London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Hongkongers scout properties in Malaysia as turmoil rumbles on

Hongkongers scout properties in Malaysia as turmoil rumbles on

As interest starts to swirl in the property sector, the local education system is also seen as a beneficiary from the unrest in the city. ‘I have heard that there has been an increase in property visits to Malaysia by Hong Kong tourists’, a property agent said

The ongoing demonstrations in Hong Kong have resulted in a spike in interest in Malaysian
property and private international school enquiries.

A check with four property consultancies and a couple of international schools suggest that interest rose towards late June and early July this year. SK Brothers Realty (M) Sdn Bhd general manager Chan Ai Cheng said there has been growing interest in Malaysian properties from Hong Kong investors.

“The interest is growing and I have heard that there has been an increase in property visits to Malaysia by Hong Kong tourists,” she said.

“Malaysia is certainly one of the countries on their list as an investment destination and there are a number of reasons for that. They feel that our property is of decent value and also very affordable.

“Culturally, they also feel comfortable with our environment.”

Chan added that language is also not a barrier to investors from Hong Kong.

“In Malaysia, speaking English, Cantonese and Mandarin is an appealing trait,” she said. “They also like our country for the educational facilities and amenities. We have a number of good international schools here.

“Another attractive quality is the food. So, it’s not surprising why many choose Malaysia as an ideal place to invest or even stay.”

A check with property developer Sheng Tai International Sdn Bhd, which has been organising “property tourism” trips to Malaysia in the last two to three years, showed that there has been “more interest” in its properties starting June, a staff said, requesting anonymity.

As interest starts to swirl in the property sector, the local education system is also seen as a beneficiary from the ongoing turmoil in Hong Kong.

A private international school that offers Australian and British education in Malaysia said it has noticed a spike in enquiries for its Australian intake, which begins in January 2020. The British syllabus trimester begins in August.

The source said that it did not have many students from Hong Kong before the street demonstrations and is uncertain if the enquiries would result in registrations.

“Interest centres on primary school and below, for children aged three to 11 years old, ” the source, who is involved in the Australian syllabus, said.

Interest in Australian education started coming in early July. Another education source said her school saw a spike in enquiries in late June and early July.

Property consultancy Rahim & Co said the ongoing public demonstration and violence is “likely” to spur more interest here, as Malaysia is already known as “a good value option”.

Malaysian properties cost a fraction of those in Hong Kong and come with a larger space.

A tourist considering a Malaysian purchase said it is common for an entire family to live in a 500 sqft space, considered a shoebox sized unit in Hong Kong.
Street demonstrations have rocked Hong Kong of late. The now-abandoned extradition bill
, which revolved around extraditing alleged criminals to China for trial, caused unhappiness that has evolved into pro-democracy violence on the streets, in the airport and on the public train transport system.
It was also reported recently that people from Hong Kong are increasingly seeking out properties in Singapore
.

VPC Alliance Kuala Lumpur managing director James Wong said more Hong Kong people would be buying property in Malaysia to retire or as their second home under the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme.

“The Hong Kong people have a general tendency to migrate to Canada, Australia and New Zealand rather than to Malaysia. Some may consider buying and living in Malaysia but no strong buying wave is expected, as Malaysian immigration laws for emigration are strict, ” Wong said in an email.

Guidelines for foreigners to purchase property in Malaysia need to be further relaxed, including state governments, to remove the price threshold for foreigners to purchase property in Malaysia and for further relaxation of the MM2H, said Wong.

Singapore property developer CapitaLand’s joint-venture residential project with Malaysia’s ParkCity Group in Kuala Lumpur achieved strong sales during its priority sales launch over the weekend of July 27 and 28.

The 505-unit development, called Park Regent, saw more than 353 units (70 per cent) being sold at an average selling price of 1,100 ringitt per square foot.

CapitaLand is one of Asia’s largest diversified groups. The development is located in Desa ParkCity, Kuala Lumpur, and comprises six flat types of one- to four-bedroom units. Prices start from 860,000 ringitt, and units range from 872 sq ft for a one-bedder to 4,887 sq ft for a four-bedder. About 80 per cent of buyers are Malaysians.

A source related to the project said they would be marketing the project abroad, including Hong Kong.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×