Living in JB

[cathylmg]

I think you will encounter such problem everywhere you go. Not only Malaysia. Even in Australia you will encounter problems with visas renewal too. Which is why provided you are ready to give up your citizenship, we shouldn't give up our property in our own motherland. After all, our motherland cannot change rule suddenly and kick us out without a valid reason.

Exactly the reason why i bumped up the above post on "Malaysia not going to restrict movement of Singaporeans"

The Immigration are well within their rights to ask any relevant question based on my post above.

 

[Analytical Professor]

Chances are they wont change the rule.

If they are looking at atleast some of the 300 million Indians (as indicated in the article posted by Cathy above) investing in Iskandar there is no reason to believe that they will throw Singaporeans out.

Doing that would only spook Singaporean investors in specific and other foreign investors at large.

Just imagine the hit the property market will take in Iskandar. I dun think they will recover from such a hit for a very long time if they were ever to do such a thing.

Don't think they will change the rule that affect Iskandar project directly. The current arrangement is a win/win formula . SG needs the manspower and MY needs our tourism and inve$tment from SG.

 

[Analytical Professor]

He he looks like you have a good job cause you can fetch your kids at 5pm?

R u a businessman?

My kid will enter primary school in Singapore for sure. I just cant think of any reasons to put my kid in a school in JB. And come to think of it, 2nd link is actually dead quiet before 5pm on weekdays so I dont really mind fetching my kid home from Singapore school ( will surely put in west side )

Hope by that time I dont have to work so hard!

 

[Analytical Professor]

Please check your good carefully upon delivery for any damages.

Also the Malaysian side are a bit rough. They tend to touch the wall or damage the walls etc during the delivery process. So just make sure you have an eagles eye over them.

For all brothers who are concerned, Tong Carriage is delivering my items tomorrow afternoon... Hope all goes well... Please let me know if its better to apply macs(will they ask why I am here?) Or to continue to chop the white card(will they ask why I am here also?) Please advice..

 

[wuqi256]

Ok a few things to clarify:

Unlikely they will impose any rules specific to Singaporeans limiting days, etc.
At present, there are no specific reasons required for MACS although you can
say coming in to stay with relatives, etc but they won't really check.

The 30 day limit for social visa still stands, again there is no minimum waiting
period before one can come in. With MACS, the only issue is forgetting how
long you have been staying in JB.

There are just too many things at stake especially with the retirement projects that they have as well as the shared iconic project. There seems to be a steady flow of foreign money here right now excluding $$$ from Singapore including from the Indians/Sri Lanka and starting to see influx of Chinese $$$ as well. In May, we should hear of our governments plans for JB.

The road to the coastal highway looks almost ready now with the linkages for the other highways in place. There is also a road linking towards the 2nd link so its nearer now. Don't listen to the sales people but do research for yourself. Bukit Indah area is going to see more transport options but i will believe it 100% only when i see it though.

Cathylmg, the reflexology place is on Nusa Bestari, on the way to Sutera Mall, you will see that its very close to the Eurorich (Platinum) place. Its on the right side corner (white walls) if you are passing by on the way to Sutera mall.

 

[wuqi256]

Prof is right about checking the delivery at the MY side, some are a bit rough, check that they don't scratch your floors or parquet and ask them to pay or deduct from the amount due for the furniture if you need to.

 

[wuqi256]

I had miss the website link that wuqi posted on the rental and sales of apartments in JB.

Could anyone post the link again? Thanks

Its at www.thinkproperty.com.my as well as www.iproperty.com.my

 

[wuqi256]

One question with lots reserved for Bumis. What happen if after a long time, they still can't find any takers? Will it mean that developers have to makan it themselves?

Hi Cathylmg, thats a very good question actually.
This is very pertinent to most development as there will always be units set aside for the Bumis.
Whether they take it up or not is another matter.

There will almost always be leftover units which the developers will then apply for and convert to open/international lots which can then be sold to the public/rest. This may take anything from 3 months
to half a year but normally is shorter than that. When buying converted Bumi lots, check that the title/property is properly converted before buying.

When buying property, i would recommend getting only those units which you can already see something happening or the best if its already completed or 90% done unless the developer really is very established.
Developers who have previous phases at the current development that they are marketing are normally those that give people more peace of mind when it comes to selecting property.

 

[wuqi256]

Agree with you on this one. This is one area where its really hard to beat Singapore. It would be a huge challenge for any government in the world to challenge Singapores primary school education system at the fee charged by the sg govt.

Hi Prof, If i remember correctly, actually many countries including Japan and Taiwan gives free Primary school education and their system isn't too bad.

We must remember that overseas folks who did not go through SG school system are still allowed to work in the same jobs that we Singaporeans have. So its not a prerequisite to tire your kids out every day and deprive them of a childhood so that they can compete with the FTs when they grow up on an even footing. The footing can never be equal unless you compare kids from China where they study and spend much more time learning this and that than those in Singapore.

 

[wuqi256]

Still looking for timber/wood supplies - anyone can help

Hi NewComerJB, on the way to HH, there are actually some wood leftover from where the old township used to be. You might want to ask and help yourself.

 

[wuqi256]

Thanks AP, how about rental conditions, housing prices, job opportunities, general salary scale of Chinese between these 2 places?
For me, since I've only shopped at these 2 places, I could only say that comparing with SG, JB is cheaper as compared to KL. Seems that certain food, places, rentals are even more expensive compared to SG....

I am not an expert on KL but i would say compared to living in KL, SG is comparatively cheaper. JB even more so. There are starting to be lots more malls here these days.

 

[wuqi256]

Its good to be back, thanks guys. Prof, i am just a nobody sharing my 2 cents.

Prof, there are actually a lot of car owners as well as motorcyclist here. Much more than compared to Singapore. The public transport here is not ideal with gaps in between but i find that some people (still rare) are starting to use the CW buses as transport for certain places other than going to SG. There are also more private buses that i saw in the area.

Hotlink cards i cannot advise much but Nusa Bestari side has a lot of shops that have it. If you really need a place in the 2nd link area, i would suggest Sutera Mall as it has a very wide variety of telcos/mobile phone shops based there. The Giant at Bukit Indah area has a few shops that has HP covers, etc.

 

[wuqi256]

Ok all and in particular Wu Qi

I need a timber merchant that sells general lumber and also a good variety of well cured furniture grade wood.

Ok general lumber is available in only a few places, Kulai is a better place to get it although its far. Here are some in Johore:

http://www.johorsearch.com/my_company_details.asp?did=31603

http://johordirectory.com/my_company_details.asp?did=31567

http://www.skudaibiz.com/skudai_company_details.asp?page=5&sPagesize=5&pnflag=2&mula=1&did=31567

http://www.johordirectory.com/my_company_details.asp?did=31572

 

[wuqi256]

BTW Wuqi how do i know the tyres i bought from the Yellow Signboard tyre shop are genuine?

Sorry i dunno much about how to check these things. Can you educate me so that i learn?

Hi Prof, you can tell as they are an authorized dealer, i changed all my tyres there and this is the most honest guy i can find. You can call the tyre distributor in Johore. Which brand did you buy? Michellin or Pirelli? You can call them and find out easily.

I lost tyre caps, he replaced them, when my rear light bulbs blew, he replaced them. One of the window motors on one of my cars died, he replaced it as well. All with no charge, of course this is because i send all my cars including my relatives one to him and i never asked for anything in return.

One of the most honest guys i can find. I even intro a friend to change oil, etc, he kept telling my friend don't change this, don't need to change that, etc.

I used to go to a shop very nearby to them, the main reason why i went to Michellin was to get a 2nd opinion. The first shop proposed 520 RM to change parts for my car to fix the problem. I went to this Michellin shop just to get a 2nd opinion as i thought it was only prudent.

I got quote 150 RM as he told me that one of the parts don't even need to be replaced )the more expensive one) and paid a grand total of $150 to fix the car. He was also the only one in the immediate area who had the devices to interface with the car computer and used it to diagnose my cars. Its been more than 8 months now, no problem so far. I even got it checked at my old mechanic in Sutera area, even they were impressed.

Btw, for bros here who need nitrogen in their tyres, there is a tyre shop near Sutera mall (the one that they say specializes in Honda cars) that has a nitrogen machine.

 

[Analytical Professor]

Wow Wuqis so many replies and details.

How do you manage to gather so much information?

 

[Analytical Professor]

No no...

I was not doubting the guy. Just clarifying.

Cause the guy brought 4 tyres and changed them. But to a layman like me there was no way i would know anything about the tyres.

I changed to Pirelli.

Hi Prof, you can tell as they are an authorized dealer, i changed all my tyres there and this is the most honest guy i can find.

 

[house]

just share something..
for the converted bumi lot to non bumi lot unit - once the converted bumi lot resale back to a so called bumi buyer....
the lot will automatically revert back to bumi lot..... that means drop in the house value....

 

[LeMans2011]

just share something..
for the converted bumi lot to non bumi lot unit - once the converted bumi lot resale back to a so called bumi buyer....
the lot will automatically revert back to bumi lot..... that means drop in the house value....

Once it obtains bumi release, it bears the same status as international lot. You can sell to foreigners hence that's not a concern.

 

[LeMans2011]

There seems to be a spate of negative reporting on Malaysia by The Star recently... not sure how to link the motive since The Star is owned by MCA which is part of the ruling party. The other main source of digging dirt is Malaysiakini.

The mirror of PAP's pork barrel politics, in the Malaysian context, would be the frequent use of racial cards, digging dirt and stirring of nationalistic fervour.

Hence you hear some quarters creating issues about the Putrajaya mosque's volume being too loud and asked to turn down after a complaint by a Chinese (which is impossible!), the Christians' protest about imported Malay language Bible being confiscated, etc... some of my Malaysian friends even believe there is a time-bomb about to explode to the extent of May'13 1969 racial riot. On the other hand i have Malaysian colleagues working in Singapore who continue to invest in commercial and residential properties in KL due to the higher returns, asked them what they think of these negativity? They laugh it off as "politics".

From time to time you will also have some politicians kicking up a big fuss about Singaporeans "milking the JB benefits". Classic example is the fuel subsidy. The final implementation? Singaporeans not allowed to pump Fuelsave (the MYR1.90 fuel) but the rests ok - i don't think Singaporeans have a big issue with pumping RON97 costing MYR2.50. Then you have the issue of Singaporeans driving up the housing price and the outcome? Singaporeans can only purchase properties > MYR500k. We tend to think the Malaysian govt is bureaucratic, corrupted and insane but if you look at the record of how they address those issues burning with nationalistic fervour... i would say the solutions are rather wise. On one hand it stops the patriots from making more noises, on the other hand they gain from the implementation without offending their Singaporean customers. They don't actually rule with iron fists hence they need to respond to nationalists out to steal votes from them.

Thousands of Johoreans cross into Singapore to work daily. Singapore benefits from the cheaper labor supply, Johoreans enjoying a better income, Johorean businesses enjoying the Singaporean purchasing power, Johor property market benefitting from Singaporeans purchasing their 2nd home or retirement home... these are all win-win and it would be too stupid to pass any rule that jeopardise this. Even if the KL govt has some maniacs pushing for it, the Johor state govt will never agree to any crazy rulings that will kill the Iskandar Project.

Hence i urge bros here not to over-react whenever you read negative news about JB or Malaysia at large. Life is a little more "rugged" in the sense that you need to look out for danger, but that's about it. The Malaysian govt is not about to make rules to kill your investments anytime soon. The Iskandar project is not going to unfold at the break-neck pace of Marina Baysands... slowly but surely the area will develop and your investment values will grow steadily.

 

[contra]

High speed train project is gaining traction . . . it will blossom the JB property prices like Shenzhen has been for China as benefit from investors from Singapore & KL.......



Business Times - 23 Mar 2011


Khazanah-Temasek JVs 'making good progress'

KL-S'pore high- speed rail link will yield much economic gain: Khazanah MD

By TEH SHI NING

THE joint ventures between Khazanah Nasional and Temasek Holdings, resulting from the landmark deal between Singapore and Malaysia last year, have made 'a lot of progress', Khazanah's managing director Azman Mokhtar said at a conference on Monday.

'Progress on all fronts is good,' Mr Azman said of Khazanah's 60-40 joint venture with Temasek to develop land parcels in Marina Bay and Ophir-Rochor Singapore swapped with Malaysia in exchange for Malayan Railway Land, as well as another 50-50 joint venture to develop a wellness township in Johor's Iskandar region.

'This is probably still under-appreciated at the moment. . . I think the impact is potentially very large,' Mr Azman said.

Both joint ventures are part of the settlement signed in September after talks between the two countries' prime ministers in May last year saw a breakthrough in the impasse over Points of Agreement signed in 1990.

The planned high-speed rail link between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore will yield much economic gain, Mr Azman said at a Credit Suisse Asian Investment Conference 2011 panel discussion on Malaysia's Economic Transformation Programme (ETP).

'The economic case is definitely there. It is a net additive on both sides,' he said, adding that this could go beyond integrating Malaysia and Singapore's economies to drive Asean connectivity, even as Asean seeks to become Asia's third growth nexus besides China and India.


Chris Tan, director at Malaysian government agency Pemandu (which drives the ETP comprising 131 investment projects requiring expenditure of US$444 billion in all, 92 per cent of which will come from the private sector), said the ETP recognises synergies between the two economies too, such as the use of 'Singaporean intellectual property' to 'unlock value in the Malaysian production hinterland'.

http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/sub/storyprintfriendly/0,4582,431497,00.html?