Malaysia’s SST Expansion Takes Effect: Separating Myth from Reality Malaysia’s expanded Sales and Service Tax (SST) regime officially took effect on July 1, sparking plenty of debate—and no small amount of confusion—among consumers and businesses. While some worry it will trigger blanket inflation or become a “GST in disguise,” experts argue these fears are largely misplaced. Here, we break...

Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 Gazetted: A New Chapter for Urban Renewal and Sustainable Growth The Kuala Lumpur Local Plan 2040 (KLLP2040) has officially been gazetted and comes into effect today, marking a historic milestone in Malaysia’s urban planning journey. With its official launch set for June 24 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, this plan outlines a bold new vision for the capital...

BNM Cuts OPR to 2.75%: Is This the Start of a Rate-Cut Cycle? Malaysia’s central bank has reduced the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) by 25 basis points, bringing it down to 2.75% from 3%, the first time it has been below 3% since March 2023. While the move is widely seen as pre-emptive support for growth amid global uncertainties, economists are split on whether this signals the start of a broader...

Penang’s Mutiara Line LRT Cleared for Launch as Federal, State Settle All Issues The long-anticipated Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) project in Penang has finally cleared its final bureaucratic hurdles, with construction expected to begin within one to two months, announced Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook during his one-day working visit to the state. This milestone marks a critical...

NCT Alliance Expands Landbank in Sabah with RM36 Million Putatan Acquisition Property developer NCT Alliance Bhd (KL:NCT) continues its expansion in East Malaysia with the proposed acquisition of a majority stake in a Sabah landowner — a strategic move that bolsters its foothold in the high-growth Putatan district near Kota Kinabalu. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, NCT Alliance announced that its...

BNM Lowers OPR to 2.75%: Supporting Growth Amid Global Uncertainty Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has cut the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) by 25 basis points, reducing it from 3% to 2.75%, marking the first time it has fallen below 3% since March 2023. This move follows the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, and is widely seen as a pre-emptive measure to ensure Malaysia’s economy...

Negeri Sembilan Unveils ‘Fast Lane’ to Attract Investors, Accelerate MVV 2.0 Implementation Negeri Sembilan is taking bold steps to position itself as Malaysia’s next smart investment frontier with the launch of a high-impact ‘Fast Lane’ initiative, aimed at significantly expediting approval processes for investors and businesses. Announced by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun during the...

ECRL Project Nears Completion, Cementing Strategic Malaysia-China Infrastructure Ties The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL)—Malaysia’s largest ongoing infrastructure project—has reached 82.45% completion as of April 2025, with the government reaffirming its timeline for completion by December 2026 and full operations to commence on January 1, 2027. This milestone was shared by Chief Secretary to the...

IOI Properties Sets New Benchmark with Largest GBI-Certified Mall in Malaysia IOI Properties Group Bhd (KL:IOIPG) has etched a new milestone in Malaysia’s green development landscape with IOI City Mall Phase 2 now officially recognised as the largest mall in Malaysia to be certified under the Green Building Index (GBI). The certification under the Non-Residential New Construction: Retail (NRNC: Retail)...

Kwasa Damansara to Gain Major Education Hub Through Kwasa Land-Educ8 Partnership In a move that further solidifies Kwasa Damansara’s vision as a thriving, future-ready township, master developer Kwasa Land Sdn Bhd has partnered with Educ8 Group to establish a major education facility spanning 11.6 acres. The newly signed Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) marks a milestone in the township’s evolution,...