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 : BFM 89.9 -- The Business Station

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

Kingsley Jones, Chief Investment Officer, Jevons Global 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

Sim Moh Siong, Commodity Strategist, OCBC Bank gives us an outlook on oil prices.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

John Zogby, Founder of Zogby Strategies,discusses the rising tensions between the US, Denmark, and Greenland over the island’s strategic role in the Arctic.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Fozia Amanulla, CEO of Boost Bank Berhad, talks about what makes the digital bank stands out among its peers.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

Goh Cia Yee, Criminal Lawyer, weighs in on whether Deferred Prosecution Agreements are a step forward or a loophole for major corruption cases.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

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

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Kingsley Jones, Chief Investment Officer, Jevons Global tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) We take a look at the FBM KLCI as well as regional capital markets.

9:35 AM

What's The Focus

We wrap up the week’s biggest conversations to keep you in the know.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

Sean Tan, CEO & Co-Founder and Jesmine Tan, COO & Co-Founder, Applecrumby. Two years ago, Applecrumby was navigating its transition from a long bootstrapped journey into its next growth phase. Today, the company is expanding beyond baby care into kids skincare, scaling its retail presence, and rethinking what sustainable growth looks like for a consumer brand built on trust. Co-founders Sean Tan and Jesmine Tan join us to break down what has changed since our last conversation in 2024, how their revenue mix and operations have evolved, the commercial logic behind their move into kids skincare, the economics of selling across online and physical retail, and how they are balancing scale with profitability as they plan for 2026 and beyond.

11:00 AM

Mattsplained

Matt Armitage, Founder, Kulturpop

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

Fozia Amanulla, CEO of Boost Bank Berhad, talks about what makes the digital bank stands out among its peers.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

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

3:05 PM

Front Row

Encounter: Anime 2.0 brings iconic anime music to life with a full symphony orchestra. Producer Alvin Ong and conductor Justin Lai tell us what audiences can expect.

3:25 PM

Front Row

God’s Waiting Room is a tender look at ageing and connection. Writer-director Joe Hasham and actor Faridah Merican discuss storytelling, partnership, and creativity later in life.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

We’ve been fighting an uphill battle against super gonorrhoea, a drug-resistant infection, but we finally have new antibiotics that could work against this infection. Tune in to find out why this matters.

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

Popcorn Culture

We review Train Dreams and The Voice of Hind Rajab.

7:00 PM

Just For Kicks

8:00 PM

Bar None

9:00 PM

The Selector