BATU PAHAT (Johor): The Education Ministry of Malaysia has blacklisted six contractors for failing to complete the ministry's school development projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP).

KUALA LUMPUR: Demand for real estate in Malaysia is expected to improve this year as consumer sentiment recovers amid an improving broader landscape.

Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association Malaysia (Rehda) deputy president Datuk Michael Yam said demand for properties was slow in the first half of 2009 as consumer confidence was battered by weaker economic conditions  then.

BACHOK (Terengganu): Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributors can now withdraw their savings to rebuild their houses which have been burnt down, Deputy Finance Minister senator Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussein said.

MARANG (Terengganu): The Terengganu state government will ask for a report from the Public Works Department regarding the upgrading of the Majils Bandaraya Kuala Terengganu (MBKT) Aquatic Centre after several parts of the pool were found to be damaged.

Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said said till now, he has not been told of the damage or whether the damage has been repaired.

KUALA LUMPUR: The tax relief on housing loan interest is restricted to a maximum of RM10,000, the Malaysian Inland Revenue Board (IRB) said.

In a statement on Friday April 9, the IRB said the amount was deductible for each basis year for a period of three consecutive years of assessment from the date when the interest was first expended.

BEIJING: Surging housing prices and a severe drought in southwest China may prompt the central bank to raise interest rates as early as this month, a senior government economist said on Friday.

KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor Properties Bhd (Selprop) is awaiting approvals from the authorities for its large-sized condominium project on Jalan Batai in Damansara Heights, one of the exclusive and matured addresses in the city.

The property is located along Jalan Datuk Sulaiman within the sought-after township of Taman Tun Dr Ismail

KUALA LUMPUR:  If you wish to sell your property in a hot market, how do you ensure that you get the best out of the deal?

• The Federal Government is studying a proposal to extend the new Light Rail Transit (LRT) line between Kota Damansara to Cheras to Sungai Buloh and Kajang, said Bernama news agency in a report yesterday. Additional routes are:

KUALA LUMPUR: Sunway City Bhd (SunCity) jumped six sen or 1.62% to close at RM3.76 yesterday on the company’s real estate investment trust (REIT) plan, which received positive response from analysts.

The counter rose to an intra-day high of RM3.82, its highest level in two years.