Kuala lumpur: Unlocking a portion of the Railway Asset Corporation's landbank, covering nearly 3,520.77 hectares, for transit-oriented development would transform railway corridors into economic engines, according to the Rehda Institute. Its chairman, Datuk Jeffrey Ng Tiong Lip, stated that this initiative would enhance ridership, expand housing supply, stimulate commercial activity and tourism, and strengthen the financial sustainability of Malaysia's rail network, particularly along the southern and eastern corridors.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Ng emphasized that Malaysia has a rare opportunity to integrate public transportation across road, rail, air, and sea. He highlighted that with seamless connectivity across regions and modes, Malaysia could emerge as a reliable regional hub for tourism, logistics, and investment. In his welcoming address at the annual Property Developers Conference, 'The CEO Series 2026,' Ng explained that the spillover effects of such integration could drive tourist receipts beyond the RM329 billion projected for 2026, turning transport integration into an economic growth engine.
Ng reiterated that unlocking railway links in the southern and eastern corridors is timely for the nation's new economic growth opportunities. He emphasized that seamless integration is crucial for the success of any public transport network. Malaysia has invested significantly in transport infrastructure, including the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS), the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), KTM's electric train service (ETS), and urban rail networks such as the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and Light Rail Transit (LRT). Ng noted that the next leap in productivity would come from better integration rather than more infrastructure.
Against the backdrop of the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme's resurgence, Ng also addressed the proposed increase in stamp duty for foreign home purchases from four per cent to eight per cent. He mentioned that foreign buyers, including MM2H participants, account for only 0.5 per cent of total transactions and are concentrated in the high-end segment, posing no competition to local buyers. Their investments, however, generate significant spillover effects across the economy, supporting job creation and local consumption in sectors such as retail, education, healthcare, and services.
Ng further highlighted MM2H's success following a strategic revamp, with total inflows estimated at RM840 million as of June 2025, including RM237 million in property investments. This represents an 84 per cent increase in the first six months of 2025, attracting high-net-worth individuals and global talent.