Highways help boost industrial property values

“For industrial properties, you follow the highways,” Raine & Horne International Zaki + Partners Sdn Bhd associate director James Tan Keen Meng. He explained that the highway network in general had positively impacted industrial property values and that, despite the pandemic, the industrial property sector had been the least affected compared with other real estate sectors. According to him, the industrial and logistics sectors are likely to perform well, as the pandemic has accelerated the growth of the e-retail/e-commerce business, thus benefitting the warehousing and logistics sectors. “One of the key issues for industrial properties — or any developer-type properties for that matter — is accessibility, which is defined as the ease of access between two points measured by DCTC, which stands for distance, cost, time and convenience,” said Tan. Tan highlighted several highways — namely the SILK Highway, West Coast Expressway (WCE), and Rawang Bypass — to demonstrate how property values for industrial parks have benefitted or will benefit from this type of infrastructure. With better accessibility and a growing demand for logistics and e-commerce services, industrial properties are looking at a bright future. (The Edge)

Over 30% of adults vaccinated

Malaysia has fully vaccinated over 30% of its adult population against Covid-19, says Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba. In his tweet, he stated 468,526 doses were administered on Monday alone. This brought the total number of vaccine doses administered to 21,668,999. Of this, 7,197,861 individuals, or 30.7% of the adult population, have received two doses of the vaccine. At least 61.8% of the adult population has received one dose. (The Star)

PM: This is in line with King’s decree, Federal Constitution

A motion to debate and annul the Emergency Ordinances will be tabled in the upcoming Parliament meeting in September, says Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. He added this was also in accordance with Article 150(3) of the Federal Constitution, where the debates and annulments of the Emergency Ordinances will be brought in Parliament during a 15-day meeting. Muhyiddin said according to the Federal Constitution, the end of the Proclamation of Emergency on Aug 1 has made the revocation of the Emergency Ordinances academic. A statement by Istana Negara on July 29 stated that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had expressed disappointment with the government’s decision to revoke six Emergency Ordinances without his consent. In response, the Prime Minister’s Office in a statement on July 29, said Muhyiddin had advised the King to annul the Emergency Ordinances even before the special Parliament sitting convened on July 26 and in accordance with Article 40(1) of the Constitution, the King acts on the advice of the Prime Minister. The first meeting of the fourth session of the 14th Parliament will sit for 15 days beginning Sept 6 until 30. (The Star)

OCR to launch biggest property project in Shah Alam in 1Q22

OCR Group Bhd aims to launch its largest ever property development in Shah Alam with a minimum GDV of RM750 million in the first quarter of 2022. The integrated property developer said its 26.9-acre Shah Alam project would consist of 2,892 affordable units along with retail spaces in phases. Managing director Billy Ong Kah Hoe said the project would showcase OCR’s expanded capabilities and increasing prowess in the property development scene. Ong said the project touted as “Essential Living series” would be sold at attractive price points to realise Malaysians’ dream of owning a home, catering to two groups: existing population and new joiners to Shah Alam. OCR said the entire project was expected to be completed by 2026. Coupled with its upcoming RM105.9 million GDV project at Jalan Alor in Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Ong said OCR’s future launches in the next two years would hit RM1.6 billion. OCR expects to launch its Urban Living project at Jalan Alor in 2022 and completed in 2025. (NST Online)

Study: Nearly five million fewer girls to be born worldwide over next 10 years

An estimated 4.7 million fewer girls are expected to be born globally in the next 10 years because of sex-selective practices in countries with a cultural preference for male offspring, a trend that could undermine social cohesion in the long term, research showed. The research suggested that the projected shortfall in the number of girls being born will lead to a surplus of young men in around a third of the global population by 2030, which could lead to increased anti-social behaviour and violence. “Fewer-than-expected females in a population could result in elevated levels of anti-social behaviour and violence, and may ultimately affect long-term stability and social sustainable development,” they wrote. Sex-selective abortions have been on the rise for the past 40 years in countries throughout southeast Europe along with south and east Asia, with as-yet undetermined demographic impacts. The United Nations defines sex-selective practices alongside child marriage and female genital mutilation as harmful practices targeted under the Millennium Development Goals. (Malay Mail)