BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Evening Edition  >  Top 5 At 5  >  Top 5 at 5: Zero Percent Tax Breaks In Forest City

Top 5 at 5: Zero Percent Tax Breaks In Forest City

Francis Hutchinson, Senior Fellow and Coordinator of the Malaysia Studies Programme, ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute

24-Sep-24 17:00

Top 5 at 5: Zero Percent Tax Breaks In Forest City

Forest City is set to become the first in Malaysia to offer a 0% tax rate for family wealth offices, a strategic move aimed at attracting businesses, financial institutions, and high-net-worth individuals globally. We speak to Francis Hutchinson, Senior Fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, to unpack the significance of this new policy.

Other stories we covered today:

  • Risk of Statelessness for Children Rescued from GISBH Homes: Some of the children rescued from GISBH homes could face statelessness, as many carry the "bin Abdullah" surname, indicating they were born out of wedlock, while others’ parents never officially registered their marriages. Maalini Ramalo, Director of Social Protection at the Development of Human Resources for Rural Areas, explains the implications.

  • Kedah Floods Displace Thousands: Kedah is once again grappling with severe floods, affecting over 6,700 people. Dr. Ahmad Yusuf Yahaya, Chief Coordinator of IMARET, gives us a firsthand update on the situation.

  • Former Singapore Transport Minister Pleads Guilty: Former Singapore Transport Minister S. Iswaran has pleaded guilty to five charges after the prosecution reduced 35 charges, including corruption, to five lesser ones. James Gomez, Director of Asia Centre, breaks down the case.

  • Ringgit Soars to 30-Month High: Last week, the ringgit surged to a 30-month high, closing at 4.1815 against the US dollar, making it the world’s best-performing currency. We get expert insights from Professor Wong Chin Yoong of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman.

Image Credit: Sebastian Castelier, Shutterstock

Produced by: Alena Nadia, Tee Shiao Eek, Alia Zefri, Sharaad Kuttan

Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Sharaad Kuttan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  economypoliticsgovernmentinternationalenvironmentcontroversies

Tags:  forest city 0% taxfamily wealth offices malaysiabusiness incentives malaysiafrancis hutchinson ISEASGISBH child rescuestatelessness in MalaysiaKedah floods updateDr Ahmad Yusuf IMARETS Iswaran corruption caseSingapore transport minister scandalringgit 30-month highMalaysia currency performanceWong Chin Yoong economistMalaysia economic newsMalaysian financial incentives





Play / Pause

Listen now : The 6AM Stretch: Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our...

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Vishnu Varathan, Head of Economics & Strategy, Mizuho Bank tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

Dr Kathryn Robison, Lecturer in American Studies, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney on the United Stated partial government shutdown and political tension.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Danesh Prakash Chacko of TINDAK weighs in on whether limiting the PM’s tenure and electing KL’s mayor could strengthen governance and trust.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Alex Ong, Executive Director of Hock Soon Capital, discusses the future of its poultry business on its way to the Main Market.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

Ravi Kittane, Partner at Ernst & Young Consulting, discusses the digital banks' business in Malaysia and the region.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

(REPEAT) We dive into the local and international news that matters to you.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Vishnu Varathan, Head of Economics & Strategy, Mizuho Bank tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

Mohd Fadzerin Arrifin, Equity Analyst, BIMB Securities Research discusses Malaysia's property and REIT sectors.

9:35 AM

The Property Show

Dr. Tan Loke Mun, Principal of DrTanLM Architect, assesses KL's River of Life project 15 years on.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

Buzz ditched its green-tech BeeBag idea after hitting a scaling wall, for “commerce media,” turning fintech apps into ad channels. We unpack the kill signal behind the pivot, why item-level purchase data is the real moat, and whether your banking app is about to become the next big billboard

11:00 AM

The Workplace

Sharmini Ann Jacob, Executive Director of Business Transformation (People & Change), KPMG Malaysia

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

What happens when the cost of intelligence hits zero? Peng T. Ong joins us to explore the "Economic Singularity." From the "Star Trek vs. Wall-E" future to the death of inflation, we ask: how do we survive the end of work, and what is the "human premium" in a world of automated abundance?

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

Alex Ong, Executive Director of Hock Soon Capital, discusses the future of its poultry business on its way to the Main Market.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in mind.

3:05 PM

Earth Matters

This World Wetlands Day, we explore Kuala Selangor Nature Park, where mangroves, mudflats, and wildlife thrive just minutes from the city.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

“I’m overstimulated”. By now, we’ve probably heard or seen someone say this but what does it actually mean to be overstimulated? How do you know if that’s what you’re feeling like?

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

A countdown of the 5 biggest stories of the day, to catch you up on all you need to know!

6:00 PM

Big Issue

7:00 PM

Stories of KL

We learn about the art of Kavadi making with father-son artisans K Sivarajah and Sathish Raja.

8:00 PM

Cruise Control

Daniel took the new 2026 Proton Saga MC3 out for a ride and share his thoughts on this car and its larger meaning to Malaysians.