Malaysia emerges as cautious investment target: Knight Frank

Malaysia is drawing renewed interest from global investors as a diversification play in Southeast Asia, driven by improving fundamentals and evolving real estate dynamics, according to Knight Frank Malaysia. While not yet a top capital destination, enquiries are rising for Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor, particularly in logistics, industrial, hospitality, and data centre assets. Asia-Pacific cross-border commercial real estate investment doubled year-on-year to USD9.5bn in Q1 2025, led by Japan, South Korea, and Australia. Overall regional transaction volume reached USD33.4bn, down slightly from a year ago but sharply lower from the previous quarter. Knight Frank said investor interest in Malaysia could convert to deals later in the year, contingent on economic stability and clearer policy direction from the government.