News by Bernama

Data centre companies planning to develop facilities in Johor have been urged to invest in securing their own water sources to support their operations, including exploring the potential of groundwater, to reduce pressure on the public water supply system.

The Ministry of Housing and Local Government aims to complete all PR1MA Corporation Malaysia housing projects, previously categorised as sick or abandoned, by March.

The Johor State Government will ensure that all development and strategic investments, including large-scale projects in the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), will not compromise the basic needs of residents, particularly electricity and water supply, which remain a top priority.

The construction sector is expected to see robust job flows in 2026, amid healthy contract flows anchored by infrastructure projects and sustained data centre roll-outs, according to Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd (HLIB).

He said the remaining nine payments will be paid in stages, with total compensation of RM1.26 billion covering 3,800 hectares.

Penang is entering a new phase of public transportation as Prasarana Malaysia Bhd, through its subsidiary Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd (Rapid Bus), will begin gradually replacing ageing Rapid Penang buses with electric vehicles (EVs) starting this year.

Building costs rose in December 2025, driven by higher cement and sand prices, data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) showed.

Iconic Worldwide Bhd (KL:ICONIC) has secured projected rental revenue of more than RM75 million following the signing of a long-term tenancy agreement for a factory in Batu Kawan owned by its subsidiary, Iconic Medicare Sdn Bhd, strengthening its recurring income base.

Maybank Investment Bank Bhd (Maybank IB) has maintained a positive stance on the Malaysian real estate investment trust (REIT) sector into 2026, supported by resilient fundamentals, a stable rate environment and tourism-led demand recovery.

US President Donald Trump said he plans to bar professional investors such as banks, insurers and large corporations from purchasing single-family homes, as part of an effort to make homeownership more affordable for Americans.