MONEY MASTER

Tenaga Nasional Bhd (KL:TENAGA) has reintroduced its  Merdeka Light Incentive for 2025 , offering commercial customers  special discounted electricity rates  from  Aug 1 to Sept 30 , in conjunction with Malaysia’s National Day celebrations. The programme, first launched in 2000, has drawn  1,027 applications as of Aug 15 , underscoring steady demand from businesses seeking both cost savings and participation in the Merdeka festivities. Last year, TNB received  1,863 applications . Tariff Discounts and Eligibility Under the new  electricity tariff restructuring effective July 1, 2025 , TNB has improved its offer: Low-voltage commercial customers:   28.91 sen/kWh  (≈57% discount) Medium-voltage commercial customers:   13.37 sen/kWh  (≈45% discount) Eligible customers  include skyscrapers, office buildings, shopping complexes, hotels, petrol stations, and other commercial entities. Requirements: Must be under  general tariff ...

The clock is ticking for EV buyers in the U.S. If you've been thinking about buying or leasing an electric vehicle (EV),  now’s the time to act . The  US$7,500 federal tax credit —a major incentive that’s been driving EV adoption—is  set to expire on Sept 30, 2025 . And automakers are making sure you know it. Tesla’s homepage is already flashing a banner warning: “US$7,500 Federal Tax Credit Ending. Take Delivery by Sept 30, 2025.” Ford is dangling extra perks too —extending its  free home charger + installation offer  until the end of September to lure buyers in before the credits disappear. Why This Matters Since 2008, the federal tax credit has been a  critical lever  for growing the EV market. But with the latest tax and budget legislation rolling in,  both the US$7,500 new EV and US$4,000 used EV credits will vanish by Q4 . Industry insiders expect a  pre-deadline buying frenzy , followed by a potential cooldown in demand. General Motors...

The Malaysian government has announced the expansion of the  Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara)  initiative, set to begin on  April 1 , 2025. The scheme, which targets assistance for low-income individuals and households, will now benefit  5.4 million recipients , a substantial increase from the previous 700,000 beneficiaries. In an official statement, the  Ministry of Finance  revealed that eligible recipients will receive up to  RM2,100  in aid, marking a  75% increase  from the RM1,200 aid given in 2024. This increase is part of a larger effort to redistribute a portion of Malaysia’s higher revenue and subsidy savings to those in need. Key Highlights of the Sara Initiative : Targeted Assistance : The Sara initiative is designed to provide financial aid to the country's most vulnerable populations. Recipients will receive the aid through their  MyKad , which can be used to purchase essential goods. Increased Coverage : The scheme will n...

 The Penang government has launched a new incentive programme, dubbed ‘Penang Silicon Design @5km+’ , aimed at drawing chip design firms and engineers to the Bayan Lepas Industrial Park and its surrounding area. The initiative offers annual subsidies worth up to RM2 million over three years for both local and foreign integrated circuit (IC) design firms based in Malaysia, according to Invest Penang . With major global semiconductor companies like Intel and Infineon Technologies already established in Penang, the state's Chief Minister, Chow Kon Yeow , highlighted the importance of creating conducive facilities to support high-value activities. Penang is home to 28 local and foreign IC design firms , and this initiative aims to further boost the region's attractiveness to strategic investors . To support the programme, Penang has allocated RM60 million and is seeking a matching grant from the federal government . Incentives include full subsidies for rent , utilities ...

The recently announced incentives for Forest City’s Special Financial Zone (SFZ) are expected to provide a significant boost to the real estate sector , particularly in the Iskandar Malaysia region, according to a note by RHB Research on Monday. RHB highlighted that the incentive package will have a positive spillover effect on property demand, commercial, and retail activities in the Iskandar region. Developers such as UEM Sunrise , Sunway Bhd , and Eco World Development Group Bhd are poised to benefit from the increase in real estate activity fueled by these incentives. The incentive package aims to position Forest City as a hub for family offices , attracting both local and international investments, and creating job opportunities in the long term. The strategic location of Forest City, being close to Singapore , a financial hub, is expected to attract asset management companies , financial institutions , and high-net-worth individuals . Several Singapore-based institutions ha...