In November 2019, when Ang Ming Lee & Ors v Menteri Kesejahteraan Bandar, Perumahan dan Kerajaan Tempatan & Anor and other appeals [2020] 1 MLJ 281 (“Ang Ming Lee”) was first delivered by the apex court, the decision caused ripples in the housing industry. The decision of the Federal Court effectively nullified and rendered void earlier decisions of the Controller of Housing in granting an extension of time to housing developers pursuant to Regulation 11(3) of the Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Regulations 1989 (“HDR”). The Federal Court in Ang Ming Lee, having ruled that Regulation 11(3) of the HDR was ultra vires, did not address or discuss the issue of whether such a ruling would be applied prospectively. In the absence of a ruling that the decision in Ang Ming Lee would apply prospectively, the default position is that Ang Ming Lee would apply retrospectively.
The governments of Malaysia and Singapore exchanged the agreement for the establishment of the JohorSingapore Special Economic Zone (“JS-SEZ”) on 7 January 2025, about a year after the proposal was first agreed in principle. The exchange of agreement took place in conjunction with the 11th Malaysia-Singapore Leaders’ Retreat, which also involved the exchange of several other bilateral agreements.
Azmi & Associates released a number of articles from 9 -16 January, 2025. Click on the links below to read the article(s).
- New Qualifying Criteria for Audit Exemption Starting 1 January 2025
- How to Set Up a Company or Business in Sarawak
- Stamp Duty Redefined: Key Changes and Implications Under the Finance Act 2024
- The Legal Framework Relating to Extraction, Trade and Dealing of Precious Metals
- The Importance of Trademark Registration to the Success of SMEs and Startups
On January 13, AMCHAM kicked off 2025 with its first event – the Welcome Back Cocktails! This much-anticipated gathering, held at the newly opened Hyatt Centric Kuala Lumpur, provided a fantastic opportunity for members to reconnect, network, and catch up over delicious food and refreshing drinks.
AMCHAM’s CEO Dato’ Siobhan Das provided an overview of what the Chamber has planned and what happened during the end of 2024. This year’s event featured an engaging discussion on the implications of the U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, with insights from three esteemed speakers:
- Steve Okun, Senior Advisor to Kroll, Head of External Affairs for American Association of the Indo-Pacific,
- Ong Kian Ming, Pro Vice Chancellor for External Engagement and Program Director of Taylor’s University’s Philosophy, Politics & Economics Program, and
- Deborah Elms, Head of Trade Policy at the Hinrich Foundation in Singapore.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our distinguished guests for sharing their perspectives on how the second Trump presidency may influence the U.S. business community in Asia.
A special shoutout to for hosting us in such a beautiful venue. A huge thank you to Chikako Shimizu, General Manager of Hyatt Centric Kuala Lumpur, for hosting us and sharing her inspiring story about the exciting hotel.
Here’s to a year filled with meaningful connections and impactful discussions!
On January 10, AMCHAM had the pleasure of hosting Elaine Yip, Head of Country Sales Singapore, Mongolia and Offline, Pheona Woo, Sales Manager and Ikhwan Azizi Suhaimi, Sales Executive at United Airlines at the AMCHAM Executive Office.
During the meeting, we covered several key areas, including fostering relationships to explore potential opportunities for the year ahead. Additionally, the discussion sparked an engaging exchange of ideas for events that are both impactful and align with both of our strategic goals, aimed at strengthening the relationship between the chamber and its members.
A heartfelt thank you to Elaine Yip, Pheona Woo, Ikhwan Azizi Suhaimi, and United Airlines for visiting AMCHAM and for the thoughtful and engaging discussion. We look forward to continuing these insightful conversations in the future!
On January 9, AMCHAM’s Membership team had a productive meeting with Ain Ul Mardhiah Rosli, Head of Government Engagement at Visa. The discussion focused on exploring opportunities for deeper collaboration with AMCHAM and its members, especially since Malaysia is assuming the role of Chair for ASEAN 2025.
The meeting touched upon Visa’s strategic approach to Government Relations in sharing their goals and objectives. The discussion also explored the possibility of forming comprehensive and sustainable partnerships, as well as examining the role of digital payments in the industry.
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Ain Ul Mardhiah Rosli and to Visa for the insightful and engaging meeting, looking forward to working closely with Visa in 2025 and beyond!
