Leading Malaysian Coworking Company WORQ Launches Its Largest Coworking Space

Posted on 22/03/2023 by admin

One of the largest coworking spaces in Malaysia, WORQ, has officially launched their fifth and largest outlet in a strategic location at Menara 1 Sentrum, KL Sentral. Located in the center of Kuala Lumpur, the site is surrounded by unimpeded views of Kuala Lumpur’s cityscape and is equipped with convenient access to train services and food options right next door.

This new office space occupies two levels in Menara 1 Sentrum, with a total area of 34,000 sq ft. The outlet has achieved 80% occupancy prior to its launch. The whole space on the higher level has been occupied by a single tenant with 300 pax under the WORQ Enterprise Solutions – the latest innovative service for enterprises in Malaysia to provide next generation office solutions.

Stephanie Ping, CEO and Co-founder of WORQ shared, ”We have continued to see strong demand at all our WORQ outlets, proving that companies are looking for agile solutions that solve their real estate issues. We pride ourselves on being at the forefront of innovation in the
coworking industry by understanding what the market needs and being able to develop solutions and services for our customers. The launch of our newest outlet in KL Sentral is on the back of continued strong demand from the business community in Malaysia and we are
excited to see more large scale enterprises understand the benefit of flexible workspaces for their teams.”

Already the leading coworking group in the market, the newest WORQ outlet reached profitability since Day-1. Even before the fitout work began, this location had already received 70% of its pre-sales, and since the brand’s launch, WORQ has consistently kept occupancy rates above 90% at all of its locations.

As a gold sponsor for WORQ, Ovalapp demonstrated its support for the brand’s launch event by providing attendees with digital business cards as part of the sponsorship benefits.

How WORQ is paving the way for sustainable business practices

WORQ is a market leader with a network of coworking spaces in Malaysia that recognizes the importance of sustainability and is taking steps towards sustainable business practices. This is of utmost significance, especially in light of the prevailing surplus of office spaces in Malaysia, which has surged to 26% in the year 2022, whereas the adoption of coworking spaces merely constitutes 1%.

Traditional office leases often lead to wastage of resources through construction and reinstatement of spaces everytime a tenant changes. Coworking aligns with the principles of recycling and reusing resources, by designing office spaces with modular designs, spaces can
be repurposed for new tenants with minimal demolition or rebuilding. This sustainable approach minimizes wastage and adds up to 9 years to office spaces’ lifespan.

All of WORQ’s outlets are strategically located near public transportation hubs, including train stations, to promote alternative commuting methods and improve mobility, hence reducing carbon emissions. For each coworking outlet that is built, on average members collectively can save up to 7,000 hours of commute time per year. This improves productivity, employees wellbeing and ultimately is a more sustainable workstyle for the future.

WORQ’s outlet in Menara 1 Sentrum is located in a certified green building with an environmentally friendly design that incorporates the use of sustainable low-emitting materials and energy-saving features to assist tenants in reducing their environmental impact.

One of WORQ’s early supporters and repeat investors, Phillip Capital Management’s CEO, Mr Linus Lim Wen Sheong shared, “We are delighted to endorse WORQ’s impressive market foresight and strategic acumen, which positions them ahead of the curve. Their scalable
business model, tailored to serve the mass market with a value-for-money solution, has the potential to capture the highest market share not only in Malaysia but also across Asia. As a satisfied customer and investor, we applaud WORQ’s commitment to sustainable business
practices, and we believe that this emphasis on sustainability will not only benefit the environment but also contribute to the company’s long-term success.”

It is projected that the adoption of coworking spaces will surge to 20% within the next decade, consequently resulting in a decrease of vacant office space to 10%. WORQ’s emphasis on sustainable practices and environmentally friendly design is a step in the right direction towards
a greener and more responsible future. It ensures the company’s long-term success while making a positive impact on the environment.

The future of WORQ in Malaysia

WORQ outlets has achieved full occupancy on average within two months from opening, significantly quicker than industry averages, which can take up to twelve months. This has been a key differentiator in WORQ’s better profitability versus its peers. The company’s success can be attributed to its focus on disciplined execution and creating a community-driven ecosystem that offers a wide range of amenities that cater to the needs of modern professionals. As WORQ continues to expand, more businesses across Malaysia can enjoy the benefits of utilizing flexible workspaces.

“Recognizing the current state of the office market is crucial as there has been a significant increase in office vacancies to 33 million square feet between 2016 and 2022, leading to a substantial capital loss of approximately RM10 billion. This situation has had negative impacts on our economy. At WORQ, we understand the importance of addressing this issue, and our coworking solutions provide a practical approach by repurposing unused office spaces. By converting these spaces into coworking spaces, we can increase demand and alleviate the oversupply of office spaces. As more businesses adopt the flexibility and convenience of coworking, we strongly believe that coworking spaces will play a critical role in driving office space growth. In fact, a recent survey by CBRE showed that 70% of businesses will be users of coworking spaces within the next two years.” Stephanie shared.

The brand has ambitious plans to quadruple their space by the end of 2025. Commencing the year 2023 with a total area of 98,000 sq ft, WORQ’s KL Sentral expansion is the first for the year, with further aims to double its space under management to 200,000 sq ft by the end of the year, propelled by the sustained robust demand exhibited by the Malaysian business community. By 2030, the market size of the coworking space industry in Malaysia is projected to grow to RM1.3 billion and WORQ’s replicable model is well positioned to capture more than 50% of that market share, with their mid-term plans being to build up to 3 million square feet of coworking spaces in Malaysia alone.

About WORQ

WORQ’s mission is simple; to liberalise real estate for the countless people using it. To do so, it aims to provide Google-like offices everywhere and enable users to consume real estate via a Space-As-A-Service model. WORQ, through its community-centred spaces, has garnered a total of 9 awards since its inception including the prestigious TechNode Global ORIGIN Innovation Awards for Best Community Builder.

Boasting honoured guests that have passed through its doors such as King Charles III, who visited their TTDI outlet in 2017, and Executive Secretary of the U.S. Department of State, Kamala Ladhir who visited in 2018, WORQ’s hyper-localised community centres is the meeting place for workers and businesses alike which in turn attracts high-profile visitors to engage with its robust community.

WORQ has been working on their secret recipe for scaling this model effectively. It ultimately aims to fulfill its vision, which is to help people prosper by working together.

The Amazing Reconciliation Of Father And Son, And This Reflected Inside The Will

Posted on 22/03/202331/07/2026 by admin

The following story is based on an actual series of events, with some names and circumstances fictionalised. Any similarity to any person’s name, character, or history is coincidental and unintentional. Family in-fighting is common, but it should not hurt family ties and ultimately cause things to flow inside the will.

David is a successful businessman who worked very hard building up his multi-billion dollar ceramic tile manufacturing business. So hard that he had little time for home and family, far less than he should have for bonding with his two sons, Ethan and Ben.

Ethan was the older brother. A slow and steady person. Reliable. Non-controversial. Compliant. But unimaginative. He worked as the chief quality controller in his father’s business.

Ben was a very bright child. The apple of his father’s eye during his younger days. The one his father hoped would take over the business in time.

Read: He Had Everything But Children’s Harmony In The Family Business

Don’t Make Hasty Decisions For Things Inside The Will

One day, David called me to lunch at his office. Over dim sum, he told me he wanted to revise his will. Many years earlier, I had written a will for him when he wished to leave his business equally to his two sons and the rest of his assets to his wife.

He instructed me to change his will to cut off Ben and set a small portion of his estate for a trust, RM10 million to be precise, to cater only for Ben’s basic needs for the rest of his life. I was shocked because his business, listed by then, was worth some RM500 million.

“Are you sure?” I asked him. He suddenly looked downcast and said yes.

“Why the great disparity between the allocations for the first and second son?” I asked.

David said that Ben, after university, had worked in his company as the business development manager. Unfortunately, he became an alcoholic, to the deep disappointment of his father, and set a bad example in the office, often coming in late, slurring in his speech and reeking of the smell of alcohol.

Read: Being An Executor Of Will Is Not As Easy As It Seems To Be

Ties Can Be Repaired Before Finalising The Details Inside The Will

I told him a clause would have to be added in the revised will to explain why he was excluding Ben from inheritance through the will. I also mentioned that he should talk with his wayward son before finalising the details inside the will.

He said he had made up his mind, but I asked him whether he had considered that the underlying cause of the son’s behaviour and addiction could have been because he had been too harsh and draconian with the son without listening to his issues.

He stopped in his tracks, stared into space and remained silent for a long while. He sent me off and said he would be in touch.

After two months, he called me to meet again to discuss his new succession plans and to change the details inside the will. To my surprise, this time, his instructions were to leave the business 51% to Ben and 49% to Ethan.

Anticipating my question, he said he finally concurred with Ben through a weekend trip. His son had turned to alcohol to vent his frustrations because of a perceived lack of listening ear from his father for many years. After many souls searching, the son had gone for
rehabilitation treatment and managed to kick out his addiction.

Needless to say, the father was ecstatic over his change and hence the revision of his will. Seeing the father and son reconcile after many years of misunderstanding was most satisfying as an estate planner. All because I had asked David a simple question, the family’s relationship improved, which was reflected inside the will.

Read: Money Caused Breakup Among Four Close Friends, That’s Why it Is Important To Plan For The Succession Of A Business

About Rockwills International Group

Rockwills International Group, now in its 28th year, pioneered professional will writing in 1995 and has since evolved into the leading estate planning specialist in the country. It is today the largest provider of solutions and support services in trusts, succession, management and distribution of wealth. It has shareholders’ funds exceeding RM50 million. It has done over 280,000 wills and 15,000 trusts and holds more than RM25 billion in assets under trust.

Bursa Malaysia Recognises Top Performing Brokers And Market Intermediaries At The Bursa Excellence Awards 2022

Posted on 22/03/2023 by admin

Bursa Malaysia Berhad (“Bursa Malaysia” or the “Exchange”) held its 10th annual Bursa Excellence Awards 2022 ceremony on 20 March 2023, to honour outstanding performance of brokers and market intermediaries in the Malaysian capital market. Themed “Recognising Excellence, Celebrating Success”, a total of 54 accolades spanning 24 categories in the Securities, Derivatives and Islamic markets were awarded.

In 2022, the Exchange witnessed active trading of securities, at an Average Daily Trading Value (“ADV”) of RM2.1 billion. “Initial public offerings in 2022 were strong and vibrant,” said Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar, Chairman of Bursa Malaysia. “We welcomed 35 IPOs in 2022, the highest on the Exchange since 2007, which raised a total of RM3.5 billion and contributed RM11.15 billion to the overall market capitalisation of RM1.74 trillion.”

Winner of the Bursa Excellence Awards 2022 for “Best Overall Equities Participating Organisation” category. From R-L: Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift, CEO of Bursa Malaysia; Ng Meng Wah, Affin Hwang Investment Bank Berhad; Lee Kok Khee, Kenanga Investment Bank Berhad; Azizah Mohd Yatim, CGS-CIMB Securities Sdn Bhd; Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar, Chairman of Bursa Malaysia

“The derivatives market, on the other hand, recorded an all-time high in trading volume last year, achieving a record high of 19.1 million contracts traded in 2022, surpassing the previous high of 18.4 million contracts registered in 2021. Meanwhile, our Commodity Murabahah platform Bursa Suq Al-Sila performed similarly well in the Islamic Capital Market, with 22.3 percent higher ADV, up from RM37.3 billion in 2021 to RM45.6 billion in 2022,” he added.

Winner of the Bursa Excellence Awards 2022 for “Best Overall Derivatives Trading Participant” category. From R-L: Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift, CEO of Bursa Malaysia; Khairul Azim, Kenanga Futures Sdn Bhd; Nor Asma, TA Futures Sdn Bhd; Lam Choon Jin, Phillip Capital Sdn Bhd; Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar, Chairman of Bursa Malaysia

“Bursa Malaysia will continue to collaborate with all brokers and market intermediaries to strengthen our value proposition and attract more participation in the Exchange,” concluded Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar. “This will be achieved by facilitating innovations to revamp the investors’ trading experience, while driving market conversations with more targeted educational and marketing initiatives.”

Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift, Chief Executive Officer of Bursa Malaysia added, “Given the rising global competition, it is imperative that we maintain our endeavours to promote our market and its various investment options, catering to the diverse risk appetites of investors. Working closely with our broker partners is essential in producing our collective desired outcomes, and we will continue to do so to raise public awareness about investing and make our market dynamic and appealing to investors.”

Best Overall Bursa Malaysia I Participating Organisation — Winner of the Bursa Excellence Awards 2022 for “Best Overall Bursa Malaysia-i Participating Organisation” category. From R-L: Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift, CEO of Bursa Malaysia; Dato’ Fad’l Mohamed, Maybank Investment Bank Berhad; Lim Chia Wei, Malacca Securities Sdn Bhd; Azizah Mohd Yatim, CGS-CIMB Securities Sdn Bhd; Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar, Chairman of Bursa Malaysia

The complete list of winners of the Bursa Excellence Awards 2022 is as follows:

Bursa Malaysia Recognises Top Performing Brokers And Market Intermediaries At The Bursa Excellence Awards 2022 1

Bursa Malaysia Recognises Top Performing Brokers And Market Intermediaries At The Bursa Excellence Awards 2022 2

About Bursa Malaysia

Bursa Malaysia is an exchange holding company incorporated in 1976 and listed in 2005, and has grown to be one of the largest bourses in ASEAN today. Bursa Malaysia operates and regulates a fully-integrated exchange offering a comprehensive range of exchange-related facilities, and is committed to Creating Opportunities, Growing Value. Learn more at www.bursamalaysia.com.

Worldwide Holdings Promotes Environment, Social and Governance, Property Portfolio At Greenscape Fiesta 2023

Posted on 21/03/2023 by admin

Worldwide Holdings Berhad (“Worldwide Holdings”) has brought the community, public authorities and local entrepreneurs together at Greenscape Fiesta 2023 today at Daunan Worldwide, Alam Perdana Sales Gallery, which was also launched during the same event. The launching ceremony was officiated by Datuk Seri Dr. Haji Dzulkefly Ahmad, the Parliament Member of Kuala Selangor.

With Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) at its centre, the event that was organized in conjunction with National Landscape Day celebration is seen as a great platform for Worldwide Holdings to engage with the surrounding community, demonstrate their commitment to social responsibility and build trust with local residents and other stakeholders.

During the launching ceremony, Worldwide Holdings presented a donation of RM20,000.00 to Islamic Relief Malaysia (IRM), to be channelled into the Turkiye-Syria Earthquake Appeal Fund to assist the NGO with their efforts in providing emergency aid to the affected population of Turkiye and Syria. The company also contributed recycle bins to the representatives of the resident’s association of its project within Bandar Puncak Alam and Daunan Worldwide, Alam Perdana. The company also announced its plan to plant 3,323 of trees in the vicinity of Daunan Worldwide, Alam Perdana in conjunction with the 33 years anniversary of Worldwide Holdings this year.

According to its Group Chief Executive Officer, Datin Paduka Norazlina Zakaria, “Since we began our involvement in the real estate industry back in the early 90s, it has been our aim to empower the community and our developments through green and clean environment. We hope that all our efforts in ESG, including the organisation of Greenscape Fiesta 2023, clearly display our desire to create a more sustainable and equitable future, and lead to long-term benefits for the company, such as improved brand reputation and customer loyalty.”

Worldwide Holdings, one of the reputable players in the property development sector in the Klang Valley, is one of the many big names that are developing projects in Bandar Puncak Alam, Kuala Selangor, namely Puncak Bestari and Puncak Bestari 2 residentials. Riding on the success of Daunan Worldwide, Alam Perdana in capturing the attention of the market, Worldwide Holdings’ Greenscape Fiesta also provided the customers with the opportunity to preview their soon to be launched property project, Adenia in Puncak Bestari 2, the latest offering by Worldwide Holdings that adopts wellness-inspired concept that is in alignment with ESG through its low-density development approach.

Worldwide Holdings in recent years has actively been incorporating this approach into many of its new products and business activities, further strengthening the conglomerate’s commitment in promoting ESG and sustainability agenda in Selangor. Through this approach, Worldwide Holdings hopes to not only provide the residents of its projects with more space and privacy, but also reduce carbon footprint by providing more green space from the preservation of the natural surroundings of its projects.

Apart from developing high-end residences, Worldwide Holdings’ properties in Bandar Puncak Alam also include quality, affordable houses such as Seri Seraya in Puncak Bestari that was developed under the Selangor state government’s Rumah Selangorku (RSKU) affordable housing programme, ensuring that Selangorians from all stratas of society have access to good common facilities. To learn more about Worldwide Holdings’ property portfolio, please visit worldwide.com.my

About Worldwide Holdings Berhad

Worldwide Holdings Berhad, a wholly owned subsidiary of Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS) has grown successfully as a conglomerate with four main business sectors: Property, Environmental Management, Medical Devices, and Energy. Today, Worldwide Holdings is recognized as a pioneer and leader in environmental management services and is one of the main players in the property development sector in the Klang Valley. Guided by four main pillars namely Green, Social, Education, and Healthy Lifestyle, the ‘Worldwide Prihatin’ program is Worldwide Holdings’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative to contribute back to society, especially the communities around the company’s operations. Among the activities initiated through Worldwide Prihatin program are donations to disaster funds, humanitarian funds, education funds and educational assistance for underprivileged students, as well as sponsorship of sports development programs.

Investors Expect To Retire 3 Years Earlier Than Non-Investors, YouGov-ADDX Survey Finds

Posted on 21/03/2023 by admin

People who invest their wealth expect, on average, to retire 3 years earlier than non-investors, a survey by global market research firm YouGov commissioned by private market exchange ADDX has found. The retirement expectation gap is more pronounced in the case of investors with allocations to private market assets, who expect to retire 9 years earlier than non-investors. The survey covered both Europe and Asia[i].

According to the poll, the average expected retirement age is 62.1 among non-investors and 59.2 among investors. For those who invest in the private markets, the average expected retirement age is lower still, at 53.5.

In total, just 19% of people who do not invest expect to retire before the age of 60, compared to 31% of people who invest. For people who invest in private market assets[ii], this figure goes up to 47%.

Significant gender gap in investment behaviour

Globally, 29% of respondents do not invest. The gender gap is significant, with nearly 4 in 10 women (37%) saying they do not invest, compared with just 2 in 10 men (21%) who said the same.

The gender gap translates into a difference between the retirement expectations of men and women – with 76% of women expecting to retire after the age of 60, compared with 68% of men. The gender retirement age gap exists in both Europe and Asia. On average, women expect to retire at 61.1, compared to 59 for men.

The survey also found that men who invest tend to adopt a “do-it-yourself” style of investing, as compared to women. Some 81% of men said they invest entirely or mostly on their own, compared with 64% of women who said the same.

Women and men also value different sources of investment advice. Women tend to value investment advice from financial advisors and family members (51% and 39% respectively, versus 41% and 29% for men), while men are slightly more likely to value advice from online forums and social media (22% and 15% respectively, versus 19% and 12% for women).

By age group, the share of non-investors was also higher among Generation Z[iii] (32%), Baby Boomers[iv] (38%) and respondents from London (48%). By contrast, only 13% of respondents from Hong Kong are non-investors.

Regional findings: Asian investors look for safer options

*Chart 1: How investors would allocate their investment across asset classes – each respondent selected 3 asset classes*

The survey uncovered regional differences in investment instruments. Investors from Asia[v] expressed a preference for fixed deposits, with about 1 in 2 perceiving the asset class as a core component of their investment portfolio. Nearly half of respondents from Singapore (46%) and Hong Kong (47%) said they would choose fixed deposits as one of their top three investments.

Respondents from Hong Kong also leant heavily toward stocks, with 60% choosing that option as one of their top three investments.

In contrast, investors from Europe[vi] preferred a more balanced allocation across asset classes. For London investors, interest was consistent across fixed deposits (28% included this option in their top three investments), stocks (30%), bonds and fixed income (27%), as well as funds (21%).

Investors in Frankfurt were slightly more keen to take part in funds, with 40% of respondents indicating it as a top three investment choice. Another 24% of German respondents chose fixed deposits, 35% chose stocks, while 19% chose bonds and fixed income products.

Of the regions covered in the survey, Singapore respondents were the most future-oriented. Asked what they would do if they unexpectedly inherited US$100,000, 39% of Singapore respondents said would set aside 90% to 100% of the sum to invest, compared with 22% in Hong Kong, 33% in Frankfurt and 32% in London.

ADDX CEO Oi-Yee Choo said: “Not investing has serious consequences. It reduces your buying power and lifestyle options. In the long run, it might also mean you have little choice but to extend your working life in order to adequately fund your retirement. Women are less likely to invest than men, and that has a negative impact on their ability to retire earlier, should they want to. Early retirement is also topic of growing interest, especially among the younger generation[vii] – and increasingly, retirement is being defined as achieving financial freedom and independence, rather than just ‘stopping work’. The implications of this YouGov-ADDX survey are clear: young or old, women or men, every individual and household needs to think about channelling some of their savings into investments, so that they can secure their well-being in the long term.”

She added: “Almost a third of global respondents (29%) said they do not invest. That means we still have a way to go in our education efforts. We believe investing should be a level playing field, and eventually, investors should get full access to any and every asset class – including private market investments. By access, we don’t just mean the ability to subscribe to investments, but also the knowledge to understand how such assets can play a role in portfolio diversification and wealth creation.”

SURVEY METHODOLOGY

This survey has been conducted using an online interview administered to members of the YouGov PLC panel individuals from Singapore, United Kingdom (London), Hong Kong, and Germany (Frankfurt) who have agreed to take part in surveys. Emails are sent to panelists selected at random from the base sample. The email invites them to take part in a survey and provides a generic survey link. Once a panel member clicks on the link, they are sent to the survey that they are most required for, according to the sample definition and quotas. (The sample definition could be “Singapore adult population” or a subset such as “Singapore adult females”). Invitations to surveys do not expire and respondents can be sent to any available survey. The responding sample is weighted to the profile of the sample definition to provide a representative reporting sample. The profile is normally derived from census data or, if not available from the census, from industry accepted data.

YouGov PLC makes every effort to provide representative information. All results are based on a sample and are therefore subject to statistical errors normally associated with sample-based information.

For further information about the results of this survey, please contact YouGov PLC (+44)(0)207 012 6231 or email realtime@yougov.com quoting the survey details.

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov PLC. The total sample size was 1019 adults, consisting of (SG): n=257, (UK – London): n=257, (HK): n=253, (DE – Frankfurt): n=252. Fieldwork was undertaken in Q4 2022, between 1-9 November 2022. The survey was carried out online.

ABOUT ADDX

ADDX is a global private market exchange headquartered in Singapore. Using blockchain and smart contract technology, ADDX reduces manual interventions in the issuance, custody and distribution of private market products. The resulting efficiency from the use of digital securities allows the platform to fractionalise investments in a scalable and commercially viable manner, reducing minimum investment sizes and thereby widening investor access to the private markets. To date, ADDX has listed more than 50 deals on its platform involving blue-chip names such as Hamilton Lane, Partners Group, Investcorp, Singtel, UOB, CGS-CIMB, as well as Temasek-owned entities Mapletree, Azalea, SeaTown and Fullerton Fund Management. Asset classes available on ADDX include private equity, hedge funds, venture capital, private credit, real estate, debt and structured products.

The full-service capital market platform has raised a total of US$140 million in funding since its inception in 2017, including US$50 million in its Series A round in January 2021 and US$58 million in the first tranche of its Pre-Series B round in May 2022. Its shareholders[viii] include Singapore Exchange (SGX), the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), Temasek subsidiary Heliconia Capital, the Development Bank of Japan (DBJ), UOB, Hamilton Lane, Tokai Tokyo Financial Holdings and Hanwha Asset Management.

ADDX currently serves individual accredited investors from 39 countries spanning Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas (except the US). ADDX also serves wealth managers and corporate investors through its institutional service, ADDX Advantage. For more information, visit ADDX.co or www.linkedin.com/company/addxco.

[i] Individuals surveyed were from Singapore, United Kingdom (London), Hong Kong, and Germany (Frankfurt). For more information, see “Methodology” subsection.

[ii] Participants were asked what share of an unexpected inheritance of US$100,000 they would spend right away versus invest for the future, and, bearing in mind the sum to be invested for the future, how they would allocate their investments across asset classes. This finding refers to those who said they would allocate funds to private market investments.

[iii] Defined as those born between 1997 and 2009, inclusive of both years

[iv] Defined as those born between 1946 and 1964, inclusive of both years

[v] Singapore and Hong Kong

[vi] Germany and the United Kingdom

[vii] See: https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/28/millennials-want-to-retire-at-59-heres-how-to-retire-early.html

[viii] Shareholders of ICHX Tech Pte Ltd, the parent company of ADDX.

3 Reasons Why You Need To Invest In REITs

Posted on 20/03/2023 by admin

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) are an increasingly popular investment vehicle that allows investors to invest in a diversified portfolio of real estate assets. REITs are structured as trusts, with the income generated from the underlying properties being passed on to the investors as dividends.

This article will look at 3 reasons why you need to invest in REITs in Malaysia. Investing in REITs can provide investors with a steady income stream and exposure to the real estate market without the need to purchase and manage real estate properties themselves.

Why You Need To Invest In REITs#1 Diversification Portfolio

One of the main advantages of investing in Malaysia’s REITs is that it provides investors with a diversified portfolio of real estate assets. REITs invest in various real estate properties, including office buildings, shopping malls, and residential properties. This provides investors with exposure to a range of different real estate markets and helps to reduce the risk of investing in a single property or asset class.

Read: High-Rise Properties Near Lush Greenery Achieve High Capital Growth in H1 2022

Why You Need To Invest In REITs#2 Stable And Predictable

Another advantage of investing in Malaysia’s REITs is that they offer a stable and predictable source of income. REITs must distribute at least 90% of their taxable income to their shareholders as dividends. This means investors can expect regular dividend payments from their REIT investments.

Additionally, because REITs are typically invested in income-producing properties, such as rental properties or commercial buildings, the income generated from these properties can provide a steady income stream for investors.

Why You Need To Invest In REITs#3 Cost-Efficient

Investing in Malaysia’s REITs is also a cost-effective way to invest in real estate. REITs are traded on stock exchanges, just like stocks, which makes them easy to buy and sell. Additionally, because REITs are passively managed, they typically have lower management fees than actively managed funds.

This means that investors can benefit from the expertise of real estate professionals without having to pay high fees.

Read: Is Malaysia Property Still Worth To Invest In?

Examples Of Malaysia’s REIT

Cityscape Kuala Lumpur City Skyline Sunrise Malaysia — Cityscape of Kuala lumpur city skyline at sunrise in Malaysia.

Malaysia’s growing and diverse real estate market provides investors various REIT options. Some of the REITs listed on Bursa Malaysia, Malaysia’s stock exchange, include:-

Sunway REIT, which owns a portfolio of properties including retail, office, hospitality and healthcare assets;
Axis REIT, which specializes in industrial and logistics properties; and
KLCC REIT, which owns properties such as the iconic Petronas Twin Towers.

Investing in Malaysia’s REITs also exposes investors to a fast-growing economy. Malaysia is one of the fastest-growing economies in Southeast Asia, with a GDP growth rate of 4.3% in 2019. The country has a well-developed infrastructure, a skilled workforce, and a growing middle class, which makes it an attractive destination for foreign investment.

In addition to exposing investors to diverse real estate assets, Malaysia’s REITs are also highly liquid. REITs are traded on stock exchanges, meaning they can be bought and sold quickly and easily. Additionally, because REITs are typically invested in income-producing properties, they are less volatile than other investments, such as individual stocks.

In conclusion, investing in Malaysia’s REITs can provide investors with a diversified portfolio of real estate assets, a stable source of income, and exposure to a fast-growing economy. REITs are also cost-effective, highly liquid, and easy to invest in. Now that you know why you need to invest in REITs, as with any other investment, it is important to conduct thorough research and seek professional advice before investing in Malaysia’s REITs or any other investment vehicle.

Read: 8 Categories of Real Estate Invesment Trusts (REITs) in Malaysia

Weathering The Economic Storm: Why Malaysian Financial Institutions Must Leverage Technology And Focus On Customers

Posted on 20/03/2023 by admin

The current economic downturn, driven by the after-effects of the pandemic, the war on Ukraine and significant supply chain disruptions, is not exclusive to Malaysia, or even Asia – indeed, it is happening globally, and its effects will be far-reaching and felt for some time to come. Already we’ve seen significant, wide-scale lay-offs across all industries, interest rate rises and a general slowing in overall economic activity and growth.

However, unlike previous recessions, many of today’s financial service providers have access to innovative technologies that can mitigate the impact of this economic upheaval, particularly when it comes to the provision of credit to businesses.

Enabling The Flow Of Credit Is Essential To Economic Recovery

Financial institutions and other organisations offering credit will always be in demand during tough times, as businesses seek short-term solutions to keep the lights on and the doors open. Having access to credit is vital for the global economy, and ensuring this credit is flowing where it’s needed is a critical role of the lending industry.

Technology plays an enormous part in ensuring credit gets where it’s needed, whether that’s through simpler digital application processes offered by tech-enabled SME lenders, AI-driven credit reporting, easier access to account information via mobile apps, or the ability to rapidly launch new products or features to meet the changing needs of customers.

Technology also enables faster approval rates for businesses and individuals seeking loans, which can provide a much-needed cash injection just when they need it.

Tech-Enabled Banks And Financial Service Providers To Survive And Thrive

Having next-generation technologies at the heart of a financial institution can make a significant positive difference to the bottom line when times are tough. Modern, cloud-native technologies that are charged on a per user, SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) basis can be incredibly cost-effective, with organisations only paying for the service that they use. This can enable financial institutions, lenders, and others providing financial services, to scale efficiently – both up and down – as the market dictates.

As an example, composable, cloud-native banking and lending platforms, which enable greater flexibility, also effectively lower technology costs, which can have a significant, positive impact on operations during tough economic times.

In any business, we know that the key benefits of technology are increased efficiency and productivity – reducing costs and increasing output. Leveraging the power of technology like cloud, data and analytics, artificial intelligence and machine learning can help to streamline processes, speed up decision-making, and lower overall operational costs.

Crisis? Or Opportunity?

Recessions can, of course, be catastrophic to businesses, however it’s important that organisations are also aware of the potential opportunities that these testing times can deliver. Changing customer needs and behaviours, combined with slowed market conditions, can be an ideal breeding ground for innovation and new ways of thinking.

By understanding your customers and acknowledging their specific pain points, banks, financial institutions, fintechs and other organisations offering financial services can develop unique solutions that meet the specific needs of their customers in the current economic environment, while also opening up new revenue streams.

As the macroeconomic climate continues to deteriorate, financial institutions, lenders and fintechs must leverage the power of technology to boost the lending pipeline and develop new and innovative customer-centric lending solutions to ensure their survival.

About the Author

William Dale is the Regional Vice President Asia Pacific at Mambu, the cloud banking platform that powers hundreds of the world’s most well-known banks and financial service providers, including Western Union, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, N26, BancoEstado, OakNorth, Raiffeisen Bank, ABN AMRO, Bank Islam and Orange Bank.

www.mambu.com

Revolutionizing Online Furniture in Malaysia: CUURA’s Unique Approach to Quality, Affordability, & Customer Satisfaction

Posted on 20/03/2023 by admin

As online shopping continues to dominate the retail industry, more and more consumers are turning to the internet for big-ticket purchases, including furniture. In response to this trend, CUURA, an online furniture store, has emerged as a popular choice for those seeking high-quality, affordable furniture online in Malaysia.

Founded by Benny Lim Kien Yeap and his partners in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, CUURA has quickly become a household name in the online furniture retail industry. With RM3mil of self-generated funding, they launched their website and have since been committed to offering quality, affordable, and customer satisfaction-driven furniture products.

CUURA Space: Wide Range of Furniture Products

The brand’s online furniture division – CUURA Space, believes that beautiful, quality furniture is for everyone. And everyone deserves to go home to a beautiful living space. That’s why they offer a wide range of products in various styles and price points to suit everyone’s needs and budgets.

Whether you’re a student furnishing your first apartment or a family looking for high-end furniture pieces, CUURA Space has something for you. Their product range includes everything from essential furniture items like beds and sofas to accent pieces like chest of drawers and rugs, all designed to elevate your living space.

CUURA’s Unique Business Approach

But what sets CUURA apart from other online furniture retailers? For starters, their commitment to quality control is second to none. While the majority of their products are sourced from China, the team is actively involved in the manufacturing process and has developed a network of manufacturers who must pass specific criteria. Furthermore, every item undergoes stringent quality control processes twice before it is delivered to customers.

CUURA’s dedication to customer satisfaction is also evident in their refund policy. They offer a 30-day, no-questions-asked, full refund for all furniture sold, giving customers peace of mind. Additionally, they provide a 3-year warranty for sofa and bed frames, further highlighting their commitment to quality.

CUURA Rent: Professional Home Makeover Services

But CUURA isn’t just a furniture retailer. They also offer professional home makeover services, known as CUURA Rent. This service aims to help property owners furnish their units affordably and quickly, getting them listed for rental as soon as possible.

With CUURA Rent, bare units can be fully furnished with quality furniture and become rent-ready in just 14 days. Each customer will receive a personalised proposal which caters to their needs and budgets within 24 hours. They are transparent with their pricing, with CUURA Rent furniture prices the same as their retail division.

Apart from home furnishing, they also offer wall painting, curtain installation, grill works, and light installation to turn a property around. By outsourcing these tasks to their list of service providers, CUURA Rent ensures that their customers have a marketable property with minimal effort.

CUURA’s Journey to Success

In a crowded online furniture retail market, CUURA’s unique approach has earned them a loyal following. By offering professional home makeover services alongside quality furniture online in Malaysia, CUURA has disrupted the local industry and proven that a unique approach to e-commerce can be a winning formula.

About CUURA:

CUURA Space (Aureas Media Sdn Bhd) is an online-only, direct-to-consumer furniture retailer that’s going to disrupt the furniture shopping experience in Southeast Asia through technology and data. As a start-up, the folks here are not just colleagues. We are family. We work together to make our clients’ dream rooms come true because a mismatched home is not a home. Our clients are worldwide because we believe opportunities are limitless. CUURA Space is also an equal-opportunity workplace with a flat hierarchy. Everyone is welcome to join our pioneer team as we challenge the furniture industry to keep up with us.

Here’s Why KAF Investment Won This Coveted Morningstar Award

Posted on 16/03/2023 by admin

Morningstar recently announced the winners for the 2023 Morningstar Fund Awards – Malaysia. Of the five awards given out, KAF Investment Funds Berhad won two.

Morningstar Category Awards	Winner
Best Asia-Pacific Equity	KAF Jade Fund
Best Malaysia Large-Cap Equity Fund	KAF Core Income Fund

Congratulations to KAF Investment for winning the Best Asia-Pacific Equity award with KAF Jade Fund, and Best Malaysia Large-Cap Equity Fund with their KAF Core Income Fund.

Smart Investor had the opportunity to interview Chue Kwok Yan, Chief Executive Officer cum Chief Investment Officer, KAF Investment, to learn more about their winning funds.

Smart Investor: Congratulations on winning the Morningstar Award! Can you share with us what the recipe for your success is?

Chue Kwok Yan: This is a very difficult question indeed, as there are so many critical ingredients required to win such a coveted award that it is difficult to describe in such a short space. At the most basic level though, we believe that the building block is our people. We have successfully assembled a group of very talented individuals who share the same vision and work ethics that operate seamlessly in a close-knit team.

The huge diversity of background in our team is also by design where each member is able to contribute different viewpoints that is useful in navigating the drastically different investing circumstances over the past few years. Collectively, these allow us to formulate the right strategies for each unique circumstance.

SI: What are the strategies that you used in 2022? How was the fund positioned to mitigate risks and optimise opportunities?

CKY: Even after having managed money over the extreme market conditions of the past few years would not have prepared portfolio managers for 2022. The simultaneous fall in asset prices made our job very difficult especially for long-only funds. Previous approaches were untenable, and we had to start from a clean slate.

The breakthrough came when we accepted the correlation in asset prices on the downside. We mitigated risk by decisively cutting high valuation stocks to a minimum and hid in value stocks. This helped us weather the downshift for most of the year while we were able to take positions from a bottom-up stock selection basis towards the 2H of 2022 that fortunately worked well for us.

SI: 2022 was a bad year for most investments; how has this affected your investment strategies for both the short- and long-term?

CKY: It is not just the bad year for investments in 2022 but the series of extraordinary events over the past few years that has made a lasting impression on us. In a sense it solidifies our approach that focuses on our core competency. It taught us there is no ‘one size fits all’ hence the need to discard biases and remain adept in facing every circumstance that is different.

We will need to evaluate every situation by its merit and formulate suitable approaches and strategies in our investment decision making process.

SI: The recession is expected to hit us this year. What are your plans and strategies for 2023? Is there anything you plan to do differently?

CKY: Investment is a perennial process and hence 2023 is really a continuous window for making the most appropriate decision for maximizing returns while minimizing risks. In this sense, recession is just a blip in the investment journey requiring more focus on managing risk. We are fortunate that 2023 has started well for us with our funds posting relatively strong gains thus far.

Therefore, this gives us better flexibility in our strategies, allowing us to be more selective in our stock picks on higher conviction calls rather than constantly trying to catch up in performance by moving down the riskiness scale. We will dig deep into our core competency, as always, and focus on our competitive advantage in managing our esteemed clients’ money.

SI: With high inflation and interest rates, what’s your advice for retail investors?

CKY: The current episode of high inflationary pressure has laid bare a key shortfall in retirement planning and driven home the key message in pension weakness. Prior to this, each productive working individual is already facing inadequate pension due to longer life expectancy.

Compounding the effect is high inflation that erodes the real value of retirement funds with each Ringgit having lower purchasing power ability. In order to counter these effects, each working person would need to either work longer by retiring later or save more. Unfortunately, not everyone has the choice of the former with the statutory retirement age of 60 in Malaysia while not everyone has the luxury to save more.

As such, we advise all investors to make their retirement fund sweat for better returns that at the minimum compensates for inflation. Hence choose a fund base on knowledge of the Portfolio Manager who is managing it and stay invested all the time!

Congratulations To AmanahRaya Investment For Winning Two Morningstar Awards

Posted on 16/03/2023 by admin

Morningstar recently announced the winners for the 2023 Morningstar Fund Awards – Malaysia. Of the five awards, AmanahRaya Investment Management Sdn Bhd won two.

Morningstar Category Awards	Winner
Best Malaysia Bond Fund	AmanahRaya Unit Trust Fund (ARUTF)
Best Malaysia Bond (Shariah) Fund	AmanahRaya Syariah Trust Fund (ARSTF)

Congratulations to AmanahRaya Investment for winning the Best Malaysia Bond Fund award with the AmanahRaya Unit Trust Fund (ARUTF), and Best Malaysia Bond (Shariah) Fund with the AmanahRaya Syariah Trust Fund (ARSTF).

Smart Investor had the opportunity to interview Mohamad Shafik Bin Badaruddin, Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer, AmanahRaya Investment to learn more about their winning funds.

Mohamad Shafik Bin Badaruddin Chief Executive Officer Managing Director AmanahRaya Investment — *Mohamad Shafik Bin Badaruddin, Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer, AmanahRaya Investment*

Smart Investor: Congratulations on winning the Morningstar Award! Can you share with us what the recipe for your success is?

Mohamad Shafik: Thank you. Our accomplishment is due to a combination of factors. Our recipe is founded on a disciplined approach to managing investments, stringent credit checks, strict risk management, and a focus on giving our investors strong and consistent returns. In addition, we prioritise establishing long-term relationships with our clients by providing them with clear, as well as timely communication.

Our team of seasoned investment professionals works closely to identify opportunities in the market and manage risk in a controlled manner. As we navigate the market, we constantly learn and adapt to the changes in the market and the economy, which we believe will enable us to stay ahead of the ‘game’.

SI: What are the strategies that you used in 2022? How was the fund positioned to mitigate risks and optimise opportunities?

MS: Our strategies for 2022 involved a focus on high-quality investments and a cautious approach to risk management. We positioned the fund defensively, with a bias towards shorter duration and higher credit quality bonds. However, we remain invested for most parts of the year and tried to play with allocation and diversification strategies as opposed to timing the market.

We were highly focused on building resilient portfolios that could withstand volatility and unexpected events, by diversifying across ratings, issuers and sectors. Overall, our approach was designed to balance risk and return, and to deliver consistent performance over the long term.

SI: 2022 was a bad year for most investments; how has this affected your investment strategies for both the short- and long-term?

MS: The macro landscape in 2022 was not very supportive of fixed-income investing, especially when central banks began to turn hawkish and tighten liquidity condition. The challenging landscape had reinforced the importance of having a strong investment discipline. While we did some adjustments to our investment strategies in response to changing market dynamics and conditions, our overall approach remained consistent with what we have been practising all these years.

In short, the prevailing market condition did not affect or change the way we do things at ARIM. The key is to have a plan upfront. Something along the line of – if the market does this, we do this, if otherwise, then we do this. After refining our strategies and listing down all the actionable ideas and probable outcomes, before executing, we always ask ourselves the question “what could go wrong”, just so to be aware of the risks to our strategies.

SI: The recession is expected to hit us this year. What are your plans and strategies for 2023? Is there anything you plan to do differently?

MS: We are monitoring the market and economic condition very closely. Having said this, we are in an ever ready state to change direction of our strategy if need be. If a recession happens – now that is a big ‘IF’, general we would expect bond prices to fall during a recession. Also, shorter tenure bonds would look more attractive compared with longer tenured ones.

In our view, the market is already discounting a mild recession in the U.S., Europe, as well as the UK, for 2023. As of now, it looks like central banks appear to be in control to engineer a soft landing with inflation slowing meaningfully by the end of 2023.

Given the scenario, we would maintain our current portfolio duration for the first half and revisit them with the view to possibly extend the duration slightly in the second half.

SI: With high inflation and interest rates, what’s your message for retail investors?

MS: Our message to retail investors is to keep invested, during good or bad times, and avoid market timing. While we are not against timing the market, doing it consistently is something that is very difficult to achieve based on industry experience in general.

It is also important for investors to work with financial advisors or unit trust agents who are able to advise them on how to asset allocate their monies into a diversified portfolio. Building a well-diversified portfolio across multiple asset classes is key to building wealth in the long run.