A round up of events and happenings within the industry

IM GROUP’s Inkmaker joint ventures with Longtec in China

Inkmaker Shanghai, the Chinese subsidiary of the recently rebranded IM GROUP (formerly Inkmaker Group), has announced the establishment of a joint-venture company in China called “Inkmaker Intelligent Systems (Shanghai) Ltd Co” with Zhuhai Longtec Corp Ltd, better known as Longtec.

The new JV partnership is aimed specifically at the paint and coating, ink and chemical manufacturing industry in China and will focus on formulation related applications; dispensing, dosing, MES (Manufacturing Execution System), weighing, tinting and filling.

Inkmaker Shanghai Ltd Co, established in 2004 by Inkmaker Srl (Italy) and Inkmaker Asia Sdn Bhd (Malaysia), is an already recognised manufacturer of integrated and automated dispensing systems for the above-mentioned fields in China.

“Inkmaker Shanghai will continue, as before, retaining its existing clients directly and agent network in various market segments of China. Yet in addition, this JV offers both companies a turbo boost,” said Lau Kar Seng, General Manager of Inkmaker Shanghai and board member of IM GROUP.

“Our objective for forming a JV company is to significantly increase our market reach and presence by getting closer to China-based clients and to offer a combined strength through various approaches, namely by customising clients’ technical requirements; by providing project management support; by innovating products to fit all ranges of ROI; by offering higher value (not price) products; and finally, by offering our reliable after sales support,” Lau explained.

“Inkmaker, which is essentially the founding member of IM GROUP, is the only European dispensing-system manufacturer to have an assembly plant in China. This alone has gained them significant inroads into the Chinese market, where they are now recognised as a trusted leader, within their industries. Their reputation and quality, backed by their products and renowned software, precedes them, and for us it is an honour to JV with them,” said He Xiao Dong, owner of Longtec.

“With Longtec’s involvement – through our network and capacity to provide intelligent factory solutions within our industries – we are perfectly matched to complement each other’s products and services,” He added.

Established in 2004 and listed on the Shenzhen New Third Board, Zhuhai Longtec Corp Ltd is committed to the research and development of embedded intelligent control and process measurement products in instrument devices, Human-Interface devices, Software and Automated Process Equipment in various industrial fields.

“On behalf of the board, we are very pleased with this new synergy between Longtec and our subsidiary in China, Inkmaker Shanghai. Until now, both companies have shared customers in common, being involved at different stages and processes. Now, with the formation of Inkmaker Intelligent System (China) Ltd Co, both will be able to combine their sales force and product resources to penetrate the China market even further. We, at IM GROUP, are convinced that the biggest winners of this investment will be our clients,” concluded Roberto Guerra, CEO Asia Pacific of IM GROUP.

Nippon Paint’s new improved anti-viral and anti-bacterial range, proven 99.9% effective against COVID-19

Nippon Paint Malaysia, Malaysia’s No 1 total coatings solution provider has launched two additional anti-viral and anti-bacterial coatings with improved formula that are proven effective in preventing the spread of infectious diseases including COVID-19 (SARS-Cov-2).

The upgraded products include Spot-less Plus, an excellent low sheen indoor stain repellent paint; and Vinilex Fresh Plus, a smooth matt finishing paint with low odour and good washability properties ideal for interior walls. They will complement the existing VirusGuard mid sheen paint, which resist mold and fungus growth and providing ultra-low VOC, superior washability and long lasting colours.

Formulated with Silver Ion Technology, the newly improved anti-viral and anti-bacterial coatings can destroy microbes with high efficacy and proven from lab-test reports by Antimikrop R&D and Biocidal Analysis Laboratory to be 99.9% effective against harmful viruses and bacteria on painted surfaces. The technology inhibits the spread of viruses and bacteria through a three-step approach – destroying the viruses and bacteria cell wall or membrane to make them non-functional, reducing their reproduction capability, and inhibiting their survival which ultimately causes the death of the viruses and bacteria.

Yaw Seng Heng, Group Managing Director of Nippon Paint Malaysia Group said, “The anti-viral and anti-bacterial product range represents our relentless efforts in creating safer indoor homes, workspaces and public premises. We believe the newly improduct products rollout are timely as the lockdown restrictions are being lifted to provide an added layers of protection to our environment. In our drive to champion health and wellness, we are continuously seeking new opportunities and innovative solutions to bring added values for our customers whilst creating beautiful and healthy surroundings.”

Last year, Nippon Paint announced breakthrough test results by Analytical Lab Group, demonstrating VirusGuard’s effectiveness against the Human Coronavirus, ATCC VR-740, strain 229E. The results showed a 99.9% reduction in viral titer upon contact of the virus on the paint film, making it the first anti-microbial paint formulated with anti-viral and antibacterial performance in Malaysia. The paint can also destroy influenza virus like H1N1 (Swine Flu), hand-foot-and-mouth disease (Coxsackievirus A16), and bacteria eg E. Coli, MRSA and Staphylococcus

Yaw Seng Heng (Group Managing Director of Nippon Paint Malaysia Group).

Aureus.

The environmentally-friendly coating comes in various colour choices and highly recommended for use in any indoor space, both at residences and commercial areas. The paints also offer other functional benefits such as anti-fungal, low odour, ultra-low VOC, stain repellant, superior washability, long-lasting colours and easy maintenance. They are affective against viruses and bacteria within six hours of exposure to painted surface.

IEC+ joins IM GROUP

Global technology leader IM GROUP has announced that IEC+ srl, the mechanical engineering specialist renowned for its design and manufacturing of dispersing, grinding and mixing equipment as well as complete engineering studies and turnkey solutions, has joined its ranks.

The much-awaited announcement, which was filmed on location at IEC+’s headquarters in Travesetolo in Parma, Italy as well as at Inkmaker in Shanghai, China and at IEC Plant Engineering’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, marked the Group’s closing quarter of 2021. This significant chapter, in IM GROUP’s evolution, rounds off a series of events and activities for the Group (previously Inkmaker Group), making it its most eventful year to date.

The decision to announce the joining of IEC+, six months after IM GROUP’s launch, was based on a two-pronged strategy. Christophe Rizzo, CEO of EMEA/Americas of IM GROUP explained that “the initial phase was to lay the foundations of IM GROUP by structuring our brands to focus on their individual specialties, yet for them to come together to offer total process-engineering solutions, under a single group, when required. The second phase was to evolve this to an “Advanced” stage.”

“We are adding a significant boost to our portfolio with the addition of a company that will act as a central catalyst to unite and spearhead each of our other brands into ‘Advanced’ engineering solutions,” he emphasised.

IEC+, a respected brand in the mechanical engineering industry, has been partnering with IM GROUP for several years. By offering Dispersing, Grinding and Mixing Equipment, IEC+ effectively becomes IM GROUP’s crowning stroke as it is set to elevate the group to a higher playing field.

In anticipation of this news spreading throughout the market, Roberto Guerra, CEO Asia Pacific of IM GROUP asserted, “…we are ready – with our industry-4.0-equipped factories – to offer our clients this next phase. Other than just expanding our premises we have been busy paving the way, by strengthening our bond with Malaysian-based IEC Plant Engineering, a specialist in this industry since 1992. They have an extensive sales and service network throughout South-East Asia especially in Malaysia, India and Vietnam. Additionally their CEO, PM Ravi, an existing shareholder of IEC+, has been fine-tuning an excellent inter-brand relationship with us, which is a bonus.”

Founding member of IEC+ Fabrizio Musi, who will stay on with the brand as operations manager said it was a pleasure to see it join IM GROUP. “This is a significant moment in a strategic global plan, I am confident that through IM GROUP’s leadership and by joining the IM GROUP family of brands, IEC+ has secured the continuity of its business and is set to make the group stronger and increase its market position. Antonio Riggio, is a proven General Manager with a very good track record and I warmly welcome him in his new role at IEC+.”

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From left: Kaushik Chakraborty (Vice President of Bentley Asia South) and Gan Boon Jin (President of Strides Engineering) at the MoU signing ceremony.

Bentley Systems and SMRT Trains collaborate to improve safety and reliability of metro rail services in Singapore

Bentley Systems Inc., the infrastructure engineering software company, and SMRT Trains, the pioneer Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) operator in Singapore, have successfully completed the implementation of a Predictive Decision Support System (PDSS) for Singapore’s North-South and East-West lines, the oldest MRT lines in the country. SMRT Trains’ PDSS, which is based on Bentley’s AssetWise Linear Analytics, contributes to improving the reliability of the two lines across 282km of track and has helped SMRT Trains achieve more than one million kilometres between failure (MKBF). MKBF is a measure of reliability used by train operators around the world, where a failure is defined as a service delay of more than five minutes. Following this success, SMRT Trains has started implementing the PDSS solution on the Circle Line (CCL) in Singapore.

Bentley Systems and Strides Engineering, previously SMRT Services and a business arm of SMRT Corporation that provides a range of station-based engineering services, have recently announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly market a rail predictive maintenance solution in the Asia Pacific region. The MoU establishes a partnership between the two companies that combines strong technology expertise and rail operational capabilities to help urban rail and metro operators. Under the terms of the MoU, both organisations will market a rail predictive maintenance solution that visualizes all rail asset information and manages, monitors, and analyses rail conditions. Bentley Systems will continue to sell, implement, and support its AssetWise solution while Strides Engineering will market and deliver its domain experience and add-on applications for track maintenance.

Lam Sheau Kai, President of SMRT Trains, said, “Leveraging technology and taking pre-emptive actions are two very important components in the plan to help us improve and maintain rail reliability for the train lines SMRT Trains operates. PDSS represents both components, and its successful implementation for the North-South and East-West lines has given us much confidence to scale it for the rest of our lines.”

President of Strides Engineering Gan Boon Jin commented that the company’s collaboration with Bentley Systems on the PDSS “demonstrates a firm partnership in combining strong domain and rail operational capabilities with proven technological expertise. The PDSS will enhance and optimize decision-making in rail maintenance. We look forward to bringing the best practices and results of PDSS to other train operators in the region.”

Kaushik Chakraborty, Vice President of Bentley Asia South, said, “With our combined strengths and industry experience, we will empower rail and metro operators in the region to improve reliability of the infrastructure that serves citizens and residents.”

From left: Ar Alvin Lim (Chairman of PAM Convention 2021 Committee), Dato’ Vincent Lim (President of CIS and Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations, AFECA), Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah Yusof, (Senior Minister of Works, Malaysia), Datuk Ar Ezumi Harzani (President of Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia, PAM), and Ar Dr Tan Loke Mun (Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival 20/21, KLAF20/21) at the official launch of ARCHIDEX Online 2021 held at the PAM Centre, Kuala Lumpur.

ARCHIDEX Online launches digital platform for industry players

The International Architecture, Interior Design & Building Exhibition (ARCHIDEX) has officially launched ARCHIDEX Online on 3 November 2021, an immersive virtual platform upon ARCHIDEX’s 21 years of strong physical presence.

With the aim to facilitate the forging of new ties and strengthening established ones in the architecture, interior design and building industry, the platform was created to meet the evolving needs of their customers. This is also in line with the radical shift into digitalisation that has affected everyone across the globe as a result of the pandemic, and will bring about a refreshing change into the architecture, interior design and building industries, which until now, have been so embedded in the physical realm.

Jointly organised by the Malaysian Institute of Architects (better known as Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia, or PAM) and CIS, ARCHIDEX Online is an event of the Kuala Lumpur Architecture Festival.

President of CIS and the Asian Federation of Exhibition and Convention Associations (AFECA) Dato’ Vincent Lim, who delivered the opening speech, said: “Digitalisation is crucial for today and the world beyond tomorrow with the changing needs of consumers and a workforce who grew up with technology at their fingertips. The pandemic has forced all of us to speed up embracing these changes, because if we fail to adapt, we will be left behind in our businesses and life. The business events industry has seen a massive shift towards hybrid events with over 94% of AFECA members having made a pivot towards holding online exhibitions and events.”

Over the next 10 weeks, beginning from 4 October 2021 until 10 December 2021, professionals in the architecture and building industries can look forward to over 100 webinar and conferences as well as many exciting online activities tailored to seamlessly connect local and international exhibitors with industry professionals, specifiers and trade buyers.

During the Main Event days, from 3 to 6 November 2021, the ARCHIDEX Online will host a list of established local and international exhibitors and brands to feature over 2,000 architecture and building materials, solutions and technologies. Other exciting events happening at this time are the ongoing Fast Forward Webinar Series; the ARCHIDEX Star Award 2021; the PAM Awards 2021; and the Ace it with Acer Contest. Malaysian Architects are also eligible for LAM CPD points (with applied terms and conditions).

The Main Event days will also feature DATUM:KL Rewind, bringing back seven renowned international speakers from the past DATUMs. Among other highlights is the DATUM:M Conference, happening on 5 and 6 November 2021 at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, featuring 10 Malaysian speakers who will share their design works as well as how they have coped with the pandemic.

Taiwan’s building materials take the spotlight at ARCHIDEX Online 2021

Taiwan Excellence, the symbol of the highest honour of Taiwan’s high-quality products, has brought 10 award-winning building materials brands to ARCHIDEX Online 2021 with the aim of exploring partnership with Malaysian counterparts for “valueadded future business opportunities”.

In view of the high-quality and smart of architectural space in the future, Taiwan’s building materials industry has gradually moved towards a diversified development trend of integrating designers, new technologies, and emphasizing non-toxic or environmentally friendly materials. It is expected that Taiwan’s building materials leaders would play key role in the next wave of architecture.

In order to share the trend of healthy, efficient, and energysaving innovative building materials with the Malaysian market, Taiwan Excellence has launched two online product talks to the ARCHIDEX Online platform. Participants tuned in to learn about the benefits and special insights on the trends of Kitchen & Bathroom and Factory building materials from Taiwan.

These were some key takeaways about Kitchen & Bathroom building materials brands:

• JYE LI AN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.

JYE LI AN, which specializes in home improvement products and bathroom fixtures. Their Pedal Control Faucet Retrofit

Kit (A-100) can prevent the spread of infection by changing its way to turn on the faucet. It can easily transform into a

“touch-free” faucet, and well suitable for kitchen faucets.

• SANITAR CO., LTD.

SANITAR is the manufacturer of world-class sanitary ceramic, faucet, acrylic bathtub, and bathroom cabinet. Under their own brand Caesar, the Caesar Bathroom Cabinet features high-temperature fire-resistant ceramic technology (Fine Fire

Clay) that uses one-piece firing method to make the products integrally formed.

• SHENG TAI BRASSWARE CO., LTD.

Sheng Tai’s brand, JUSTIME is the world-famous premium brand for water faucets, showers, and accessories. Their

Chapter 2 Kitchen Faucet combines a swivel spout that can be used with a single or double sink in the kitchen and has a pull-out spray head to increase convenience and flexibility.

Its simple design and complete functions offer users a unique cleaning experience.

• TAIWAN SAKURA CORPORATION

TAIWAN SAKURA is the biggest manufacturer of water heaters, kitchen appliances and integrated kitchen in Taiwan. Their

DR7796 cooker hood featured a high-tech intelligent sensing technology capable of detecting the cooking status and automatically adjust the optimal air volume.

• HERHER SYNERGY CORPORATION

HERHER SYNERGY specialises in microbubble faucet aerator technology, and its products MiniBle Q Microbubble Aerator is the world’s smallest and mightiest aerators designed for household used. The microbubbles created by their MiniBle Q are 500 times smaller than the size of human pores, which can enter the surface of our skin or vegetable to remove dirt, grease, achieving deep cleaning.

• LIANG-PING SANITARY FACILITY CO., LTD.

Liang-Ping is expertise in designing the outdoor faucet for balcony, working place in house like laundry, and garden place. The Liner-Washing Machine Faucet is an independent 2-outlets water tap. It is ideal for connecting washing machine at the backyard and provide an extra water outlet for gardening and other needs.

In the Factory category, the featured companies include:

• CHING YUANG ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.

CHING YUANG Professional is a leading LED balloon light manufacturer that specialises in manufacturing high watt LED lighting products, ventilation systems and spot coolers. Their

LED Balloon Light Tower is not only energy saving but also combines fan heat dissipation to extend the life of the lamp.

Their patented balloon cover provides warm and glare-free lighting all around.

• FRADOX GLOBAL CO., LTD.

FRADOX is a global company with professional teams working towards eco-friendly thermal solutions. Their Roof Exhaust

Vent uses an upward-opening design to cool down by natural convection to provide healthy indoor climate and comfort with minimal energy consumption at minimal cost.

• SHENG YUAN ELECTRIC CO., LTD.

SHENG YUAN, renowned for their Alaska brand, is a producer of silent ventilating fans and artistic ceiling fans. Their Ceiling

Tile Fan applies Plasma’s floating ion technology that releases 15 million high-concentration purification and sterilization ions through the module, and automatically purifies the air fluorine flowing into the circulation fan.

• WELL-LINK INDUSTRY CO., LTD.

WELL-LINK is the largest manufacturer of anti-seismic devices and structural bearings for buildings and infrastructure in

Taiwan. Their KVM Viscoelastic Damper is a passive, velocity displacement dependent energy dissipation device for vibration control and seismic protection of structures. It is proven to reduce the effect of wind and seismic impact to increase the structural safety of buildings.

These were some of the highlights from the online talks. To find out more innovative concepts on Taiwan Excellence products, scan the QR code to watch the replay via Archidex Online till 10 December 2021:

KSK Land celebrates Kuala Lumpur’s past, present and future in conjunction with world cities day 2021

In conjunction with World Cities Day, KSK Land, Malaysia’s leading lifestyle property and design company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of KSK Group Berhad, celebrated this annual occasion by hosting a fireside conversation on the various aspects that makes Kuala Lumpur a great city and a hub in Southeast Asia, many of which remained unknown to its citizens.

This occasion, held on 28 October 2021, featured sharing of unique experiences and insights by a panel of industry leaders who have flourished in their respective fields here in Kuala Lumpur. Joanne Kua, Managing Director of KSK Land and CEO of KSK Group; Rick Joore, co-owner of JOLOKO and rising star F&B entrepreneur; and Dr. Ceelia Leong, analytics lead from Think City and co-author of Kuala Lumpur Creative and Cultural District Strategic Master Plan (KLCCD) all brought their own perspectives to a discussion that centred around the way forward for the city beyond the effects of COVID-19.

Sharing her insights on what makes a future-forward city resilient, Dr Ceelia Leong said: “Cities are complex but they are made up of people. A people-centric city is the future. That is why urban solutions have to be human-focused as it is ultimately the people who drive the economy and build the city’s cultural identity. If a city is to survive and thrive, it should be built for the people then the city will be resilient with a brighter future ahead.”

“What gives Kuala Lumpur a competitive edge is that unlike several other first-class cities in the world, high standard qualityof-life is available and affordable to its citizens. And perhaps a fact less known by the public, nature is actually embedded at the heart of the city, where it is close to any urbanite who seeks escape from the city buzz,” said Joanne Kua.

“At 8 Conlay, when someone comes through the door, our job is not just to sell the property but also to sell the city. Whether you buy the property or not, you will walk away with a new impression of what KL is really about,” she added.

The enlightening discussion concluded that Kuala Lumpur is certainly one of the more livable cities in the region with its many true charms awaiting discovery. Moving forward, it has a vibrant future as an art and educational hub, but also primed for innovative opportunities. Supported by the diversity of its people

Joanne Kua, Managing Director of KSK Land and CEO of KSK Group sharing her thoughts about the beauty of Kuala Lumpur and its charms in comparison with the several other great cities in the world. From left: Joanne Kua (Managing Director of KSK Land and CEO of KSK Group) with Rick Joore, Dr Ceelia Leong and moderator Nordin Abdullah (Managing Director of Glenreagh Sdn Bhd).

and its rich history and culture, Kuala Lumpur is set to flourish for many generations to come.

With its maiden development 8 Conlay approaching the structural completion of its first residential tower (“YOO8 Tower A”), KSK Land is gearing up for its next lap and set to drive sustainable developments that bring vibrancy and wellness elements to the city and its community.

The Sunway Hotel Big Box is connected via a bridge to the Sunway Big Box Retail Park offering a variety of leisure activities, shopping and restaurant outlets.

Sunway Hotel Big Box poise to open in an extraordinary natural biosphere in Johor

Sunway Hospitality has announced that it will be launching its RM160 million Sunway Hotel Big Box in phases starting 1 October 2021.

The Sunway Hotel Big Box is the first Sunway hotel in southern Malaysia and a new haven of nature and adventure. Located in Sunway City Iskandar Puteri – a 1,800-acre integrated township with residential, hospitality, retail, educational and medical elements – the 284-room hotel offers guests access to a verdant natural playground surrounded by some of the region’s lushest mangrove forests resulting from extraordinary preservation and conservation efforts by Sunway.

Guests can choose from five categories of accommodation – Deluxe Room, Deluxe Plus Room, Family Suite, Executive Suite and Premier Suite – all of which are designed with contemporary interiors, complimentary Wi-Fi, smart flat-screen IPTV – Internet Protocol TVs, mini fridges, coffee and tea making facilities and sofa beds in select categories.

During the soft-opening phase later this year, guests will be able to book the stylish 32sqm Deluxe King or Twin Rooms, which can host up to two adults and two children, or the spacious 57sqm Family Suites featuring a separate living space, two bathrooms, a bedroom with a Super King or Twin beds, a sofa bed, capsule coffee machine and microwave.

As part of Sunway’s unwavering commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals including a range of environmental considerations, each hotel room provides reusable, sanitised and sealed stainless-steel bottles, with water dispensers on every floor, and guest bathrooms will feature organic shampoo and bath gel in recyclable containers, reducing the need for single-use plastics and helping to eliminate non-degradable waste. In the lobby, a self-check-in kiosk will expedite the arrival process while also reducing the hotel’s paper usage.

For corporate travellers and event planners, Sunway Hotel Big Box features three flexible meeting rooms that can accommodate between 20 and 300 people, with a three-metre LED video wall and mobile 86” interactive touch screen Smart Panel to add a wow factor to any presentation.

Couples, families and corporate groups will be able to create their own adventures within this eco paradise as they will be able to access cycling paths, hiking trails and other soon-to-berevealed activities. Adrenaline-fuelled activities such as ATV driving, go-karting, paintballing, indoor snowboarding and more can be enjoyed at X-Park, which is within walking distance of the hotel, and world-class retail therapy at the Sunway Big Box Retail Park – a one-of-a-kind open-air mall which covers 500,000sq ft of space and offers numerous retail, F&B and entertainment outlets, including 13 large warehouse-style concept stores.

Other facilities there include an outdoor pool and children’s pool, 24-hour fitness centre and the Pool Bar. The Pendas Café serves local and international cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a 24-hour in-room dining menu, while a link bridge offers direct connections to many additional F&B options at the Sunway Big Box Retail Park.

725 homeowners receive keys for their new homes at Tropicana Aman 1

The 863-acre Tropicana Aman is the largest township ever built by Tropicana Corporation Berhad. After celebrating vacant possession (“VP”) for its Dalia Residences, Tropicana Aman is back in the spotlight with the completion of its urban homes, Aman 1. Over 725 homeowners received keys to their brand-new apartment. To mark this momentous occasion, happy homeowners were presented with handover gifts before being shown around the facilities surrounding the award-winning township and finally escorted to their new home to go through proper VP handover processes.

“Tropicana Aman 1 is our first urban home built on our walking and biking Tropicana Aman township at Kota Kemuning. Priced from RM465,000, these modern and functional homes offer two types of layouts – 2+1 bedroom, 870 sq ft, and 3 bedrooms, 1,000 sq ft. We are pleased to welcome our homebuyers to the Tropicana community and to ensure that they get seamless support, they can contact us anytime through our one-stop platform, the Tropicana 360 app. From the app, homeowners can manage their billing statements, report defects or other propertyrelated issues, and even book the facilities. It is a real pleasure to see our homeowners settled into their new homes and we are glad to receive such good feedback,” said Joanne Lee, Managing Director of Marketing and Sales, Tropicana Corporation Berhad.

“For those who would like to purchase our newly completed units, we still have limited units available. We are offering special benefits under our Tropicana FreeDOM campaign. Buyers can own a unit at Aman 1 easily with zero down payment, 100% financing, and complimentary 1-year maintenance fees. Buyers also save big with SPA and loan legal fee borne by us, and through the Home Ownership Campaign (HOC) initiated by the government, buyers can further enjoy free stamp duties on loan as well as Memorandum of Transfer (MOT) The HOC is expected to end on 31 December 2021,” she added.

Situated in the peaceful enclave of Kota Kemuning, the selfcontained township is designed as a walking and biking community where one can enjoy the convenience of vibrant commercial hubs within the township, all anchored by 85 acres of Central Park. The Central Park has a 7km walking and biking trail with accessibility via multiple link bridges and beautiful pavilions surrounding the lake complemented by a spacious recreational hub. To cater to the needs of the growing community, Tropicana Aman is also home to a community recreational hub, Tenby International School and SJKC Bukit Fraser.

Artist impression: 3D Renders of Finns Lifestyle Villa in Bali, Indonesia.

Finns Bali launches new investment and lifestyle venture, Finns Lifestyle Village

Finns Bali, Indonesia’s leading lifestyle and real estate developer, has announced their latest venture – Finns Lifestyle Village (FLV), featuring luxury innovative technology apartments in an exclusive lifestyle village at Bali’s most desirable address, Berawa, Canggu.

FLV is the epicentre of healthy living, with many facilities including upmarket cafes, retail, international schools and Finns’ world-famous beach clubs. Finns Bali is offering a ‘lifestyle’ unmatched by any other property development in Asia Pacific.

Indonesia’s property sector shows an exceptionally positive market for both housing and investing, especially in Bali. To support the growth of the island paradise, Finns Bali looks to construct 206 fully furnished apartments at FLV that include 136 one-bedroom apartments and 36 two-bedroom ground apartments as well as three two-bedroom apartments with two storeys. There will also be 31 three-bedroom apartments known as Sky Villas, which offer an additional room that can be opted as a home office or extra bedroom, an outdoor dining area fitted with a luxurious deck overlooking the lush greenery and a sky pool perfect for afternoon dips and pool parties.

All FLV apartments feature state of the art smart home technology and international quality fittings and fixtures. Internationally renowned designer Ros Banksia-Smith has ensured a timeless blend of modern elegance combined with Balinese touches that reflect the island of the gods. These apartments also include premium housekeeping services, maintenance services and 24/7 security.

Key amenities include a co-working space, networking and trading centre, fitness and recovery centre, Body Temple Spa, Village Pub, Village Green alfresco dining and Superfood Café and access to more dining and nightlife venues by Finns Bali. FLV has an onsite Medical Centre, providing accessible healthcare services without leaving the village.

Investment opportunities are available under Indonesia’s

Artist impression: 3D Renders of Finns Lifestyle Villa in Bali, Indonesia.

leasehold system, allowing foreign investors to own property for a fixed period while leasing the land on which it stands. FLV’s apartments will be available to global investors under a 108-year transferable lease fully paid until 2055.

Buyers have the option to use the property as a full or parttime residence or utilise the Finns property management team to sublet units as vacation rentals. The buyer in the Investment Occupy category can free stay in their apartment for up to 60 nights per year.

“Finns Bali is invested in the future of the island, and we are excited to create a fully integrated lifestyle experience, a first for Bali,” Finns Bali chief strategy officer Beau Whittington said.

Owners can enjoy an exclusive Finns Bali Village Membership with the highest level of facility access and membership benefits included.

Imran Clyde (Director of CEM2021 and Nextdor Property Communications).

TPr Hj Ihsan Zainal Mokthar (The Chairman of City Expo Malaysia 2021) during his welcoming speech at the CEM 2021 opening ceremony.

City Expo Malaysia 2021 launched

City Expo Malaysia (CEM) 2021, organised by Nextdor Property Communications in partnership with Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP), was officially launched on 8 November 2021, opening its virtual doors to the public.

CEM director Imran Clyde in his speech said Nextdor’s partnership with MIP was born from a vision to better Malaysian cities as they mimic an intricate ecosystem, and it is crucial to consider the impact of every decision that goes into city planning.

“Decisions made today can have significant, far-reaching impacts so it’s important to think about how we plan, design and manage our cities. We now have the tools, however we need as many citizens and stakeholders to come on board to explore and connect with us to look for ideas and solutions to tackle urban issues,” he said.

CEM 2021 consists of 16 urbanism themes that revolve around sustainability, emphasising diverse objectives ranging from liveability to low carbon city. The month-long exhibition will see over 120 presentations by speakers from around the Southeast Asian region throughout its five-day forum, as well as five local and international events, most notably the Placemaker Awards ASEAN (PAA) 2021.

The first of its kind in the region, PAA 2021 is aimed at recognising the best creators and managers of vibrant and inclusive public spaces as well as celebrating the diversity of places in Southeast Asia. Other major events are the National Planning Congress hosted by MIP, Young Planners Forum, CAP Awards and Mayors Forum which is by invitation only.

In his welcoming speech, CEM chairman Hj Ihsan Zainal Mokhtar said even with advancements in communication technology, hosting an expo during the recovery phase from the aftereffects of the global pandemic remains a challenge, but it is essential to overcome the obstacles in order to keep learning and sharing knowledge.

“Despite the challenges, we are adamant that they should not impede the progress and efforts we have made towards realising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). To ensure we do not lose momentum and stray from our true north to establish a “Prosperous, Inclusive and Sustainable Malaysia” in accordance with the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK-12), a sharing and learning platform such as CEM 2021 is fundamental,” he said.

During the launch, CEM also awarded its Star Awards for individuals identified and recognised for their impactful contributions to sustainable city planning in Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur City Hall mayor Datuk Seri Haji Mahadi Che Ngah was awarded the CEM Gold Star Award, while Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA) CEO Datuk Ismail Ibrahim was awarded the CEM Platinum Star Award for their major contributions in developing their respective cities to be liveable and sustainable.

CEM 2021 coincides with the 100th year of town planning established in Malaysia and the World Town Planning Day when planners in over 30 countries celebrate by hosting and engaging in activities to raise awareness about the importance of town planning in the communities.