After four days without new Covid-19 cases, the Penang government is hopeful the whole state could be declared a green zone state by April 27 if no new cases are reported in all of its districts for 14 days.

Seberang Perai Selatan could be the first district to be a green zone on April 21, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said.

“I have been informed by the State Health Department that based on the 14-day Covid-19 monitoring report, if there are no more further cases, all districts in Penang can be green zones on April 27,” he said in a media briefing today.

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If there are no more additional cases, Seberang Perai Selatan would be the first district in the state to achieve green zone status on April 21.

However, Chow reminded everyone to continue to comply with directives under the Movement Control Order until the situation is really safe.

“Although the country is still recording new cases every day, the numbers have dipped below the 100-mark level compared to a month ago.

“Nevertheless, we still cannot afford to ‘relax’. Continue to obey the MCO until we are really in a safe situation. Stay home, and limit outdoor travel,” he said.

On the closure of several textile companies in Penang, the chief minister said the state government, through the Penang Career Assistance and Talent Centre had taken measures to carry out job matching and replacements for affected employees.

He said recently, the Esquel and Pen Apparel in Penang textile companies announced that they had shut down operations in Penang.

“The state government will look into their needs immediately, including job placements for local employees,” he said.

He said Penang is still capable of creating job opportunities for its people on account that its manufacturing sector has had RM13.3 billion in foreign direct investment approved.

“These investments are being rolled out and InvestPenang expects to create 13,000 job opportunities from this,” he said.

Source: Free Malaysia Today

Kedah, Perlis and Penang can be the first states in the country to be declared as Covid-19 green states, according to Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah in a Malaysiakini report yesterday.

However, there is a catch to it.

According to Noor Hisham, the three northern states would have to continuously record zero number of new cases in the next two weeks. This is needed to pass the 14-day incubation period.

“Although, indeed, Kedah, Perlis as well as Penang in the last couple of days do not have any new cases reported, what is most important is we need to wait for the incubation period of about 14 days before we can say that the area is clean.

“So now we are in the process of looking into it. And if within 14 days there are no cases reported in the three states, then perhaps we can consider the states to be green states,” he told a press conference yesterday.

Malaysiakini said Noor Hisham was answering a question on whether the Health Ministry would consider relaxing the movement control order (MCO) on several states which have recorded zero number of new cases since the past few days.

A green zone is the designation given to areas that MOH says has no Covid-19 cases.

The government had said previously that they might impose movement control order based on zones, where green ones would have some relaxation in rules, while red zones would see the most strict enforcement.

So far, none of the 14 states and three federal territories in the country have been declared as a green state. Only certain districts have been marked as green areas so far.

According to the Health Ministry’s statistics as of noon yesterday cited by Malaysiakini, Kedah, Perlis and Penang have zero cases over the past 24 hours, while yesterday’s figures showed that Kedah had only one new case.

The Malaysiakini report quoting Noor Hisham said it was important that green zones are protected from Covid-19 infections.

This, according to him, would enable the ministry to clear the country from the pandemic.

“It’s important for us to protect the green area, (either it is a) green zone, or green state, green village, green district or green subdistrict.

“I hope that within 14 days we can identify that (more areas as green zones). If we identify that, we may consider to further protect the green area.

“That is our intention in terms of our exit strategy. To make sure the green area or green state is protected,” he said.

Source: EdgeProp.my

Property prices are expected to decline by as much as 20% in the next few months with more motivated sellers, as the impact of Covid-19 continues to unfold.

During the online Asean Real Estate Forum, Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA) president Lim Boon Ping said that the Malaysian real estate market will shift to a buyer’s market, from a seller’s market previously, as a result of Covid-19.

As such, property prices at best could decline by 10%, and at most could decline by 20%.

That said, he noted that despite the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) — which has resulted in no property viewings, moving in and out of properties, and sale and purchase (S&P) agreements being signed — there have been some property deals that have been closed without viewings.

“There are cases where negotiators [have been] closing deals where the buyers have not viewed the property,” he said.

He added that real estate agents in Malaysia should learn to use technology to enhance the services they provide following the MCO and Covid-19.

Regarding a report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) stating that Malaysia would have the fastest-growing gross domestic product (GDP) among Asean-5 countries in 2021, Lim said that there are many voices who have different views on the matter.

“The message sent out is that Asean countries will suffer [this year]. But there will be a positive rebound in economic activities,” he said.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Association of Real Estate Agents (IAREA) vice-president Jaya Cahyadi said that there will be a shift in the concentration of wealth following Covid-19. As such, real estate agents should broaden their network and find those.

He cited that those involved in the production of medical supplies such as hand sanitisers and masks would likely have more capital and as such real estate agents should look at the owners of such businesses when broadening their client network.

“After Covid-19, you want to go after the right people in the right industries. Now is the time to find the right people,” said Jaya.

When asked if there would be an influx of Singaporean buyers into the Malaysia market, president of Singapore’s Institute of Estate Agents (IEA) Herman Yeo said Singaporean buyers would still buy if the property is within the high-end segment and is attractive enough.

Source: EdgeProp.my

“From now on, we will be very strict in our checks.

“We will ask for every single detail such as their address and such until we are satisfied.

“There is no reason for someone from Farlim to come all the way to Jelutong just to get food. Aren’t there any food in Farlim? Or for that matter, someone from Tanjung Tokong going all the way to Pulau Tikus to get food.

“Under Phase 1 and 2 of the MCO, motorists may have escaped using such trivial reasons. Not anymore. Enough is enough.

“Under Phase 3, if you can’t provide valid and strong reasons to be on the road, then be prepared to face action,” he said when met at the snap check at Jalan Perak here today.

Soffian said police would now verify every excuse given by motorists stopped at roadblocks to the extent of following them home as additional step to strictly enforce the MCO.

He said for those using excuse of buying food for their elderly parents, police might even escort them to see if they were telling the truth.

Soffian said they would identify more hotspots from time to time according to traffic assessment or assesment by the respective police station chiefs.

“Take for example between 10am and 2pm or between 2pm and 6pm, by right, there should not be heavy traffic on the road because those who needed to report for duties, would have done so already.

However, based on our checks yesterday, many motorists were still giving us trivial reasons.

“As such, we will set up more snap checks to ensure everyone fully abide by the MCO, otherwise, it will not be fair for those who are strictly observing the stay-at-home order.

“We hope everyone will be more aware and responsible in their actions so that we can help stop the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.” he added.

Source: NST Online

The Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA) is advising the public to be cautious in buying and selling properties during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period to avoid falling prey to scams.

MIEA noted that amid the MCO, the majority of Malaysians who are keen to buy or sell property will be relying on online platforms.

“Be extra vigilant as there are still a high number of cases where the general public has fallen prey to these property pitfalls,” it said yesterday.

MIEA president Lim Boon Ping highlighted that registered estate agents (REA) and negotiators (REN) are recognised as professionals under Malaysian law and that there are firm requirements that need to be adhered to when publishing an advertisement in order to protect the public’s interest.

Among others, they are required to include their name, REN/REA number, contact number and the real estate firm they represent with its E registration number and the firm’s telephone number, which the public can verify on www.lppeh.gov.my.

“There will a sudden surge on online and offline advertisement by those illegal brokers who will take advantage on the Covid-19 rise in low priced property deals and these advertisements will not contain the before-mentioned authenticity information and the public should avoid calling them,“ warned Lim.

He reminded that if one sees an advertisement or a property deal that looks “too good to be true”, be extra cautious and do your research”.

“Always engage a registered estate agent or a certified negotiator to verify these potential property deals,“ added Lim.

Source: Bernama