Soliciting Thoughts: Investing in Malaysia

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Stocks:

• Is it advisable to invest in Malaysian stocks?
• What is the best way to invest in Malaysia stocks on the Malaysia stock exchange (Bursa Malaysia) as a Singaporean?

Specific Risk: Malaysian Stocks

• Unstable political environment

Property

• Specifically Johor, KL seems little far and I think prices are high there too.
• Iskandar Malaysia township Johor touted as the largest development - arguably a failure? (Any thoughts?)
• Recently Johor government spoke about smart city plan for Johor
• Generally a strong relationship & cooperation between Singapore government and Johor Royalty.

Specific Risk: Malaysian Property

• I don’t quite know what is the exit strategy after buying a property in Malaysia
• Projects in Johor are mostly targeted at Singaporeans and therefore priced out of the average Johorean range (Except for their Bumi Putra lots), so who to sell to next time when I want to exit?
• Also another thing I cannot come to terms with it in a country like Malaysia where there is so much land, why would anyone purchase an old property? Won’t a developer just develop a new one? Unless the location is like Johor near the causeway, maybe the proximity to Singapore would add resale value?

My personal Opinion:

• I saw this documentary about France and Monaco. As we all know Monaco is where the rich and famous live it up. Prices in the tiny country are little out of range for the common man. However the common man are essential to the economy of Monaco, as they provide the necessary services to ensure that the city runs smoothly. However every morning they make the trip from the areas bordering France and Monaco into Monaco on their scooters to their shops or offices to goto work. Every evening they make the trip back to France where they have their houses and families.
• I could not help but draw broad parallels between Monaco and Singapore and Johor being the areas of France which boarders Monaco. With our housing prices through the roof, and the possibility of affordable housing and proximity to Singapore. Would Singaporeans who want to possibly achieve their aspirations of owning a landed property find it attractive to purchase a property in Johor. Or could some even think of their property in singapore as a unit in “Manhattan” while their property in Johor as their property in the “Hamptons”, a weekend sort of get away (when they are not travelling to Bali, Krabi or some nearby destination?