https://www.scmp.com/rss/321427/feed The Go-Asia series offers a quick update on some of the attractive destinations in Asia for travel and investment, such as Malaysia and Vietnam. Topics covered include economic development, business environment, investment opportunity and the property market. The series is also packed with useful information for both business and leisure visitors; such as city life, arts and culture, transportation, hotels, foods and restaurants. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Stretching from its northern border with Thailand across the South China Sea to the island of Borneo, Malaysia occupies a broad swathe of Southeast Asia. Geographically, economically and politically, the country is one of the region's major players, and is set to capitalise on its position in the coming five years. The latest development plan, presented to parliament in May, allocated 260 billion ringgit (US$68.2 billion) for development expenditure from 2015 to 2020, with increasing the... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/asia/topics/go-asia-malaysia/article/1875559/ambitions-becoming-high-income-nation?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/asia/topics/go-asia-malaysia/article/1875559/ambitions-becoming-high-income-nation?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Nov 2015 08:31:17 +0000 Malaysia's GDP is in excess of US$750 billion, and the country has turned itself into a centre of Islamic banking, taking pride of place as the country with the highest numbers of female workers in that industry. Knowledge-based services are also expanding, while, in order to build up a sturdy defensive ability and support national development, Malaysia privatised some of its military facilities. This created a home-grown defence industry, which in 1999 was brought under the Malaysia Defence... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/asia/topics/go-asia-malaysia/article/1875316/diverse-range-sectors-still-growing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/asia/topics/go-asia-malaysia/article/1875316/diverse-range-sectors-still-growing?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Nov 2015 08:31:08 +0000 Hotels in Kuala Lumpur have traditionally targeted meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) organisers and business travellers, but a move is afoot to broaden their base by attracting more leisure travellers. Their efforts are supported by Tourism Malaysia, which is focusing increasingly on the leisure travel segment by promoting festivals and other tourist-friendly events and activities. The number of hotel rooms in Kuala Lumpur increased by an average of 3.6 per cent between... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/asia/topics/go-asia-malaysia/article/1875324/emphasis-shifts-business-pleasure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/asia/topics/go-asia-malaysia/article/1875324/emphasis-shifts-business-pleasure?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Nov 2015 08:29:37 +0000 When Malaysians congregate, the discussion quickly turns to food. The first question they ask each other is: "Sudah makan?"(have you eaten?). And any visitor to Malaysia is eagerly asked by locals whether they like the food, especially the spicy dishes. It goes without saying that Malaysians live to eat, and with so much variety at affordable prices, it won't take visitors long to get into the swing of things. A decade ago, dining mostly meant enjoying the delights of Malay, Chinese and Indian... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/asia/topics/go-asia-malaysia/article/1875322/hit-streets-evening-fun?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/asia/topics/go-asia-malaysia/article/1875322/hit-streets-evening-fun?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Nov 2015 08:29:15 +0000 It was the "Malaysia My Second Home" campaign which really put the country on the map for overseas property investors.  The government programme, launched a decade ago, not only invited foreigners to live in Malaysia, it also opened their eyes to the lifestyle possibilities of cheaper housing, a pleasant climate, welcoming locals and affordable living costs.  It was just the fillip the nation needed. Property sales were fuelled by generous lending laws, whereby participants can borrow up to 80... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/asia/topics/go-asia-malaysia/article/1875315/initiative-lures-investors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/asia/topics/go-asia-malaysia/article/1875315/initiative-lures-investors?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Nov 2015 08:28:57 +0000