changi Airport, Singapore. I have bought many things in Changi airport and I always feel that every airport should have their shopping modelled just like Singapore’s Changi Airport. Well, KLIA’s not too bad but can be better. Current LCCT shopping? No excitement. Current Subang Airport? Huh? How can that be termed as shopping? It’s more like browsing through a few shops and then settling down for a Starbucks latte. How about Gateway@KLIA2? What’s that? That’s the new shopping destination if you are in KLIA2 come May 2014. The developer is WCT, the same one that gave you Paradigm Mall. Not the best mall in Klang Valley but it meets everything I need for a good shopping experience when I need one just nearby. I hope Gateway@KLIA2 has the same standard?

Dining includes:Alessio Express, Auntie Anne’s, Austin Chase Coffee, Baskin Robbins, Beryl’s Chocolate Kingdom, BMS Organics Be Lohas Healthy Cuisine, Bobby’s Deli, Boost Juice, Bread Story, Burger King, Burgerlicious, Butter Olive Wholesome Pastry House, Canai 15 Café, Causeway Bay, Chef Chow by D’f.i.s.h.

For Shopping, they have the following categories: (refer picture).

Personally, when I am at the airport, there is one shop that I can’t do without, it’s the book shop. I will always buy something, perhaps a book or a magazine but before buying that particular book, I would browse through some other books, flip through some other magazines, read headlines of other newspapers and even look at the Value Buy category. Haha. Yes, that’s the reason why my wife always say I have so many books in my home accumulating dusts. Books are the best investment because people write about the accumulated experience and you can learn from their years within just hours.

The second shop I can’t do without would be fashion, shoes, bags, accessories and occasionally time pieces. I promise myself that if I travel alone, I must buy something for my wife. 🙂  That’s why nearly all her handbags were bought by me and so are majority of her casual T-shirts. 🙂 Ok, I admit, I am a shopaholic but that’s better than doing nothing but playing Facebook games right.

There, Gateway@KLIA2, hope that it’s as good as what the pictures at the website shows and looking forward to it compared to current LCCT where it’s like a sardine can and there’s virtually nowhere for you to just sit down, read a book and sip a cup of coffee.

written on 7 April 2014

Next suggested article:
Melaka Gateway, stay away or buy?

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


GDP forecast stays despite coronavirus. Stimulus can be later if needed.

Malaysia’s GDP growth for 2019 is expected to be 4.7%. This is a good number yeah. For 2020, our Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng had earlier announced that the projection is for 4.8%. This is also considered a very good number but there has been many other predictions by others and the number of 4.8% is still the highest currently. In a talk in early January 2020, I shared the below slide for all the GDP growth predictions.

Predictions as at Jan 2020.

Of course the conclusion for this slide is simple; Malaysia is NOT expected to go into a recession in 2020, not even a technical one. (Technical recession means two consecutive quarters of negative growth). It’s also clear that these predictions were all before the current coronavirus issue which has now affected 20 countries throughout the world. So, will coronavirus be impacting the economic growth of countries and specifically, Malaysia? Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng replied to this question.

Article in edgeprop.my here.
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said that it is too early for the government to revise Malaysia’s GDP growth forecast of 4.8% for 2020. He said, “We need to wait and see. We need to be aware that Thailand welcomes some 11 million tourists from China annually, compared with 2 to 3 million in Malaysia. There is a big difference. So there will be impact [from lower tourist arrivals], but unlike what is faced by Thailand.”

He added, “But if there is an impact, the Cabinet acknowledged that the Ministry of Finance is evaluating and planning to launch economic stimulus package, if needed. But this is still in its early stages.”  As of now, the only sector needing assistance will be the tourism industry which will be severely affected by this current Coronavirus episode.  Please do refer to the full
Article in edgeprop.my here.

I think I have to agree with him. Thailand really do have by far more tourists than Malaysia. In fact, Bangkok is the most visited city in the world, surpassing even London.
Bangkok has more international visitors than London!
 Thus, it’s good for Thailand to immediately revise its GDP forecast. This will help to lessen the impact to their stock market for example if they suddenly have to revise those numbers very much later when they know they are already affected today.

As for coronavirus, I do wish that it should reach its peak soon and then starts to become less serious. There are some experts who said that it should reach its peak by February 2020 and some who said that it may be many more weeks. Either way, predictions seem to point to recovery, only difference would be the duration. I consider this as encouraging too. As for a matter of perspective, please note the Influenza has killed no less than 6,000 people every year in the United States. That’s why an influenza jab is very important. Take care everyone.

Please LIKE
kopiandproperty.com FB page
 or
Sign Up for free
 to get daily updates about the property market. Else,
follow me on Twitter here.

Next suggested article:
If the economy slows, the government has a solution says FM

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


GDP growth of 5.8% for Malaysia. (Guess which year?)

Fitch Ratings is a top 3 international rating agency. So, I think its assessment carries some weight, right? So, when it says something good about GDP growth Malaysia, we should read carefully and just accept lah. If you do not know, Malaysia’s sovereign rating is still within the investment grade category yeah. We receive the same rating from all three international rating agencies which includes Fitch Ratings, Standard & Poors as well as Moody’s. So, let’s read what Fitch Ratings said about us.

Article in nst.com.my
   Fitch Ratings has projected a 5.8% GDP growth for the Malaysian economy in 2021.   Recently, Malaysia launched a RM260 billion economic stimulus to combat COVID-19. This stimulus is expected to add 2.9% to the 2020 GDP growth. Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul said that Malaysia has a healthy financial system, strong domestic institutional investors, adequate buffers and robust policy frameworks developed over the years.

He said Malaysia’s fiscal consolidation will also be continued after having the deficit declining from 6.7% in 2009 to 3.4% in 2019.   He said, “Malaysia continues to maintain a healthy external position with substantial external assets by banks and corporations, a current account surplus and adequate level of international reserves. Malaysia’s foreign currency external assets continue to exceed its foreign currency external liabilities.”  Please do refer to the full article here:
Article in nst.com.my

You want to know what’s the projection for 2020? BNM has announced that if COVID-19 does not get worse here in Malaysia, then there’s a chance that we may hit a positive 0.5% GDP growth for 2020. There’s also a chance that the restarting after MCO may not be smooth enough and this may mean that the growth would be negative 2 percent for 2020. We need to understand that all these predictions would also depend on the world as well.

As a trading nation, if the whole world is still shrouded in COVID-19 pandemic, then our recovery will be slower. I think the RM260 billion stimulus is enough for now but we need more communication on the implementation. How soon could the SMEs get the funds they need? How could they get it if their application has been approved. This lifeline that we are throwing to them (SMEs and employees) would need to reach them sooner and not later. happy understanding.

Please LIKE
kopiandproperty.com FB page
 or
Sign Up for free
 to get daily updates about the property market. Else,
follow me on Twitter here.

Next suggested article:
Our Important SMEs. How we are going to support them

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


GDP growth in 1Q 2021? Just positive 18.3 percent.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) has predicted that Malaysia’s GDP for 2021 will be a positive 6.5 percent. World Bank says Malaysia’s GDP growth will be 6 percent. Our very own bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) says that our GDP growth for 2021 is between 6 – 7.5 percent. All are positive and encouraging predictions. This is a big rebound from negative 5.6 percent GDP growth in 2020.

6 or even 7 percent in GDP growth is however very low compared to this country. It has managed to keep COVID-19 under control and has just hit 18.3 percent in 1Q 2020. Let’s read a bit about them from one of the many media which reported it.

Article in nst.com.my
   China’s economy expanded at its fastest pace on record in 1Q 2021. National Bureau of Statistics spokeswoman Liu Aihua said, “The sharp spike was partly due to “incomparable factors such as the low base figure of last year and increase of working days due to staff staying put during the Lunar New Year” holiday.”

This growth is however slightly below forecasts in an AFP survey of economists. urban unemployment rate has dropped to 5.3 percent.

“The recovery remains uneven, with private consumption lagging given rising unemployment,” HSBC chief China economist Qu Hongbin said in a recent report.

Julian Evans-Pritchard, senior China economist at Capital Economics, said: “We expect quarter-on-quarter growth to remain modest during the rest of this year as the recent boom in construction and exports unwinds, pulling activity back towards trend.” Please do read the full articles with lots of other comments here.
Article in nst.com.my

Yes, economic growth depends on the job market

The reason why the economy has to continue to stay open even with COVID-19 lurking around is because if it does not and businesses fail, then jobs will be lost and soon people without salaries, then the consumption drops and even more businesses will fail and the vicious cycle continues until the economy collapses and a financial crisis caused by COVID-19 happens. This is why HSBC economist mentioned unemployment as a major factor in his assessment in the article above.

Vigilance is needed and everyone must be compelled to follow or just get punished heavily

The mask must be worn at all times and that’s a must. Social distancing is needed and that is a must. It has got nothing, absolutely nothing to do with reasoning of, ‘but I did not see anyone nearby…’ or ‘I only took it down for a few seconds and forgotten about it.’  I have not gone back to my hometown for many months even if I learnt that there are now people giving lame excuses to get police permit to travel interstate. No valid reasons means no valid reasons, period. I really do hope we are as strict as some countries especially the one down south. Take care everyone.

Love news like this and more?
Sign up for daily investment news updates.
 Alternatively, Follow me on
 Telegram here
.

Please LIKE
kopiandproperty.com FB page
 to get daily updates about the property market beyond kopiandproperty.com articles. Else,
follow me on Twitter here.

Sign up for KopiWeekly. (only once per week of property, finance, investment news and more)

Next suggested article:
COVID-19 vaccination will boost the economy. Are we ready?

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


GDP Malaysia 2021: ZERO to 3.9 percent growth

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth is an important sign for the country’s growth. Generally, higher consumption of demand for goods and services meant an expansion in the provision of those goods and services and to supply more, then more jobs will need to be created and this cycle continues. In 2020, Malaysia was affected by the Covid-19 and our economy actually contracted 5.6%.

This meant that there are less demand for goods and services and this meant the supply had to be reduced and yes, unemployment has increased too. What would be happening this year then to the GDP of Malaysia. Specifically GDP growth for 2021?

Fitch Ratings on Malaysia’s GDP

Fitch Ratings said that because of a potential stagnating economy for the rest of 2021, it has forecasted that Malaysia’s GDP growth for 2021 will be zero. It’s earlier prediction was for a 4.9% growth for Malaysia in 2021. Briefly, it is expecting Malaysia to fare much worse versus their earlier prediction which can now be considered as too bullish?

Do note that Fitch Ratings have a lot of data at their disposal, thus their prediction is likely to be based on those numbers and then they do some conclusions and thus came to their prediction of zero GDP growth for Malaysia in 2021.
Article for reference in malaymail.com is here.

MARC on Malaysia’s GDP

The Malaysian Rating Corporation Bhd (MARC) has maintained its forecast for Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 3.9 per cent for the full year 2021. It foresees a slight contraction of GDP in the third quarter (Q3) of 2021 because of the intermittent lockdowns.
Please do read the full article in nst.com.my here for their prediction.

Can Q3 2021 be positive then?

Based on MARC’s prediction, Q3 2021 is likely to be a contraction. I wonder what IF the economy is nearly fully reopened within Q3 of 2021, say for full month of September, there’s a chance we will not have a contraction? We can only see since 20th August 2021 which is today, all dine-ins are allowed.

As reported in many Facebook postings (I mean my own FB page), some restaurants have decided not to allow dine-in yet. Some people say that they still prefer to take-away versus dine-in. However, this is still in August. We will see what happens generally in September. Anyway, just need to remember this is what our DG Noor Hisham said yeah. Image below.

What’s kopiandproperty.com prediction then?

I have no access to any special data. However, most predictions are based on… predictions yeah. So, with access to continuous reading and the feeling on the ground, especially from my friends who are business owners, friends who are RENS, friends who are working fulltime and close friends too, I shall predict a GDP growth of a positive 3.918% growth then.

Why must it be 4 numbers? Erm… I will leave it to you to think why. Remember… this is just a prediction. Do not take it too seriously yeah. Happy understanding that predictions are not going to stop us from doing more, doing better and keep moving.

Love news like this and more?
Sign up for daily investment news updates.
 Alternatively, Follow me on
 Telegram here
.

Please LIKE
kopiandproperty.com FB page
 to get daily updates about the property market beyond kopiandproperty.com articles. Else,
follow me on Twitter here.

Sign up for KopiWeekly. (only once per week of property, finance, investment news and more)

Next suggested article:
Country with the highest GDP per capita? Is our own income higher?

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


GDP Malaysia 2021: One says 6 percent. The other says 5.6 – 6.7 percent. Who are they?

GDP Malaysia in 2020 was a contraction. What’s GDP Malaysia 2021? Here are some predictions / forecasts. Nope, of course it’s not by kopiandproperty.com We are just a tiny blog without a proper research team. Haha. Do read on for the two huge organisations yeah.

Article in theedgemarkets.com
 The World Bank Group says Malaysia’s economy is expected to return to positive growth this year, along with other economies globally on sustained progress in vaccine roll-outs that will boost consumption worldwide.

It said, “We are projecting a global growth of 4% this year. As for Malaysia, we project economic growth this year to range between 5.6% and 6.7%.” Do read the full article here:
Article in theedgemarkets.com

Some notes?  It says that Malaysia’s economy is expected to be back to positive growth and this is along with other economies globally. Anyway, it’s ONLY projecting a global growth of 4% while for Malaysia, it is projecting between 5.6 – 6.7 percent. So, yes, do believe that we are going to grow faster than most countries in the world even though all are affected by COVID-19 pandemic yeah.

Photo by Pixabay on
Pexels.com

Article in malaymail.com
.
 Moody’s Investors Service expects Malaysia’s real gross domestic product (GDP) growth to rebound by six per cent in 2021. It also expects the Malaysian economy to grow strongly by an average of five to 5.5 per cent over 2022-2023. This is higher than the median of 3.4 per cent over the same period for similarly rated peers.

It also said that Malaysia’s rankings for infrastructure quality, higher education and training, labour and product market efficiency, and technology adoption based on international surveys was the highest among regional emerging market peers. Do refer to the full article here:
Article in malaymail.com

Some notes? To the people who kept condemning our higher education system, remember to write to them and condemn their views as inaccurate yeah. Anyway, one major reason why R&D centres will consider to locate their centre here in Malaysia is because we have the right manpower (because we have so many of other high-tech companies already here for many many many years) but if it is just a manufacturing concern, it will be way better to be based in a country whose population dwarfs Malaysia yeah. Business sense prevails.

Property market must NOT grow if the economy is now growing. Else, we are looking at a potential collapse due to speculative activities. However, when the economy is growing, more jobs are created and of course more people could afford to buy homes. When this happen, demand for homes go up and prices inch upwards. This is just common business sense. Hopefully everyone agrees with me. Else, do stop buying property yeah. Without support from economy, property market is unlikely to last very long. Happy investing.

Love news like this and more?
Sign up for daily investment news updates.

Please LIKE
kopiandproperty.com FB page
 to get daily updates about the property market beyond kopiandproperty.com articles. Else,
follow me on Twitter here.

Sign up for KopiWeekly. (only once per week of property, finance, investment news and more)

Next suggested article:
Property market depends on the economy. Agree?

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


Malaysia Q1 2016 GDP, slowest since 2009

Malaysia’s Q1 GDP
growth
 is at 4.2 percent. Note the word “growth.” This is the slowest ever since the 2009. Private-sector spending grew 5.1 percent. Gross exports increased by 1 percent. Many other key economic sectors slowed too. According to Bank Negara Malaysia new governor, Muhammad Ibrahim, Malaysia would still achieve its forecast growth of between 4% and 4.5% in 2016. Economic activity would pick up in the second half of the year. Recently, Fitch Ratings also said that 1MDB’s current default issue would not impact the government’s economic policymaking power. In brief, it’s still okay.

Since we already know what’s up with Malaysia, how about taking a look at some selected countries around the world, based on IMF’s latest projections? The world’s largest economy United States and all other ADVANCED economies. Oh yeah, now I remember, someone did mention before that these are all advanced nations, thus their growth rate has to be slower than all the emerging economies, including Malaysia. Well, IMF predicted South East Asian nations to grow at an average of 4.8 percent. These are the few countries within the South East Asian grouping. (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam.)  In other words, as long as all these neighbouring nations can somehow support one another, I guess we should do just fine.

Perhaps the only issue is China, which should only be growing at 6.1 percent for 2016. I do hope the Chinese government would be able to restructure its economy so that growth would be strong again in a few years’ time. IMF in a latest prediction said the world’s average growth would be 3.4 percent. Closer to home, our dear Singapore is predicted to grow at 1.8 percent. I personally see all these as still positive. What’s most important for us as employees would be to save and invest instead of spend and lose. With slow numbers throughout the world, any sudden change in sentiments in some of the more advanced nations would quickly affect everyone else. Happy reading.

written on 13 May 2016 (Yes, it’s another calm May 13 day for Malaysia)

next suggested article:
IMF’s Lagarde: 2016 will be disappointing

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


GDP Malaysia for Q1 2020? Still POSITIVE! What about Q2? What about 2021?

Yes, this has been officially announced, so it’s not a forecast or an estimate. GDP for Malaysia in Q1 2020 is a GROWTH. It’s a positive 0.7% for Q1 2020 GDP growth. We could see from the chart provided by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) showing that the consumption  from the private sector was positive but many businesses have now stopped investing in an uncertain market.  This is the same for most people and with everyone staying at home, the spending has gone down tremendously too. Asa trading nation, inability to export meant that this is also a negative number because most countries are under full or partial lockdown.

Source: Bank Negara Malaysia

Source: Bank Negara Malaysia

BNM also said that the economic stimulus measures implemented by the Government will
provide sizeable assistance to households and businesses. BNM has also helped via the reductions in the OPR and SRR, deferment of loan and financing repayments for a period of six
months for individual and SME borrowers, daily market operations to ensure ample liquidity, and enhancements to existing financing facilities under BNM’s Fund for SMEs.

The Malaysian economy is expected to gradually pick up in 2H 2020.  However it is expected that the Malaysian economy will contract in Q2 2020. The sizable fiscal, monetary and financial measures and progress in transport-related public infrastructure projects will provide further support to growth in 2H 2020. In line with the projected improvement in global growth,
the Malaysian economy is expected to register a positive recovery in 2021.

Hopefully all will be well. As for now, please stay safe and continue to apply social distancing.

Please LIKE
kopiandproperty.com FB page
 or
Sign Up for free
 to get daily updates about the property market. Else,
follow me on Twitter here.

Next suggested article:
WHy do they say cut rates will help the economy

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...


Prediction on GDP growth for Malaysia in 2020?

Too many people asked me if Malaysia’s economy is in trouble. Actually, it’s very tough to answer with a one-line question. What’s the meaning of ‘in trouble?’ Recession? Even during a recession, some sectors remain fine. The many closures by some supermarkets? Well, there’s also lots of opening of supermarkets too… Anyway, let’s look at just some predictions of GDP growth of Malaysia for 2020. Yeah, that’s just 1 month plus away.

4.1% for 2020 (click to read full article).
HSBC Malaysia chief executive officer Stuart Milne said, “We have a positive business environment here. We forecast about 4.1 per cent of Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP) for 2020.”  He added, “The 2020 Budget is very sensible and the (country’s) debt rating is also important to access capital market, to stimulate growth in the local economy.”

4.3% for 2020 (click to read full article).
 RHB Investment Bank Bhd has maintained its gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecast for Malaysia at 4.3% for 2020 and 4.5% for 2019 as it continues to see downside risks arising from the protracted global trade.

4.5% for 2020 (click to read full article).

Fitch Solutions Macro Research (FSMR) forecasted that the Malaysia’s economic growth is likely to dip to 4.5 per cent for 2020 due to the prolonged effects of a slow global economy. It added that for next year, private spending — which had been the main economic driver — will likely decrease as consumers feel the pinch of fuel subsidies being rolled back.

4.6% for 2020. (click to read full article)
The World Bank has trimmed its forecast for Malaysia’s 2019 economic growth to 4.6% from 4.7% earlier, due to weaker-than-expected investment and export activity in the first quarter.  World Bank Group lead economist Richard Record said it is maintaining its forecast of 4.6% for 2020.

4.8% for 2020. (click here to read full article).
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said the Malaysian economy is expected to grow at a slightly faster pace of 4.8% in 2020 from 4.7% in 2019. “Malaysia’s sound banking system and well-developed capital markets are more than capable of providing sufficient liquidity for various economic activities.”

It’s very clear from all the forecasts. Our Malaysian GDP in 2020 will not be in a recession yeah. It’s worth noting though that all these are forecasts based on normal circumstances. It does not mean that the ONE trade war between the largest and second largest economy will not affect all the countries in the world.

kopiandproperty.com prediction? No idea. Just keep improving in whatever we do to earn more money to provide for the family and the loved ones. Nothing is certain but we can certainly prepare for it proactively instead of waiting for it to happen and reacting to it, usually negatively. If we think bad times are coming, then prepare cash to grab all the opportunities. If we think good times are coming, then saving and investing now may be key. Till then, happy reading. Will continue updating as and when things happen.

Please LIKE
kopiandproperty.com FB page
 or
Sign Up for free
 to get daily updates about the property market. Else,
follow me on Twitter here.

Next suggested article:
Diversification is key for property investment. Not just where we stay

Share this:
Tweet
Telegram
WhatsApp
Like this:
Like

Loading...