Lanson Place to operate Bukit Ceylon Residences in 2012

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LANSON Place Hospitality Management Ltd will operate a RM207 million property known as Lanson Place Bukit Ceylon Residences in Kuala Lumpur in 2012.

This will be Lanson Place's third property in Malaysia and form part of the Verticas Residenci development in Bukit Ceylon by Wing Tai Malaysia Bhd. The tower, to be managed by Lanson Place, is owned by Wing Tai Malaysia and Lanson Place's parent company, Wing Tai Properties Ltd. Wing Tai Properties is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

The management company's senior vice-president Graeme Laird described the upcoming accommodation as "comfortable and chic" and said that it would have 150 keys with one- to three-bedroom units.

The property has set new standards in the serviced apartments as it has very large units, with a one- bedroom unit measuring 1,100 sq ft and larger ones reaching 2,000 sq ft.

When asked about return on investment for this property, Laird said: " We did not calculate the payback period. The expected gross rental yield in a stabilised year could reach more than 10 per cent. So this would be from year three of operation."

The Bukit Ceylon property hopes to garner an average of RM500 per night when it opens.

Meanwhile, its four-star Lanson Place Ambassador Row with 221 keys closed last year with an average room rate of RM207 and an occupancy of 72 per cent.

This year, it hopes to garner RM250 and fill 70 per cent of its room inventory.

It also operates 132 units in Lanson Place Kondominium No 8, which consists of purely residential apartments.

Where next in Malaysia for Lanson Place? Laird said it could be keen on Penang and Kota Kinabalu in Sabah if the right properties become available and the destinations can support high-end serviced apartments.

But its more immediate priority is to upgrade Lanson Place Ambassador Row in 2013 to lift the product and position it further up- market.

By Business Times

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Supply of office space in the city to considerably exceed demand

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PETALING JAYA: The supply of new office space in Kuala Lumpur will be overwhelming this year making the market soft and competitive as tenants will get to pick and choose the best deals.

DTZ Nawawi Tie Leung executive director Brian Koh said an additional 2.3 million sq ft in new office space this year will put more pressure on the market.

He estimated that the average rental rate for office space in the city would ease by 5% to RM5.90 per sq ft compared with last year's figure.

“Demand will not grow as fast as supply and this will result in a vacancy rate of 12.5% this year. With the increase in new office space, the rate of unoccupied space is expected to go up to 15% by next year,” he told StarBiz.

Koh said an estimated 13.2 million sq ft of new office space was in the pipeline in the city between this year and 2013.

He said the target to have 100 multinational companies based in Malaysia and the proposed growth of the services sector would augur well for office space demand.

In its latest market report, DTZ Research said the overall occupancy rate of office buildings in Kuala Lumpur decreased from 87.1% in the third quarter of 2010 to 86.4% in the fourth quarter due to weak demand.

Total office space in the city stood at 63.1 million sq ft of net lettable area. It added that office rentals continued to be under pressure in thefourth quarter of 2010 due to competition with average prime office rent going at RM5.97 per sq ft per month in the fourth quarter of 2010.

Knight Frank executive director Sarkunan Subramaniam said office rates were expected to come under pressure and rentals would trend downwards as “completion coming onstream from new and refurbished buildings is expected to overshadow tenants' demand.”

Last year, 2.495 million sq ft were added to the market.

The new buildings included Menara PJD (414,00 sq ft), HSBC new headquarters (175,000 sq ft), Cap Square Tower (600,00 sq ft) CCM headquarters (281,000 sq ft), MIDA Building (283,000 sq ft) and BRDB Tower (221,000 sq ft).

He said the buildings, coupled with those completed in 2009 which were still being leased out, gave existing buildings stiff competition.

Sarkunan said the average rental and occupancy as of the fourth quarter of 2010 have dipped slightly to RM5.09 per sq ft and 92% respectively. Prime office rentals in the city were between RM6.50 to RM10.00 per sq ft.

“The tenant-favoured market environment will continue to prevail. There could be more incentives other than rent-free periods for negotiations,” Sarkunan said.

It would be tough to retain tenants and attract new ones, he said. “Tenant rapport is key. It is important to understand the geographical location and service type concentration in the area and target such tenants,” Sarkunan said.

He said good grade office buildings in good locations, supported by amenities and public transportation would continue to be favoured by tenants.

Offices within integrated developments that offer complementary support components such as retail and hotel facilities as well as MSC-status are expected to perform well.

CB Richard Ellis executive chairman Christopher Boyd was optimistic that the market would be balanced this year with very little hangover from last year.

“Since the end of last year we have been hearing of more multinational companies, financial institutions and oil and gas companies looking to expand their operations here.”

Boyd said rentals in most prime buildings in city's golden triangle were from RM6.50 to RM7.50 per sq ft and from RM5 to RM5.50 for secondary buildings.

“However, from the middle of next year supply will considerably exceed demand while rentals and occupancy rates are expected to weaken.”

He said a total of 4.21 million sq ft in new office office space will be completed in Kuala Lumpur this year and 5.46 million sq ft more will come onstream in 2012.

By The Star

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SP Setia plans project, in talks with govt on KL site

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SP Setia Bhd plans to undertake a mixed residential and commercial project in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, giving the government a 20 per cent share of its net profit from it.

The 16.3ha of prime land along Jalan Bangsar, where it proposes to undertake the project, is owned by the government.

SP Setia is currently in talks with the government to be given that land in exchange for building an integrated health and research complex for the Ministry of Health (MoH) on 22.4ha of land it owns in Setia Alam, Shah Alam.

It told the stock exchange yesterday that its unit, Sentosa Jitra Sdn Bhd (SJSB), has the government's in-principle approval for the land swap proposal.

The proposal was mooted by SJSB to the government along the lines of the public-private partnership concept.
The land in Bangsar currently houses five National Institute of Health agencies under the MoH's purview, which will be relocated to Setia Alam.

SP Setia said SJSB had finalised its design and costing for the new complex, to be known as the 1National Institute of Health (1NIH), and is now ready to commence negotiations with the MoH and the Public-Private Partnership Unit in the Prime Minister's Department.

The proposed new 1NIH will serve as a hub and centre of excellence for health research, training and consultation at both the local and global level.

"The land swap nature of the deal means that the MoH/government will not have to fund any part of the cost for the construction of the new 1NIH complex."

This, it said, will be paid for by the difference between the current market values of the Bangsar and the land in Setia Alam.

SP Setia told the stock exchange in a separate filing later that it plans to place out up to 15 per cent of its issued and paid-up capital. The issue price will be determined by way of book-building.

By Business Times

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Guocoland to launch Damansara City 2 by Q3

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GUOCOLAND (Malaysia) Bhd hopes to launch its RM1.9 billion flagship development, known as Damansara City 2, in the third quarter of this year, an official said.

The property arm of the Hong Leong group will build the integrated development in Kuala Lumpur's Pusat Bandar Damansara, over a 2.2 million-sq-ft area.

It will comprise two office blocks, a 300-room hotel, a 260-unit serviced apartment block and a retail centre.

"We hope to launch it, hopefully, in the third quarter. The gross development value is not really firmed up yet, but it could be between RM2 billion to RM2.5 billion. We're selling only the serviced apartments," managing director Yeow Wai Siaw told Business Times yesterday.
He said work on the project could start immediately once all approvals were obtained. He is targeting for the project to be completed in about 30 to 36 months.

The project by Guocoland was first announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday. It was one of 19 projects he unveiled under the government's Economic Transformation Programme.

Guocoland's share price gained 11 sen to RM1.35 in the stock market yesterday.

By Business Times

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Boustead in talks to buy army base land for RM8b project

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Boustead Holdings Bhd may build mixed commercial and residential properties worth more than RM8 billion on the 98ha Batu Cantonment army base at Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur.



The group's main shareholder Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT), which holds a 59 per cent stake, is in talks with the government to buy the land and is close to sealing the deal.

Boustead deputy chairman and group managing director Tan Sri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin is hopeful that it will be involved in the land development.

"Hopefully the deal could be secured soon. Everyone is working hard to make it happen. If LTAT can buy the land, we will do a feasibility study to decide on the most viable properties to build," he said.

"It is a good site for a mixed development. It would be the kind of project that one would want to pursue on this prime land," Lodin told Business Times.
He said Boustead may build medium to high-end houses, commercial and residential towers, shophouses, small office/home office and a mall.

The government is selling some of its prized land bank around Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley at current market value for redevelopment.

These include the Batu Cantonment land, 24ha at Jalan Cochrane, the 1,320ha Rubber Research Institute land in Sungai Buloh, and smaller parcels at Jalan Stonor, Brickfields, and Bukit Ledang, off Jalan Duta.

It is unclear how much the Batu Cantonment land is worth but according to Previn Singhe, founder and chief executive officer of Zerin Properties, the market value for unconverted land at Jalan Ipoh is now between RM40 and RM80 per sq ft.

Previn said the development will attract foreign investments as it is closely located near the KLCC.

"The shear size of the development offers a lot of promises. Prices of real estate along Jalan Ipoh have always been stable with good movement ... it's not as docile as how one thinks.

"This project will have a positive impact on Jalan Ipoh if done well and if the developer can tap on the commuter line nearby, and the proposed Kepong-Kajang line," Previn said.

The Batu Cantonment army base, which has been there for over 40 years, will be relocated.

In 2002, the Perak state government had earmarked a 680ha site in Batu Gajah for the relocation.

By Business Times

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Making KL a greater place

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With the NKEA in mind, it is time to make GKL a livable place which is clean and peaceful, and filled with environment-friendly economic activities producing high-quality, high-value goods and services.

MANY analysts compare, rather simplistically, the economy of Singapore with that of Malaysia. This is like comparing apples with oranges.

The two economies cannot be compared in that simplistic manner because of the markedly different economic structure of two, with Malaysia having a large rural sector and abundant land, and Singapore, a service-oriented trading economy.

It would be more meaningful to compare Singapore with Greater Kuala Lumpur (GKL), or what was often referred to as the Klang Valley.

After all, the latter is already very urbanised and is endowed with modern infrastructure.

The inclusion of GKL as one National Key Economic Area (NKEA) is befitting given that it is the epitome of our economic space and national urban system.

In fact, we can take up issue with the physical and development planners of GKL if the region fails to perform socially, economically and culturally, on the scale achieved by city economies like Singapore and Hong Kong.

The GKL region should be the leader in productivity and intellectual capital creation in various fields especially in services such as finance, education, communication and the arts, and high-value manufacturing where intellectual capital and K-economy-related activities are the natural choice.

To date, the GKL has expanded much on the basis of organic growth.

The processes of population concentration and agglomeration have led to what GKL is today.

Its status as the national capital attracts many business houses to establish their headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, thus putting pressure on space and impacting property value.

Thanks to earlier efforts, we have been able to avoid GKL from becoming a primate city, such as Manila, Mexico City, Bombay, and Cairo, with the attributes of over-population.

Indeed, the earlier years of development concern for regional disparity restrained GKL from overexpansion and as such, growth was dispersed to other parts of the country, as expected by the spirit of federalism.

In fact, on realising this, the seat of Federal Government administration was moved to Putrajaya, leaving Kuala Lumpur to become the financial and commercial centre of the country.

In line with the NKEA objective, let us make GKL a livable place, clean and peaceful, and filled with economic activities which are environment-friendly yet producing high-quality, high-value goods and services.

These activities will have a high content of intellectual capital.

GKL does have the potential to attract high-return activities such as banking and finance, tourism, advertisement and professional services such as legal, accounting, engineering, healthcare and arts and design.

The presence of premier tertiary educational institutions in and around GKL can help spur the growth of these activities in the area.

The lower costs such as rentals of premises in the GKL compared with the rates in Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok can attract these services.

In the same breath, GKL should not be the location of manufacturing activities which demand high-labour content and low technology.

Other places where labour is still plentiful can be the location of such industries.

This is one reason why regional corridors are established.

The GKL, which covers various urban conurbations and the surrounding townships of Klang, Kajang, Bangi, Putrajaya, and Shah Alam, has to be targeted as a planned modern urban space and that its untoward features of squatters, traffic jams and unhygienic stalls have to be phased out or upgraded speedily to befit the region as the foremost urban centre of the nation.

The transition has taken place, with Shah Alam, Bangi and Putrajaya leading the pack, but its momentum has to be expedited.

The mindset of urbanites in GKL have to change fast to accommodate the emerging status of GKL.

It is heartening to see that public transport has been given due emphasis in the National Key Result Area and the NKEA of the current administration.

Indeed, the issue of traffic jams in the city of Kuala Lumpur, especially on Friday evenings and particularly when it rains, demands a strong political will to address as it is the consequence, in part, by our car ownership policy.

On this matter, an independent transport and road planning body can be given the task to plan and carry out road and transport planning in the region, having regard for the current multiplicity of agencies with power to influence transport system in GKL.

A final point that is worth reflecting is the position of Kampung Baru and Chow Kit in the context of future urban renewal expected to take place under the impetus of the NKEA of developing the GKL.

The cultural and historical elements of urban planning have to be equally considered and there is no better window than capitalising on the opportunities arising from new developments of GKL, which has to grow with an identity of its own.

By The Star

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Foreign interest in high-end KL condos set to grow

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FOREIGN interest in high-end condominiums in Kuala Lumpur will accelerate next year with the impact from Economic Transformation Programme's Greater Kuala Lumpur plan, property market players said.

The economic crisis in the past two years had seen a dip in foreign interest leading to a 30 per cent drop in prices.

"Going forward, we expect a return in buyer interest from Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia and more recently from the Middle East," said Eric Y.H. Ooi, organising chairman of the forthcoming Fourth Malaysian Property Summit at a briefing yesterday.

Prices of these high-end units in the city centre, ranging from RM1 million and RM2 million, have caught up with previous peak levels.

Foreign ownership to local ownership, which was at 30:70 per cent ratio, is expected to increase.

"Come 2011 we will be able to see whether foreign interest will be better than the past two years or to the peak in 2007/2008 when it was 50:50 per cent ratio," Ooi said, adding that there had been drop in interest from European investors.

Ooi, who is also managing director of Knight Frank Malaysia, described the Malaysian property market scene as probably one of the most attractive in the region with fewer number of ownership restrictions.

Foreign investors are attracted to the higher yield from these high rise investments at 5 per cent compared to landed properties, which provide between 2 to 3 per cent yield.

He said it would be interesting to see the property market scene when the second-tier Chinese investors from the mainland are allowed to purchase overseas properties. Already there has been a spike of Chinese interest in properties elsewhere in Australia and Singapore.

Past president of the Association of Valuers, Property Managers, Estate Agents and Property Consultants in the Private Sector Malaysia James Wong expects the inflow of foreign buyers to increase in 2012 with the implementation of the ETP.

"With the Greater KL and billions of ringgit in the MRT (mass rail transit) and LRT projects, we can expect to see an influx of expatriate population as seen during the last boom when the Petronas Twin Towers was taking shape," Wong said.

He added that unlike China and Singapore, Malaysia is not expected to see property asset bubble in the foreseeable future.

Wong also expects non-performing loans ratio (NPLs) to go up in the first quarter of 2011 although not at alarming rates.

He attributed it to the 5 to 10 per cent easy down payment scheme to purchase properties.

The Fourth Malaysian Property Summit organised by PEPS will be held at the Sime Darby Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur on January 18.

It will have an overview of the property market performance and outlook for the office market, retail market, industrial market, high end condominium and REITs.

PEPS president Choy Yue Kwong said the property summit is also relevant to those who wonder whether it is the right time to sell their properties for alternative investments or right time to buy or invest or do nothing and wait for property prices to appreciate further.

By Business Times

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Freehold serviced apartments in the middle of the city

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Green living: The sitting room in the studio showhouse unit of VUE Residences Serviced Suites.

If you are looking for an abode that offers chic lifestyle amid tall skyscrapers, then look no further than the VUE Residences Serviced Suites located along Jalan Pahang, Kuala Lumpur.

Developed by Prinsiptek Corporation Berhad (PCB), the freehold project comprises 23-storey with a roof garden/sky garden on the 24th floor. The first to seventh floors are multi-level carparks where residents are entitled to a parking bay per unit. There are 340 car park bays.

PCB group managing director Datuk Foo Chu Jong said the project is surrounded by various prominent landmarks like the Suria KLCC, Pavilion Shopping Centre, Titiwangsa Lake Garden, KPJ Tawakal Specialist Centre, Prince Court Medical centre, Istanan Budaya, and the National Art Gallery and it just five minutes away from the Chow Kit monorail station and Titiwangsa LRT station.

With 72 units, every floor has a combination of four models ranging from 500 sqft studio units to the bigger two-roomed units and the 1003 sqft three-roomed units.

“There is an indoor lap pool, gymnasium and a 24-hour security to give residents a peace of mind” added Foo.

Prices range from RM370,000 to RM772,000 and the project is expected to be completed by Dec 2013.

PCB’s other notable projects are The Prince in Bangkok, Section 8 Bandar Baru Bangi, Serdang Perdana Sky Villas, Ampang Prima Condominium and Section 7 Shah Alam.

By The Star

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The regeneration of Sentul

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When the YTL group took over Taiping Consolidated Bhd in 2001, one of the priced assets that came with it was a piece of land in Sentul.

Much of the early concept for that master plan development stemmed from the Sentul KTM Komuter station and its tracks which split the 294-acre land.


Datuk Yeoh Seok Kian ... ‘We will monitor demand for future residential and commercial projects.’

It was on this basis that the group decided to make Sentul a transport hub, leveraging on the commuter station that was already there and the golf course, which it had turned today into a private park for residents.

Sentul is located 5km north-west from the heart of Kuala Lumpur and 45 minutes from KLIA. Taiping Consolidated eventually became YTL Land & Development Bhd (YTL Land), a 64% subsidiary of YTL Corp Bhd.

Executive director Datuk Yeoh Seok Kian recently unveiled Sentul's first commercial development d7, a seven-story block comprising 20 retail stores on the ground floor, 78 office suites and 34 duplex offices in Sentul West. The project is completed and 100% sold.

Another project d6, on Sentul East, is being planned. A sky bridge connects the two. d7 was launched at RM380 per sq ft a few years ago.

It is expected to be priced about RM650 per sq ft in the secondary market. Rental rates are between RM3.50 and 4.00 per sq ft.

The seven storey project will have offices, retail and food and beverage outlets. It will be a low-rise office building with courtyard and communal spaces.

It will have two unique office layouts duplex units with skylights, pantry and spacious interior and office suites, which come as empty shells with flexible configurations.

Yeoh says the company will build residential and commercial projects with a total sales value of about RM8bil over the next seven years. That location will be among YTL Land's largest property development.

The plan was to characterise the two halves differently. Over time as Sentul West becomes more established, the community is likely to be more senior and relatively more sedate, compared with the community in Sentul East which will cater more to the up-and-going younger group of people living there, he says.

Covering 186 acres, Sentul West will be the crown jewel of the location comprising a 35-acre private park and residences, offices and retail shops.

Sentul East, which spans 108 acres, with all its vibrancy, will set the tone for modern downtown living.

Yeoh says between 15% and 20% of its targeted projects for that location has been completed since work started on that site in 2002, beginning with The Tamarind in Sentul East and subsequently The Maple in Sentul West.

We will monitor demand for future residential and commercial projects to ensure good buying interest for each project, Yeoh says, alluding to the uncertainties that plague the global economy today and the effects on Malaysia's property market.

But for now, he says there is much they can be proud of. Public infrastruture has improved significantly over the years and Sentul now had a iconic development the new KTM train station, a connecting hub that anchors Sentul West and Sentul East.

Pedestrian sidewalks and skywalk, improved traffic systems, LRT and commuter trains are also part of Sentul's transportation plan, Yeoh says.

Sentul Link also provides access to Jalan Sentul and Jalan Ipoh by connecting Jalan Mahameru at the intersection of Jalan Kuching.

This access helps alleviate existing traffic congestion at the Jalan Mahameru-Jalan Ipoh, Putra World Trade Centre intersection, he says.

When completed, Sentul will have a mixed development of 7,000 units of residential properties, commercial offices and retail outlets.

We are also trying to improve Sentul's past image of being a place that's often plagued by criminal activities, Yeoh says.

He says too often, city development projects tend to focus on decentralisation and the relocation of communities, which ultimately results in cities losing their identity.

The regeneration of Sentul is not just about renewal of the physical environment and wealth. It is also about the renewal of its community, their access to local services and their relationship with the area and the people that live and work there, he says.

YTL Land, which has a market capitalisation of about RM1.05bil, currently has a land bank (with no holding costs) of over 2,000 acres with a sales value of about RM12bil.

By The Star

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Bukit Bintang’s covered walk among stars

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PETALING JAYA: The Government's proposal to revive plans for the Bukit Bintang area to be developed along the lines of Singapore's famous shopping haven Orchard Road to boost tourism and increase shopping expenditure, has received positive response from retail associations and real estate consultants.

Under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), a 6km-long covered walkway would be built in the Bukit Bintang area. The walkway is part of the RM204bil public-private investment master plan under the ETP's Greater Kuala Lumpur development.

For comparison, Orchard Road is a 2.2km one-way street flanked by distinctive shopping malls on both sides of the road.

Malaysian Retailer-Chains Association (MRCA) secretary general Valerie Choo said in principle, the Orchard Road concept would be good for Bukit Bintang.

MRCA is happy that more emphasis has been placed on reviving Bukit Bintang. Malaysia is now able to sell Bukit Bintang as a tourism product while tourists and locals will be able to walk seamlessly and comfortably from one mall to another, she told StarBiz in an e-mail.

However, she said more needed to be done such as shopping mall enhancement and refurbishment.

This is what Singapore Tourism Board did in 2009, pumping in S$40mil to rejuvenate Orchard Road together with other stakeholders i.e. shopping malls and building owners, she said.

Choo suggested planting more trees to create lush greenery and shade to complete a multi-sensory experience for tourists and locals alike.

But the most vital thing is how the traffic condition can be improved in that area, she said, adding that road closures were now carried out without stakeholders being informed beforehand.


H.C. Chan

Malaysian Association for Shopping and Highrise Complex Management (PPK) president H. C. Chan said Bukit Bintang had the pedigree and history in shopping since its first shopping mall Sungei Wang Plaza opened over three decades ago and this gave the area tremendous potential to be a world-class shopping destination.

Creation of a comprehensive pedestrian network would be a major step towards integrating all the mall and hotel facilities and linking them to public transportation, befitting and expected of a world-class shopping destination, he told StarBiz via e-mail.

Besides customer-friendly physical integration, he said there was a need for a long-term holistic approach of branding and marketing Bukit Bintang as a single shopping haven entity, similar to Orchard Road or Regent Street of London.

PPK urges all mall owners and managers in Bukit Bintang and interested stakeholders like the City Hall to adopt a common platform and work closely together for the common good of the country's tourism and their respective properties, he said.


Tan Hai Hsin

Henry Butcher Retail managing director Tan Hai Hsin said reviving the concept of Orchard Road in Bukit Bintang area was viable and long outstanding. It should have been done many years ago! he told StarBiz in an e-mail reply.

However, Tan said many things still needed to be done to make Bukit Bintang area a world-class shopping district, including:

Covered connection

All major shopping centres should be linked via a series of tunnels and/or bridges that provide cover and protection from the rain and the sun. Berjaya Times Square is now disconnected from Sungei Wang Plaza. There is no covered bridge or tunnel joining both buildings. Also, Plaza Low Yat is disconnected from Sungei Wang Plaza/Bukit Bintang Plaza. Sungei Wang Plaza/Bukit Bintang Plaza is linked to Lot 10 via a bridge. Lot 10 is disjointed from Fahrenheit 88, which is not directly linked to Starhill Gallery or Pavilion.

Pedestrian mall

Jalan Bukit Bintang or Jalan Sultan Ismail should be turned into a pedestrian mall during the weekends. This was attempted many years ago but with great resistance from the hotel, office and retail operators in the area who complained their customers would not be able to access their premises when the road is closed.

Public facilities

Public facilities such as a tourist information centre, public toilets and street furniture are important components of a world-class shopping district. The tourist information booth in front of McDonald's is too small, unfriendly and stocks too few brochures. According to recent media reports, the public toilets (in front of McDonald's and Lot 10) are not well-maintained.

Promotion

A tourist brochure or shopping directory just for the Bukit Bintang shopping district is a must. In Singapore, there are a few publishers on Orchard Road's retail attractions and other facilities.

By The Star

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Ireka secures RM232m office, hotel project in KL

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KUALA LUMPUR: IREKA CORPORATION BHD has secured a RM232.74 million contract for the proposed offices and hotel development in Kuala Lumpur.

It said on Friday, Nov 26 its unit Ireka Engineering & Construction Sdn Bhd had received a letter of intent from Transmission Technology Sdn Bhd for the project.

Ireka said the project involved architectural and mechanical and electrical works for basements and the 13-level podium and also the 27-storey and 37-storey office towers.

Earlier, it announced net loss of RM87,000 in the second quarter ended Sept 30, 2010 compared with net profit of RM2.13 million a year ago after accounting for the share of loss in Aseana Properties Limited.

Revenue rose 21% to RM108.02 million from RM89 million and it recorded loss per share of 0.08 sen compared with earnings per share of 1.87 sen.

For the first half, revenue rose 11.5% to RM209.736 million from RM174.610 million mainly due to higher volume of construction works being completed during the period.

At the pre-tax level, it recorded a pre-tax loss of RM2.868 million, as compared to a pre-tax profit of RM5.789 million in the previous corresponding period.

“The loss is after accounting for the share of loss in Aseana Properties of RM7.503 million and also a mark-to-market loss for share investment in Kinh Bac City Development Shareholding Corporation of RM1.986 million. Excluding these two items, the Group’s pre-tax results would be positive at RM6.613 million,” it said.

By The EDGE Malaysia

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Bina Puri to build office lots in Jalan Pasar

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Bina Puri Holdings Bhd today signed an agreement with the Selangor and Federal Territory Chha Yong Fay Choon Kuan to invest in the construction of two shop office blocks in Jalan Pasar, here.

The development of 24 units of 4-storey shop offices and one unit of 3-storey office on a two-acre (0.8 hectare) site would cost RM16 million.

"We are very pleased to have the opportunity to work with the association, which is a reputable association representing the Chinese Hakka clan in the Klang Valley.

"We are very optimistic that the development will be well received as it is strategically located at Jalan Pasar, which is a well known commercial hub amongst the Chinese community," Bina Puri Group Managing Director Tan Sri Tee Hock Seng said at the signing ceremony.

The agreement was signed between Bina Puri's subsidiary, Bina Puri Properties Sdn Bhd, and the association which owns the land.
Development is expected to commence in the first quarter of next year and completed within 15 months.

"Upon completion, this investment will contribute positively to our earnings stream.

"Moving forward, we are committed to further maximise our shareholders value and continue to explore new business opportunities which provide us with recurring income," Tee said.

According to the company, the investment will guarantee a return of RM40.6 million in 14 years derived from rental income of the development.

By Bernama

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KL to get first vertical car park

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PETALING JAYA: Kuala Lumpur see the city's first multi-storey automated car parking system in Times Avenue, a new 15-storey building to be developed by Takashimaya Construction & Development Sdn Bhd.

The company has no ties with Japan's Takashimaya Co Ltd, which is known for its chain of department stores.

The automated car parking system was based on South Korean technology and being used in Japan, South Korea and the United States, said the company's project director Kelvin Lee Seong Seng.


Kelvin Lee ... ‘We may replicate the project to give us recurring revenue.’

About 140 parking bays will be available in the project that also comprises 20 retail units on its first three floors and 36 office suites from the fourth to the nine floors. There will be two penthouse offices.

The narrow strip of land of about 13,000 sq ft along Jalan Imbi next to Berjaya Times Square was purchased a few years ago. Work on the project will begin by the year-end.

We wanted to go into property development. When that small piece of land came up for sale, we decided to buy it.

At 13,000 sq ft, it is a small piece of land. We wanted to have office suites and some basic retail facilities to serve the office units.

But with the size constraint and the need for parking facilities, we decided to put in an automated system to maximise the efficiency of the land and enable more cars to be stored, Lee said.

The system stacks up the cars vertically.

All the office and retail units will be sold but the company will operate and manage the car parking facilities.

This is a pilot project. We will see how it goes and may replicate it to give us a recurring revenue. The branding will be important, Lee said.

The plan is to fix parking charges at RM5 for the first hour and RM1 for every subsequent hour.

The project will have a gross development value of about RM130mil. Construction cost will total about RM70mil.

By The Star

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Paramount seeks to buy land after stake sale

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Developer eyes Klang Valley land as it wants to ride on ETP

KUALA LUMPUR: Paramount Corp Bhd is going on a land acquisition spree in the Klang Valley following its sale of a 20% stake in Jerneh Insurance Bhd for RM130.8mil.

The company is expanding its land bank as it is positive on the Government's plan for greater Kuala Lumpur under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP).


»Land is getting scarce, hence the new pieces of land we are looking to buy will be smaller. So we will have to build high-rise homes« ONG KENG SIEW

Land is getting scarce, hence the new pieces of land we are looking to buy will be smaller. So we will have to build high-rise homes, managing director Ong Keng Siew told Starbiz after Paramount EGM.

At the EGM, shareholders unanimously approved the sale of Jerneh to Ace Ina International Holdings Ltd.

Of the proceeds, Paramount plans to use RM36.19mil to pay a special dividend of 40 sen per share, which will be given within three months after completion of the disposal.

After minusing the estimated expenses for the proposed disposal, the remaining RM90.31mil will be used to buy land in the Klang Valley for property development purposes.

Executive deputy chairman Datuk Teo Chiang Quan said the company would also use some of its cash for land acquisition purposes.

Paramount has RM235.47mil cash as at Sept 30 versus RM50.59mil in borrowings.

Teo is positive on the outlook of the property sector, especially if infrastructure plans under the ETP are properly carried out.

If the authorities are determined to make Kuala Lumpur a world-class city and implement the mass rail transport system and high-speed bullet train, this will be very good for the country.

Imagine if there is a bullet train linking Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, where properties are 10 times more expensive than ours. With good accessibility, properties in KL will be greatly enhanced, Teo said.

He added that there was pent up demand for good properties in Kuala Lumpur now.

He cited an example where last month, 125 Paramount homes in Kemuning Utama, Shah Alam, with prices starting from RM520,000 were snapped up within two hours.

Property upgraders are looking for more sophisticated homes that are gated and guarded. That is why you see prices for such homes holding very steady, said Teo.

Earlier in the week, Paramount announced its third-quarter results to Sept 30 which saw its revenue dropped 11.93% to RM98.29mil while net profit rose 32.65% to RM21.59mil.

For the nine-month period, revenue increased 9.64% to RM329.34mil while net profit improved by 45.89% to RM63mil.

The higher net profit was attributed to the overwhelming response to its property launches and better progressive billings.

Teo said Paramount was now setting up an international school using British syllabus in Kota Damansara.

The school is scheduled to open in September 2011 and will have 600 students.

We already have 400 students registered for this curriculum. We will also offer Baccalaureate Diploma Programme for students in year 12 and 13, said Teo.

Meanwhile, Ong said a new KDU College campus would be constructed in Glenmarie.

Paramount plans to launch a 200ha mixed-development project, Banyan Hills, in Sg Petani, Kedah, by the first quarter of 2011.

The company has also bought a 20ha freehold land in Cyberjaya for RM78.4mil from Cyberview Sdn Bhd.

It plans a mixed and mid-upper to high-class guarded residential properties and high-rise condominium with a gross development value of RM530mil there.

By The Star

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Mah Sing buys land in Ampang, Cyberjaya

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KUALA LUMPUR: Mah Sing Group Bhd has acquired two parcels of freehold land for RM166.5mil which are expected to generate a combined gross development value (GDV) of RM1.2bil.

The 1.88ha in Jalan Ampang, named M City Jalan Ampang, will be a niche project comprising serviced residence and retail outlets with an estimated GDV of RM920mil to be developed in five years.

“The land is flat and vacant and ready for immediate development. Furthermore, conversion premium to commercial development has been paid for part of the land and it comes with a sub-structure for two levels of basement car parks,” group managing director and group chief executive Tan Sri Leong Hoy Kum said in a statement yesterday.

Mah Sing has also acquired a 13.94ha freehold land next to its Garden Residence township in Cyberjaya which will add RM280mil to Garden Residence’s GDV and expand the township size to 60ha.

“Together with this latest acquisition, Garden Residence is a sizable project which will take between three and five years to complete.

“It is certainly an opportune time to replenish our land bank in order to meet the strong demand and we intend to create an exclusive enclave of semi-detached homes on the new land,” Leong said.

To date, the group had acquired new projects with a combined GDV of RM3.1bil. – Bernama

Meanwhile, it currently has projects with remaining GDV and unbilled sales of RM8.64bil.

By Bernama

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Property demand boost in Greater KL

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Greater Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley will need to house one million new residents by 2020, says the Economic Transformation Programme report

DEMAND for medium- to high-end properties in Greater Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley (Greater KL/KV) is expected to increase to match regional peers, the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) report said.

Greater KL/KV will need to house one million new residents by 2020, the report added.

Currently, the population of Greater KL/KV is about six million, contributing RM263 billion or 30 per cent to the nation's Gross National Income (GNI).

Over the next decade, Greater KL/KV is targeted to grow in population by 5 per cent annually and achieve a GNI growth of 10 per cent a year.

The economic aspiration for Greater KL/KV is to grow its GNI contribution to RM650 billion by 2020, the report noted.

The economic clusters that will contribute to growth is the Sungai Buloh land development, Sime Darby Vision Valley and Matrade centre as well as the Kampung Baru, Blackwater and Batu Kantomen mixed developments.

Others include the Kuala Lumpur International Financial District, commercial projects in Pudu and Cochrane, the Sungai Besi Bandar 1Malaysia mixed development, Media City Angkasapuri and Global Healthcare Metropolis.

The Greater KL/KV has been identified as one of the 12 National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) laboratories to drive rapid growth parallel with upgrading the city's liveability.

The report said strategic redevelopments such as the old Pudu Jail site, the old KTM railway station and Chinatown has the potential to create more iconic places within Greater KL/KV, adding to its liveability.

Across the 12 NKEAs, Greater KL/KV has the largest public sector funding requirement of RM58 billion or 34 per cent of the total investment requirement.

Greater KL/KV covers 10 municipalities, each governed by local authorities - Kuala Lumpur City Council, Perbadanan Putrajaya, Shah Alam City Council, Petaling Jaya City Council, Klang Municipal Council, Selayang Municipal Council, Ampang Jaya Municipal Council and Sepang District Council.

The ETP has outlined nine entry point projects that will be pivotal towards achieving the nation's aspiration for Greater KL/KV to achieve a top 20 ranking in city economic growth by 2020.

The aim is also to attract 200 new MNCs by 2020. Attracting 100 such firms will contribute about RM40 billion in annual GNI to Greater KL/KV.

There are now 1,600 MNCs based here, compared with 17,000 in Shanghai and 6,000 in Singapore.

By Business Times

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Mayland sees demand for city condominiums

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Hong Kong-based property developer Malaysia Land Properties Sdn Bhd (Mayland) is very bullish about demand for high-rise condominiums in the city.

Based on the positive take-up rates of their properties so far, director Andrew Chiu says the interest in certain categories of city condominiums is expected to remain sustainable this year and next.

He says interest will be on properties of about 1,000 sq ft and below. More than half of its Royal Regent development in Jalan Kuching is sold. The only ones left are the bigger units with a built-up of 1,500 sq ft and above. The smaller units ranging from 900 sq ft to 1,200 sq ft have been sold.

“Even before we launched, our previous buyers have taken up the smaller units,” he says. A typical Mayland investor will have two to three projects already and these buyers bought nearly 70% of Royal Regent, with some of them buying two or three units at a time, he says.

Royal Regent is the third project in the Jalan Kuching location. The other projects in that 20-acre site includes Sri Putramas 1, Sri Putramas II and Royal Domain.

Sri Putramas I was the first project to be launched in that location in 2002. The units, with a standard size of about 1,000 sq ft, had prices starting at RM140,000.

Mayland subsequently launched Royal Domain at about RM200 per sq ft with units priced at about RM240,000. Today, Royal Domain, is selling at about RM320 per sq ft.

Its latest launch, Royal Regent, is priced at about RM400 per sq ft, says Chiu, adding that the location will have a total of about 3,500 units, with the completion of phase four. Royal Regent. which is phase three, is expected to be completed in 2013.

Mayland is also building Regalia@Jalan Sultan Ismail with Bina Puri Holdings Bhd, one of the largest construction groups in the country. The 38-storey has a gross development value of about RM600mil. It is scheduled for completion by early 2011.

“We are positive about demand for units located in the Golden Triangle. Land is a scarce commodity and if the Malaysian government can get the public transport system off the ground, this will add further value to the projects in the city,” Chiu says.

He says property development has become so sophisticated in his home country in Hong Kong that even with a 2,300 sq ft piece of land, it is possible to put up a 40-storey building with no car parks.

Buoyed by demand, Mayland is also embarking on another high-rise project in Ampang, just behind Ampang Point shopping centre. Known as The Elements@Ampang, the freehold service apartment project will have a gross development value of RM650mil. It sits on 2.6 acres adjacent to another high-rise project known as GBC.

The Elements will be developed by Land & General Bhd (L&G). Mayland is the largest shareholder in L&G. Besides Ampang Point shopping centre, the other closest mall is Great Eastern Mall.

The Elements will be competing with Mah Sing group’s M Suites and Brunsfield’s EmbassyView. While The Elements is located a little way off Jalan Ampang, M Suites and EmbassyView are located on Jalan Ampang itself.

L&G MD Low Gay Teck says there are several international schools in the vicinity of The Elements. These are Fairview International School, Sayfol International School, International School of Kuala Lumpur and Mutiara International School.

It will be served by Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre, Ampang Puteri Specialist Centre, Pantai Indah Hospital, Hospital Ampang, Ampang Medical Centre and Prince Court Medical Centre.

Prices at The Elements begin at RM350,000 for units with a build-up of 625 sq ft. The largest built-up is 1,550sq ft.

Low says the company is looking to buy land for residential developments with plans to sell the units at RM400 per sq ft and above.

“Cost of construction and inflation will only go up. As the Government moves along in their plans to remove subsidies, cost of construction, building materials and labour will only go up. Land prices will not be coming down. so prices will just have to keep adjusting upwards,” says Low, adding that there is a demand for land in light of expected future increase in prices.

He says the demand for certain types of properties have also led some developers to price their units at RM5mil in a RM2mil-a-unit area.

As for Mayland and companies within the group, Mayland advertising and promotions manager Ian Tay says the group together with L&G have a good following of buyers.

“Both The Elements and Royal Regent will appeal to different categories of investors. Most of those who buy into Royal Regent are upgraders. They have probably units in Sri Putramas I and II, and maybe even Royal Domain and they see the opportunity to buy into Royal Regent at RM400 per sq ft because they know the city will continue to expand. The development in the Matrade area by the Naza group is after all just a few minutes drive away,” says Tay.

Over at Elements, with prices beginning at around RM700 to RM750 per sq ft, most buyers would be investors. Tay says many may not be able to afford to stay in the city but they will want somewhere close to the city. “Ampang is not too far away from the KLCC City Centre, so the appeal is there,” he says.

By The Star

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Sunrise to launch RM3b worth of projects next year

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PROPERTY developer Sunrise Bhd will launch about RM3 billion worth of property projects next year to boost profit and revenue for the year ending June 2011.

The projects are mainly located in the Klang Valley as well as a mixed residential development known as Quintet on 1.94ha in Richmond, a suburb of Vancouver in Canada.

Sunrise will launch Phase Two of Quintet within the first quarter of next year. It will comprise 450 residential units with a gross development value (GDV) of C$400 million (RM1.1 billion).

Quintet's first phase of 300 residential units were sold out when it was launched this year.
"We have been seeking property development work overseas and outside Mont' Kiara to ensure sustainable projects to push for further growth," Sunrise executive chairman Datuk Tong Kooi Ong said after its annual general meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Locally, the company will launch Solaris Tower located behind the Renaissance Kuala Lumpur Hotel off Jalan Sultan Ismail. It is a two-block strata office development on 1.8 acres of land with a GDV of about RM480 million.

Meanwhile, Sunrise's residential projects that will be launched next year are mixed developments comprising condominiums, serviced apartments, a retail area known as MK 20 with a GDV of RM1 billion, and a gated residential development at The Mines with a GDV of RM500 million.

"We have a good basket of products for the next launches, we will make sure market demand is met," said Tong.

For the year ended June 30 2010, Sunrise reported a 14.2 per cent decline in net profit to RM133.95 million from RM156.18 million previously.

Revenue dropped 26.5 per cent to RM590.74 million against RM803.92 million before. Earnings per share was 27.04 sen.

Sunrise said the lower full-year revenue was due to the completion of Mont' Kiara Meridien and substantial completion of 10 Mont' Kiara and Solaris Dutamas in the previous financial year.

The residential area construction of 11 Mont' Kiara and 28 Mont' Kiara were on schedule and slated for completion in 2011 and 2013 respectively, it added.

By Business Times

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Warisan Merdeka – a beacon to PNB’s future

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The 100-storey 5-star green building is set to attract more interest to the whole development.

BACK in 2000 when Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) was presented the opportunity to buy the 14.5ha where Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara are located, it had decided to retain the heritage value of this priceless asset while looking for opportunities to develop the surrounding area.

A decade later, PNB is doing precisely that.

PNB paid RM310mil or RM220 per sq ft to buy the land from Pengurusan Danaharta Nasional Bhd. The market value of the land has since appreciated to RM800 per sq ft today.


From left: PNB deputy president for corporate and international Jamiah Abdul Hamid, Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman, PNB Merdeka Ventures CEO Tengku Abdul Aziz Tengku Mahmud and PNB senior-vice president, head of property division Ibrahim Awang at the briefing.

At a special briefing for media editors on Wednesday, PNB president and group chief executive Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman disclosed that the heritage aspect has been fulfilled through conservation works to restore the heritage characteristics of Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara. The two stadiums are now being managed by a heritage trust.

Both the stadiums are occupying 6.8ha, which have been identified as a national heritage site.

Hamad says the overall Warisan Merdeka development on the remaining 7.7ha will complement and blend with the heritage theme. He is optimistic that together with the restored stadiums, the site will be another major landmark in Kuala Lumpur.

“We are looking at ways on how to integrate the building aspects of the stadiums with the planning of the overall development of Warisan Merdeka. The heritage part will not be sacrificed and will actually serve as the enhancement factor to the commercial aspects of the building. The heritage preservation of the stadiums will be undertaken by the heritage trust,” he explains.

Construction work on the 100-storey Warisan Merdeka tower will kick off next year.

Touted to be the country’s tallest when it is completed in 2015, the building will cost RM2.5bil to RM3bil. It will have gross floor space of 3 million sq ft and 2.2 million sq ft of net floor space.

Hamad says the five-star green building will be the “beacon” to create more excitement and attract more interest to the whole development.

This will be followed by two subsequent phases comprising a shopping complex and condominiums. The whole development, to be undertaken over a 10 year period, will cost RM5bil.

On the rationale for mooting the project, Hamad says: “Since the plan to develop the land was approved by the PNB board in 2004, we were waiting for the right time to proceed with the project.



“The concept of 100-storey building, its retail portion and the condominium was mooted in early 2004 taking into account the need for enhancement of value and effective utilisation of the 19-acre land adjacent to Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara. In 2005, the master plan was approved by the municipal authorities followed by final titles being issued in 2008. The principle concept of PNB Iconic Building was then approved in 2009.”

He says that having held the land for so long, “we feel it is now the right time to go ahead. The Government is also promoting this type of development.”

Hamad stresses that most importantly, by initiating the Warisan Merdeka project, PNB is taking the lead to preserve the historical value of Stadium Merdeka as the site for the country’s declaration of independence back in 1957.

Emphasising that PNB is not looking to compete with anybody when it decided to put up a 100-storey tower as part of the Warisan Merdeka development, he says it will make more economic sense to build the high-rise tower than lower rise buildings.

He says as a state investment agency, PNB’s main concern is to maximise return for its stakeholders. “Each year, PNB declares income distribution of 6% to 7% to unitholders. The project with expected yields of between 8% and 10% will be able to meet our responsibility as an investment agency.”

Meanwhile, the new tower will be able to meet PNB’s need for new office space in line with its strategic positioning for the future.

Hamad says PNB will be moving out from its present headquarters, Menara PNB, which will be 30 years old when the tower project is completed, to the Warisan Merdeka tower upon its completion.

PNB has set up wholly-owned unit, PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd to undertake the project. Helming it since early this year is Tengku Abdul Aziz Tengku Mahmud who was formerly from Guthrie Property Development Holding Bhd and Sime Darby Property Bhd.

So, will Warisan Merdeka be an iconic project and will there be foreign expertise involved such as the like of world renowned architect Cesar Pelli who designed the Petronas Twin Towers?

Hamad says the project design plans are still in the drawing board.

“We are in talks with several parties comprising experts from the relevant fields. We are exploring the possibilities of creating a strong architectural and engineering team for the project,” he adds.

With its latest venture, PNB is certainly thrusting ahead with its plans to build up its presence in the local property scene.

By The Star

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Towering message to deliver

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While it's obvious some people got ahead of themselves in shooting down the plan, it is also fair to say that not all questions raised about the 100-storey project were adequately addressed.

The apparently growing opposition to plans by Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) to build a 100-storey skyscraper as part of the Warisan Merdeka integrated project is a classic example of what can go wrong when information is either badly presented or poorly received.

Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, when announcing the project in his 2011 Budget speech on October 15, said the landmark, which will be developed by PNB, is to be completed by 2020.

The project would comprise a 100-storey tower, the tallest in Malaysia, and would retain Stadium Merdeka and Stadium Negara as national heritage. The total project cost is RM5 billion, with the tower to be completed by 2015.

Within minutes after the speech, the Opposition picked on the mega project, calling it a waste of funds. Put the money to better use by building more schools, improving rural infrastructure, and helping the needy, they said. It would affect returns from PNB unit trusts, others echoed.

Suddenly, in their eyes, Warisan Merdeka became a government-funded project. It wasn't. It was PNB's, and PNB is not in the business of building schools or upgrading roads and electricity supply.

Similarly, a facebook group - 1M Malaysians Reject 100-storey Mega Tower - was set up (it is not immediately clear by whom) and has more than 92,000 fans as at 5pm yesterday. The project is also a hot topic on blogs and Internet forums.

PNB had a press conference on October 20, five days after the budget, where we came to know that the project would also have a shopping complex and condominiums, and that the tower itself would cost RM2.5 billion to RM3 billion. The RM5 billion figure included other components of the development, and also factored in improving infrastructure in the area.

Its president and group chief executive Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman is confident that Warisan Merdeka will create spillover benefits. For starters, it will generate about 5,000 jobs in the development stage, and boost property prices in the area.

He said PNB has the capability to finance the project through internally-generated funds, and as an investment house, would seek to optimise returns from the development. It expected to yield returns of 8-10 per cent.

This has been PNB's policy with all its investments over the years, and its track record speaks for itself.

We also learnt that PNB had been planning to develop the land since 2004, conducted annual reviews, and decided that now was the right time to do it. Clearly, this wasn't a flight of fancy hatched up one night just to boast as some people perceive it to be.

While it's obvious some people got ahead of themselves in shooting down the plan, it is also fair to say that not all questions raised about the project were immediately and adequately addressed.

In the days to come, there could well be legitimate concerns about Warisan Merdeka and PNB's role in it, particularly on the part of its more than nine million unitholders, and Malaysians in general. The government, too, needs to clear up remaining confusion and scepticism about the project's benefits.

Let's hope the message gets across better next time.

By Business Times

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