Tan Kin Lian buys 6 residential properties in Johor, touts M'sia investment plans

Former NTUC Income boss and ex-presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian has shared more about his property investment plans in Johor, Malaysia.

On Apr. 22, 2026, Tan shared on Facebook that he had bought six residential properties in Johor, for "less than the price of [one] leasehold property in Singapore", representing a "small part of his assets."

He intends to eventually gift his properties to his grandchildren, of which he has five, in "10 years' time".

Tan Kin Lian, Johor booster

Fans of the two-time presidential candidate will be familiar with Tan's glowing outlook on Malaysian properties and his satisfaction with his Forest City domicile.

Tan's optimism stems from the upcoming Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JSSEZ), predicting that Johor will be "integrated into Singapore", with many businesses moving from Singapore to Johor to take advantage of lower costs in terms of energy bills and rent.

He also points out that the upcoming RTS link will make travel easier between Singapore and Johor.

In another post on the same day, Tan shared that he already had an interested renter for one of his properties.

Financial considerations

Tan also shared that he has to pay a tax of 30 per cent on rental income, as well as a 10 per cent property gains tax upon the sale of property.

This is on top of the increased Memorandum of Transfer stamp duty rate to 8 per cent, starting on Jan. 1, 2026, for foreigners.

Tan mused that he could get a capital gain upon the sale of the property if it appreciates in price by 50 per cent, but it's not an important consideration for him.

Tan feels it would be "quite easy" for the properties to appreciate in price by 50 to 100 per cent in the next few years.

Nevertheless, he views it as a long-term prospect while simultaneously pointing out that he is using spare cash and not a bank loan, supposedly because he would find it difficult to obtain a bank loan at his advanced age.

"Many have poor experience investing in Malaysian properties in the past.

They should not let the past blind them from the future. I think that the future will be different. Hehehe."

Top image from Tan Kin Lian's FB page.