Herald July 2018 by Henry Butcher Malaysia

JULY 2018

KDN PP18893/11/2015(034373)

by Henry Butcher Malaysia

DANCING TO THE TUNES OF IRAMA WANGSA PLUS

Selangor New Launches Q1 2018 vs Q1 2017

A slower start to the year with GE14 as a precursor.

Value Map Series: Sentul

Classics On Display at Antara Putrajaya

CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE

RESORT THEMED LANDSCAPING

10,000 SQFT RESIDENT CLUBHOUSE

4-ACRE PRIVATE HILL PARK

FREEHOLD

RESIDENTIAL TITLE

5% + 2% REBATE (T&C APPLY) HANDOVER FROM JULY 2018 ONWARDS

SHOW UNIT VIEWING CALL NOW

STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

RYAN +6012 7958 995 FUZZ +6016 3085 825 Exclusive Marketing Agent: 25 Jalan Yap Ah Shak, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Email: admin@henrybutcher.com.my Tel no. +603-2694 2212 | Fax no. +603-2694 5543

IRAMA WANGSA SALES GALLERY

Developer’s License No.: 13498-2/02-2019/01252(L) • Validity Period: 25/02/2018-24/02/2019 • Advertising & Sales Permit No.: 13498-2/02-2019/01252(P) • Validity Period: 25/02/2018-24/02/2019 • Approving Authority: Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) • Building Plan Reference No.: BP U2 OSC 2014 0223 • Land Tenure: Freehold • Property Type: Condominium • Total No. Of Units: 200 • Expected Completion Date: April 2018 • Land Encumbrances: Public Bank Bhd • Minimum Price: RM 858,000 • Maximum Price: RM 1,230,800 • Bumiputera Discount 5% • Restrictions In Interest: NIL Disclaimer: All information contained herein (including specifications, plans, measurements, illustrations and statements) are subject to amendments and modifications without prior notice as may be required by the relevant authorities or developer’s consultants. They shall not form part and parcel or invalidate or annul any contract of sale between the developer and the purchaser. Whilst every reasonable care has been taken in preparing this information, the developer cannot be held liable for any variation or inaccuracy.

JULY 2018

by Henry Butcher Malaysia

Editor’s Note

Publisher Henry Butcher Malaysia Sdn Bhd 25, Jalan Yap Ah Shak, Off Jalan Dang Wangi, 50300 Kuala Lumpur. T• (03) 2694 2212 E• admin@henrybutcher.com.my W• www.henrybutcher.com.my

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The implementation of Strata Management Act 2013 (Act 757) on 1st June 2015 marks another turning point in the ever-growing property management industry in Malaysia. Since it came into the picture, Act 757 has established standardisation in the operation of management bodies of stratified properties which were previously governed by two different acts; Building and Common Property (Maintenance and Management) Act 2007 (Act 663) and Strata Title Act 1985 (Act 318). This standardisation has resulted in a lot of improvements in many aspects of maintenance and management of a stratified property led by either a joint management body or a management corporation (JMB/MC).

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One of the significant aspects of improvement in Act 757 is definitely the establishment of Strata Management Tribunal (The Tribunal) since 1st July 2015. The Tribunal is established to address a wide range of issues in relation to the maintenance and management of stratified properties which include defaulters, general meeting issues, disputes amongst stratified owners and many other issues as specified in the Fourth Schedule (Part 1) of Act 757. Stakeholders of stratified properties especially the JMB/MC are now able to opt for a more economic alternative instead of being left with just one final option; legal action which not all JMB/MC could afford.

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OUR OFFICES

PAST EDITIONS

2018

Jan 2018

Feb 2018

Mar 2018

Besides the Tribunal, Act 757 also provides more clarity in terms of the usage of maintenance fund and sinking fund of the JMB/MC. Under Subsection 23 (3), 24 (2), 50 (3), and 51 (2) of Act 757, both JMB/MC are now able to distinguish the usage of both funds which was vaguely explained in previous governing acts. The implementation of Act 757 and its regulations have also brought light to the operation of maintenance and management of stratified properties by specifying the roles and responsibilities of the committee and by limiting their terms of service to three consecutive terms in order to promote balance in participation amongst the owners.

Apr 2018

May 2018

It is undeniable that Act 757 has given a very positive impact to property management industry since its implementation. However, there are still a few issues which the industry has yet to find the ultimate solution. The first issue will be on share unit disputes which normally occur in the early stage of a mixed development where the developer handovers the management to the JMB. During this period, the most common source of dispute will be the fact that the land surveyor appointed by the developer has calculated the share unit based on purchase price instead of following the formula stated in First Schedule of Act 757. This has resulted in an unfair share unit distribution; in most cases, owner who owns more units/bigger parcel, has lesser share unit and pay lesser amount of charges and vice versa. Other than share unit dispute, different interpretations of Act 757 by the Commissioners of Building (COB) also gives negative impact to the process of maintenance and management of stratified properties where the property managers could not give a standardised advice to the clients since it will be based on their (client) property location and their local authority. Despite these challenges, the future of property management industry in Malaysia is undoubtedly promising and this is proven by the increasing number of property management companies joining the industry. Suffice to say that Act 757 has come into the picture at the right time and all stakeholders must play their role accordingly in order to bring up the standards of property management industry to another level.

Low Han Keong

Director, Facilities & Asset Management Mont Kiara

June 2018

Printed by:

Percetakan CL Wong Sdn Bhd AS-84, Jalan Hang Tuah 4, Taman Salak Selatan, 57100 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.

3 / HERALD JULY 2018

DANCING TO THE TUNES OF IRAMA WANGSA Recently, we had the pleasure of sitting down for a quick catch-up with the CEO of Benéton Properties Sdn Bhd, Chan Kin-Meng to talk about their just completed resort themed condominium project, Irama Wangsa located in Bandar Baru Wangsa Maju just 8km away from KLCC.

Chan Kin-Meng, CEO of Benéton Properties Sdn Bhd.

Incidentally, Irama Wangsa is the only freehold high rise residential property amongst the new developments in the vicinity. Spanning across a 9-acre site, the project has conserved 4 acres of hilly terrain to be perfectly manicured and converted into a unique hill park for the residents’ recreational pleasure. Benéton Properties Sdn Bhd CEO Chan Kin-Meng tells us how Irama Wangsa (Towers A and B are fully completed at the time of the interview whilst Tower C is very close to completion) has exceeded their initial expectations, and one can easily appreciate why he said so when savouring the sensory experience of being onsite amidst the beautify landscape and tranquil resort environment. “Along the way, the design development process has never been static for us and we keep adding features and making modifications even at the final stages of construction to enhance the development and provide the most ideal living environment for the residents. For instance, the resort-themed pool area plays a major role in the overall concept of Irama Wangsa. And from the first round of handovers, the satisfaction expressed by the owners and the smiles on their faces has been a heartwarming validation of the efforts put in by us and we are delighted to know that all the extra hours that we have put in and the additional costs that we have incurred in making the design improvements have been well worth it.”

Following this notion, he opined that the resort concept helps to soften the general architecture of the design, especially with the swimming pool being the focal point. He continued that with the unique shape of the pool, it encourages residents to use it often not only for recreational purposes but also as a means and an outlet to relax and de-stress rather than offering a standard olympic-sized pool which would only overwhelm everyone. When asked about his role in the conceptualising stages, Kin-Meng said that it was important for him to design a place where he can envision himself dwelling in and this made the creative process a fruitful one because that helped create what was best for the buyers, given his meticulous and fussy nature. City-Living Made Leisurely Kin-Meng also thought that making an oasis out of Irama Wangsa was imperative due to its proximity to the city centre. It was a challenging task to develop a sense of tranquility at first given its strategic urban location and surrounding environment. However as ideas flowed, it morphed into the next best thing where the concept of building the project around an existing hill without compromising its natural aesthetics took root.

Kin-Meng posing with the first architectural model of Irama Wangsa.

4 / HERALD JULY 2018

A unique 4-acre hill park which is not commonly found in other developments.

An expansive resort style swimming pool.

“If we can offer something different for urban residents, we hope that having accessibility to private greenery such as parks would be the ideal, modern-day living. Also, it is very important for young families to invest in such property just so their young ones will still be in touch with nature, in contrast to other properties that do not offer (such features),” says Kin-Meng.

Irama Wangsa comprises 3 towers with a total of 655 units.

Irama Wangsa is a gated and guarded community on a hefty 9 acres of freehold land made up of two phases - Phase One comprises Tower A (222 units) and Tower B (232 units), and Phase Two comprises Tower C (200 units). As far as prices are concerned, the launch prices ranged from RM535,000 onwards (about RM500 to RM600 per sq ft for Towers A and B and from RM600 per sq ft for Tower C). From the perspective of investment, we wonder, what can buyers and future potential investors expect in terms of yield and capital appreciation?

A 10,000 sq. ft clubhouse.

“Malaysia has a fairly young population. According to data provided by the Department of Statistics Malaysia, 41% of the population in 2016 is between the age of 25 and 54 whereas only 50% of the population in Kuala Lumpur and 69% in Selangor own their own homes as at 2012. As this is the economically active group, a strong demand will be created for housing accommodation in the future. Furthermore, what makes Irama Wangsa unique is again how close it is to the city centre, the excellent connectivity via highways and LRT, and the availability of all kinds of urban conveniences closeby. Thus, there is no doubt that the potential for Irama Wangsa as a home as well as a valued investment is definitely high in the future as much as it is right now.” He made an interesting observation when he mentioned that the charm of Irama Wangsa was also partially due to the neighbourhood of Wangsa Maju which is in fact a matured neighbourhood with a comprehensive range of amenities and facilities such as shopping malls, shops, entertainment outlets, sports centre, places of worship, government and private schools. He also believes sentiments could play a role in influencing the newer generation to move into these areas given the existing allure that comes with the territory.

Speaking of old and new, we had to ask how did the change in administration after GE14 influence market sentiments? “Well, it is fairly early to judge but we certainly cannot ignore the renewed sense of optimism in the air. It is a sign of a maturing society that we know we have the ability to determine our course as a nation. We now have a government, fairly made out of young minds too and decisions made would help impart implementations that would look into affordability.” He believes that once the new administration has settled down and clearer and more transparent policy directions are available, investors will feel reassured and the economic growth of the country will resume at a faster pace. All this will ultimately benefit the property market. He also stressed on the importance of having significant networks and partnership such as Benéton does with Henry Butcher. To date, Benéton has worked with Henry Butcher on a number of projects including their previous one at Viva along Jalan Ipoh. He commended on Henry Butcher’s value on the quality of service and professionalism in providing advice. There is a fine line between making a sale and maintaining a great sense of professionalism with clients, developers and agents. He believes Henry Butcher nails those down perfectly. Irama Wangsa is a gem in the heart of a township that thrives in nature and sentiments. It is rare to have a piece of dwelling which has the foundation of contemporary living without the compromise of the simple luxuries in life as the presence of greenery too. For more information on Irama Wangsa, do drop us a call to make an appointment to visit the show units on site. A Rent-To-Own scheme is also available from Maybank. Jason: Ryan: Kendro: Faridzul: Nazir: Muhamin:

012-378 8438 012-795 8995 016-302 2169 016-308 5825 012-240 5286 017-461 0067

Developed on a 9-acre site, the project emphasises on lushly built landscapes.

5 / HERALD JULY 2018

SELANGOR

A slower start to the year with GE14 as a precursor. by Henry Butcher Research

RAWANG

2017

1 1

2018

RM200 RM250 psf

42 %

PROJECT

RAWANG

Landed

RM200 RM250 psf

PROJECT

PROJECTS

58 Strata Landed

Strata Landed

PETALING JAYA PETALING JAYA

% 10

8,843

2 2 2 2

High-rise

3,672

UNITS

PROJECTS

UNITS

PUCHONG

90 Strata Landed

PUCHONG

High-rise

Strata Landed

PROJECTS

SETIA ALAM

2 21 1 Landed

KLANG RM300 RM300 - Landed RM550 RM550RM300 psf PROJECTS psf RM400 PROJECT psf

1 11 1 High-rise

KLANG

PROJECT

High-rise

RM500 RM500 RM650 RM650 PROJECTS psf psf

BANDAR SUNWAYBANDAR SUNWAY SRI KEMBANGAN SRI KEMBANGAN

SETIA ALAM

Landed

PROJECTS

High-rise

RM800 RM800 RM1200 RM1200 psf PROJECTS psf

Landed

RM300 RM400 psf

PROJECT

RM700 RM800 psf

High-rise High-rise

RM700 RM600 - RM800 RM800 PROJECT PROJECT psfpsf

PROJECT

High-rise

RM600 RM800 psf

SEPANG

1 1 Landed

CYBERJAYA

1 1 High-rise

PROJECT

Total Launches by Month

5 5

4 5 3

Feb

12 Mar

PROJECT

BATU CAVES

Serviced Residence / Serviced Apartment Terrace / Superlink

Apartment/Flat

Semi-D

2 Soho / Sofo / Sovo / Soso 2

6 / HERALD JULY 2018

PROJECT

High-rise

RM500PROJECT RM600 psf

Types of Projects Launched

3 Jan

RM500 RM600 psf

RM300 RM500 psf

Bungalow

1 Condominium 1

LEB

UHR

AYA SH

ALA

Landed

RM300 RM500 psf

Perhaps due to the uncertainty of the then looming general election, 2018 saw a slower start in Selangor, just like in Kuala Lumpur. Q1 2018 saw only twelve new project launches (compared to nineteen in Q1 2017), adding 3,672 units to the capitalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s residential property pool, compared to 8,843 in Q1 2017. Of the 3,672 units launched, 857 (23%) were landed properties, close to the 925 units launched in Q1 2017, whilst 2,815 (77%) were strata units. Whereas Q1 2017 saw March as the most active month of the period (12 launches), the same month in Q1 2018 saw relatively muted launch activity, with six launches in February, followed by January and March with three launches each. Of the twelve projects launched in Q1 2018, the principal focus was on serviced apartments and residences, with five launches; followed by sohos and condominiums, with one launch each. Landed developments were solely on terrace and superlinks, with five launches during the period. There were no apartments, bungalows or semi-detached units launched in Q1 2018. Looking at unit sizes, we note that most of these projects have built-up areas of between 1,001 and 1,500 sq ft, with seven projects in Q1 2018 (33%) offering units within this range as compared to Q1 2017 which had four projects (14%) with units with such built-up areas. This is then followed by units sized below 1,000 sq ft with six projects (29%) offering such units. This stands in contrast to Q1 2017, where the majority of the units were sized below 1,000 sq ft (eleven projects, or 37%). While Q1 2017 recorded developments offering units exceeding 3,500 sq ft (four projects or 13%), Q1 2018 had no such large units.

Unit Sizes by Projects*

Of the twelve projects launched in Q1 2018, ten (31%) offered units priced between RM601,000 to RM800,000, followed by nine (27%) with units priced between RM401,000 to RM600,000 and eight (24%) with units between RM801,000 to RM1 million. There were four projects each that offered units priced above RM1 million and two projects with units priced below RM400,000. Based on the data, we can safely assume that offerings launched in Q1 2018 catered mainly towards the middle-and-upper-middle class buyers. There were seven projects in Q1 2018 (44%) priced between RM751 to RM1,000 per sq ft (compared to ten developments in Q1 2017). This trend is similar Q1 2017, where the focus was mainly within the same price range (ten projects). This is followed by four projects (25%) with units priced between RM501 to RM750 per sq ft, and two projects (12%) with units priced between RM1,001 to RM1,500 per sq ft. While Q1 2017 did not have any projects with units priced exceeding RM1,500, Q1 2018 saw two such developments. This trend differs from Q1 2017 where the focus was mainly within the price range of RM501 to RM750 per sq ft (five projects), and RM751 to RM1,000 (six projects), followed by RM1,001 to RM1,500 per sq ft (two projects).

29% 1,001sf - 1,500sf

Meanwhile, developments that are priced at the higher end of the spectrum are located in Petaling Jaya (two strata projects, RM800 to RM1,200 per sq ft), Bandar Sunway (one strata project, RM700 to RM800 per sq ft), and Seri Kembangan (one strata project, RM600 to RM800 per sq ft). Similar to Kuala Lumpur, the first three months of 2018 seemed to suggest an exercise of caution amongst developers, with them preferring to wait and see what post-GE14 will bring to the table. With the recent change of government, we could very well observe interesting changes ahead in the property market.

Pricing by Projects*

Price Per Square Feet*

< RM400,000

< RM500

19%

RM401,000 - RM600,000

33%

14%

Based on our data, Rawang marks the location of the most affordable new development, a landed project with a price range of RM200 to RM250 per sq ft, followed by Klang (one project, RM300 to RM400 per sq ft) and Setia Alam (two projects, RM300 to RM550 per sq ft).

With regards to geographical distribution, established areas like Petaling Jaya, Setia Alam and Puchong seemed to be getting more attention in Q1 2018, with two new launches in each area. In fact, the quarterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s focus seems to lie in established terrain, with Sepang, Klang, Seri Kembangan, Bandar Sunway, Cyberjaya and Rawang getting one new launch each. This is

< 1,000sf

37%

perhaps developers playing it safe, keeping to well-treaded ground to meet the demand of investors and buyers.

15%

27%

RM501 - RM750

25%

36%

1,501sf - 2,000sf

19%

2,001sf - 2,500sf

31%

RM751 - RM1,000

46%

13%

19%

24%

12% Above RM1,500

Above RM1,000,000

3,001sf - 3,500sf

44%

RM1,001 - RM1,500

RM801,000 - RM1,000,000

2,501sf - 3,000sf

5% Above 3,500sf

13%

RM601,000 - RM800,000

0% 28%

12%

13%

* Based on total number of projects launched.

24%

13%

7 / HERALD JULY 2018

*Panorama Sentul

Taman Metropolitan Baru

Sky Awani 2

JALAN KUCHIN G

*Maxim Citylight Sentul Village One Sentul

Sky Awani 1

Sri Suajaya

M Centura Sentul Utama

Sentul Point Bayu Sentul

The Maple

Sentul Utara

KL G N TI

Melur *Mutiara Sentul Apartment

*The Fennel The Saffron

Rica Residences

The Capers

Menara Orkid

Heritage

Mawar Apartment

Sang Suria

Sentul Park

SENTUL TAMAN SEGAMBUT

Seri Perak

Villa Angkasa

JALAN IPOH

Sentul Murni

TAMAN AYER PANAS

Anjung Villa

SETAPAK

Rafflesia

Kong Lock Mansion Sentulma s

The Tamarind

TITIWANGSA

Jalan Cempedak

LEGEND Under Construction

SENTUL

The former railway townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s return to glory.

By Henry Butcher Research and Valuation

8 / HERALD JULY 2018

Completed

Price (PSF)

Below 200

201- 400

401 - 600

* = Asking price

QUICK STATS Built-Up (SF)

Price (RM PSF)

Maximum

2891

970

Minimum

517

155

Median

974

450

601 - 800

Above 800

COMPLETED (Built-Up SF) Minimum

Maximum

Anjung Villa

1,195

Bayu Sentul Condominium

1,230

Heritage Condo

1,152

1,206

Jalan Cempedak Flat

635

Kong Lock Mansion

517

Mawar Apartment

850

1,005

*Maxim Citylight

856

1,260

Melur Apartment

1,033

Menara Orkid

838

850

*Mutiara Sentul

935

1,070

One Sentul Condominium

1,066

1,335

*Panorama Sentul Condominium

1,088

1,164

Rafflesia Sentul Condominium

901

1,365

Residensi Sentulmas

900

Sang Suria Condominium

1,050

1,502

Sentul Murni Apartment

678

700

Sentul Park Apt

733

840

Sentul Utama Condominium

853

891

Sentul Utara Apt

570

753

Sentul Village

947

Seri Perak Apartment

549

560

Sri Suajaya Condo

969

1,195

The Capers @ Sentul East

696

1,783

*The Fennel @ Sentul East

1,186

1,554

The Maple @ Sentul West

1,162

2,891

The Saffron @ Sentul East

1,001

1,873

The Tamarind @ Sentul East

947

1,345

Villa Angkasa

746

786

UNDER CONSTRUCTION (Built-Up SF) Minimum

Maximum

M Centura

646

1,001

Rica Residences

657

1,238

Sentul Point

700

1,001

Sky Awani

800

Sky Awani 2

800

As we come to the midway point of the year, it is notable that 2018 has been a busy year for property developers in the Klang Valley based on the number of new launches that have taken place from January to June. The development activities in Sentul have been especially robust, with Sentul proper as well as greater Sentul seeing much action from developers on a race to satisfy the discerning urban populace looking for residences that not only offer comprehensive amenities but are also located within close proximity to downtown Kuala Lumpur. Sentul’s somewhat obsolete past is quickly being replaced by a bigger and brighter future prospect, as gentrification raises the area’s standard of living and returns the area to its past glory as a prosperous railway town. With the peculiar architecture of Capers serving as the neighbourhood’s landmark, Sentul has become a much sought-after locality in a short period of time. Sentul features a strategic location in Kuala Lumpur, encompassing Taman Metropolitan Batu to the north, Bandar Sentul Utama, Sentul Pasar, Baru Baru Sentul to the East alongside the namesake Sentul East and Sentul West. It is in close proximity to other hotspots in Klang Valley, such as Segambut, Gombak, Setapak and the Kuala Lumpur city centre. Currently, secondary high rise residential developments that are located in Sentul have a selling price within the range of RM155 to RM970 per sq ft – catering to a wide categories of buyers, from the low, middle to the higher-income groups with the newer ones pegged towards the higher end of the price spectrum at RM600 to RM900 per sq ft. Among the completed projects, YTL’s The Fennel and The Capers prove to be the costlier options, both priced above RM800 per sq ft.

Meanwhile, leveraging on Sentul’s recent popularity are Sky Awani 1 and Sky Awani 2 by Citra Amal Sdn Bhd, which are both Federal Territories Affordable Houses (RUMAWIP) projects. Most of these developments are expected to be completed within the next four years (2018 to 2021). These upcoming Sentul properties fall within the range of RM201 to more than RM800 per sq ft, with only the RUMAWIP projects – Sky Awani 1 and Sky Awani 2 – taking the lower rung of the price points, costing between RM201 to RM400 per sq ft. On the other hand, the highest priced units are found in The Rica and Sentul Point, as they start at more than RM601 per sq ft. At the moment, the average price per sq ft of high rise residences in Sentul is at RM450, but this is expected to increase upon the completion of the MRT SSP Line, linking Sungai Buloh to Putrajaya via Serdang. Scheduled for completion in 2022, the SSP Line passes by Sentul, namely at Sentul East and Sentul West, complementing the existing KTM line, Monorail, and LRT stations in connecting the area with the rest of the Klang Valley. With land mass getting scarce in the Sentul locality proper, it should not be a surprise when future developments further afield will take a chance at branding their projects with the Sentul address given its natural proximity to the city centre, increasingly wide variety of connectivity options and the eye-catching skyline.

Unit sizes are generally in the mid-range; condominium developments situated in Sentul tend to be mostly within the range of 900 to 1,200 sq ft in terms of built-up. The largest offering in the area however is at The Maple, reaching up to 2,891 sq ft. There are a total of 3 properties that are currently under construction by various developers in Sentul, namely Rica Residence by Fajarbaru Properties Sdn Bhd, M Centura by Mah Sing Group, and Sentul Point Suite Apartments by UOA Group.

9 / HERALD JULY 2018

On 3 June 2018, Antara Residence Putrajaya, in conjunction with the fasting month, played host to a vintage car show and buka puasa event, where vintage car enthusiasts gathered to display their restored and modified vehicles.

Most of the vehicles on display were from members of Kelab Volvo Klasik Malaysia (KVKM). Its current President, Noel Chua was present during the vintage car show in Antara Putrajaya, alongside a number of restored and modified vehicles from the club - mainly models from the 120 and 180 series, both prominent in Malaysia during the 1960’s and 1970’s. “The Volvo 122 was reserved for a lot of the senior government servants and professionals, befitting its premium brand at the time. They were the first Volvos brought in to Malaysia, and it was popular with the professionals at the time. You still see these cars running, passed down to the generations.” According to Chua, in order to become a full-fledged KVKM member, one must be an owner to either a Volvo series 120 (of which the 122 is the most popular) or the 180 (sports coupe), both prevalent in Malaysia during the 1960’s and 1970’s. Owners of other Volvo models are still welcome to join, albeit as associate members.

10 / HERALD JULY 2018

“We’ve got about 100 members…it’s like-minded people coming together. We do a long distance run (about 1,000km) every year. The cars have been to Thailand - Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi…this is testimony that these cars aren’t just lookers, they’re runners.”

Mr Noel Chua, the President of KVKM.

Chua assures that even though the Volvo 122 is half-a-century old, restoration is not a major challenge. “To get the car running, it’s not that expensive. Parts are still available, as they are still being reproduced by independent manufacturers in Europe. If we can’t source for new parts, our network of garages and acquaintances usually can help us with used parts…if the owner wants to bring it back to factory specifications, the sky’s the limit.”

PUTRAJAYA

The many restored Volvo 120 series vehicles present at the event.

A definite head-turner on the streets.

When people mention Volvo, this is probably the image that comes to mind.

The guests enjoying a ‘buka puasa’ meal together.

Part of the 122’s lasting power comes from its simple construction. Without modern electronics, the mechanical engineering of the 122 makes restoration and maintenance a simple affair, since there are only a few areas of concern.

Also present was a member responsible for restoring most of the Volvo 122’s in the event - Joe Miranda, who owns a workshop.

Of the many 120 series vehicles on display, Chua’s is one of the most prominent (its black exterior with flames at the front) and extensively modified: Peer in and you’ll see that his 123 (a two-door sportier variant of the 120 family) is decked out in red, and is fitted with an audio solution. Another KVKM member present was S. Dorai, who drove around Presint 5 - Antara Putrajaya’s neighbourhood - in his Volvo 122, on his journey of restoring his 122. “The Volvo 122 was my father’s dream car, and I’d like to carry on that legacy. I bought this car for RM5,000 when I was 22 - it’s been 15 years now. I spent around RM30,000 restoring this vehicle to 90% of its original specification…my father was the one doing the car.” The other 10%? An extra modern convenience - air conditioning, as the Volvo 122 wasn’t factory-fitted with air conditioning.

“I’ve been restoring 122’s for over 30 years. Some of the cars here belonged to me before I sold them.” The show concluded in the evening with the breaking of fast, where KVKM members and visitors to the show sat down and enjoyed a meal together.

Check out Antara Residence Putrajaya’s upcoming events at www.antaraputrajaya.com or logon to facebook.com/AntaraPutrajaya and instagram.com/antararesidenceofficial for more frequent updates. For enquiries, contact: Antara Residence Sales Gallery: +6018 2786 228 Faridzul: +6016 3085 825 Muhaimin: +6017 4610 067

• 1.32 acres, freehold, serviced apartments • 29 levels, 458 units; Max 20 units per level (3 wings; 6-8 units/wing) • 3-tier security: Guardhouse main entrance, lift lobby and lift access card • 675 carpark bays FACILITIES • Sky garden on every floor • Lap pool & wading pool • Picnic pavilion • Dining lounge • Gym • Surau • Playground & fitness corner • 2 Function rooms • Relax lounge & cocoon pavilion • Herb and perfume gardens Expected completion: 2021

11 / HERALD JULY 2018

THE HANGING GARDENS OF PUTRAJAYA

Herb Garden

Gym with Pool View

· FREEHOLD · Priced From RM316,000 · Sky Garden On Each Floor · High Ceiling With Loft · 3-Tier Security · Semi Furnished · Government Staff Incentives* · Easy Entry Package

Wading Pool

OPEN FOR SALE NOW

*Terms and conditions apply.

CALL US NOW

+6016 3085 825 Faridzul +6017 4610 067 Muhaimin Sales Gallery +6018 2786 228 Marketing Agent:

Dining & Living Room

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