May 9 declared a public holiday for polls
The Prime Minister’s Office has announced May 9, which falls on a Wednesday, as an additional public holiday. This came following the Election Commission’s (EC) announcement that polling day is on May 9. (The Star Online)

Anti-Fake News Act comes into force
Putrajaya’s recently passed law against so-called “fake news” has been gazetted, prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced today. The passing of the new law showed that the federal government was serious about combating the problem of fake news amid the development of modern technology that enabled speedy communications. Malaysia’s Anti-Fake News Act 2018 is probably only the second time such a law against false news and slander has been enacted by a government, after Germany’s Net Enforcement Act passed last year. (Malay Mail Online)

REIT sell-down is a buying opportunity
The recent sell-down in Malaysian REITs have presented a buying opportunity for investors looking to expand into the space, says MIDF Research. MREITs listed on Bursa Malaysia have fallen by 18% year to date (YTD) while the MREITs under their coverage have lost between -4.8% to -29.9%. The current sell-down is attributed mainly to the recent hike in the overnight policy rate (OPR). Due to the current sell-down, MIDF Research reckons that MREITs are looking more attractive now as some of them are trading closer to their mean price earnings ratio (PER). FY18 is expected to be a modest year MREITs due to the oversupply in the retail and office segment. (The Borneo Post)

Construction of ECRL slightly ahead of schedule
The construction of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) in Kelantan is progressing slightly ahead of schedule, according to Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL). 79% of respondents endorsed the Phase 2 Kota Baru-Wakaf Bharu-Pengkalan Kubor alignment, and the Kota Baru-Jelawat-Tok Bali alignment for Phase 1 was already approved by SPAD. Full-scale infrastructure works for Phase 1 in Kelantan would commence from April 2018 onwards while Phase 2 is expected to follow suit in a matter of months. At such an accelerated pace, MRL is confident of the construction of both phases of the ECRL in Kelantan being completed simultaneously before 2024. (The Edge)

Perda City Mall in Bukit Mertajam up for sale
Perda City Mall in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, has been put up for sale, and may fetch as much as RM500 million. The 10-year-old shopping centre was previously known as AEON Seberang Prai City Shopping Centre. The four-storey building — with a net lettable area (NLA) of 1.15 million sq ft and a single level of basement parking — is located on 19.66 acres of freehold land in Bandar Perda. The now-defunct mall is up for bids on a “as is where is” basis. It grabbed the headlines in August 2016 when the owners abruptly put up the shutters after giving the tenants only a day’s notice. (The Edge)

Versatile Creative scraps plan for RM110mil GDV Johor project
Versatile Creative Bhd has scrapped plans to develop medium-cost apartments in Johor Bahru, estimated to have a gross development value (GDV) of RM110 million. Last January, its wholly-owned subsidiary Versatile Smart Properties Sdn Bhd (VSPSB) entered into a MoU with Double Action Ventures Sdn Bhd (DAVSB) to jointly explore feasibilities of developing the apartments on a piece of land measuring 3.18 acres. However, there is no material development on the status of the MoU since its signing. VSPSB has decided not to pursue the MoU further. (The Edge)

YFG secures RM55mil army housing project in Negeri Sembilan
YFG Bhd has bagged a RM55 million construction contract from Evergreen Platform Sdn Bhd for a housing project in Negeri Sembilan. YFG, a electrical and mechanical company, secured the award via its wholly-owned unit YFG Engineering Sdn Bhd who will build 418 units of single-storey houses for the army. The scope of work will involve building, infrastructure and landscaping works at the site located in Tampin. (The Malaysian Reserve)

World’s first 3D-printed public housing unveiled in France
Researchers have unveiled what they billed as the world’s first 3D-printed house to serve as a home in the French city of Nantes, with the first tenants due to move in by June. It is the first house built in situ for human habitation using a robot 3D-printer. The robot, known as BatiPrint3D, took 18 days to complete its part of the work on the house – creating hollow walls that were subsequently filled with concrete for insulation. The 1,000-sq ft, five-room house will be allocated to a local family which qualifies for social housing. The Y-shaped home is equipped with multiple sensors that monitor air quality, humidity and temperature. Authorities in Nantes are planning further 3D-printed building projects, including a public reception building and a housing estate. (Reuters)