KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 8 (Bernama) -- Bursa Malaysia closed almost flat on Tuesday as buying interest rotated away from index heavyweights towards smaller-cap construction stocks, with sentiment affected by geopolitical uncertainty, said an analyst. At 5 pm, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 0.39 of a point to 1,714.40 from Monday’s close of 1,714.79. The benchmark index opened 1.65 points lower at 1,713.14 and moved between 1,710.44 and 1,714.50 throughout the trading session. The broader market was almost evenly balanced, with decliners leading gainers 548 to 546, while 598 counters were unchanged, 1,107 were untraded and 25 were suspended. Turnover expanded to 4.13 billion units valued at RM3.14 billion from 3.60 billion units valued at RM2.45 billion on Monday.
Malaysia’s Housing and Local Government Ministry is exploring a pay-per-use model for facilities in future affordable housing projects. Residents would use access cards and only pay for amenities like gyms, swimming pools, and playgrounds when they use them. At first glance, the idea sounds fair — why pay for facilities you never touch? But implementing it is not as simple as it seems. The Practical Hurdles Community Impact: Affordable housing isn’t just about infrastructure, it’s about building cohesive communities. When every facility becomes a paid service, it risks creating divisions between residents with different financial means or lifestyle needs. Design & Maintenance: Facilities in most high-rises are spread across the property. A pay-per-use model works best when grouped in a single clubhouse, but that raises questions: Should users pay a flat entry fee even if they only use the gym for 30 minutes? Upkeep Costs: Regardless of usage, maintenanc...