Thursday 30 October 2014

Welton launches RM1b GDV serviced apartments venture

KUALA LUMPURP: Welton Development Sdn Bhd has launched a 1,134-unit serviced apartments project in Iskandar Malaysia with an estimated gross development value (GDV) of RM1 billion.

The developer has his eyes on the bullish residential and employment market in the rapidly emerging economic zone.

The freehold residences are scheduled for completion by the second quarter of 2017.

In a statement, Welton Development said the project,Green Haven, would be undertaken on a 3.14 hectare piece of land and has a rainforest theme.

Green Haven is being touted as a beautiful, nature-inspired abode in the pulse of Iskandar Malaysia and one that overlooks Singapore's northernmost skyline, in a bid to woo investors.

Green Haven incorporates personalised facilities such as a mini theatre, library, cafe, gourmet kitchen, and an about 540-metre jogging track.

A sky bridge at the 30th storey, includes an observation desk that offers breathtaking, panoramic views across the straits.

"The market demand and potential for quality residence remains strong in Iskandar. Green Haven's appeal lies in its green and smart elements that suit the housing and lifestyle preferences of both single working professionals and homeowners," the statement said.-- Bernama


Source: https://my.news.yahoo.com/welton-launches-rm1b-gdv-serviced-083753145.html

Sunday 26 October 2014

Angry Birds Park to open Friday in JB

JOHOR BARU - South-east Asia's first indoor Angry Birds Activity Park will be opened to the public on Oct 31.

Fans of the animated bird game will be delighted to find fun-packed games, activities and entertainment such as the Lazer Bird Shoot, Red Bird Goal, Piggy Shooting Gallery and Captain Black Bird Ship at the park located within the Komtar JBCC shopping mall here.

At the media preview session here on Sunday, Damansara Asset Sdn Bhd executive director Yusaini Sidek said the park was a joint venture with the founder of the bird game Finland-based Rovio Entertainment Ltd.

"Fans in Malaysia and neighbouring countries can now immerse themselves in the world of Angry Birds through fun and interactive physical and educational activities," he said.

Tickets are priced at RM75 per entry but for MyKad or MyKid holders, the tickets are priced at RM60. A variety of tickets from a single pass, family passes to unlimited annual passes are available.

The park is located at the mall's third floor and will be opened from 10am to 10pm daily. Children below 10 years old must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Angry Bird Park is the third theme park to be open after Legoland theme park and Hello Kitty theme park at Nusajaya.



Source: http://news.asiaone.com/news/travel/angry-birds-park-open-friday-jb

Thursday 23 October 2014

Economists bullish on impact of Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR rail project

KUALA LUMPUR: The RM38.4 billion Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail project should not be seen only as a transportation upgrade but one should also observe the domino effect it would have on both Malaysia and its neighbour.

Economic analyst Hoo Ke Ping said the project, once completed, would benefit both countries and “we would enter a new phase of tourism by having more foreign tourists coming into Malaysia.

“Although the project is concentrated mainly in Johor, neighbouring states, such as Malacca, Negri Sembilan and Kuala Lumpur, would also benefit from it,” he told Business Times yesterday.

“We could expect an increase in property growth as well as other sectors as the result of the rail construction.”

Hoo also dismissed the notion that more Malaysians would be working in Singapore once the project was completed.

“I think quite the opposite will happen. More Singaporeans would be coming over to Malaysia for obvious reasons, such as shopping and a lower currency exchange rate.

“Singapore had already imposed a ruling that businesses could only employ foreigners for jobs offering salaries of more than US$12,000 (RM39,000). So, the speculation is baseless.”

On a related matter, Hoo said with the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore airline route being one of the most profitable course, local carriers should start mulling over other route possibilities.

“Maybe local airline companies, such as Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia, should strategise to find replaceable routes that could bring in as much profit as the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore route.”

An economist, who wished to remain anonymous, said the impact of such a project would be good in terms of connectivity between Singapore, a developed economy, and Malaysia, a fast developing economy, which, in turn, would spur growth in both countries.

“Singapore is a financial epicentre, and since Malaysia aspires to be an Islamic financial hub, the improved connectivity should ease networking and the allocation of resources between the two countries.

“The multiple stops in the rail link would also accelerate local businesses at nearby areas.”


Source: http://www.nst.com.my/node/45270

Monday 20 October 2014

Rehda: GST will push up property prices by 2.6%

PETALING JAYA: Home prices will rise by about 2.6% once the goods and services tax (GST) comes into play, said the Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (Rehda).

The chairman of the association’s task force on accounting and taxation, Datuk Ng Seing Liong, said that the calculation was based on its consultations with industry experts and member developers.

Rehda’s 2.6% estimate differs from that of the Customs Department, which expects the GST to have an impact of between 0.5% and 2% on house prices, assuming there’s no change in supply and demand conditions.

Ng said the association was in full support of the GST and concurred with Customs GST director Datuk Subromaniam Tholasy, who had said that land did not incur the 6% GST rate.

However, he said land was by no means the largest cost component in property development.

“As our calculation clearly spells out, the construction cost, which constitutes 46% of the total development, is not only the largest component but also the component which will attract the GST of 6%,” he said in a letter to StarBiz.

He said the GST on this component would inevitably lead to an increase in house prices.

Appending calculations for a housing unit originally priced at RM400,000, Ng said the price post-GST would be around RM410,560.

Under the 46% construction component, costs were broken down into non-service taxable and service taxable segments, representing 44%, or RM176,000, and 2%, or RM8,000, respectively.

Under the non-service taxable segment comes items such as cement/concrete, steel, bricks and sand, while the service taxable segment includes tiles and fittings/sanitary. Under the existing sales and service tax, no tax is imposed on the non-service taxable category, while the service taxable category has a tax of up to 10% imposed on it.

Post-GST, Rehda’s calculations showed that the non-service taxable cost had gone up to RM186,560, while the service taxable cost remained at RM8,000.

It maintained the same cost estimates for other items, including land (15% or RM60,000), infrastructure and pre-development works (10% or RM40,000), professional fees and marketing costs (6% or RM24,000), finance costs (6% or RM24,000) and profit (17% or RM68,000).

Ng said Rehda also disagreed with Subromaniam, who had said that developers could easily absorb cost increases as their margins were around 30%.

He said it was currently impossible for developers to earn up to a 30% profit, as most development costs were on the rise, along with various capital contributions and charges imposed on developers.

“On average, as tabulated in the calculation, developers, most of which are public-listed companies, are only making around 17% at best,” he said.

However, Ng said it was still too early to determine the actual house price increases post-GST, as Rehda was still in discussions with the Government and there appeared to be many more issues to be ironed out.


Source: http://www.thestar.com.my

Saturday 18 October 2014

Iskandar Malaysia expects 'big' investment soon, says Mohamed Khaled Nordin

JOHOR BARU, Oct 18 — Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Iskandar Malaysia is expected to receive another ‘big’ investment, which will continue to strengthen the region’s image as an attractive investment destination in the country.

Mohamed Khaled however declined to comment further on the investment.

“We have to wait for the announcement of the big investment as it is the federal government’s project. I expect the announcement will be made soon,” he told reporters today.

Mohamed Khaled who is also Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) joint Chairman said this after launching the Iskandar Malaysia Conference here.

He said the big investment which is now at Finance Ministry level would have spillover effects as it would also attract investments from other supporting companies to Iskandar Malaysia.

He said with the inflows of local and foreign investment, Iskandar Malaysia is expected to create 1.5 million high-income jobs in 2025.

The state government he said would ensure that the investments received by Iskandar Malaysia would be beneficial to the local residents in line with the government’s People’s Economy agenda.

Two days ago, Mohamed Khaled in a statement said Iskandar Malaysia had secured investments worth RM10 billion in the third quarter of this year, bringing the total cumulative committed investments since its inception in 2006 until September 30 this year to RM156.35 billion. — Bernama


Source: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/iskandar-malaysia-expects-big-investment-soon-says-mohamed-khaled-nordin

Thursday 16 October 2014

EcoWorld keen to buy 30% stake in real estate SPAC

KUALA LUMPUR: EcoWorld Development Group Bhd has expressed interest to subscribe to a 30 per cent stake worth RM562.5 million in Eco World International Bhd, a real-estate special purpose acquisition company.

In a filing to Bursa Malaysia, EcoWorld said the proposed subscription is the most appropriate means for EcoWorld to venture overseas in a significant manner without over-leveraging on the company’s financial resources.

EcoWorld has decided that it will not deliberate further nor accept the offer to acquire 0.47ha at 76-82 & 100 Church Street, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia, as announced months earlier.

Eco World International’s proposal to undertake a listing and quotation for its securities on the Main Market as a SPAC was announced earlier yesterday in a separate announcement.

Over the last several months, EcoWorld has announced a series of acquisitions and corporate exercises to expand its land bank and scale up business operations in three key regions in Malaysia, namely the Klang Valley, Iskandar Malaysia, Johor and Penang.

The recent success of its launches in the Klang Valley (EcoSky, EcoMajestic) and Iskandar Malaysia (EcoBotanic, EcoSpring, EcoSummer and Eco Business Park 1) have further reinforced EcoWorld’s growing brand presence in Malaysia.

With a strong foundation now laid as a developer of townships and green business parks, the board is in the midst of evaluating several proposals for EcoWorld to venture into, it said.

“This includes expanding into matured overseas markets, such as Australia and the United Kingdom,” EcoWorld said.

The proposed subscription will enable EcoWorld to venture overseas via investing in a property SPAC with a management team that has a proven track record in identifying, acquiring and implementing overseas projects.


Source: https://my.news.yahoo.com/ecoworld-keen-buy-30pc-stake-152841839.html

Wednesday 15 October 2014

Brisk sales for Iskandar condo Aquaint Danga Residensi

PETALING JAYA: In spite of recent analyst reports suggesting a softening of the Iskandar Malaysia property market, nearly 80% of two blocks of luxury new launch condo in Aquaint Danga Residensi were sold to house buyer at its official launch over the weekend.

Aquaint is a RM900mil development by Para Impiana Sdn Bhd, a joint venture between Rampai Fokus Sdn Bhd and its two Singaporean partners – Imperial Marina Pte Ltd and Skyfront Holdings.

Rampai Fokus is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Iskandar Waterfront Holdings (IWH).

The iskandar project development comprises four high-rise towers spread over a 1.6-ha prime waterfront site facing the Straits of Johor.

The new launch strong demand has been surprising to watchers in the Iskandar property market because of the recent spate of lacklustre sales and delayed property launches by developers within the Flagship A zone at Iskandar Malaysia.

On top of that, the luxury new launch condo units are priced about 30% higher than similar high-end apartment units launched by China’s Country Garden and Greenland Group, and all three projects are located adjacently along the Danga Bay waterfront.

Phase 1 site clearing works on Aquaint’s first two tower blocks, which have a gross development value of RM382mil, have begun and the units are slated for occupation by late 2018.

“Singapore luxury living standards at local prices means fantastic price savings for purchasers and investors,” IWH group executive director Lim Chen Herng said in a statement.

Selling prices range between RM900 and RM1,200 per sq ft.

The completed Aquaint development will comprise four luxury tower blocks with a total of 818 units with bubble lifts, integrated shops, high-end food and beverage outlets as well as extensively landscaped parks linked to an 8-km boardwalk along the Danga Bay waterfront.

Singapore co-owner of Aquaint, Tan Yang Poh, said the development was comparable to some of the best in luxury condominium projects in Singapore.

“But you cannot beat this in terms of cost savings and connectivity, especially with the upcoming mass rapid transit extension to Johor Bahru from Singapore,” she said.


Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/

Sunday 12 October 2014

新加坡-吉隆坡高速铁路车站位置

马来西亚初步圈定境内5个新加坡-吉隆坡高速铁路车站位置。
马国交通部长廖中莱接受《星洲日报》访问时透露,这些车站分别位于吉隆坡、布城、芙蓉、峇都巴辖和柔佛努沙再也。他预计,2015年可完成招标工作。
马国政府希望能在2020年之前,完成新隆高铁工程。
根据马国陆路公共交通委员会7月公布的详情,新隆高铁往返两地之间的实际车程估计为90分钟。如果把候车、转车、通关等时间计算在内,则需要两个半小时,比开车、搭乘快车或飞机所需的4到5个小时快将近一倍。预计,高铁的票价将同廉价航班的相似。



Source: http://www.channel8news.sg/mobile8/world/20141009-sg-sgkl/1405208.html

Saturday 11 October 2014

2015年财政预算案

算案重点概要

2015年消税到来,首相兼政部长纳吉在“双十”(周五)提呈2015年算案,引民生消,也影响国家经济,未来一年是人民生活是阳光普照,是阴霾罩,全看今日。

(吉隆坡10日)首相兼政部拿督斯里今日提呈2015年算案,主题为“加速成,确保定及人民繁荣”。

2015年算案重点概要:


政府把原先电费税的首200位提高到首300位,表示将有70%的家庭用无需交消税。

吉宣布豁免消税物品名RON95汽油、柴油和液化石油气(LPG)都会豁免消税;列入消价格指数的当中,有多达56%或532物品将会降价高达4.1%,包括了阅读物品、物、器、纺织品、肉蛋、食油等。

施后,售税与服税将被除,这让政府流失了138亿令吉税收,意味着政府只会56亿令吉收入。

倪可敏推特:国政府预计将从明年4月开始施的税中236亿令吉税收,届百物腾涨

2015年落税,政府估收入达232亿令吉,其中有些物品将得豁免,豁免金38亿令吉。

所得税

资户头平台的投,政府将建个人投者,他在合格投得盈利,将连续3年得政府予豁免个人所得税。

政府建将癌症、病和心病的医药费可扣税的数,从5000令吉提高至6000令吉。这项扣税不只是税人本身,也包括伴和孩子。

公司所得税税率明年将削减1至2%,企所得税2016年削减1%,至24%。

配合消税的施,政府宣布个人所得税税率1至3%,30万名税人将无需再税。

政府将8000万令吉与5000万别拨5000万和3000万令吉予小和小生意人

援助金

援助金提高,月入3000令吉以下家庭,从今年的650令吉增至明年的950令吉。将分三次派1月和5月派300令吉,以及9月派350令吉。

月入介入3000令吉至4000令吉的家庭,450令吉增至750令吉,同分三次派,前两次200令吉,最后一次是350令吉。

月收不超2000令吉的21以上的个人,350令吉一个大援助金,比去年多50令吉,预计明年初派

房屋

首次屋者也将继续获50%印花豁免,屋价从40万令吉提高至50万令吉,此项优惠将一直行到2016年12月31日。

政府将继续房屋划(PR1MA),并13亿令吉8万间经济屋,屋者收入限将从8000令吉提升至1万令吉。此外,政府也提供先租后配套,无法款的人士也能“居者有其屋”。

另外,国家房屋局也将6亿4400万令吉2万6000人民屋。

政府将与国民行、公金局和大再抵押机构合作,立青年房屋划,以助年屋。条件介于25至40的年,月薪不可超1万令吉,第一次屋,政府将提供不50万令吉的款,款最高年限是35年。

教育

12亿令吉推教育,私人界参与双重扣税。

提高所有半津学校每月水电费的津,即从原有的每月2000令吉提高至每月5000令吉。
了安全及学习环展用途,政府将8亿令吉各源流学校,其中获拨5000万令吉,国民型中学2500万令吉,所有政府学校免电费,而国民型学校每月最高可5000令吉的水电费,此前是2000令吉。

政府将继续马书划,130万学生将250令吉的券,总额3亿2500万令吉。此外,了减中小学生皆可100令吉的援金,共540万名学生受惠,总额5亿4000万令吉。

政府鼓励高等教育基金(PTPTN)款者偿还债务,将为连续12个月偿还债务者提供10%的回扣,直到2015年12月31日。而在2015年3月31日之前一次过偿还所有债务的人,可享20%折扣。

足我国于2020年需要至少46%技职资工的需求,政府明年将12亿令吉推教育展。30亿拨款充作政府学金,放眼2023年培养6万名博士。560亿提升学校表师专业1000万令吉推广信托学校。

公共基建

政府将居住在吉隆坡外,却在首都工作的人士提供川流城市巴士服,乘搭者将30%车费折扣。巴士将首先川行三个路线,即至吉隆坡,巴生至吉隆坡,以及芙蓉至吉隆坡。

2015年政府将落基建工程,包括了53亿令吉的新街淡江大道(SUKE)、50亿令吉的西海岸大道、42亿令吉的白沙莎阿南大道(DASH)、1亿5000万令吉提升海岸火车铁划、230亿令吉的捷运第二条路线计划(士拉央至布城),以及90亿令吉的3路线计划。

家庭及社会

政府将提供22亿令吉给妇女、家庭及社会展部,包括了提供12亿令吉贫穷家庭、儿童、乐龄人士和残疾人士。

有工作残疾人士的援助金从300令吉增至350令吉,无残疾人士的援金150令吉增至200令吉,共耗6600万令吉,惠及国内11万名残疾人士。

每位残疾子女的所得税豁免总额5000令吉增至6000令吉。

自身、配偶、子女或父母购买残疾用途器材的税豁免总额,从5000令吉增至6000令吉
社会展部的63家机构的8700家住,每日膳食从8令吉增至16令吉。

务员

务员有能力购买房屋,政府宣布从明年1月1日开始,公务员可申的房从之前的最高45万令吉及最低8万令吉,提高至最高60万令吉及最低12万令吉。

务员半个月或至少500令吉的花并将于2015年1月派

退休公务员得特援助金250令吉。

了避免受到假的束,政府将于明年1月1日起,改善女公务员的照孩子假期的福利,福利达一年,并涉及有子、养子及残障孩童的女公务员

吉建提高国会议员,将得与Jusa C务员的薪金;而上议员则得介于54Jusa C的薪金,此外政府将展延检讨政府内的薪金,包括正副首相和正副部

政府准5亿令吉款,分修及保养人、警察、教生人的宿舍,另外1亿500万令吉予城市和、房屋与地方政府部,以修复126个地点的政府房屋。

高速宽频

高速宽频HSBB)划将继续在那些经济影响力大的地区展开,包括各州首府,以及国内的各大城市。未来3年将花27亿令吉建造1000座新的电讯塔,以及铺设海底电缆


政府将3000万令吉推行防骨痛划,包括了社会醒购买预防骨痛症器材如Re-agen、超低容量法(Ultra low volume)、水雾喷射器(mist blower)。

另外,政府也会向私人所免多达5万5000个骨痛检测试剂盒。

政府将233亿令吉,行照人民的生和健康系列划,以及在全国各地20间卫诊疗所和4牙科诊疗所。此外,政府将建立另外30一个大马诊疗所。

农业渔业

了加食品供应链民、畜牧者及民增加收入,政府将60亿农业基工部落4措施。

第一措施是从明年起至2017年,政府将在数个特定地点,开65座民市集及50座市集,些市集是每天运作。

第二措施是推行以拍方式出售具素蔬菜活,此活每周在全国85个特定的农业销售局(FAMA)商业营运中心及民市集行。

第三措施是加重新种植果树计划,如榴、山竹、冷塞果及毛丹,以及化“一起务农计划”(Program Jom Bertani)。

第四措施是提供1亿令吉款予组织局,供其会,以提高生力及市场销

政府将1亿令吉款,作在云冰、峇当巴、哥打毛律及北根的农业发展区。

来西橡胶局将1亿令吉,在园丘推行价格管机制,以免小园主全球橡胶市价格低于最低价格的候面对亏损

来西橡胶局也将向64个小园主合作社提供640万令吉款,作转资金,以直接向全国44万2000名小园主购买橡胶。

政府将继续提供油棕小园主掖予新的种植及翻种划,涉及4100万令吉款。
豁免棕油出口的措施将延至今年12月。

A区民的生活津,将从每月200令吉提高至300令吉。B区及C区的生活津贴则提高至每月50令吉。

政府6000万令吉款,以提升水养殖,如在排养、蛤及蚝,以将民的收入多元化,民在雨季收入受影响。

政府也2700万令吉款,以在船安装“自”,以增加渔获、根据捕船位置,及减少运成本。

2亿5000万令吉予民房屋特别计划,及使村更完善。

国家青年

3亿2千万令吉推行国家青年划,包括了重新检讨国民服务计划。

过领袖同伴划、国会青年和杰出青年奖项来培养青年的领导能力。

立青年领导学院。

一个大青年体和1千万令吉MyCorp来鼓励青年参与志愿划。

MaGIC,中小型企业银行与农业银行和立网络资源中心以培养青年的企家才能。
推行青年农业创业计划,目是达到每月收入超5000令吉。

国家青年高等技学院的划、电脑程式训练营和教育表管理和传递单位来提升青年的能力和技能。

体育

我国体育国,政府将推出体育国蓝图1亿3000万令吉落措施。些措施包括通过马来西人才确认计划,从小学开始栽培未来体育人才、加足球、脚、羽球、藤球、游泳及田径6体育目的表水平及加健康来西FitMalaysia)划。

每年11月首个星期六列国家体育日,涉及公共、私人域及人民。

其他

第十一大马计划即将在2015年5月展开,并采用新方,名“国民展策略”。
2015年政府将出高达2739亿令吉。当中的2234亿令吉将用于行政开2014年算微增1.1%,505亿令吉展开

政府将人民建立一个燃油津的新放机制,以确保津能准确地群,这项新机制将在近期内宣布。

消部增20人民商店。

股不给脸以跌挂收迎接2015算案,富市跌20点1808.88点。

我国放眼在2015年吸引2940万名人次的外国游客,890亿令吉的收入。政府将通旅游及文化部,3亿1600万令吉行各种活

了加沙巴海岸或沙巴部安全区的保安,沙巴部安全指区将6亿6000万令吉款。

能汽kenderaan elektrik)制造,政府将通中小型企业银行提供7000万令吉的续动力基金款。

政府将在来西亚进出口行下成立大保障及赔偿部,300吨以下的船只提供合理保

了解决无收益水问题,政府将1亿1200万令吉,作为设立漏水控制区、定漏水及修爆裂水管工作。

政府将推出国家水源蓝图,以确保全国水供期持蓝图涵盖包括整体上的河流管理、建及改善水站。

政府将13亿令吉,通科学、工及革新部5项计划,包括在5年内将360种革新品商化。

政府批准增加1万1757个警空缺,以及14个警区及警局,同增加1000个警察巡摩托。

了提高国家防及公共安全水平,政府将177亿令吉予我国武装部,以及91亿令吉予大皇家警

3年3000万令吉在布城立全球第二大的可兰经印刷中心,预计一年能印刷一百万册可兰经以在全球派

吉指出,我国土著在企界的股目前实际只有10%,并未达到30%目,国家股公司将6亿令吉以提高土著在私人公司和官公司的股


政府将20亿令吉人民信托基金(MARA)助土著学生升学,以培养土著人力源。