Effective real property gain tax of Malaysia Budget 2010

Proposal on real property gain tax on the Malaysia Budget 2010 can be seen in this Appendix of Budget 2010, at Appendix 15.

The Malaysia Budget 2010 speech can be seen here.

Did some calculation: data.

Taking into account of exemption “up to RM10,000 or 10% of the gains, which ever is higher be given to individuals”, it can be seen that there are 3 "regimes" of effective real property gain tax:

1. For real property gain from 0 to 10,000, effective real property gain tax is 0%.

2. For real property gain from 10,000 to 100,000, effective real property gain tax increases from 0% to 4.5%, with sharp initial increase. Rate of increase decreases with increase of real property gain.

3. For real property gain from 100,000 onwards, effective real property gain tax is 4.5%.

It seems the effective real property gain tax favoured smaller amount of real property gain.

This new flat-rate real property gain tax irregardless of holding period is less effective in curbing speculation in real estate compared to the older-version RPG tax which have progressive rates.

US anti-dumping, anti-subsidy: US ITC

In recession, there is greater risk that countries will implement protectionism measures.

These protectionism measures may affect industries and companies, and thus our investment.

The anti-dumping, anti-subsidy order seems abrupt in newspaper announcements and often caught investors off-guarded. However, it’s actually not an abrupt event.

United States International Trade Commission (US ITC) and US Department of Commerce are two important entities for conducting anti-dumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) (subsidy) investigations and five-year (sunset) reviews. The relevant stature is the Tariff Act of 1930.

US ITC and US Department of Commerce have different roles.

US ITC: “determines whether the U.S. industry is materially injured or threatened with material injury by reason of the imports under investigation”.

U.S. Department of Commerce: “determines whether the alleged dumping or subsidizing is happening, and if so, the margin of dumping or amount of subsidy”.

If both investigations are affirmative, U.S. Department of Commerce will issue an antidumping duty order to offset the dumping or a countervailing duty order to offset the subsidy.

There is also AD/CVD 5-year (Sunset) Reviews where previous AD/CVD order may remain in place or be revoked.

Besides AD/CVD, there are “Global and Special Safeguard Investigations” concerning global safeguard (escape clause) and market disruption. This is under US ITC. Stature is Trade Act of 1974.

From US ITC’s website, we can get lists of useful information for industry analysis from its “research tools”, for examples recent petition, AD/CVD orders, sunset review status/schedule/disposition.

Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Handbook

is a good guide to learn about how filing of AD/CVD is done.

We can find information on :

• petition process
• investigation process
• review process
• historical overview (information on related laws)

The appendixes (with glossary, timetables, sample report, forms, graphic summary) are insightful for learning about anti-dumping, anti-subsidy order. The graphic summary shows for period of 1985-2005, number of cases, value of imports, disposition (% of affirmative, ITC negative, terminated), top 10 countries cited in AD/CVD cases.

Historical Case Statistics from “research tools” has a more detailed import injury case statistics (1980 – 2006).

a book on housing

There is this book (in chinese) that I found very useful for insights on selecting a house.
Many aspects of house like waterproofing, earthquake rsistance, fireproofing, power supply, water supply, drainage, insulation, acoustics, airflow, exterior are discussed.

寻找梦想的家

More information on the book.
Book content, sample chapter are available.

Hospital charges – Malaysia, Singapore, US

Medical fees may be a drain on household income if any member of the family falls sick.
Besides long term medication costs, one of the big portion of medical fees will be hospital charge.
Malaysia hospital charges
Malaysia’s government hospital charges (various types of medical fees and dental fees, for class 1, 2, 3; refer to form A to G)
Malaysia’s Ministry of Health website
I wonder whether there is similar compilation on medical fees in private hospital.

Singapore hospital charges
Singapore’s medical charges (different types of wards, surgery, different procedures)
Information about different hospitals, volume, average length of stay, 50th percentile bill size, 90th percentile bill size are included.
Singapore’s Ministry of Health website

US medical procedure charges
US medical cost by principal procedure from a health insurance website
The data above are older data.