PE eyeing SEA’s healthcare sector; EV craze continues

This week in Asean:

• Malaysia: New tax exemption rules to encourage investment
• Indonesia: Election-related spending fuels economic growth
• Vietnam: EV maker VinFast to partner with Gojek in Indonesia
• Thailand: US$14.3-billion digital wallet handout scheme may be delayed

Dear BT reader,

Following last week’s big news about the JB-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link being on track to begin operations by the end of 2026, our Malaysia correspondent Tan Ai Leng interviewed the chief executive officer of Malaysia’s Mass Rapid Transit Corp (MRT Corp), Mohd Zarif Hashim, on his vision for the project. While his target for a “seamless” trip has not changed since the start of his role, he shared more thoughts on MRT Corp’s plan for a mixed development in Johor Bahru’s Bukit Chagar area - one of the destination points to the rail line.