This is a frequently ask question that has been discussed massively and always come back one way or another. Looks like it's always frustrating. 

Everyone has their own "theory" or opinion. For me today, I just think this.
It depends on:
1. How big is the investment. The bigger the money, the bigger the range of possible number of stocks to hold.
2. How many stocks that you can find are hard to resist and so damn want to buy and keep. If there is very few, then no point to "simply" buy many.

My take on Bursa, I think I can find 20 or so that I may wish to buy and hold. But I will try to keep the max at 25 so that it won't be too tired to keep track on so many companies businesses. However, look for a few companies with similar business model and condition may make the task a little easier. 

So now gets down to how much the capital is.
Below $3000, I'd suggest don't buy any stock yet. Save until $3000 only start to invest on the very first stock.
From there on, every 5000 increment may invest on one new stock (if there is any attractive stock you found) but keep it slow.
And this is also because I recommend the best way is to buy in few batches (I like it 3 to 5 batches) simply because we never know when is the best price to buy/sell.

Just sharing some thoughts. 

According to French-Fama study (who won the nobel prize for economics) the number of stocks to substantially lower the portfolio risk is a minimum of 10 diversified stocks, and after 30 stocks there is no more increase risk reduction and the portfolio will tend to perform similar to index.

Diversified stocks means stocks diversified across industry with different beta to each other. 10 plantation stocks is NOT diversification. 

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But surely there is no difference in the end, because you buy in SGD too. It's not like you buy in MYR and receive SGD.

Save like mad, no holiday vacations overseas, no car.

Invest in dividend stocks (more than 6% yield). Then re-invest the dividends. Keep doing this for 4 years.

My portfolio is made up of mainly telcos and REITs. 

still you need certain level of income to do so considering high cost of living in SG.

Yes. My salary is slightly above average for a Singaporean 30 year old graduate. 

You can do it too. Maybe just slower. But it is still possible.

Must have faith.   

I assume DW lives in his parents' house...

Sadly, I migrated from Perak to KL, gotta get a house at bloated price 

BTW, I go for overseas vacations occasionally, but I choose to stay in budget guesthouses. For example, my room in Bangkok cost just 200B/night - no air-con, just fan, and the bathrooms were shared among the guests 

hi PinkSpider,

    Me 80% saving. becoz i dont hv car loan.

very good, this investment you get return of 990% in the future.

If and only if the parents care for their children when the children are young .

Interesting.. you and your dad have reverse roles.  Does he not have his own job or retirement income? 

Really?

Do you know that the higher the earnings, the more likely the average person will spend EVEN more!
The savers are actually the ones are average income or below. 

IMO, it doesn't matter how much you earn.. if one can save 20% or higher.. that's person is going to do well during retirement years.

no inflation ?- what you past few year stuff you bought or bill payed still same price ...
past few year same place and same fried rice i eat hv increase to rm1.

While I'm not sure about your dad situation, but I can understand, that typical of many Malaysians parents since quite a large number of them have blown away their EPF savings early and now have to rely on their kids for support. Lucky for me, I don't have that problem nor will I get into this situation later on when I retire.

If your responsibilities are household bills/groceries, those are probably mandatory spending that you can't avoid,
but the important thing is, did you increase your saving rate? If not, your income must increase otherwise inflation will kill it over time.

Get into those high quality investment and divi incomes like Divi Warriors..
Little by little, it will definitely pay off over time.