TNB: Smart meter accurate
Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has reaffirmed that its smart meter system works efficiently and there is no misreading on the actual monthly power usage. The company said it was aware of the complaints from consumers that their monthly bills had soared drastically since converting to the smart meters. TNB said the readings were discovered to be accurate, and the previous (lower) charges were due to several factors, including meter tampering. Melaka is among the pioneer states to introduce the smart meter and to date, over 300,000 households are already using it. Earlier this month, Melaka Chief Minister Adly Zahari urged TNB to ensure the smart meter system was implemented properly, including its myTNB application that allows consumers to monitor their electricity consumption via their smartphones and help them reduce usage. (The Star Online)
MHub partners Chinese website to spur Chinese buying of Malaysian properties
Digital real estate marketplace Mhub announced a partnership with Juwai.com, China’s largest international property website, to attract Chinese buyers looking to purchase homes in Malaysia. With Chinese investment in Malaysia’s residential real estate expected to double by 2025, the agreement will give local property sellers access to Juwai.com’s more than 3.1 million monthly users. According to Juwai.com, buyers from mainland China purchased RM9.5 billion worth of Malaysian residential and commercial properties last year, with more than 80% investment in the residential sector. (The Borneo Post)
Australia property sees ray of hope on looser mortgage rules, rate cut bets
Australia’s crumbling housing market looks set to stabilise over coming months as hopes of interest rate cuts and loosening of mortgage rules have boosted buyer inquiries, property and mortgage brokers say. Home prices across Australia have fallen rapidly since late-2017, heightening worries among policymakers that a prolonged decline would deal a severe blow to the country’s already slowing economy. While industry watchers say a return to boom times is unlikely anytime soon, they point to signs suggesting a bottoming-out for the sector is imminent. property and mortgage brokers who spoke to Reuters on Friday also said they have seen a noticeable jump in customer inquiries, including from those buying a home for investment. (The Star Online)
Financial issues biggest cause of divorce in Malaysia
Nearly half of the marriages which end in divorce in Malaysia break down due to financial problems. Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Hannah Yeoh said, on a yearly basis, financial issues come up tops as the reason marriages end in divorce. Yeoh said, when a marriage breaks down due to financial issues, whichever party gains custody of the children would be prone to be stressed. This, she said, could lead to the abuse of the children. “After the divorce, most mothers are left without any income and with the responsibility of caring for the children with financial constraints, they tend to face stress and this eventually leads to abuse of the children.” Yeoh said the trend was similar even if the husband gets custody of the children. (NST Online)
The initial Visit Malaysia 2020 logo that was revealed in 2018. (Source: The Star)
New Visit Malaysia 2020 logo to be launched in June
The new logo for the Visit Malaysia Year 2020 (VMY2020) campaign will be unveiled next month by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said Tourism Malaysia Director-General Datuk Musa Yusof. The logo designed by Malaysians was selected from dozens of participants who entered the competition to design the Visit Malaysia Year 2020 campaign logo, which was held from March 11 to 24. The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture was forced to hold the competition after the existing logo launched in Chiang Mai, Thailand in January, received negative feedback and criticisms from various parties. Meanwhile, Musa said Tourism Malaysia will also enhance its collaboration with local media agencies in an effort to strengthen and intensify the VMY2020 promotional campaign. VMY2020 is the fifth such campaign organised since 1990 and is targeted to bring in 30 million tourists. (The Edge)
