Malaysia's 13th General Election Tell-tale signs, by June or next year?

Tell-tale signs that polls are getting close

Sunday Star, PETALING JAYA: So when will the next general election be held?

Very soon, judging by developments in the last few days.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced the halving of toll between Kajang and Kuala Lumpur effective yesterday, just months after the Prime Minister abolished it altogether for the Cheras-Petaling Jaya expressway.

On Tuesday, amid news of growth, it was disclosed that investors have pledged RM9bil in projects in the first two months of the year in the ECER the East Coast Economic Region comprising Johor, Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan.

Now, the Government is coming to the rescue of commuters in Kelantan with an injection of RM16.1mil to keep bus services in the PAS-controlled state afloat.

This comes on top of ongoing aid programmes, including giving RM500 to families earning less than RM3,000 and RM100 to schoolchildren all of which seems to indicate that the polls could be just around the corner.

A June window period
ON THE BEAT By WONG CHUN WAI

June has suddenly become the favourite month in the guessing game of when the next general election would be called.

There are two key issues that need to be resolved before the elections can be called. They include the Public Service New Remuneration Scheme (SBPA) involving 1.4 million government servants, who form the basis of the government votes.

Last week, Tan Sri Muyhiddin Yassin said the scheme issue was expected to be resolved by next month, adding that considerable progress had been made so far by the special committee to review the scheme.

“We should wait for the right moment (for it to be announced),” he said after a special meeting with personnel from the public service at Stadium Negara.

The Prime Minister had ordered a review of the scheme after criticism from government servants that it was lopsided and only benefited top civil servants.

There had been reports that under the proposed SBPA, certain categories of senior officers would enjoy a salary increase of at least 50%, which worked out to an average of RM5,000 per month.

The top government officers in the premier grades would get their salaries adjusted by between RM30,000 and RM60,000 a month, which understandably caused much unhappiness among the rank and file.

The quick intervention of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to put the scheme on hold has been well received by the civil service with the sentiment that he had put a stop to what many felt was grave injustice. Much progress has since been made to end this impasse.

Muhyiddin’s announcement is pertinent as it gave an indication of how the issue has been resolved.

Another key issue is the proposed listing of Felda Global Ventures Holdings (FGVH), which Felda group chairman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad said had received the support of its 112,000-odd settlers.

Last week, he gave an assurance that the settlers would retain full ownership of their land and benefit directly from any potential revenue realised from the listing exercise. He also said the settlers’ holdings in Koperasi Permodalan Felda (KPF) would be untouched.

The Felda settlers’ interest would be directly protected by a special purpose vehicle (SPV) and any potential proceeds resulting from the proposed listing would not be channelled through KPF, but through the SPV, he added.

KPF has about 220,000 members, 112,635 of them settlers. The rest are Felda employees and the children of settlers.

There has been talk that FGVH’s market capitalisation could reach as high as RM21bil upon listing, with many of the Felda settlers looking forward to the plans which had received huge coverage in the Bahasa Malaysia dailies.

The civil service and the Felda settlers in the rural constituencies have long been a backbone of the ruling Barisan Nasional and these two concerns obviously needed to be addressed before any elections can be called.

There is another issue that needs closure – the National Feedlot Corporation controversy, which has dogged the headlines. Investigations are being carried out by the police and the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission.

If elections are not called by June, then it is unlikely to take place until next year. Fasting starts at the end of July, with Hari Raya falling in the third week of August while the Haj season begins in September and ends in November.

The Dewan Rakyat is set to begin its 20-day meeting from March 12. This will be followed by a second meeting from June 11 to June 28 (12 days). The final meeting of 34 days, which includes presentation of the Budget, will be from Sept 24 to Nov 27.

The Budget, once tabled, would be debated on until next year when the Dewan Negara meets, before it is officially approved.

In short, June will be Najib’s last window period whether to call for polls. It also coincides with the school holidays, which start on May 26 and end on June 10. If nothing happens, then it is almost a foregone conclusion that it will take place next year.

Preparations for the elections appear to have gone high gear now with Najib making popular announcements almost every few days.

It is understood that the Barisan Nasional chairman has also started to meet individual heads of the various component parties.

The polls seem to be getting nearer for sure. As Najib continues his nationwide whirlwind visits, the urgency and the momentum are picking up.

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Are Malaysia a target for regime change?

COMMENT By CHANDRA MUZAFFAR

The forces that shape Washington’s attitude towards Malaysian politics and political leaders may have a hidden agenda.

IN his widely read blog (Feb 13, 2012), the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, criticises the politics of regime change pursued by the United States of America.



He is concerned that Malaysia may also be a target for regime change. And the US candidate to head the new regime which will be in full, complete support of US policies, he says, is none other than the Leader of the Opposition, (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim.

Why should the US government seek regime change in Malaysia when the present Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, has sought to further strengthen ties with Washington?

He has even employed a Washington-based public relations firm, Apco, to boost Malaysia’s image in the US. Najib’s personal relations with US President Barack Obama are supposed to be “excellent”.

And yet it is quite conceivable that the forces that shape Washington’s attitude towards Malaysian politics and political leaders may prefer Anwar to Najib for a number of reasons.

One, while Najib may have some rapport with formal leaders and the formal state, it is Anwar who has intimate links with the “deep state” in the US system.

It is the deep state represented by powerful interests such as the Zionist lobbies, the Christian Right, the bigwigs on Wall Street, the oil barons, the arms merchants and the media Moghuls which is in effective control.

To appreciate the distinction between the two, one has to reflect on Obama’s Cairo speech on June 4, 2009, which stated explicitly that “The United States does not accept the legitimacy of continued Israeli settlements” but in reality the formal leader has had to yield to the Zionists and the Christian Right who are enthusiastic promoters of Zionist expansion at the expense of the Palestinians.

Anwar’s entry into the deep state was through his close friendship with Paul Wolfowitz, the former US Deputy Secretary of Defence and one of the staunchest champions of Zionist power.

It was mainly because of Wolfowitz that Anwar became the first chairman of the Foundation for the Future in 2005, an organisation established ostensibly to promote democracy in West Asia and North Africa (WANA), but whose real purpose is to perpetuate US-Israeli hegemony over the region.

Even before this, in 1998, in the midst of the Asian financial crisis, Anwar was espousing an IMF-type solution to the nation’s economic woes, thus revealing his political orientation.

This is why during his first two trials for abuse of power and sodomy between 1998 and 2004 and during his recent trial for sodomy, the mainstream Western media went out of its way to demand that the Malaysian authorities acquit Anwar.

Wolfowitz and former US Vice-President, Al Gore even penned a joint opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal on Aug 4, 2010, urging the US government to persuade the Malaysian Government to “ act with wisdom” in Anwar’s trial.

A day before he was acquitted, on Jan 8, 2012, The Washington Post in an editorial warned that “If the verdict fails that test (Malaysia’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law), there should be consequences for Mr Najib’s relations with Washington.”

This was an undisguised, unabashed attempt by one of the media pillars of the deep state to pressurise a sovereign nation to submit to its will.

Two, if Anwar is the darling of the deep state in the US, it is partly because of his stand on Israel. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Jan 26, 2012, he reiterated his support for “all efforts to protect the security of the state of Israel”.

It should be emphasised here that support for Israeli security – contrary to what he is saying now – was not contingent on “Israel respecting the aspirations of the Palestinians”.

In the interview, Israel’s security stands by itself. It is diplomatic recognition of Israel that Anwar links to Palestinian aspirations.

Placing Israel’s security on a pedestal is the sort of gesture that the deep state and Zionists the world over laud, especially if the advocate is a Muslim leader. For Israel’s security has become the justification for all its policies of occupation, annexation and aggression in the last 63 years.

Israel’s security is the albatross around the neck of the dispossessed Palestinians and other Arabs who have lost their land and dignity to the occupying power.

It is obvious that by acknowledging the primacy of Israeli security, Anwar was sending a clear message to the deep state and to Tel Aviv and Washington – that he is someone that they could trust.
In contrast, the Najib government, in spite of its attempts to get closer to Washington, remains critical of Israeli aggression and intransigence.

Najib has described the Israeli government as a “serial killer” and a “gangster”. This has incensed the deep state.

Anwar, on the other hand, told Zionist friends in Washington two years ago that he regretted using terms such as “Zionist aggression” (Jackson Diehl “Flirting with zealotry in Malaysia” The Washington Post, June 28, 2010).

Three, Anwar is the choice of the deep state for another reason which in its own reckoning is becoming almost as important as Israel. This is the rise of China and what it means for US global hegemony.

Elements within the deep state appear to have convinced Obama that China is a threat to its neighbours and to the US’s dominant role in the Asia-Pacific.

Establishing a military base in Darwin, resurrecting the US’ military alliance with the Philippines, coaxing Japan to play a more overt military role in the region, instigating Vietnam to confront China over the Spratly islands, and encouraging India to counterbalance Chinese power, are all part and parcel of the larger US agenda of encircling and containing China.

In pursuing this agenda, the US wants reliable allies – not just friends – in Asia.

In this regard, Malaysia is important because of its position as a littoral state with sovereign rights over the Straits of Malacca, which is one of China’s most critical supply routes that transports much of the oil and other materials vital for its economic development.

Will the containment of China lead to a situation where the hegemon determined to perpetuate its dominant power seek to exercise control over the Straits in order to curb China’s ascendancy?

Would a trusted ally in Kuala Lumpur facilitate such control?

The current Malaysian leadership does not fit the bill. It has sustained and deepened the bond of friendship between Malaysia and China through increased bilateral trade and investments.

China is Malaysia’s biggest trading partner globally and Malaysia is China’s biggest trading partner within Asean.

China is most appreciative of the fact that Malaysia under the late Tun Razak was the first non-communist country in South-East Asia to establish diplomatic relations with China in 1974.

When his son Najib became Prime Minister in April 2009, China was the first country outside Asean that he visited.

In a number of regional and international forums, Malaysia has maintained that China is not a threat to its neighbours and does not seek global dominance.

These are views that do not accord with the deep state’s bellicose stance towards China. It explains why the deep state may be inclined towards regime change in Kuala Lumpur.

> Dr Chandra Muzaffar is president of the International Movement for a Just World (JUST) and Professor of Global Studies, Universiti Sains Malaysia.

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See opportunities in adversity

ON YOUR OWN By TAN THIAM HOCK

I HAVE been having fun. Good fun. Five trips in the last 30 days. Holidays, business meetings, visiting my kids and watching the Il Divo concert in Jakarta with my wife. So my apologies to the readers who wrote in and have not received any reply from me.

One of my trips was to visit our supplier in Bangkok. I was pleasantly surprised when he said that his company did very well last year despite the tsunami and earthquake in Japan and the three-month flooding of Bangkok. He picked up additional Japanese customers who lost their regular suppliers because of the tsunami. Luckily for him, his factory and surroundings were not flooded, so again he picked up new customers.

No businessmen can predict how natural disasters will affect their business. There is a major element of luck. Good luck or bad luck.

I was also amazed that his company has been growing steadily through the years of continuous political turmoil in Thailand, frequent change of governments, street demonstrations, riots and street bombings. Still, it is business as usual. Especially for tourism. Their airport was crowded and immigration was horrendous. In comparison, the KLIA felt like a ghost town.

Over dinner, he explained that except for southern Thailand, the rest of the country has a homogenous society. No racial or religious issues. Only corrupted and power crazy politicians. I felt comforted. We are not alone.

All Thai companies and citizens have equal opportunity in business and education. So generally, entrepreneur wannabes can participate openly in almost every sector of the economy without government interference. Except for those businesses hijacked by politicians and their cronies. I comforted him. They are not alone

I have always joked with my Singaporean business friends that Malaysian entrepreneurs are much, much more creative than theirs. We have to be sensitive to additional external issues like religion, race and government/political business units. And only then, we start worrying about our business at hand and our real business competitors.

Singaporean entrepreneurs just have to be hardworking and efficient and they will make a good living. How boring it must be for them.

My good friend from the Philippines has gone through more hardships in his business life than all the other Asean counterparts combined. Political upheavals, natural disasters, warlords, gangsters, corrupted armies and an economically poor consumer population. But he is always wearing a smile on his face and treats each setback as a natural unavoidable event. As a devout Catholic, he feels God is always testing him.

To all those entrepreneur wannabes in Malaysia who are not sure of the type of business that you want to invest in, my advice is to go into a business that is not dominated by GLCs, a business that will not create issues with religion or race, and avoid investing in potentially natural disaster areas.

You will be stupid if you invest in residential and industrial properties in flood-prone areas or near toxic waste plants. God forbid if there is a major flood or an accident in an industrial toxic waste plant, you will be an unlucky owner of properties in a ghost town.

It is important that entrepreneurs understand the political and economic environment that your business operates in. This will greatly reduce the element of luck in your strategic planning and give you more certainty in forecasting the trend. Like my Asean friends have demonstrated, there is always opportunities in adversity or unnatural events.

For those who are looking for business opportunities, the coming 13th General Election is a big pot of gold, just in case you are not aware of it. Media companies are rubbing their hands in glee at the potential additional advertising revenue forthcoming.

Printers of outdoor materials and posters are preparing their raw materials due to short order cycles. Soft-drink and mineral water suppliers are salivating at the sharp spike in consumption. Caterers will make a killing handling all the kenduris. Coffee shops in sleepy towns, hotels and motels are prepared to raise prices at a moment's notice.

Then there is the cash handouts to the general population. Consumption of economic goods will increase substantially. Money supply in the economy will double. The general election is expected to contribute an additional 1% to our GDP growth, a point I am sure that has been accrued in our Economic Transformation Programme.

Malaysian entrepreneurs must learn from our Asean counterparts. See opportunities in adversity. Prepare for natural disasters or unnatural events. Stay calm when your environment is in crisis. Trust your luck. And you will do just fine.

● The writer is an entrepreneur who hopes to shares his experience and insights with readers who want to take that giant leap into business but are not sure if they should. Email him at thtan@alliancecosmetics.com

Bank Negara Malaysia lending guideline is a blessing in disguise?

LIVING MATTERS By ANGIE NG

ENVIRONMENTALISTS and green champions must be applauding the lower number of cars that have been sold since Bank Negara's latest directive to banks to disburse the quantum of household loan based on a borrower's net income instead of gross income.

Since Jan 1, banks have to use net income instead of gross income to calculate the debt service ratio for loans. The guideline covers housing, personal and car loans, credit cards, receivables and loans for the purchase of securities.

The effectiveness of the ruling can be seen in the lower number of vehicles sold in January. At 40,948 units, it was 14% lower than in December 2011 and a 25% drop against January last year.

This goes to show that many of those who previously managed to sign up for new car loans and other types of consumer loans could be grossly over-geared and may have inadequate disposable household income. What's left of one's income after deducting payment for loan servicing, income tax and contribution to the Employees Provident Fund, differs from individual to individual, depending on one's financial commitment.

Don't forget that for many sole breadwinners, they also have to shoulder a host of other payments - spouse and children's household expenses and education fees, pocket money to ageing parents and dependents, and other miscellaneous expenses. The list goes on.

The central bank has good reasons to rein in the rising ratio of household loan to income as the benefits are manifold.

The measure should be applauded as I believe the right policy is the first step to steer people in the right direction of living within their means rather than allowing them to become dependent on debts to maintain their lifestyle.

With the prevailing uncertainties in the world today, it is a good time for families to consolidate their household income and expenses account. And along the way they can point out to their young ones about the virtues of being contented with what they have.

Instead of rushing to place booking for a new car whenever a new model comes out, it is nothing wrong to drive around in an older model as long as the vehicle is road worthy.

Don't forget that our young ones are always watching us, the adults, as their role model. In many ways, they are a mirror of what we are, so it is important for us to watch our thoughts, words and deeds. Remember the saying, “What goes around, comes around.”

As a mother to two teenage girls, I know - even our facial and body language would be scrutinised for “signs” of approval or disapproval. A friend had once vouched that her teenage girl (girls are said to be more mentally discerning) even use telepathy to read her mind - so beware of what goes on in our head when in their presence.

Come to think of it, since less people qualify for loans to buy cars now, it may be an opportune time to revert to cycling or better still, walking.

Cycling and walking are certainly more sustainable modes of moving around, more environmentally friendly and healthier options.

When there are less vehicles on the roads and facilities are provided for pedestrians and cyclists, such as covered walkways and bicycle lanes on roads and highways, the walking and cycling vogue is bound to take off.

Less petrol would be consumed and there would be less pollution from vehicular emissions.

As for the property sector, the net income formula and maximum loan-to-value ratio of 70% for a third and subsequent housing loan taken by a borrower would avert unhealthy speculative activities and rein in sharp jump in property prices.

The lower loan quantum would inadvertently increase demand for affordable housing products and developers would have to redesign their products to cater to this market.

The same maxim applies: If the house is still functional, stay put first. Moving into a newer and trendier place, although is a status symbol, incurs cost and may involve higher loan commitment.

Nevertheless, those with the means and surplus cash to spare can opt to invest in multiple properties as they still offer one of the best hedge against inflation.

● Deputy news editor Angie Ng says amid the uncertainties eclipsing the world today, major overhauls need to be made to the way people live, and key to this is to be sustainable.

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Trend of Malaysian moderately-priced houses

Moderately-priced houses in trend

By DAVID TAN davidtan@thestar.com.my

THE trend of developing residential properties priced between RM200,000 and RM400,000 is picking up in Penang, a state where property prices are second highest in the country after Kuala Lumpur.

Tambun Indah Land Bhd, PLB Engineering Bhd, Ideal Property Development Sdn Bhd, and Belleview Group are some of the Penang-based developers with plans to launch moderately priced projects on the island.

With the exception of Belleview, Tambun Indah, PLB, and Ideal Property are taking advantage of the plot ratio guidelines introduced in 2010 which allowed developers to build 87 units per acre, with a total built-up area of 122,000 sq ft per acre and priced at between RM200,000 and RM300,000.

Geh says the demand for houses comes from newly-weds, families and retired couples.

Under the revised guidelines, developers have to allocate 5% of the total units in a development scheme to be priced at RM200,000, 10% to be priced at RM300,000, and 5% not exceeding RM500,000.

Tambun Indah's Straits Garden in Jelutong, PLB's Sungai Nibong Residences and Ideal Property's Valencia Park are the new projects using the revised guidelines.

The layout plans of the projects have been approved and the company is now waiting for the go-ahead for the building-plans.

Previously, the plot ratio guideline for high-rise was 60 units per acre or 42,000 sq ft per acre or 30 units of 1,400 sq ft apartments.

The revised plot ratio guidelines are applicable in areas where it is allowed to develop 30 units per acre and above and in areas designated as commercial/tourism areas under MPPP's structural planning and development control plan.

They are not applicable for prime residential areas such as Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman (popularly known as Ayer Rajah Road), Jesselton area, existing established housing zones and general housing areas, George Town Heritage Site (which includes the buffer zone), certain areas in Tanjung Bungah and Tanjung Tokong.

Real Estate and Housing Developers' Association (REHDA, Penang) chairman Datuk Jerry Chan said the new plot ratio guidelines for the island was a win-win situation for both the developers and the state government.

Ho says the RM100mil Autumn Tower project does not come under the new guidelines.

“The guidelines make the developers supply affordably priced properties and in return the developers get to better utilise the land for development,” Chan said.

Tambun Indah is proposing to develop a RM180mil high-rise residential project called Straits Garden in Jelutong on a 1.69ha site, the north-east district of the island, with 15% of the total units priced between RM200,000 and RM300,000.

Tambun Indah managing director Teh Kiak Seng said the project's layout plan had been approved and was now waiting for the building-plan approval from the relevant authorities.

“The project located in the heart of the island and would feature modern apartments, office suites and shop lots to meet the demand for commercial and lifestyle properties in the central business district.

“We anticipate to commence development in the fourth quarter of the year. Targeted completion is by the fourth quarter of 2014,” he added.

In Sungai Nibong, which is close to the Penang International Airport, PLB plans to launch the Sungai Nibong Residences, comprising 98 units of medium-cost apartments on an over 0.4ha site.

PLB executive chairman Datuk Ong Choo Hoon said the project has a gross development value (GDV) of RM70mil and was expected to be launched in the third quarter this year.

Some 15% of the total units would be priced between RM200,000 and RM300,000 in accordance with the conditions of the revised plot ratio guidelines.

The lay-out plan of the project had been approved and is now waiting approval for it's building plan.

Ideal Property also plans to launch 788 apartment units called Valencia Park on a 9.1-acre site in Relau, south-west district of the island in September.

Ong says the Sungai Nibong Residences is expected to be launched in Q3.

Ideal Property managing director Datuk Alex Ooi said the project, which had a GDV of RM330mil, comprised apartments with built-up areas of 1,000 sq ft and 1,200 sq ft.

In the past two years, Ideal Property had developed and sold over 500 units of apartments priced between RM300,000 and RM400,000 in the south-west district.

Belleview's RM100mil Autumn Tower project, comprising 220 condominiums at All Seasons Park in Bandar Baru Air Itam, does not come under the new plot ratio guidelines.

“The project is scheduled for launch in May 2012.The pricing for the units ranges between RM350,000 and RM400,000”, said Belleview managing director Datuk Sonny Ho.

Meanwhile Raine & Horne Malaysia director Michael Geh said the sub-sale transactions of high-rise properties priced between RM300,000 and RM400,000 were very active in the south-west district of the island in Relau, Bukit Jambul, Bayan Baru, Bayan Lepas, and Sungai Ara.

“Properties in these locations have been steadily rising at about 10% per annum,” Geh said, adding that there was strong take up for newly-launched properties in the first two months of 2012.

“We observed that the demand came from newly-weds, families that want to upgrade their lifestyle, and retired couples looking for smaller high-rise properties in prime locations,” he said.

In Seberang Prai, Asas Dunia Bhd is undertaking some 1,357 units of landed properties this year with a GDV of RM226.7mil in Central and South Seberang Prai.

Ooi says Valencia Park, comprising apartments, has GDV of RM330mil.

Group managing director Chan said the price ranged between RM120,000 and RM580,000, depending on the type of property and the location.

The properties comprised largely single-storey terraced, single-storey semi-detached, and single-storey bungalow houses.

Over the past two years, the prices of residential properties have increased from 10% to 15% per annum on the island, making properties in the RM200,000 to RM400,000 price range increasingly rare.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had last July launched the first phase of 1Malaysia Peoples' Housing (PR1MA) programme, under which residential properties priced between RM150,000 and RM300,000 would be developed.

PR1MA is specifically for first time house buyers and moderate-income Malaysians earning not more than RM6,000 monthly regardless whether they work with the government, the private sector, or self-employed.

Some 42,000 houses under PR1MA have been identified for 20 sites in the Klang Valley, Rawang and Seremban, and companies like Sime Darby Bhd, SP Setia Bhd and Putrajaya Corp have been invited to participate.

In the last budget announcement, the federal government also raised the ceiling price for first home scheme buyers to RM400,000 from RM220,000 with 100% loan financing and stamp duty exemption to promote home ownership among the middle-income groups.

As Sime Darby owns a large bulk of land bank in Penang via Eastern & Oriental Bhd, the state could be a site for moderately priced housing projects under PR1MA.

Eastern & Oriental Bhd is reclaiming 740 acres for the second phase of the Seri Tanjung Pinang project in Tanjung Tokong to develop two islands for mixed development projects, which will have a GDV of RM12bil.

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Malaysia a real-estate shopping destination  

By THEAN LEE CHENG

Welcoming foreign buyers will not necessarily affect property prices

LATE last year and once again about two weeks ago, at least two courses were organised to equip property agents and developers to sell Malaysian properties abroad.

In one of them, real estate professionals paid a few thousands of ringgit to attend a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) course to prepare them to sell Malaysian properties overseas. In another, a tax consultant and a lawyer were invited to share their experience and expertise when selling Malaysian properties.

Tan: ‘Our properties are very affordable to Singaporeans. In the region, our real estate is attractively priced.’

 

For about a decade now, developers who have projects around the KLCC area, Penang and Johor have been taking their offerings to Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, London and China. So far, these overtures have been limited to residential and commercial developments. On a broader scale, the Malaysian government has also been encouraging foreigners to buy into Malaysian realty and has started networking with governments and local authorities to make itself known via government agency Malaysia Property Inc.

The question is: will foreigners buying into Malaysian real estate encourage developers to focus on building high-end developments, which are way above the affordability levels of locals?

Invariably, references are made to Singapore and how foreign buying has brought in that element of volatility because at the first sign of trouble, the foreigner leaves the island state.

Malaysia Property Inc (MPI) chief executive officer Kumar Tharmalingam likes to debunk this: “The number of foreign buyers buying into Malaysian properties is very small. Sales to foreigners only make up 2% of total property sales in Malaysia compared with Singapore's 30% . Singapore's volume of properties entering into the market annually is about 20,000 units and foreigners are only allowed to buy private condominiums; which averages about 6,000 units.

“Malaysia has about 120,000 units entering the market annually and 2% of this is 2,400 units.”

Kumar also says it is not possible to compare Malaysia with Singapore and Hong Kong and the market dynamics are very different.

MPI was set up in 2008. The government-property agency has two core objectives: to create international awareness and to establish connections between foreign interests and Malaysian real estate industry players. Its scope of work is not limited to just residential and commercial properties but includes the whole gamut of property investment, from land acquisition to building of factories if this is needed by the foreign investor. MPI has been branding itself for the last 18 months. This year will see the agency implementing some of their strategies when it matches foreign companies with Malaysian projects.

“MPI and much of what we would like to do is still pretty much work-in-progress,” says Kumar who took over the reigns of the agency in Feb 2010.

“MPI is an extension of three government agencies. These are national trade promotion agency Matrade, International Trade and Industry Ministry and Malaysian Investment Development Authority,” he says.

MPI's work is very much tied up with the foreign direct investment. The foreign direct investment will first seek out one of the above three agencies. After that connection is made, and when a foreign investment is approved by the government, there will be a need for land or office space, or even accommodation for staff.

Kumar: ‘Sales to foreigners only make up 2% of total property sales in Malaysia. Of the 120,000 units entering the market annually, 2% is 2,400 units

“There is a time lag between the foreign investor applying for government approval for his investment and his need for real estate. But which ever way one looks at it, land, office building, factories or staff accommodation, real estate comes into the picture. Because these three agencies are not involved in property matters, the requirements of these investors will be eventually be be referred to MPI.

“Or it could be a foreign direct investor who is keen to enter into a joint venture with our local boys. The South Koreans, for example, are keen to contribute a certain amount of equity, but would like to negotiate' a tender as opposed to having an open tender. This was the model they used in Vietnam and China for their real estate investments.” Its role is to facilitate.

With the United States' fragile recovery and Europe going through a recession, Kumar expects interest in Malaysian properties to come mainly from Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, South China, Singapore, Indonesia, India, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Whether it is a coincidence or otherwise, the same year MPI was set up, news of the Government's plans to develop several pieces of land in key strategic areas in the city began to filter out. These mega projects include what is currently known as the Kuala Lumpur International Financial District in Jalan Tun Razak, KL Metropolis in Matrade-Jalan Duta area, the 100-storey building in the Stadium Negara site, now known as Menara Warisan and the Rubber Research Institute land in Sg Buloh. The global financial crisis, which started in 2007 and whose full blown effect was felt around the world, came a year later.

While MPI plays an intermediary role to facilitate the business needs of the real estate, concerns about foreign interest pushing up prices are also pooh-poohed by Reapfield chief executive officer Gerard Kho. On the contrary, he says there are a few locations that need the support of foreign buyers.

“The high-end condominium market need the support of foreign buyers. This year, we expect to see rent and prices adjust a bit in that sector. It will also be a challenging year for the high-end condominium market.”

By contrast, domestic demand is expected to remain resilient.

“I am bullish up to the middle of this year despite the 30% downpayment requirement for the third and subsequent house and other measures by Bank Negara to curb the growth in household debts. The third and fourth quarter are difficult to predict,” he says.

“Last year, 84% of our transactions were from the secondary market, a reflection of strong domestic demand despite the many predictions of 2011 being a difficult year,”

Following up on Kho's concerns about the high-end condominium sector, the National Property Information Centre's Residential Property Stock Table shows the Federal Territory having an existing stock of serviced apartments and condominiums totalling 156,251 units including about 4,000 units completed last year.

While these numbers do not separate the high-end units from the rest, it does indicate the large number of serviced apartments and condominiums in the Federal Territory and the yearly additions that enter the market.

About 5,000 units were added into the market this year and another 4,500 units are expected to stream in next year, says Kho.

On the often quoted Singapore-Malaysia example, Kho says the “Singapore and Hong Kong property markets have a high global exposure. Both these markets are very different from Malaysia in terms of land, and government-control measures.

“In Singapore, foreigners are allowed only to buy into private condominium projects. Malaysia is different. Foreigners can buy into any segment of the property market if it is beyond a certain price threshold, which dilutes the focus on any particular sub-segment of the property market,” says Kho.

Lawyer Chris Tan who acts on behalf of foreigners buying into the Malaysian market says his biggest clientele are from Singapore.

“Our properties are very affordable to them because of the exchange rate and because of the high prices in the city state. In the region, our real estate is attractively priced,” he says.

The locations his clients buy into include the KLCC area, Mont'Kiara, Damansara, Bangsar and Ampang. Johor and Penang are other popular destinations.

“Iskandar Malaysia is like Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Shenzhen is thriving today because of the Hong Kong factor,” says Tan.

Related articles

•  Bank Negara’s lending guideline is a blessing in disguise?
• Malaysian High-end property expected slower (rightways.wordpress.com)
• Buying a property as a foreign national (holidayhometimes.com)
• Think global or you lose out! Malaysians consumed too much with local affairs! (rightways.wordpress.com)
• Poser over Penang Bayan Mutiara deal

We CAN complain and gripe

Why Not By Wong Sai Wan
 

Making noise or raising a stink is fast becoming a national trait as we Malaysians gripe about everything and anything.

EVER heard the story of the Singaporean who wanted to migrate to Malaysia, causing the republic to order an immediate inquiry to find out why?

Inquiry chairman: “Tell us Mr Michael, you are migrating to Johor Baru because your Malaysian wife is unhappy living in Singapore?”

Michael: “No. She got nothing to complain about.”

Inquiry chairman: “Then, is it because you were overlooked for a double promotion in your job, and you only got a S$1,000 (RM2,400) pay rise?”

Michael: “No. I got nothing to complain about.”

Inquiry chairman: “So, Mr Michael, it must be because your son was refused entry into NUS, and only got a place at Nanyang?”

Michael: “No. He has got nothing to complain about.”

Inquiry chairman: “Then, for heaven’s sake, tell us why are you migrating to JB?”

Michael: “Because there I CAN complain.”

A Singaporean friend told me this joke five years ago, just before our last general election. This friend, who is very knowledgeable about the situation here, used this tale to take a dig at his own country, and ours as well.

His point was that while in his home country his countrymen were rather subservient and did not complain much in public, Malaysians had no such problem. Grumbling and griping seem to have become a national sport.

If we were to consciously listen to anyone standing or sitting next to us, we will see my friend is not far from wrong.

We Malaysians love to complain about anything; be it food, the Government, bosses, colleagues or even our neighbour’s choice of colour for the new coat of paint for his house.

Nothing is above criticism in Malaysia. These criticisms are not the kinds made on the quiet, but rather openly and sometimes rather loudly.

You know, the coffee shop type where you have to raise your voice because you can hardly hear yourself?

But in the case of us Malaysians, we complain at the top of our voice because we are afraid no one will hear, or we want to make sure everyone knows what we are complaining about.

A colleague said the complaining culture had gotten so bad that it had become griping, which dictionaries define as “to complain naggingly”.

“This is a sort of graduation for us Malaysians – from surat layang (poison pen letters) to publicly complaining about something,” this seasoned journalist said.

An example is griping over trivial things like lack of parking space in over-packed malls.

It beats me why a person would queue for over an hour to get into the parking area and then complain about the lack of parking, when it was obvious from the start that it was packed.

Then there are the infamous Malaysian drivers who complain about everyone else’s driving but their own.

They complain about how others drive too fast, and also about how others drive at a snail’s pace.

There are those who complain about everything and anything connected with their boss – from his choice of office furniture to his choice of ties.

When their verbal complaints do not evoke the desired results, Malaysians will turn to social media like Twitter and Facebook to express their angry thoughts to the whole world.

They do not seem to care if what they utter or write is rude, unethical or downright defamatory.

They seem to think that anything they write on the Internet is above the law.

When the gripes reach the notice of their bosses or the authorities, these people will turn around and say they have the right to express their opinion, but the bosses have no right to legal redress.

I feel that many Malaysians think their mistaken newfound political clout after 2008 gives them the right to say anything they want, without regard for the consequences.

Yes, our Federal Constitution guarantees us freedom of speech but it does not give us the right to run down another person or institution by hounding it with trivial complaints just to exact revenge over some perceived past injury.

Of course, our politicians seem to encourage this kind of behaviour because they see political gains in riding on such waves of dissatisfaction.

They do not seem to realise that their action of encouraging such a mentality only creates distrust, and eventually hatred.

I am not saying that the people have no right to voice their complaints, especially on matters affecting their lives or well-being.

We must voice out our views when it’s needed, but we must get our perspectives right.

We must know the difference between a gripe and a grievance; what’s important and what’s trivial.

If we do not, then our genuine complaints will sound exactly like gripes and the important message that we want to make will be lost, drowned out by the moans and groans.

Being a nation of complainers is not a reflection of the freedom that we enjoy but rather a reflection of ourselves as wimps who can do nothing but just gripe.

> Executive editor Wong Sai Wan doesn’t like nagging but enjoys the sound of an intelligent argument.