The internet is buzzing over a viral story of a Malaysian man earning RM30,000 a month who fears bankruptcy because his wife wants a RM1.1 million home in Mont Kiara. While social media debates whether love justifies the price tag, Faizul Ridzuan, CEO of FAR Capital, is cutting through the noise with one blunt question: “Is buying a RM1 million home a gesture of love or pure female manipulation?”
Faizul, known for his no-nonsense take on money and property, says it’s time Malaysians stop letting emotional pressure dictate financial decisions. “Too many people are buying homes to impress, not to invest,” he said. “If your partner is pushing you to buy a million-ringgit house just to prove your love, that’s not romance, that’s manipulation, and to a certain extent financial suicide. Love shouldn’t come with a 35-year mortgage and sleepless nights.”
According to Dr Terri Orbuch, relationship psychologist and author of 5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage from Good to Great, people who seek expensive gifts or property as proof of love often struggle with insecurity and low self-esteem. “They use money and possessions to feel valued,” she explains.
Faizul warns that this can quickly spiral into emotional blackmail, where love becomes transactional and one partner ends up carrying all the financial pain. The best part about this, in the event he loses his job and can’t afford to pay for the condo and the car, she will be packing her bags and leaving him.
“Ask yourself a simple question,” he added. “Is your partner helping to pay for that house, or just influencing the decision? Because if you’re the one signing the loan, you’ll also be the one that goes bankrupt when things go wrong.”
Faizul said it’s time Malaysians redefine what financial maturity looks like in relationships.
“The smarter move is to buy what you can afford. If you truly want to live in Mont Kiara, you can get a good home for around RM650,000 with the right knowledge. And the instalment can be as low as RM2,000 per month only with the right mortgage package. She wants that HRV? Ask her to buy 1-2 properties under her name that can give her RM1,500 per month cashflow to help pay for the car. You don’t need to buy what you can’t afford, be in debt to prove your worth or your love. Don’t be manipulated and be smarter about money so that you don’t suffer mentally and financially against a manipulative partner.”
FAR Capital’s upcoming FIRE event will teach you how to get an affordable dream house near Mont Kiara below RM2,000 installment for a 3 bedroom condo and how to get a free HRV.
Malaysians will also learn the proven 3-stage roadmap to build RM100K in savings, clear debt and buy their first property confidently, even from zero. The event will be held over two days: 25 October for Malay and 26 October for English, allowing attendees to choose their preferred language.
To learn more or register for FIRE 2025, visit FIRE Official Website.
