Key Investor Benefits Malaysia

• One of the fastest growing economies in the region (+7% est.)
• British legal system, property laws and environment
• Safety - Malaysia is one of the safest countries in the world and its crime rate is relatively low
• Freehold property ownership and security of title Active government incentives (Malaysia My Second Home Programme) encouraging foreign homebuyers to the country through offering 10 year entry permits
• Attractive, well-priced properties with strong rental demand
• Low buying costs at between 3.4 to 6.75% of the property value
• Strong capital growth of between 15 and 30%
• Effective Land Registry and transparency in property transactions
• Tax advantages: remittances of income from overseas are TAX FREE
• Car import duties and other taxes are waived for foreign residents
• No capital gains tax on unearned income inside the country
• No requirement, as in neighbouring countries, for a company or local “partners” to buy property
• Capital gains on real property are less than 5% after 5 years
• Strong demand for resale properties from locals moving to the cities
• Also a high demand for quality new real estate is high from an affluent expatriate market
• Among the top three countries for the greatest number of tourist arrivals among the 53 Commonwealth countries, according to the World Tourism Organisation
• Tourist arrivals in Malaysia rose by more than 160% between 2000 and 2005 - an astonishing achievement for tourism
• Chinese investors already active in the market and this is expected to grow
• Good, modern communications and infrastructure countrywide
• Through its Ninth Plan, the government of Malaysia aims to further improve the infrastructure and general economic development of the country. Analysts believe this will have a positive impact on the Malaysian real estate market
• The value of the local currency, the Ringgit, is far below the Euro, Dollar and Pound Sterling, allowing foreign investors to buy a lot more for their money in Malaysia
• Easy and cheap to reach with 25 flights a week from UK starting at £285
• Low cost of living, for example petrol at 25p per litre, cigarettes 90p per packet
• Low cost of regional flights on Air Asia to major S.E. Asian cities
• High quality development properties in prime areas are now available
• Strategic location - close to Australia, Bali and Singapore
• English language widely spoken and all property sale agreements in English
• English language newspapers, radio and television available everywhere
• Wonderful climate and food
• Superb golf and other sports facilities
• Extensive white sandy beaches continue to draw holidaymakers
• Warm, friendly people and peaceful pro British environment

Why Invest - Malaysia

One of the fastest growing economies in the region with property prices having strong capital growth of between 15% and 30%. To add to this there is also No Capital Gains Tax, no VAT or Inheritance tax. Partnered with the above Malaysia has a British legal system and property laws. All property sale agreements are in English, therefore giving further comfort factor to investors, and making the purchase process simple.

Tourism in Malaysia rose by more than 160% between 2000 and 2005, and is still rising (http://www.tourism.gov.my). Malaysia is easily accessible from the all over the world and has a wonderful climate, a wide range of cuisines and extensive white sandy beaches with crystal clear blue seas

Malaysia is Political stable the ruling Government is the longest serving freely elected Government in the world. It is a Government representing all the races, religions, cultures etc. found in Malaysia. In fact, Malaysia is one of the most politically stable countries in the world.

"Malaysia : My Second Home" program is to allow people from all over the world, who fulfill certain criteria, to stay in Malaysia as long as possible on a social visit pass with multiple entry visa. The Social Visit Pass is initially for a period of 10 years and renewable. This program is initiated, organized and launched by the Malaysian Government. It is, therefore, a program, that the Government will continously work to ensure its success http://www.mm2h.com.my/

Malaysia Area Information

Selangor is one of the 13 states of Malaysia. Selangor is centrally located on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is one of the most prosperous and developed states in the country. Selangor is bordered by Perak to the north, Pahang to the east, Negeri Sembilan to the south and the Strait of Malacca to the west. Most tourists to Malaysia will arrive in Selangor at the new K L International Airport (KLIA) at Sepang designed as an 'airport within a forest'. Kuala Lumpur was the capital of Selangor until it was made the federal capital in 1974. The state capital is Shah Alam, the first city in Selangor, and the royal capital is Klang. Another major urban centre is Petaling Jaya which was awarded city status on June 20, 2006.

Selangor has a wide range of attractions: natural, man-made, historical and cultural. Most of these attractions are within close proximity to Kuala Lumpar and can be covered within a few days.

The capital of Selangor ShahAlam, isa well-planned city and is home to the country's first agro-forestry park at Bukit Cahaya. The Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Mosque in the heart of Shah Alam is an architectural masterpiece.

The Kuala Selangor Nature Park, is the perfect place for bird-watching and outdoor activities like jungle trekking and camping. A few miles away at Kampung Kuantan you can watch thousands of fireflies and their spectacular 'light' show in a mangrove swamp at dusk. Selangor's premier theme park, the Sunway Lagoon, offers world class recreational facilities for hours of family fun and excitement, it is located close to Kuala Lumpar.

Once the location of the world's largest open-cast tin mine (Mines Resort City) is another major attraction providing a comprehensive range of facilities for recreation, entertainment, shopping and business, The Batu Caves, a well known Hindu shrine located in a huge limestone outcrop outside Kuala Lumpar, attracts a daily stream of visitors as well as thousands of devotees during the annual Thaipusam festival. The Forest Research Institute of Malaysia in Kepong provides the uninitiated an educational experience and a breathtaking view of a typical Malaysian forest from its canopy walkway amid the tree tops.

Selangor is the richest state in Malaysia in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) and second richest behind Penang in terms of GDP per capita. On 27 August 2005, Selangor was officially declared the first developed state in Malaysia by the then state government.

Malaysia Facts at a Glance

Area: 329,758 sq km (127,317 sq miles)
Population: 27.5m (2008)
Capital City: Kuala Lumpur (population: 1.5m); Putrajaya (Administrative Capital)
People: Bumiputra (mostly Malays) (66%), Chinese (25%), Indians (8%), Others (1%)
Languages: Bahasa Malaysia (Malay) is the national language. Other languages include Chinese, Tamil and Iban. English is widely used.
Religions: 55% Muslim, 17% Buddhist, 12% Taoist, 7% Christian, 7% Hindu, 2% Animist/Other
Geography: Malaysia has two geographically distinct areas. 11 of its 13 states are in Peninsular Malaysia, bordering Thailand and Singapore. Sabah and Sarawak, as well as the federal territory of Labuan, form East Malaysia on the north of Borneo, bordering Indonesia and Brunei.
Currency: Ringgit Malaysia (RM)
 

ECONOMY

Source: www.fac.gov.uk

Basic Economic Facts
GDP: US$195bn (2009 EIU estimate)
GDP per head (Nominal): US$6,721 (2007)
GDP per head (Purchasing Power Parity): US$13,314 (2009 estimate).
Annual Growth: 2007: 6.3% (actual); 2008: 4.6% (actual); 2009: 1 and 1% (Govt projected)
Inflation: 2007: 2.0% (actual); 2008: 5.4% (actual); 2009: 1.5-2% (Govt projected).
Major Industries: Electronics, Petroleum & LNG, Chemicals, Textiles, Palm Oil, Timber, Tourism
Major Trading Partners: USA, EU, Singapore, Japan and China
Exchange Rate: £1=5.26 Ringgit - variable (April 8, 2009)
Total Exports with UK: £1.84 bn; +7% on-year (Jan.-Dec 2008)
Total Imports with UK: £1.14 bn; +19% on-year (Jan.-Dec 2008)

Malaysia is one of South East Asia's more successful economies and one of UK Trade and Investment's High Growth Markets. Recent GDP growth has raised per capita income to US$6,721 in 2007 (close to double that in PPP terms based on 2009 estimates), transforming a commodities-based economy into one with a large, export-orientated manufacturing sector. Apart from a minor blip during the financial crisis of 1997-1998 the economy has continued to grow robustly since then: most recently by 6.3% in 2007 and 4.6% in 2008. Nowadays the services sector (rising to nearly 46.6% of GDP in 2007) is increasingly important; while both commodities (palm oil and rubber) and oil and gas remain substantial sectors and benefited from record high prices in 2008.

Since the Asian financial crisis, Malaysia has made good progress in reforming its banking and financial system. Local banks have been consolidated and there is phased liberalisation to allow greater competition. Malaysia has developed its Islamic Finance capability and is now a major hub in the Asia Pacific region. The Government has also progressively dismantled the exchange and other controls imposed during the Asia Crisis - including abandoning the Ringgit peg to the dollar in July 2005 in favour of a managed float.

The chief economic reform challenges facing Malaysia now are to improve the performance of Government Linked Companies (which still account for a large part of the economy); to achieve further progress in corporate governance and transparency, and to move up the value chain in response to the economic challenge posed by China and other low-cost manufacturing economies. The administration has made some changes to improve financial and political accountability, and is seeking to improve Malaysian competitiveness in sectors such as biotechnology.
 

For visa information to: http://www.malaysianembassy.net/