When the government decided to impose the 5% real property gains tax (RPGT), the move did not go down well with house buyers, long-time property owners, some developers and those promoting Malaysian real estate overseas.

We want to establish ourselves as one of Malaysia’s top 10 developers in three years,” announces Yeoh Soo Ann, group CEO of Encorp Bhd.

Terrific and very elegant, an idea that has not been seen before…” — thes

Fancy owning a house which will be featured in a Hollywood movie? Doug Liman, director of blockbusters such as The Bourne Identity, Mr & Mrs Smith and Jumper, recently shot a scene for his upcoming film, titled Fair Game, in one of the bungalows at Country Heights Damansara,in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Small is beautiful” seems to be the new mantra for the property sector. Until the property crash in 2008, brought on by the collapse of  Lehman Brothers, luxury apartments with sky garages and yacht berths as well as multimillion-dollar penthouses of 10,000 sq ft were in fashion.

PETALING JAYA: Sections 51 and 52 in Petaling Jaya have been earmarked as a potential new town centre for Petaling Jaya under the Selangor state government’s urban regeneration plan.

Section 51 spans some 370 acres and is primarily an industrial area with limited commercial units. In its present state, it sees a number of vacant factory lots and poor parking facilities.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s sluggish property market is expected to improve from the second half of 2010 as the country’s economy is anticipated to recover next year.

BANGKOK: Evolution Capital, listed on the Thai Stock Exchange, is planning to invest over US$200 million (RM684 million) in the next few years to build, refurbish and operate 44 Tune Hotels.com in five countries.

KOTA BARU: Corruption in the country’s construction industry is at a serious stage, according to Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief commissioner Datuk Abu Kassim Mohamed.

He said this was evident from the problems associated with huge and high-value projects.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Pacific Corp Bhd has signed a letter of intent with a Thailand company to explore a joint-venture project in Iskandar Malaysia.