Written by Irhamy Ahmad, Founder and Managing Director of Irhamy Valuers International Malaysia’s power sector has undergone significant transformation, shifting from a reliance on fossil fuels to a more diversified and sustainable energy mix. Concerns over environmental sustainability, energy security, and efficiency have driven efforts to modernize and repower existing power plants while prioritizing cleaner energy sources.For decades, coal-fired power plants played a crucial role in Malaysia’s electricity supply, with major facilities like the Sultan Azlan Shah Power Station (4,100 MW) in Perak and the Tanjung Bin Power Station (2,244 MW) in Johor contributing significantly to national generation. However, Malaysia has pledged to halt new coal plant construction and gradually phase out existing plants, marking a crucial step toward reducing carbon emissions and achieving a net-zero energy transition. For example, the Sejingkat Power Plant in Sarawak is set to cease operations by 2026.The Role of Hydropower in Malaysia’s Energy TransitionHydropower remains a key pillar of Malaysia’s renewable energy strategy, particularly in Sarawak. The Bakun (2,400 MW) and Murum (944 MW) dams provide a substantial share of the region’s electricity.Upcoming hydroelectric projects reflect continued investment in sustainable energy, including:Nenggiri Hydroelectric Project (300 MW) – KelantanBaleh Hydroelectric Project (1,285 MW) – SarawakThe Expansion of Cleaner Natural Gas TechnologiesIn addition to hydropower, Malaysia is expanding its Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) technology to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. Recent and upcoming CCGT plants include:Edra Melaka (2,242 MW, 2022)Pulau Indah (1,200 MW, 2024)Pulau Bunting Power Plant (1,600 MW, upcoming)Miri Power Plant (500 MW, upcoming)Kapar Combined Cycle Power Plant (2,100 MW, 2031)These projects highlight Malaysia’s long-term commitment to a cleaner energy transition.Instead of building new fossil-fuel-based plants, Malaysia is prioritizing:Rebuilding, upgrading, and repowering existing power stations to improveefficiency and reduce emissions.Repowering projects, such as the Paka Repowering Project inTerengganu, where the Sultan Ismail Power Station (decommissioned in2019) is being repowered with advanced technology. Set for completion in2030, this project aims to increase output while minimizing environmentalimpact.Recognition & Future OutlookMalaysia’s energy transition efforts have earned regional recognition,ranking second in Southeast Asia on the Energy Transition Index in 2024.Modernization and Repowering of Existing Power PlantsMeanwhile, the decommissioning of older plants like the Sultan IsmailPower Station (1988) and the mothballed Lumut GB3 (2002) reflects effortsto modernize the energy sector.As older fossil-fuel plants are retired and new, cleaner facilities comeonline, Malaysia is advancing toward agreener, more resilient power sector. Thefocus on repowering, modernizing, andintegrating renewable enknaergy sourceswill be pivotal in securing a sustainableenergy future.click for more info!
By Shaen Saeed, IQI Chief Economist“You can’t fathom the modern world without putting chips at the center of the story. Advanced chipmaking will return to America in 2025, more than a decade after the country lost its edge in semiconductor manufacturing to TSMC. TSMC is making a huge investment of more than $100 billion in Arizona… The American government hopes that chipmakers will produce almost a fifth of all leading-edge chips domestically by 2030.”The competition is intensifying. China and the USA are vying for the top position, and semiconductors play a crucial role in shaping the global economy.Major Players in the Semiconductor Market:USAChinaGermanySouth KoreaMalaysiaNetherlandsNew Entrants in the Semiconductor Market:IndiaUAEJapanVietnamGlobal Re Balancing - Dollar At A Crossroad. History RepeatsGlobal Re Balancing - Dollar At A Crossroad. History RepeatsA graph showing the value of the stock market. In my view, we areon the brink of a global rebalancing.Historically, when the dollar enters a structural downtrend, hardassets tend to significantly outperform U.S. equities.What is the usual outcome of austerity combined with lowerrates? A weaker dollarWhile fiscal consolidation is essential for restoring investorconfidence in U.S. Treasuries and reducing long-term interestrates, one of the most immediate and effective ways to lowergovernment spending is for the Fed to cut interest rates itself.This issue likely indicates that the U.S. dollar is at a criticaljuncture in history, and the significance of the chart cannot beoverstated.USA vs. Europe – Reordering Global Financial MarketsAccording to the Financial Times, fund managers have stated thatTrump’s Make America Great Again agenda has, instead, triggereda Make Europe Great Again trade, which is reshaping globalfinancial markets.click for more info!
Written by Taco Heidinga, IQI Global Strategic AdvisorThe world’s wealthiest investors are focusing on prime international real estate destinations such as Bali, Dubai, Phuket, and Kuala Lumpur. These hotspots offer strong returns, lifestyle appeal, and long-term value appreciation.Here’s why you should consider investing alongside them.Bali: Tourism-Driven GrowthWhy Invest? High occupancy rates, growing digital nomad demand, and affordable property prices.Who’s Investing? Entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals.Best Investments: Villas in Canggu, beachfront properties in Uluwatu.Dubai: The Global Property HubWhy Invest? No income tax, high rental yields, and strong capital appreciation.Who’s Investing? Middle Eastern and Western investors.Best Investments: Apartments in Dubai Marina, developments in Downtown Dubai.Phuket: Luxury Island RetreatWhy Invest? High rental demand, low cost of living, and strong tourism growth.Who’s Investing? Asian and European buyers.Best Investments: Beachfront villas in Patong, luxury condos in Kamala.Kuala Lumpur: Emerging Metropolitan HotspotWhy Invest? Affordable luxury, high rental yields, and strong expat demand.Who’s Investing? Business professionals and expatriates.Best Investments: High-rise condos in KLCC, serviced apartments in Bukit Bintang.Why Invest Now?Appreciation Potential: Rising demand is driving property values higher.Passive Income: High tourism rates ensure strong rental yields.Portfolio Diversification: Global real estate investments offer protection against economic downturns.Lifestyle Perks: Enjoy luxury living while your investment grows.The wealthy are securing prime properties before prices soar. Follow their lead and be part of the next global realestate boom!click for more info!
Written by Lily Chong, Head of IQI AustraliaCoreLogic’s national Home Value Index rose by 0.3% in February, signaling an end to a brief three-month downturn that had lowered home values by 0.4%. While the increase was modest, it was widespread, with most regions except Darwin (-0.1%) and Regional Victoria (flat) experiencing growth.Key trends include:Melbourne and Hobart lead gains: Both cities saw a 0.4% rise, reversing Melbourne’s ten-month streak of declining values.Mid-sized capitals slowing: Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide, previously the strongest markets, recorded slower monthly growth (0.2%-0.3%). While Adelaide (1.2%) and Brisbane (0.9%) still lead quarterly gains, Perth’s growth has decelerated to 0.3%.Premium market rebound: Sydney and Melbourne’s upper-tier housing markets, which faced sharp declines, are now driving growth, consistent with past trends of high-value markets responding first to rate cuts.CoreLogic’s research director, Tim Lawless, attributes the market improvement to rising buyer confidence, influenced by expectations of lower interest rates, rather than increased borrowing capacity. Auction clearance rates have also returned to long-term averages, further indicating improved market sentiment.In February, national rents increased by 0.6%, marking the strongest monthly rise since May last year. However, this remains below the 0.9% increase recorded in February 2023 and the 1.2% surge in February 2021 during the rental boom.Key trends:Seasonal influence: Rental growth typically accelerates in the first quarter due to seasonal patterns, rather than underlying market shifts.Annual growth slowing: Over the past 12 months, rents have risen by 4.1%, the slowest annual increase since early 2021. Despite this, the growth rate remains double the pre-pandemic average of 2.0%.Declining growth in key cities: Darwin saw the sharpest slowdown, with annual rent growth dropping from a peak of 25% during the pandemic to just 1.4%. Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane unit rents have also slowed significantly, with annual growth now at 2.7%, 3.2%, and 3.3%, respectively—down from peaks above 15%.Impact of migration and household changes: The easing of net overseas migration and a shift towards larger households have reduced rental demand, especially in major cities.Rental growth in some markets: Hobart, the ACT, and Darwin’s unit market have experienced slight rental growth improvements compared to last year, albeit from previously weak conditions.CoreLogic’s Tim Lawless attributes the overall slowdown to normalizing migration trends and changing household sizes, which have alleviated some pressure on the rental market.FOR MORE UPDATE NEWSLATTER, CLICK HERE!
The global real estate market saw mixed results in April, with some areas improving and others struggling.What else have you missed in April 2025CLick here now! for more info
Written by Dave Platter, Global PR DirectorFears about DeepSeek’s impact on Malaysia’s data centre market are turning into excitement, according to analysis from Juwai IQI Co-Founder and Group CEO, Kashif Ansari. His insights were featured in more than a dozen media outlets this month in Malaysia and China. “DeepSeek shocked the world with a large language model that seems comparable to those offered by competitors like OpenAI, but at a fraction of the cost,” said Mr. Ansari.“Cheaper AI models like DeepSeek's will most likely drive demand for data centres in Malaysia even higher. That’s because cheaper AI will enable the widespread use of AI-powered tools that, until now, have been too expensive to be widely adopted."According to Mr. Ansari, large language models need to become more affordable before AI can be widely used. That’s one reason the world’s largest AI companies have, until now, earned very little revenue to offset their enormous expenses.Mr. Ansari said, “DeepSeek seems to have made massive progress in affordability. It charges just one-fifteenth of what its more established competitor, Anthropic, charges for tokens.“You can put it this way: when it costs less to get an AI model to do something, people will start asking AI to do more and more tasks. That growth will create unprecedented demand for data centres, including in Malaysia. “For the real estate industry here in Malaysia, this meansthat demand for land suitable for data centres will remain strong — and could possibly grow."Mr. Ansari pointed out that Malaysia stands to benefit significantly from the advancements DeepSeek appears to be bringing about.“Until this month, we all thought Malaysia would need billions of dollars to build its own language model,” he said. “But now it looks like Malaysia could afford to create its own language models and deploy AI into research, education, and the broader economy."“Malaysian consumers will also benefit because cheap AI will be integrated into the tools and services they rely on every day. For AI to truly transform the daily lives of the rakyat, it needs to be affordable and accessible to all." He added, “We weren’t able to put a mobile phone into everyone’s hands until they became inexpensive enough, and we won’t be able to provide people with the benefits of AI-powered tools and services unless they are just as affordable. After the DeepSeek earthquake, it is suddenly possible to imagine AI powering more and more of the services we use daily. AI has the potential to impact our lives as profoundly as electricity once did”.Click for more info!
Written by Dante Azarmi, Head of Business DevelopmentAs we move through 2025, the global real estate landscape presents both challenges and opportunities for investors. Understanding the current trends is crucial for making informed decisions. Here are the key developments shaping the market this year:1. Recovery in Investment ActivityAfter a two-year downturn, the global property market began to recover in 2024, with transaction volumes and values stabilizing. This positive momentum is expected to continue in 2025, driven by lower interest rates that facilitate better alignment between buyers and sellers on pricing. However, investors are becoming more selective, focusing on specific sectors and assets that align with broader socioeconomic and technological shifts.2. Sector-Specific Investment PreferencesInvestors are showing increased interest in residential properties, hotels, and warehouses, while the office sector continues to face challenges due to the rise of hybrid working models and high renovation costs for older buildings. In Europe, the total value of property deals increased by 4% to €189 billion, with office investments experiencing a 10% decline, marking the sector's worst performance since 2009.3. Emphasis on Sustainable and ESG InvestmentsThere is a growing focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors in real estate investments. Investors are increasingly prioritizing green buildings and carbon-neutral developments, recognizing the long-term value and resilience these assets offer in a rapidly changing regulatory and environmental landscape. As more governments implement stricter sustainability requirements, properties with strong ESG credentials are likely to outperform traditional assets.4. Technological Integration, Smart Cities, and Data CentresThe integration of technology into real estate is accelerating, with advancements in artificial intelligence, big data, and smart city initiatives reshaping the industry. The rising demand for data centres has also emerged as a significant trend. As digital infrastructure becomes more critical, investors are recognising data centres as a resilient and high-growth asset class. With the expansion of cloud computing, AI, and increased internet usage, data centres are positioned to be one of the most lucrative real estate investments in 2025.5. Navigating Economic and Geopolitical RisksWhile the outlook for 2025 remains optimistic, investors must remain vigilant about potential risks, including geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and the possibility of a resurgence in inflation. Proactive risk management, diversification, and staying updated on global events will be essential for navigating these uncertainties effectively.ConclusionThe global real estate market in 2025 offers a dynamic environment with evolving trends. By focusing on recovering sectors, embracing sustainability, leveraging technological advancements, investing in data centres, and remaining aware of economic and geopolitical risks, investors can make strategic decisions to capitalise on the opportunities ahead.click for more info!
Written by Muhazrol Muhamad, GVP, Head of Bumiputra SegmentJohor is making waves in Malaysia’s economic landscape, and its transformation is not just about new policies—it's about setting the stage for an economic and property boom that investors cannot ignore. With recent policy changes and strategic developments, Johor is emerging as the next property hotspot, driven by proactive governance, infrastructure expansion, and its unique proximity to Singapore.Johor’s Bold Moves: Policy Shifts to Drive GrowthReturn to the National WorkweekStarting January 2025, Johor will shift its weekend rest days back to Saturday and Sunday. This seemingly simple change is a game-changer for businesses. Aligning with the rest of Malaysia and globally recognized rest days will enhance collaboration for Johor-based businesses, especially those with regional and international partners.4.5-Day Workweek for the Public SectorJohor is embracing a progressive approach with a proposed 4.5-day workweek for civil servants:• Monday to Thursday: 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM• Friday: 7:30 AM - 12:00 PMThis shorter workweek, combined with flexible and remote working options, aims to boost productivity and work-life balance. While currently limited to the public sector, its successful implementation could influence private companies to adopt similar policies, making Johor an attractive destination for professionals seeking work flexibility.Higher Minimum Salaries for Skilled WorkersJohor is raising salary benchmarks to attract top talent:• RM4,000 minimum for diploma holders• RM5,000 minimum for degree holdersThis is a significant shift. By narrowing the wage gap with Singapore, Johor is positioning itself as a competitive hub for skilled professionals, particularly young, high-income earners. For the property market, this means increased demand for quality housing, especially in business hubs like Johor Bahru and Iskandar Puteri.Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (SEZ): A Game-ChangerJohor’s collaboration with Singapore on the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JSSEZ) is set to redefine regional economic growth. Covering areas such as:• Johor Bahru• Iskandar Puteri• Pasir Gudang• KulaiThis initiative will:• Attract foreign investments• Boost cross-border trade• Create job opportunities in technology, logistics, and manufacturingFor property investors, this means higher demand for residential properties (for workers and professionals), as well as industrial and commercial spaces to support businesses in the SEZ.The Rise of Data Centers: A Tech Boom in JohorJohor is fast becoming a preferred destination for global tech companies to establish data centers. Its proximity to Singapore, affordable land prices, and reliable infrastructure make it an ideal hub for the digital economy. This boom brings:• Employment opportunities for tech professionals• Higher demand for commercial office spaces• Interest in upscale residential areas as expatriates and skilled workers move inPrime locations for data center investments include:• Iskandar Malaysia• PengerangWhat Does This Mean for the Property Market?With Johor leading the way in economic reforms and infrastructure expansion, its real estate market is poised for significant growth across multiple sectors: Residential Sector• Rising demand for high-quality housing in job hubs like Iskandar Puteri and Johor Bahru.• Affordable housing demand will increase as salary benchmarks improve.Commercial Sector• Businesses are expanding into Johor due to the SEZ incentives and workweek alignment.• Commercial properties near the Johor-Singapore border will see growing investor interest.Industrial Sector• Logistics hubs, manufacturing facilities, and tech-based data centers will drive industrial property demand, especially in Pasir Gudang and Senai.Conclusion: Why Now Is the Time to Invest in JohorJohor’s bold policy shifts, competitive salaries, 4.5-day workweek, and major economic initiatives are setting it apart as Malaysia’s rising star.Its strategic location next to Singapore, coupled with developments like the Johor-Singapore SEZ and booming tech infrastructure, positions Johor as the next big opportunity for property investors.If you’re looking for a market that blends affordability, rapid growth, and high demand, Johor offers all three. The transformation is already happening—and those who act early stand to gain the most.click for more info!