<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 19): Over the past week, the government’s proposal to lower the threshold on high-rise property prices in urban areas for foreign ownership to RM600,000 in 2020 from RM1 million at present, has attracted its fair share of criticism.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>In his Budget 2020 speech in Parliament on Oct 11, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said the initiative aims to reduce the supply overhang of condominiums and apartments, which value amounted to RM8.3 billion as at second quarter 2019.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>However, certain quarters view the new threshold as opening the floodgates to foreigners, and hence, creating a chain effect where developers push up property prices to take advantage of the situation.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Some even claim the move is akin to bailing out developers.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Are these criticisms valid? What are the consequences of doing nothing to address the property overhang in the country?</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Follow the debate by picking up the latest issue of The Edge.</p></div>
<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Save by <a href="https://subscribe.theedgemalaysia.com/" target="_blank">subscribing</a> to us for your print and/or digital copy.</p></div><div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p><strong>P/S: The Edge is also available on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-edge-markets/id990567068?ls=1&mt=8" target="_blank">Apple's AppStore</a> and <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bizedge.theedgemarkets.malaysia" target="_blank">Androids' Google Play</a>.</strong></p></div>

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 19): Over the past week, the government’s proposal to lower the threshold on high-rise property prices in urban areas for foreign ownership to RM600,000 in 2020 from RM1 million at present, has attracted its fair share of criticism.

In his Budget 2020 speech in Parliam...

Why some people are unhappy with the govt lowering the threshold on high-rise property prices for foreigners

Efforts to reform the Bretton Woods institutions – the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank – are progressing, albeit slowly. In December, the IMF Board of Governors approved a 50% increase in member quotas, which will reduce its reliance on borrowed resources, and the World Bank has re...

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A highly anticipated Bitcoin software update called the “halving” has been completed, dealing a potential blow to the companies that make money by ensuring that the digital currency functions smoothly and securely.

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A Philippine freight railway project may be built with the support of the US and Japan, an official in charge of it said, as Manila seeks alternative financing deals after dropping funding talks with China.

Philippines wants US, Japan to take over rail deal eyed by China

The World Bank on Friday said that 11 countries have pledged to contribute over US$11 billion (RM52.62 billion) to new hybrid capital and portfolio guarantee instruments designed to expand the bank's financing capacity by US$70 billion over a decade to tackle climate change, pandemics and other global challenges.

World Bank wins US$11b in pledges to boost lending for climate, global crises

Shareholders of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed this week on the importance of addressing challenges faced by low-income countries, many of which are facing unsustainable debt burdens, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Friday.

IMF concerned about debt, fiscal challenges facing low-income countries

The ringgit is likely to trade in the same range of around 4.78 against the US dollar next week, as the situation in the Middle East will continue to be under scrutiny by investors, said an analyst.

Ringgit likely to trade around 4.78 versus greenback next week

Attention this week will be on the March inflation rate, with the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) slated to put out Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the key gauge for inflation — data on Thursday.

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Persistent inflation and higher-for-longer interest rates were cited as key risks to financial stability in the Federal Reserve's (Fed) latest survey of US central bank contacts, with geopolitical troubles and the 2024 US presidential election also mentioned as "a potentially significant source of shocks".

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Former inspector general of police Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar died at 2.15am on Saturday. He was 85.

Former IGP Tun Hanif Omar passes away

The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 closed sharply lower on Friday and Treasury yields dipped as investors juggled lacklustre earnings, uncertainties surrounding central bank policy and geopolitical strife.

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<p>KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Friday:</p>

<p>Shares of <strong>Sapura Energy Bhd</strong> have been suspended from trading, pending a material announcement. The suspension took effect from 2.30pm onwa...

Sapura Energy, PIE Industrial, LSH Capital, YX, Westports, Yinson, Sime Darby Property, MISC, Meta Bright, EG Industries, Hextar, Uzma, Nova MSC and Iconic Worldwide

<p>Former inspector general of police Tun Mohammed Hanif Omar died at 2.15am on Saturday. He was 85.</p>


<p>The long-awaited Energy Exchange Malaysia (Enegem) has finally been introduced, along with guidelines on cross-border electricity sales announced by the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (Petra) last Monday for exports of green electricity from Malaysia to Singapore and Thailand.</p>


Enegem: Malaysia edges closer to RE exports

<p>All travellers entering or leaving Singapore carrying Physical Currency and Bearer Negotiable Instruments (CBNI) that are valued more than S$20,000 or its equivalent in a foreign currency, must submit the necessary declarations electronically with effect from May 13.</p>


Travellers to and from Singapore carrying over S$20,000 must submit online declaration from May 13

<p>Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived in Kota Kinabalu on Friday night for a one-day working visit to the state.</p>

<p>Anwar's plane landed at Terminal Two, Kota Kinabalu International Airport at 11.40pm, where he was greeted by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.</p>


Anwar arrives in Kota Kinabalu for one-day visit

<p>The Nasdaq and the S&amp;P 500 ended lower on Friday as Netflix shares weighed, but American Express (AmEx) kept the Dow afloat after quarterly earnings from both companies, while growing pessimism that the Federal Reserve (Fed) would cut interest rates soon also dented sentiment.</p>


Nasdaq, S&P tumble as Netflix, chip stocks drag; AmEx boosts Dow

<p>Attention this week will be on the March inflation rate, with the <strong>Department of Statistics Malaysia</strong> (DOSM) slated to put out <strong>Consumer Price Index</strong> (CPI) — the key gauge for inflation — data on Thursday.</p>

<p>Inflation edged up by a higher-than-expected 1.8% i...

<p>Israel's apparent strike on Iran after days of vacillation was small and appeared calibrated to dial back risks of a major war, even if the sheer fact it happened at all shattered a taboo of direct attacks that Tehran broke days earlier.</p>

<p>Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet had initially approved plans for a strike on Monday night inside Iranian territory to respond forcefully to last Saturday's missile and drones from Iran, but held back at the last-minute, three sources with knowledge of the situation said.</p>


Israel's Iran attack carefully calibrated after internal splits, US pressure

<p>Parties in the Unity Government have their methods to ensure a win in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election next month, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.</p>

<p>Ahmad Zahid, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, said this was discussed at the Unity Government secretariat meeting on Wednesday.</p>


Unity Govt parties have ways to ensure victory in Kuala Kubu Baharu polls — Ahmad Zahid

<p>A Philippine freight railway project may be built with the support of the US and Japan, an official in charge of it said, as Manila seeks alternative financing deals after dropping funding talks with China.</p>


<p>The Bank of Japan (BOJ) must tread cautiously in raising interest rates, as some indicators of inflation expectations remain short of its 2% target, the International Monetary Fund's Japan mission chief Nada Choueiri said on Friday.</p>


IMF urges Bank of Japan to tread cautiously in raising interest rates

<p>A highly anticipated Bitcoin software update called the “halving” has been completed, dealing a potential blow to the companies that make money by ensuring that the digital currency functions smoothly and securely.</p>


<p>The ringgit is likely to trade in the same range of around 4.78 against the US dollar next week, as the situation in the Middle East will continue to be under scrutiny by investors, said an analyst.</p>


<p>Persistent inflation and higher-for-longer interest rates were cited as key risks to financial stability in the Federal Reserve's (Fed) latest survey of US central bank contacts, with geopolitical troubles and the 2024 US presidential election also mentioned as "a potentially significant source of shocks".</p>


<p>Shareholders of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) agreed this week on the importance of addressing challenges faced by low-income countries, many of which are facing unsustainable debt burdens, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Friday.</p>


<p>The World Bank on Friday said that 11 countries have pledged to contribute over US$11 billion (RM52.62 billion) to new hybrid capital and portfolio guarantee instruments designed to expand the bank's financing capacity by US$70 billion over a decade to tackle climate change, pandemics and other global challenges.</p>
