Author: editor

Johor is strengthening its position as a key investment destination in Southeast Asia following successful engagements with major Japanese corporations at Expo Osaka 2025. The state’s delegation, led by Johor Trade and Investment Committee Chairman Lee Ting Han, conducted targeted one-on-one discussions with four prominent Japanese firms, generating significant interest in Johor’s economic offerings. These interactions signal growing confidence in Johor’s strategic advantages and its potential as a gateway to ASEAN markets.

The four companies—IL Holdings, Morishita Jintan, Nissei, and Fuji Oil—operate across diverse high-value sectors including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, precision manufacturing, and food and chemical production. Their interest underscores Johor’s appeal to industries that prioritize innovation, quality, and supply chain integration. In addition to the private meetings, Johor co-hosted an investment forum with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, attracting participation from 60 Japanese enterprises and further highlighting the state’s expanding economic ties with Japan.

Johor’s attractiveness to international investors is supported by its political stability, modern infrastructure, and investor-friendly policies. Lee emphasized that Japanese firms bring advanced technological expertise, operational discipline, and supply chain development capabilities that align with Johor’s industrial growth objectives. These partnerships are expected to create high-value employment opportunities, facilitate technology transfer, and support the state’s long-term development agenda, Maju Johor 2030, as well as the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone.

The Maju Johor 2030 blueprint aims to position Johor as a leading regional hub for investment, innovation, and sustainable growth. It focuses on strengthening core industries, improving quality of life, and balancing economic advancement with environmental stewardship. Johor’ participation in Expo Osaka 2025 served as a strategic platform to showcase its economic strengths and expand international collaborations, reinforcing its role as a financial and industrial gateway in Southeast Asia.

By mid-2025, Johor had already secured over RM56 billion in investments, generating more than 8,000 jobs. Recent initiatives such as the Forest City Special Financial Zone and the development of the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone are set to enhance trade facilitation, mobility, and green digital incentives. These efforts, combined with deepening cooperation in sectors like semiconductors, cybersecurity, and renewable energy, reflect Johor’s ongoing commitment to becoming a dynamic and resilient economic powerhouse.

The property sector in Johor has experienced a notable upswing during the initial six months of 2025, driven by extensive infrastructure development and enhanced economic ties with neighboring Singapore. Major initiatives such as the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone and new transit systems have collectively boosted investor confidence and stimulated market activity. This period has seen a significant influx of capital and a marked increase in property valuations across various segments.

Approved investments in Johor reached RM56 billion in the first half of the year, representing nearly 30 percent of Malaysia’s national total. According to Samuel Tan of Olive Tree Property Consultants, foreign and domestic investors contributed almost equally, signaling strong belief in the state’s economic trajectory. Key infrastructure projects, including the Rapid Transit System Link set to open in 2027 and the Electric Train Service beginning in late 2025, are viewed as transformative for connectivity and commercial appeal.

Market absorption has improved, with over 3,000 overhang units sold since 2023 and properties near transit hubs appreciating by at least 20 percent. Service apartment prices rose from RM800 to RM1,200 per square foot, while commercial land values increased from RM700 to RM1,200 per square foot. Despite these gains, experts warn that rising construction costs and potential supply-demand mismatches could challenge affordability and market stability if left unaddressed.

Lee Nai Jia of PropertyGuru highlighted the continued influence of Singaporean buyers, including retirees and families with children in international schools, many of whom are Malaysians with Singapore permanent residency. However, demand remains sensitive to currency movements and geopolitical developments. Both analysts agree that while Johor’s growth is supported by solid fundamentals, maintaining momentum will require stronger regulation, accurate data, and affordable housing measures to prevent speculative imbalances and ensure long-term sustainability.

A fundamental shift is underway in how nations evaluate their prosperity, moving beyond traditional economic metrics to encompass environmental and social well-being. While gross domestic product has long served as the primary gauge of economic health, its limitations in reflecting ecological sustainability and social equity are becoming increasingly apparent. This evolving perspective calls for a more comprehensive approach to national accounting that captures the full spectrum of progress.

For decades, GDP has dominated economic policymaking by quantifying the market value of all goods and services produced within a country. However, this measurement fails to account for environmental degradation, resource depletion, and unpaid contributions such as caregiving and volunteer work. A nation can experience GDP growth through activities like deforestation or fossil fuel extraction while simultaneously undermining its natural capital and social fabric, creating a misleading picture of true progress.

Malaysia exemplifies this challenge, where rapid economic development has occurred alongside significant environmental costs including deforestation, river pollution, and coastal degradation. The country’s rich natural assets—from rainforests to coral reefs—face mounting pressure that conventional economic indicators fail to adequately capture. This disconnect highlights the urgent need for statistical frameworks that balance economic advancement with ecological preservation and social welfare.

Several alternative measurement systems offer more holistic approaches to assessing national progress. The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals provide a multidimensional framework tracking health, education, equality, and environmental quality alongside economic metrics. Other tools like the Inclusive Wealth Index measure national wealth through natural, human, and produced capital, while Genuine Progress Indicators adjust GDP by incorporating social and environmental costs.

The transition toward comprehensive measurement requires political commitment and public engagement to redefine national priorities. Statistical agencies must expand their reporting to include quarterly updates on carbon emissions, forest cover, air and water quality, and social indicators alongside traditional economic data. This enhanced accounting would provide policymakers and citizens with a more accurate representation of national well-being, enabling decisions that support sustainable development for future generations.

The upcoming 2026 Budget is poised to guide Malaysia’s economic direction during the initial phase of the 13th Malaysia Plan, according to a joint analysis by the KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific and the Economic Club of Kuala Lumpur. This budget is expected to signal how the government intends to balance immediate cost-of-living support with longer-term structural reforms. A key fiscal objective is a reduction in the deficit, projected to fall between 3.4% and 3.6% of GDP, with an optimistic outlook suggesting it could reach as low as 3.3%.

Economic growth is forecast to range from 3.8% to 4.6%, influenced by global economic conditions, the effectiveness of domestic policies, and the performance of key sectors such as electronics, commodities, and tourism. To support this growth, the government is anticipated to allocate RM86 billion for development projects. On the revenue side, a steady but moderate expansion is expected, driven by improved tax compliance and targeted adjustments rather than the introduction of major new taxes.

A significant focus of the budget will be on subsidy rationalisation, exemplified by the BUDI95 initiative that lowers the price of RON95 petrol. This measure is projected to generate savings of between RM2.5 billion and RM4 billion, depending on global oil prices. The government is expected to pair such subsidy reductions with direct aid and strengthened social safety nets to protect vulnerable households. Additional reforms may include incremental tax changes on specific goods and a broader push for digital tax reporting to improve efficiency and reduce revenue leakage.

Institutional and governance reforms are also on the agenda, with potential legislation covering government procurement, state-owned enterprises, and public information access. The public sector is likely to see increased digitalisation and the adoption of new government technology platforms. For monetary policy, Bank Negara Malaysia is expected to maintain a balanced approach, potentially holding or slightly reducing the overnight policy rate if inflation remains controlled and economic growth moderates.

The 2026 Budget is set to send important signals to financial markets, influencing the ringgit, bonds, equities, and foreign direct investment. A credible fiscal consolidation path is expected to support currency stability and attract strong demand for government securities and sukuk. Policy clarity on issues such as carbon pricing and tax incentives will be crucial for securing long-term foreign investment, shaping capital flows and investor sentiment well into the future.

Market participants are anticipating the ringgit to move in a constrained band against the US dollar in the coming week, with forecasts placing it between RM4.21 and RM4.23. This stability is largely attributed to consistent demand for the Malaysian currency alongside the influence of upcoming economic indicators from the United States. According to Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid, key US labour market reports will be a primary focus for investors.

These reports include the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey, ADP employment change data, and the critical nonfarm payrolls figures. Recent weekly initial jobless claims have pointed to a resilient US labour market, with unemployment benefit applications holding at relatively subdued levels. Such data points are closely monitored for their potential impact on global currency movements and investor sentiment.

Beyond immediate US data, domestic fiscal policy is also set to influence the ringgit’s trajectory. The tabling of Budget 2026 on October 10 is expected to draw significant attention, with expectations that the government will sustain an expansionary fiscal approach while working to reduce fiscal deficits. Such a strategy is viewed as supportive for the ringgit’s medium to long-term performance.

For the week just ended, the ringgit experienced a slight depreciation against the US dollar, closing at 4.2200/2250 compared to 4.2040/2115 the previous week. Despite this dip against the greenback, the local currency demonstrated broad strength against other major and regional currencies. It appreciated against the Japanese yen, euro, and British pound, while also posting gains versus the Singapore dollar, Philippine peso, Indonesian rupiah, and Thai baht.

Dalam langkah signifikan untuk operasi makanan dan minumannya, seluruh restoran, kafe, dan bistro IKEA di Malaysia kini telah resmi bersertifikat halal dari Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim). Sertifikasi resmi yang diumumkan pada Rabu (12/6) ini memberikan pengakuan nasional atas komitmen panjang perusahaan terhadap praktik halal. Pengesahan ini diharapkan dapat meningkatkan kepercayaan pelanggan terhadap hidangan yang disajikan di setiap gerai IKEA di negara tersebut.

Sertifikasi ini menyusul proses inspeksi ketat dan kolaborasi erat dengan Jakim, yang mengawasi segala hal mulai dari sumber bahan baku, alur kerja dapur, hingga pelatihan staf. IKEA Malaysia menekankan bahwa selama hampir tiga dekade, prinsip halal telah menjadi pedoman inti yang mengatur pengadaan bahan bersertifikat dan standar persiapan yang ketat. Pencapaian ini memperkuat praktik mapan tersebut sambil mempertahankan tolok ukur tinggi perusahaan untuk kualitas dan keamanan.

Malcolm Pruys, Direktur Ritel Negara IKEA Malaysia, menyatakan bahwa sertifikasi ini mencerminkan rasa hormat mendalam perusahaan terhadap keyakinan, budaya, dan komunitas setempat. Dia mencatat bahwa di Malaysia, halal lebih dari sekarat kepatuhan; ini adalah masalah kepercayaan, penghormatan budaya, dan kepatuhan beragama. Pruys mengungkapkan bahwa validasi ini akan memperkuat ikatan IKEA dengan masyarakat Malaysia dengan menunjukkan apresiasi terhadap hal yang paling penting bagi mereka.

Ke depan, IKEA Malaysia menegaskan kembali komitmennya untuk meningkatkan pengalaman pelanggan dengan membuat penawaran makanannya lebih inklusif, mudah diakses, dan terjangkau. Inisiatif ini mencakup rencana memperkenalkan lebih banyak pilihan berkelanjutan, mengurangi limbah makanan, dan menyajikan hidangan yang tidak hanya lezat tetapi juga lebih baik untuk manusia dan planet. Sertifikasi halal dipandang sebagai bagian kunci dari pemenuhan janji besar IKEA untuk menciptakan kehidupan sehari-hari yang lebih baik bagi masyarakat Malaysia melalui furnitur rumah dan makanan yang mencerminkan nilai-nilai lokal.

Dalam satu perubahan ketara bagi perdagangan transatlantik, Amerika Syarikat telah secara rasmi mengurangkan duti import ke atas kenderaan Kesatuan Eropah. Kadar tarif baharu sebanyak 15%, yang berkuat kuasa secara retroaktif untuk penghantaran mulai 1 Ogos, memuktamadkan rangka kerja perdagangan yang dipersetujui awal tahun ini. Dokumentasi rasmi yang menerangkan pelarasan tersebut telah diterbitkan oleh pihak berkuasa perdagangan AS minggu ini.

Pengumuman itu mencetuskan tindak balas positif serta-merta di pasaran Eropah, terutamanya untuk gergasi automotif Jerman. Saham Volkswagen, Porsche, dan Mercedes-Benz semuanya mencatatkan kenaikan ketara. Porsche, yang bergantung sepenuhnya kepada eksport ke pasaran AS, menyaksikan kenaikan sahamnya sehingga 3.8 peratus berikutan berita tersebut.

Di luar sektor automotif, perubahan dasar ini termasuk senarai pengecualian untuk industri lain yang berkuat kuasa mulai 1 September. Pengecualian ini merangkumi komponen pesawat, farmaseutik generik, serta logam dan bijih tertentu. Walau bagaimanapun, pelepasan tarif untuk kereta dan komponen automotif adalah bersyarat kepada EU mengambil tindakan balasan.

Blok Eropah telah memenuhi bahagian perjanjian pada 28 Ogos dengan memperkenalkan undang-undang untuk menurunkan tarifnya sendiri ke atas produk Amerika. Tindakan balasan ini membenarkan pentadbiran Trump untuk melaksanakan kadar baharu yang lebih rendah untuk kenderaan secara retroaktif, yang sebelum ini dikenakan duti 25 peratus. Kerajaan AS menunjukkan bahawa senarai produk terjejas mungkin akan dikaji semula pada masa hadapan.

Satu gelombang baharu serangan siber menunjukkan perubahan strategi jenayah, dengan penggodam semakin mensasarkan organisasi utama untuk menyebabkan gangguan maksimum. Tren ini ditonjolkan hujung minggu lalu apabila insiden perisian tebusan terhadap pembekal teknologi penerbangan Collins Aerospace melumpuhkan sistem daftar masuk di banyak lapangan terbang Eropah, mengakibatkan kelewatan penerbangan meluas dan kesusahan penumpang. Agensi keselamatan siber Kesatuan Eropah, Enisa, secara rasmi mengklasifikasikan insiden itu sebagai serangan perisian tebusan, walaupun pelaku masih tidak dikenal pasti. Gangguan yang bermula pada Jumaat itu memberi kesan teruk kepada perkhidmatan pengendalian bagasi dan pemprosesan penumpang.

Serangan terhadap Collins Aerospace, anak syarikat RTX, sejajar dengan corak jenayah siber yang semakin berani. Walaupun kebanyakan operasi perisian tebusan menumpukan pada penyulitan dan kecurian data untuk tujuan pemerasan kewangan, satu subset tertentu kini sengaja bertujuan melumpuhkan perkhidmatan kritikal. Menurut Rafe Pilling, pengarah risikan ancaman di firma keselamatan siber Britain Sophos, serangan berimpak tinggi ini yang sering dirancang kumpulan berpangkalan di Barat, semakin kelihatan dan bercita-cita tinggi. Setakat Isnin, tiada kumpulan penggodam mengaku bertanggungjawab atas pelanggaran Collins Aerospace di laman web bocor web gelap, yang merupakan platform biasa untuk pengumuman sedemikian.

Bulan-bulan kebelakangan ini menyaksikan beberapa insiden terkenal yang dikaitkan dengan kumpulan jenayah siber yang semakin berani. Satu kumpulan dikenali sebagai Scattered Spider dilaporkan secara meluas berada di sebalik serangan April yang menghentikan operasi dalam talian peruncit Britain Marks & Spencer selama beberapa minggu. Baru-baru ini, Agensi Jenayah Kebangsaan Britain mendakwa dua remaja berkaitan serangan siber terhadap sistem pengangkutan awam London, insiden yang disiasat dikaitkan dengan kumpulan sama. FBI menganggarkan Scattered Spider terlibat dalam kira-kira 120 pencerobohan rangkaian, memperoleh anggaran $115 juta hasil bayaran tebusan.

Pakar memberi amaran motivasi serangan ini melampaui sekadar keuntungan kewangan. Bagi sesetengah penjenayah siber, berjaya menceroboh sasaran berprofil tinggi membawa pengaruh reputasi dan status sosial penting dalam komuniti penggodam. Pengejaran kemasyhuran ini menggalakkan serangan lebih berisiko terhadap infrastruktur kritikal. Martyn Thomas, Profesor Emeritus IT di Gresham College London, memberi amaran strategi sama digunakan untuk gangguan boleh digunakan terhadap sistem penjagaan kesihatan atau infrastruktur utama dengan niat menyebabkan kemudaratan serius atau kehilangan nyawa, menonjolkan eskalasi berpotensi berbahaya.

Peningkatan kekerapan dan impak serangan ini menunjukkan masalah sistemik yang memerlukan peningkatan asas dalam keselamatan perisian dan amalan IT korporat. Pilling dari Sophos menyatakan sekumpulan kecil penjenayah siber yang bertekad semakin berani disebabkan kejayaan lalu. Selagi pembangunan perisian tidak menjadi lebih selamat dan syarikat kurang ketat menilai teknologi digunakan, masalah ini mungkin bertambah buruk, menimbulkan ancaman semakin besar kepada kestabilan ekonomi global dan keselamatan awam.

一股新的中国商品潮正席卷全球市场，突破华盛顿的关税壁垒，重塑世界经济格局。尽管面临数十年来最严苛的美国关税，中国仍朝着1.2万亿美元的惊人贸易顺差狂奔，证明其出口引擎比许多预测更具韧性。被挡在美国市场门外的制造商以惊人速度转向，在印度、非洲和东南亚创下销售纪录，从新德里到巴西利亚拉响警报。

然而这场出口爆发是柄双刃剑。虽然出口量飙升，但中国工业企业利润在今年前七个月实际下降。为化解国内产能过剩，制造商竞相压价，这种策略可能加剧中国持续的通缩压力，并动摇北京向消费驱动型经济转型的目标。出口狂潮的成功在展现外部韧性的同时，正引发内部经济阵痛。

国际社会的反应异常克制——各国基于复杂地缘政治考量而采取审慎观望。印度尼西亚等国虽对廉价进口商品激增保持警惕，社交媒体上中国牛仔裤卖0.8美元的病毒视频引发民众不满，但多数国家暂未实施全面反制。分析人士指出，正与特朗普政府进行贸易谈判的国家不愿开辟对华第二战线，担心冲击全球贸易体系。南非等国转而寻求更多中国投资，智利和厄瓜多尔则谨慎采取针对性收费措施。

北京正积极运用外交斡旋与明确警示双管齐下，防范全球形成统一反制阵线。习近平主席近期呼吁金砖国家共同反对保护主义，商务官员则明确警告墨西哥加征关税需”三思”。这场博弈关乎重大战略利益：若特朗普成功推动北约盟友组建对华关税联盟，中国应对房地产低迷与人口老龄化等国内经济挑战的能力将严重受限。

中国凭借战略转圜空间与巨大制造规模，使其出口洪流难以阻挡。企业通过第三国转运等创新方式规避壁垒，中国高科技产品在欧洲和澳洲需求持续旺盛。本币贬值增强的出口竞争力表明，这场贸易冲击远未结束。正如分析师所言，中国展现出了抢占海外市场的非凡能力，今年出口萎缩的可能性微乎其微。

Pasar properti Malaysia mengalami sedikit kontraksi dalam volume transaksi selama paruh pertama 2025, meskipun nilai keseluruhan penjualan properti mengalami peningkatan moderat. Menurut Pusat Informasi Properti Nasional, jumlah transaksi turun 1,3% menjadi 196.232, sementara nilai totalnya naik 1,9% menjadi RM107,68 miliar dibandingkan periode yang sama tahun 2024. Kinerja beragam ini mencerminkan penyesuaian berkelanjutan dalam sektor ini seiring respons pengembang terhadap kondisi pasar.

Properti residensial terus memimpin pasar dengan 120.307 transaksi senilai RM49,37 miliar. Segmen komersial menyusul dengan 21.260 transaksi senilai RM24,45 miliar, sementara kategori industri, pertanian, dan lahan pengembangan juga berkontribusi signifikan terhadap angka keseluruhan. Meskipun ada aktivitas ini, peluncuran perumahan baru anjlok hampir 46%, dengan hanya 23.380 unit yang diperkenalkan dan tingkat penjualan 24%.

Kekhawatiran yang semakin meningkat adalah jumlah rumah selesai yang tidak terjual, yang meningkat 16,3% menjadi 26.911 unit senilai RM16,44 miliar. Sebaliknya, situasi overhang untuk apartemen berfasilitas membaik, dengan unit tidak terjual turun 8,6% menjadi 17.883. Harga rumah rata-rata mengalami pertumbuhan minimal, hanya naik 0,7% menjadi RM490.376 per unit.

Menteri Keuangan II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan menyatakan keyakinan akan ketahanan pasar, menekankan dukungan pemerintah yang berkelanjutan untuk membantu sektor ini menghadapi tantangan ekonomi global. Ia menyoroti bahwa insentif dan komitmen yang berlangsung dirancang untuk memberi manfaat bagi publik sekaligus memperkuat kinerja pasar properti dalam beberapa bulan mendatang.