Rich Malaysians grow wealth aggressively

KUALA LUMPUR: A study covering nine Asian markets described rich Malaysians as ambitious and aggressive in growing their wealth, with 75% aiming to be worth about US$4mil (RM12mil) within the next 10 years.

The Future Priority 2012 Report, the second series survey conducted by Standard Chartered Bank and Scorpio Partnership, captured the sentiment of over 2,700 wealthy Asians.

Malaysians remain confident in growing their wealth after Indonesia (98%), India (88%), China (78%) and Thailand (also 78%).

Affluent Malaysians’ top choices of investment are gold, high interest savings, unit trusts and real estate. — TIEW SIEW CHUEN

Tiew Siew Chuen, Country Head of Consumer Banking at Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Bhd, said affluent Malaysians needed an annual return of 15% to achieve their wealth target, compared to an average of 12% for Asia.

She said Asians were very confident of their wealth goal, based on the expected resilient economy going forward. She added that the region was seen as an excellent wealth creation opportunity platform.

“Affluent Malaysians’ top choices of investment are gold, high interest savings, unit trusts and real estate,” Tiew said at a media briefing here yesterday.

She said that in wealth creation, it was important to consider not just investments but also the use of credit.

The survey showed 42% of affluent Malaysians were smart wealth builders who make use of credit to enhance their investment returns.

Tiew added: “Borrowing is no longer seen as a liability to one’s wealth. Used carefully, it is a wealth management tool.”

She said, after the Thais, there was a strong desire among Malaysians to be financially independent when saving for retirement.

Tiew said affluent Malaysians agreed with those in South Korea and Indonesia that a house was a good long-term asset, compared to Thailand and India who consider it to be reflective of who they are. — Bernama

Kerajaan pantau kadar inflasi

 

MukHriz Tun Mahathir memotong riben merasmikan pembukaan Kopitiam Killiney cawangan Carrefour di Subang Jaya, semalam sambil diperhatikan pemilik Killiney Kopitiam, Kamarul Rizal (kiri). 

 

SUBANG JAYA 2 Mei - Kerajaan akan memantau dan menilai kadar inflasi berikutan kebimbangan peningkatan harga barangan selepas gaji minimum kebangsaan dilaksanakan.

Timbalan Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir berkata, pengenalan gaji minimum seharusnya meningkatkan kuasa beli pengguna tetapi ia boleh dikawal dengan pemantauan kesan-kesan lain seperti inflasi.

"Kerajaan mahu membantu golongan yang mempunyai pendapatan boleh guna yang terhad menjalani kehidupan yang lebih baik dan selesa.

"Seharusnya semua pihak akan mendapat manfaat terutama bagi industri berkaitan kepenggunaan namun kami tetap akan menilai serta memantau kesan-kesan inflasi sekiranya harga barangan naik," katanya semasa sidang akhbar selepas dialog bersama usahawan dan pelancaran Kopitiam Killiney di sini hari ini.

Menyentuh mengenai kemungkinan ramai usahawan perusahaan kecil dan sederhana (PKS) gulung tikar selepas gaji minimum kebangsaan dilaksanakan, Mukhriz berkata, tempoh tangguh (grace period) yang diberikan selama enam bulan selepas ia digazetkan memberi peluang untuk semua majikan bersedia.

Malah katanya, kerajaan juga bersedia untuk membantu dengan memberi latihan-latihan bersesuaian supaya pekerja-pekerja tersebut mampu meningkatkan produktiviti seiring dengan kadar gaji baru yang mereka terima.

"Walaupun dasar ini nampak seperti memenangkan pekerja namun jika dilihat dari sudut yang lebih luas, kita perlu melakukannya. Jika kita biarkan pasaran yang menentukannya, sampai bila-bila pun mereka tidak pernah bersedia," ujar beliau lagi.