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Harsh reality about estate planning in Malaysia

2026-05-05T23:57:52.820+08:00

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OVER Rm90bil of wealth in Malaysia is currently frozen – not lost, not spent, just inaccessible.

Behind this staggering figure are families waiting months, sometimes years, to access money that could otherwise be used for mortgage payments, children’s education or medical bills.

This is the uncomfortable reality of estate planning in Malaysia. While many Malaysians work hard to build wealth through property, savings and investments, far fewer take the final step of ensuring that this wealth can be effectively passed on to their beneficiaries.

Estimates suggest that frozen estates in Malaysia have risen from Rm42bil in 2011 to as high as Rm90bil in recent years. According to a Bernama report in May last year, Rm13.3bil in unclaimed money was recorded by the Accountant General’s Department as of April 2025.

In news reports last year, Amanah Raya Berhad group managing director Ahmad Feizal Sulaiman Khan was quoted as saying that Rm65bil in assets, including real estate and cash belonging to deceased individuals, remain unclaimed due to lack of estate planning.

At the household level, this translates into delays, disputes and financial strain. At the national level, it represents idle capital that could otherwise contribute to economic activity.

Another reality that many overlook is that debts do not end when life does. Before any inheritance can be distributed, all of the deceased’s outstanding liabilities must be settled. This includes mortgages, personal loans, credit card balances and taxes.

In many cases, what appears to be a substantial estate might be reduced significantly after debts are cleared, leaving some families with far less than expected. In extreme cases, there may be nothing left at all.

Estate planning is often misunderstood as something complex or only relevant to the wealthy. In truth, it is a practical step that applies to anyone with dependents or assets.

From a practitioner’s perspective, three elements are critical.

First, legal clarity: A clear will or estate plan ensures that assets are distributed according to intention and reduces delays and disputes.

Second, debt awareness: Managing liabilities ensures that more of the estate can be preserved for beneficiaries rather than being consumed by obligations.

Third, liquidity planning: For families who need immediate access to funds, instruments such as insurance or structured arrangements can provide cash flow when it matters most without being tied up in legal processes.

These are not complicated strategies. They are basic safeguards that determine whether wealth can actually serve its purpose.

One of the biggest barriers to estate planning in Malaysia is attitude. Many people avoid the topic because it feels uncomfortable or premature while others assume they will get their assets without any complications.

But the evidence tells a different story. Failing to plan does not remove risk; it shifts the burden to the family often when emotions are high and urgent decisions must be made.

Estate planning should be viewed as a practical extension of responsible financial planning instead of a morbid exercise.

Ultimately, the true value of wealth lies not in how much we accumulate but in how effectively it protects the people we care about.

ASSOC PROF CHONG WEI YING Taylor’s Business School Taylor’s University

Drugstores not immune to fraud, Beware of cheap fake meds online

2026-05-04T16:54:12.693+08:00

Cases of stolen identity, couterfeit products

PETALING JAYA: What was first a mere question from a friend about discounted products quickly turned into a worrying discovery for pharmacist Rachel Gan May Shiang.

Someone was using her pharmacy’s identity to sell doubtful products.

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“I was sent a screenshot and that was when I knew our pharmacy was being impersonated online.

“The store looked almost identical. The only difference was that one of the letters bore a small alphabet as opposed to mine.

“Unregistered products in the Malaysian market were also sold on that site,” said Gan, who founded a pharmacy in Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam.

This led to complaints being made to the said e-commerce platform. Several of the product postings were then removed.

Days later, however, more fake accounts emerged.

“What’s even more worrying is that these products are being purchased.

“Besides the impersonation, there are wider public health concerns,” she said.

Gan, who is honorary secretary of the Malaysian Community Pharmacy Guild, questioned how the said platform vets its sellers, especially for those related to sectors such as pharmaceuticals.

Her case is not an isolated one, as even chain pharmacies are being targeted by fraudulent operators.

“Over the past year, we noticed this becoming increasingly rampant.

“At first, we received customer enquiries, with many also checking the authenticity of the products at our physical stores.

“So we checked the sites daily and lodged reports with the relevant authorities every time our brand name is misused to sell health and supplement products,” said Alpro Pharmacy professional care and development manager Ng Yi Ling.

These stores impersonate the Alpro brand, logo and images, she said.

The only difference was in the capitalisation of the letters in the brand name.

“Our biggest concern is how consuming these products will impact the health of consumers. We do not know the contents of these products,” she said.

Du Kiat Seng and Ng Seng Wei, who are the brand owners and sole distributor of a supplement product in Malaysia, said they have received complaints about counterfeit products as recently as March.

“We tried ordering the product ourselves and found that it was clearly a counterfeit.”

The giveaway was the absence of mandatory hologram tags.

The registration number was also a duplicated one, they said.

Both of them found that posts of doubtful products would be taken down following complaints but they would reappear the next day on the same online store.

“There should be some sense of responsibility from platforms to do their due diligence before allowing anyone to list health products for sale online.”

Brego Life Sciences marketing manager Claris Wong said they discovered such issues happening since 2024.

“We received complaints online. The prices were between 30% and 40% cheaper.

“We purchased the products and saw that they were almost identical with our products, although there were subtle differences in the printing.

“There was even a hologram printed on it. But when we scanned it, we found the product was not registered,” she said.

Sh said there was an instance where a customer was hospitalised after consuming a counterfeit product.

“Counterfeit products are dangerous.

“Our tests revealed that they do not have any of the active ingredients as claimed and may also contain unknown or harmful substances,” she said.

Save a dime, risk a life? Beware of cheap fake meds online

PETALING JAYA: It may seem like a good bargain online. But it comes with serious risks, as counterfeit medicines and supplements are still being sold on e-commerce platforms despite ongoing crackdowns.

TikTok Shop Malaysia said medicines and supplements are subject to requirements, including the need for a MAL number or notification from the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA), before being listed.

“Through our Intellectual Property Protection Centre, brands or authorised representatives can submit takedown requests for products and monitor their st

“There is no finish line when it comes to safety. Users are encouraged to report these products, content and sellers through the in-app reporting channel,” said a spokesperson.

TikTok Shop Malaysia is working with the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry and Health Ministry to address evolving forms of circumvention.

The spokesperson said continuous investments are made to improve safety tools, technology and personnel, with more than US$1bil committed globally to protect users from fraudulent and dangerous activities.

Automated systems are also used to detect potential fraud, infringement, unsafe content or violative product listings, both before and after products or content are uploaded.

“Sellers must submit official documentation during registration, which is then verified against business and banking details to ensure authenticity.

“Store names are subject to strict guidelines to prevent misrepresentation, including restrictions on terms such as ‘official’, ‘flagship’ or ‘authorised’,” the spokesperson said.

Once approved, new sellers undergo a probationary period where daily orders and product listings are capped as they familiarise themselves with platform policies.

Between January and June this year, it said more than 70 million product listing attempts were rejected globally for policy violations, with a proactive removal rate exceeding 99.5%.

Some 1.4 million seller account registration applications that failed to meet its standards were declined, with more than 700,000 sellers removed during the same period due to shop-level violations.

“More than 900,000 reports from users viewing TikTok Shop videos or live streams were also reviewed,” the spokesperson said.

Shopee strictly prohibits the sale of counterfeit and prohibited items too, requiring all sellers to comply with local regulations and platform policies.

A spokesperson said the platform works closely with the Malaysian Pharmacists Society (MPS) to verify pharmacies and actively remove listings that violate its rules.

“We are committed to building a safe and trusted platform where shoppers can transact with confidence.

“We also use proactive monitoring and work with brands, law enforcement and the Health Ministry to detect and take action against sellers breaching our policies, including account suspension, permanent bans and, where appropriate, legal action.

“Users are encouraged to report suspicious or counterfeit products via the ‘Report this Product’ option.”

Complaints can also be made to the Public Complaints Management System (SISPAA), which is used to manage public complaints, including reports of fake or unregistered medicines.

MPS president Amrahi Buang said all pharmaceutical products sold online must be registered with the Health Ministry and comply with laws including the Poisons Act, Sale of Drugs Act and the Medicines (Advertisement & Sale) Act and Regulations.

“Legitimate products have the Health Ministry hologram tag and the MAL number,” he said, adding that the number can be checked at the NPRA website.

He said MPS also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with an e-commerce platform to curb the sale of counterfeit drugs online.

There are several conditions to be fulfilled when applying to open an online store as per the MOU, including having a licensed pharmacist, ensuring the products sold online can be tied to a physical store and confirming that the pharmacist is an MPS member.

“Pharmacists can check if the product is legitimate and advise you.

“We don’t just sell drugs. We want the best for our customers,” he said

Mixed property outlook amid higher oil prices

2026-04-23T16:02:57.646+08:00

High-rise and luxury segments seen most vulnerable

PPC International MD Datuk Siders Sittampalam

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s property market remains an appealing investment avenue despite increasing global uncertainties, according to industry experts.

PPC International Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Siders Sittampalam said the local property market remains attractive to investors despite the ongoing West Asia crisis.

“However, the appeal is likely to be selective rather than broad-based, with investment decisions increasingly adopting a sector-led approach.

“It is important to recognise that Malaysia’s property market continues to be driven largely by domestic fundamentals, rather than direct exposure to the Middle East,” he told StarBiz.

An analyst said investing in property during global economic uncertainty “still makes sense,” adding, however, that it is “no longer about riding a broad market upswing”.

“It’s about selectivity, resilience, and long-term thinking. Property remains attractive because it’s a tangible, income-generating asset.”

Amid uncertain times, he said investors often value “stability.”

“Real estate can provide relatively predictable rental income and act as a partial hedge against inflation. Compared to more volatile assets like equities, it tends to be less reactive to short-term global shocks.”

However, he said the current environment has changed the investment outlook.

“Higher construction costs, cautious lending and more price-sensitive buyers mean that not all properties will perform well. Oversupply in certain segments, especially high-density developments, can limit both rental yields and capital appreciation.

“At the same time, global uncertainties can affect job markets and consumer confidence, indirectly impacting demand,” he said.

Compared with many countries in the region, Siders noted that Malaysia’s political neutrality provides a degree of stability.

“As such, the crisis is expected to affect the market only indirectly, primarily through higher oil prices, inflationary pressures and shifts in investor sentiment.

“One key reason the market remains attractive is that, during periods of geopolitical uncertainty, investors tend to rotate away from volatile equities into hard assets such as real estate.”

Siders emphasised that property, particularly income-producing assets, is generally less sensitive to short-term volatility affecting equities and other financial instruments.

“That said, the principal risk lies in a prolonged period of elevated oil prices, which could translate into higher domestic transportation costs, increased steel and concrete prices, pressure on rental affordability and slower take-up rates for high-end residential properties.”

Collectively, Siders said these factors may erode household disposable income and temper overall market momentum.

“In my view, investment strategies should now be anchored on income generation and strong underlying fundamentals, rather than expectations of capital appreciation or speculative gains.”

One market observer said that in times of uncertainty, the key question isn’t whether to invest, but rather “how to invest.”

“Investors should focus on properties with strong fundamentals – good locations, access to infrastructure, proximity to employment hubs and realistic pricing.

“Rental demand is especially important now, as steady income can offset slower price growth. A longer investment horizon also becomes critical, since quick gains are less likely in a cautious market cycle.”

Amid current economic uncertainties, a property analyst said there would be an impact on the market should things escalate further or be prolonged.

In such a situation, he said the impact would vary depending on the property segment. He said high-rise condominiums, especially in Kuala Lumpur, would be the most vulnerable segment.

“This segment would be the hardest hit because buyers here are often investors or middle- to upper-income earners.”

He noted that this segment also tends to be more sensitive to economic uncertainty, rental yields and short-term sentiment.

“Should oil prices spike, investors here will likely pull back and there will be fewer speculative purchases.

“The number of expatriates would also shrink if the global economy slows. Moreover, rental demand for these types of properties could also soften.”

Ultimately, this could lead to slower price growth or stagnation for high-rise condominiums.

“There would be higher unsold inventory. This is already an issue for condominiums within the Klang Valley,” he said.

Similarly, luxury and high-end properties are also at high risk, he noted.

“This segment is highly dependent on foreign buyers and investor sentiment.

“Oil price spikes often come with global uncertainty, which reduces foreign inflows and makes buyers more cautious. In such situations, transactions within this segment could drop significantly and prices may stagnate or correct.”

On the flip side, he said affordable houses (or mass-market properties) would be the most resilient if global economic conditions continue to worsen.

“This segment holds up better because it is driven by genuine need for owner occupation rather than investment.

“It is also often supported by government schemes and financing access. Even if oil prices push up living costs, people still need homes.

“Demand may slow slightly, but the segment still remains relatively stable. Prices may still inch up, albeit more slowly.”

Nevertheless, higher oil prices equals higher fuel costs, he noted. “Therefore, commuting can become more expensive.

“In such cases, locations far from city centres may see reduced appeal, while well-connected areas (especially ones near mass rapid transits and light rail transits) will hold their value better.”