Property Hunter Magazine

EAST MALAYSIA’S LEADING PROPERTY PORTAL, MAGAZINE & EXPO

FEATURED INTERVIEW

CRACKO ART GROUP Live & Work At Manhattan Suites | Bright Future Of Kota Kinabalu | PH Annual Party : Bring It On 2016! | Location! Reputation! Promotion! | Choosing The Right Ceramic Tiles | Feng Shui To Find Your First Property | IWC : Precisely On Course

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CORPORATE

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Disclaimer, Permission & Reprints: This publication is not an investment advice. It is intended only to inform and illustrate. No reader should act on the basis of any matter contained in this publication without first seeking appropriate professional advice that takes into account their own particular circumstances.The publisher and editors give no representations and make no warranties, express, or implied, with responsibility of any of the material (including statistics, maps, articles, loan product tables, advertisements and advertising features) contained in this publication. The publisher and editors expressedly disclaim all responsibility for any errors in or omissions from the information contained in this publication, including all liability for any loss or damage suffered or incurred by any person as a result of or arising out of that person placing any reliance, weather whole or partial, upon the whole or any part of the contains of this publication. No correspondents will be entered into a relation to this publication by the publishers, editors or authors. The publishers do not endorse any company, organisation, person, investment strategy or technique mentioned in this publication unless expressly stated otherwise. The publishers do not endorse any advertisements or any special advertising features in this publication, nor does the publisher endorse any advertiser(s) or their products / services unless expressly stated to the contrary. Articles are published in the reliance upon the representations and warranties of the authors of the articles and without our knowledge of any infringement of any third party’s copyright. The publishers and editors do not authorise, sanction, approve or countenance any copyright infringement. This publication is protected under the Law of Malaysia Act 332 Copyrights Act 1987 and may not, in whole or part, be lent, copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated or reduced to any electronic medium or machine-readable format without the express written permission of the publisher. Copyrights 2013 Maxx Media (S) Sdn Bhd. All rights reserved.

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CONTENTS PROPERTY SHOWCASE | 10 PROPERTY NEWS | 18 INTERVIEW | 21 FEATURE EVENT | 24 EVENT | 30

LIVE & WORK AT MANHATTAN SUITES

PROPERTY, INVESTMENT & BANKING NEWS CRACKO ART GROUP

PH ANNUAL PARTY BRING IT ON 2016!

LBS EXCEEDS 2015 SALES TARGET OF RM1 BILLION

HOT TOPIC | 34

WHEN TWO BECOME ONE The merging of two terminals

HOT TOPIC | 38

MRTA or MLTA What are the fallacies?

HOT TOPIC | 42

LOCATION! REPUTATION! PROMOTION!

LIFESTYLE | 46

FURNISH Oriental Charms DRIVE: The All-New Audi Q7: The Great Quattro® HOME Choosing the right ceramic tiles for each room TIME IWC : Precisely on Course

HOT TOPIC | 66

USING FENG SHUI TO FIND YOUR FIRST PROPERTY

HOT TOPIC | 70

IT’S HARDER TO BE A HOUSING DEVELOPER IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

HOT TOPIC | 74

BRIGHT FUTURE OF KOTA KINABALU

LIFESTYLE | 78

MALAYSIA AIRLINES ROLLS OUT NEW A330 BUSINESS CLASS SEATS

COFFEE TALK | 82

• •

FEATURE EVENT | 84

ABM: No reason to reject your first home loan, if...

How long can ‘a good time’ last?

M101 SKYWHEEL REDEFINING THE KUALA LUMPUR SKYLINE www.PropertyHunter.com.my

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PROPERTY SHOWCASE

LIVE & WORK AT MANHATTAN SUITES LOCATED WITHIN THE INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT OF ITCC PENAMPANG, THE SOVO (SMALL OFFICE VIRTUAL OFFICE) BASED LIFESTYLE AREA OF MANHATTAN SUITES WILL CHANGE YOUR DAILY ROUTINE LIKE YOU COULD NEVER IMAGINE. Development By Sabanilam Enterprise Sdn Bhd

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PROPERTY SHOWCASE

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magine waking up to the view of the majestic Mount Kinabalu. When you turn to the other side, you see vast green paddy fields with birds gracefully spreading their wings, singing to the slow relaxing breeze and the blue sky.

Then you realize that you aren’t on a vacation, you are actually in your own home.

And you have to go to work.

But you don’t have to drive miles away, you don’t have to beat the morning traffic. In fact, you don’t even need to rush.

Because you are already in your own office.

Located within the integrated development of ITCC, the SoVo (Small Office Virtual Office) based residential area of Manhattan Suites will change your daily routine like you could never imagine.

With the SoVo concept, Manhattan Suites is perfect for young entrepreneurs who prefer to be living and working, surrounded by nature. The impeccable design of Manhattan Suites is well-suited for commercial purposes. It is built and designed to cater to business start-ups as they have the facilities for executing business operations.

Due to the strategic location of ITCC, Manhattan Suites is blessed with business opportunities that would flood this new landmark of Penampang.

ITCC Penampang has been described as everything but ordinary. To be equipped with fibre optic technology, its internet, audio-visual and other communication links

will be on par with the best in the world.

ITCC Penampang’s open network set-up will also allow companies to connect directly with their respective headquarters overseas.

All of these benefits will allow residents of Manhattan Suites to unlock their full business potential.

Residents of Manhattan Suites will enjoy 24-hour doorman and concierge services whenever necessary. At the same time, residents will have exclusive Club-M membership, a package that allows its members to have full access to the adjacent hotel facilities such as swimming pool, gym, saunas and many others.

Members of Club-M will also enjoy the exclusive discounts from participating outlets within the adjacent ITCC shopping mall. To make things more exciting, they also give priority bookings for the facilities available in ITCC, such as the Science & Technology Centre and the banquet hall.

Units of Manhattan Suites range from a medium 510 square feet to a spacious 1,020 square feet. Each unit is allocated with 1 private car park area. The Type B units are also creatively designed so that two adjoining units can be joined to create a larger space.

The development project of Manhattan Suites will be launched on February 6th. For more information, please contact Sabanilam Enterprise Sdn. Bhd. at +6088 703 688 / sabanilam@gmail.com or visit www.itcc.com.my

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PROJECT AT THE GLANCE Project Name

: Manhattan Suites at ITCC

Address

: Manhattan Suites at ITCC, ITCC Penampang, Jalan Pintas-Penampang, 89500 Penampang, Sabah.

Property Type

: SoVo Suites

Land Area

: 10.5 acres (Part of a fully integrated mixed development)

Tenure

: Leasehold

Maintenance Fee : RM 0.40 per sq.ft.

Floor Plan - Type A

Unit / Lot Types & Build-Up : Type A : 2-Bedroom suite 771 sq.ft. / 832 sq.ft.

Type B : 2-Bedroom suite 510 sq.ft. / 540 sq.ft.

Total Units / Lots & Block / Levels : 295 Units / 1 Block / 18 Storeys Facilities & Amenities : Full fiber optic cabling . High speed broadband internet . One on site car park per unit . Swimming pool . CCTV security system .

Exclusive Club M membership . Executive lounge . Fitness center . Spa . Children’s playroom . 24 hour doorman . Concierge service. Full time live in residential manager . Laundry facilities Expected Completion Date : End of 2016 Main Attractions, Public Transports & Amenities Nearby : Integrated into ITCC with i-Office Tower, International hotel and shopping mall . Hypermarket . Cinema . Restaurants and bars .

Children’s entertainment centre . Banquet hall . Home and living retailers . Electronics, IT and fashion retailers

Floor Plan - Type B

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Bus & Taxi Stations to Airport . Donggongon . Lido . Kepayan .

KDCA. Putatan . Queen Elizabeth Hospital . Open University .

Pan-Borneo Highway

Living Room Gym Swimming Pool

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PROPERTY SHOWCASE

ITCC PENAMPANG Live, Work, Create & Enjoy

Nearly completed, the ITCC Penampang (International Technology & Commercial Centre) will be the technology pulse of Borneo and the pride of the Penampang District.

This innovative, ‘state-of-the-art’ hub, is an integrated, mixeddevelopment – which consists of a mall, an international hotel, an ‘i-Office’ and a SoVo which is being developed by Sabanilam Enterprise.

Only an 8 minute drive to the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, and just 15 minutes to the CBD of Kota Kinabalu, this centre breaks the skyline of Penampang, and will enhance the development of the district.

The SDC (Sabah Development Corridor), has listed ITCC Penampang as a Private Sector Initiative Project because it fulfils the objective and initiatives to elevate the State of Sabah to greater levels of social

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economic growth through active participation in the technology and knowledge-based economic activities and developments. It is also an MSC status establishment, which promotes the growth of information and communications technology (ICT) companies in Malaysia, making it one of the first in Sabah to have this status.

Manhattan Suites at ITCC Manhattan Suites stands within the integrated development of ITCC. This SoVo offers 295 units of modern yet affordable living with 24-hours security and CCTV surveillance facilities.

Suitable for young, upcoming professionals and entrepreneurs, the Manhattan Suites offers them a living-working space with other stellar facilities for shopping, recreation and dining.

The different sizes and layout plans available offers investors and purchasers with a variety of choices to fit their needs and financial income.

Science & Technology Centre The ITCC Penampang Science & Technology Centre and Commercial & Exhibition Centre will provide exhibitors and visitors spacious areas for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Technology and Creativity) with a Fibre Optic backbone for faster internet lines. The vision is to enable ITCC Penampang to be the centre of ICT development in Sabah.

The Science & Technology Centre is also envisaged to house incubators and academies to conceive creative tech entrepreneurs, thereby creating job opportunities as well as attracting global investment.

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ITCC Front View Mall Access to Banquet Hall

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PROPERTY SHOWCASE

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ITCC Mall From exciting shopping to gourmet dining and uplifting entertainment to high-street fashion, ITCC Mall will be a medley of experiences for everyone.

With an attractive location, sitting just 1km from the up and coming Pan-Borneo Highway, and with over 600 retail lots available, it will be the first multi-experience, chic lifestyle hub in Greater Kota Kinabalu.

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This family-friendly mall will be an exciting new spot for young families living within a 20km radius.

i-Office Tower The i-Office Tower is the ideal opportunity for businesses seeking to capitalize on the prestige of an electrifying corporate address. Its architecture was designed to be up-to-par with corporate businesses, and comes complete with facilities and features that are sure to please the astute investor. The i-Office Tower is also fitted with fiber optic cabling and is high-speed broadband ready; an attractive feature for entrepreneurs to set-up offices at ITCC Penampang.

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Start-ups and companies will get easy access to ancillary services, such as research and development facilities, information resources and support.

Best Western Premier The new Best Western Premier hotel will include 330 upscale guest rooms with impeccable modern facilities, high-speed internet connectivity, restaurants, meeting rooms, a fitness centre and spa. The Ballroom is capable of housing more than 170 tables, soon to become the new place for holding conferences, corporate functions and even weddings.

With the panoramic vantage view of Mount Kinabalu and Crocker Range, the Best Western Premier will be a berth for both business and leisure travellers alike.

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Best Western Premier at ITCC ITCC Mall ITCC Penampang Entrance of Best Western Premier

Sabanilam Enterprise Sdn Bhd Sales Gallery

ITCC Sales Gallery, ITCC Penampang, Jalan Pintas-Penampang, 89500 Penampang, Sabah

+6088 703 688 www.itcc.com.my

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PROPERTY NEWS

PROPERTY, INVESTMENT & BANKING NEWS KEEP TRACK OF THE TRENDS IN PROPERTY AND REAL ESTATE

Sabah

SB IN

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International

Sarawak BK

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West Malaysia

Banking & Investment

BUDGET 2016 WILL NOT BE AMENDED FOR NOW - JOHARI

BK

dropped to US$36. However, the impact on the government’s revenue is not much and I don’t see there is a need to do a revision at this moment.”

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Budget 2016 will not be amended despite the sharp drop in oil prices as the effect to its coffers is still manageable, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani revealed according to The Sun Daily.

“When we did the budget, it (the oil price) was based on US$48 per barrel, but now it has

“Instead of revising Budget 2016, the authorities would make adjustments on its spending, like on development expenditures,” he continued.

“Even if the oil prices drop below US$30, we can (still) adjust our spending, I think we don’t need to do any revision,” noted Johari, adding that they will continue to look at oil price movements until Q1 2016.

he said the government is open to this suggestion, but petrol companies and gas station operators should also consent to it.

There is also a need for a system for setting fuel prices based on this time frame before it can be done.

“The advantage of doing this on a weekly basis is the fuel prices would be more reflective of the current market and its changes would not be too drastic for consumers.”

On this matter, the Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia (PDAM) plans to submit a proposal to the Finance Ministry next week, added Johari.

Commenting on the proposal to set fuel prices on a weekly basis rather than monthly,

JAPAN WANTS TO SUPPLY BULLET TRAINS TO MALAYSIA

WM

Japan, fresh from a US$15 billion (RM64.5 billion) rail win in India over China, aims

train technology to meet a pledge by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to triple infrastructure

On the rail award, India picked Japan to help build a 505km railway connecting

to sell its bullet trains to a high-speed rail (HSR) line being planned between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, opening a new market for companies from Hitachi Ltd to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. The government supported such a bid, said Transport Minister Keiichi Ishii, in Kuala Lumpur on December 15, as reported by Bloomberg.

exports to 30 trillion yen (RM1.06 trillion) by 2020.

Mumbai with Ahmedabad, according to an announcement last Saturday. Hitachi makes bullet trains, while Mitsubishi Heavy manages the construction of high-speed train projects, including the first export of Japan’s bullet train technology to Taiwan.

Cooperation between the government and business leaders was crucial in clinching the deal with India last week, he added.

Japan, which built the world’s first highspeed train more than half a century ago, is stepping up efforts to export its bullet

Malaysia and Singapore received close to 250 submissions after calling for a request for information for the project, and 98 were short-listed, the New Straits Times reported on December 15.

Fourteen foreign entities among the 98 were asked to present their views, including France’s Alstom SA, Germany’s Siemens AG, Spain’s CAF and Talgo SA, Canada’s Bombardier Inc, a group led by China Railway, as well as consortiums from Japan and South Korea.

MARA DIGITAL MALL TO BE AVAILABLE IN ALL STATES NEXT YEAR

WM

He said before, there was limited opportunity for Bumiputera traders to do business at IT centres because of the high rental.

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The new IT centre for Bumiputera traders Mara Digital Mall, which opens operation since a week ago at the MARA Atrium Busana mall, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, will be expanded to all states next year, reported Bernama.

This was to enable more Bumiputera traders to be involved in the marketing of digital goods and information technology (IT) gadgets, said Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

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However, seeing the potential in the business, we want to provide opportunities for more people to venture into the sector, he told reporters after the announcement of PMB Investment Best Fund Performance and launch of the Brand Ambassador Programme on December 17.

He said it was also to enliven the existing Mara building and turn it a shopping haven for Bumiputera.

“We have a few Mara buildings which have to be revamped in terms of products. People go there not only to shop for clothing and food, they also want IT goods,” he added.

On a related development, Ismail Sabri refuted the claim by some quarters that the six-month rental subsidy given to traders at Mara Digital Mall as ‘pampering’ the traders.

He said the rental subsidy was given to the traders as a temporary measure until their business became stable.

On the Brand Ambassador Programme, Ismail Sabri said continuous and aggressive campaign by the PMB Investment staff would help to attract more investors, especially the young people.

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Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani Bullet trains in Japan Ismail Sabri at the opening of the mall last week.

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INTERVIEW

CRACKO ART GROUP

By Property Hunter

CAG stands for ‘Cracko Art Group’. According to their Facebook page, they are “an independent art movement which consists of artists with a ‘cracko’ personality”. This much rings true, as we meet them one day for an interview and photo session and quickly realize that it wasn’t going to be an ordinary day.

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We only managed to get three of them together, running around KK one Sunday, taking pictures in the hot sun. However, their upbeat and comical personalities made the heat all the more bearable. Egn, Anddy and Phey, along with three of their other comrades, were responsible for the Petonas #TanahAirku murals in town. It’s hard to miss the big “BAH” making a bold statement at you from the Wisma Intiutama building in front of the roundabout or Huminodun’s face at Wisma Sabah, making a wish for all Malaysians.

Hello guys, thanks for having us invade your studio today.

Phey: You’re welcome, we like having company here. Everyone’s welcome at The Asylum.

Anddy: And bless your heart for even looking at our direction.

So tell me about your art collective, Cracko Art Group, otherwise known to everyone as CAG? Egn: We’re a collective doing various art, a few of us being street artists, painters, we also have a photographer, a sculptor and a bead maker. We came together to support and inspire each other. We’re more like family now.

Anddy: Yup, we’re trying to expand the existing art scene here and find our relevance as an artist, or lack thereof. At first we were all just doing our own thing, and then Crig and I met up and collaborated. And eventually we found the rest. Basically it was serendipity.

Egn: No, no, Sabah is just small (laughs). But really, we were just individual artists with artworks displayed or exhibited at the Sabah Art Gallery. And that’s how we found each other. The Sabah Art Gallery had a big role in connecting all of us.

So, since not everyone is a painter or artist, only a few of you were involved in the Petronas #Tanahairku project then?

Anddy: Yup, six of us to be exact. Crig, Lybby and Phey worked on the “BAH” piece on Wisma Intiutama, while Egn, Kwan and I worked on the Wisma Sabah piece.

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INTERVIEW

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INTERVIEW

Phey: Yea, imagine being at the top of the skylift, four floors up with rain and lightning.

Egn: Basically, lots of mental and physical challenges (laughs).

Can you guys explain the idea behind the two murals?

How did you come up with the concepts and what’s the message and meaning behind them?

Egn: The Wisma Sabah mural is a modern take on Huminodun’s legendary act of sacrifice to keep Sabah sustaining. To those who don’t know, according to local legend, Kinoringan is the “father” or creator of Sabah and with his wife Suminundu, they had a daughter named Huminodun who sacrificed herself to save Sabah. The kawan characters holding hands are forming a wall to protect the country and the waves coming out of the TV represent technology that’s keeping Malaysia together. So it’s like Huminodun has made the first move. Now it’s up to us to keep Malaysia sustaining itself.

And how did you guys land the Petronas gig?

Anddy: Egn was approached by Kakiseni from KL. Egn: Someone from Kakiseni in KL called me in February last year and asked if we could do one mural for Petronas.

Through Kakiseni, Petronas was able to scout for street artists in both Sabah and Sarawak. From there, we were also introduced to the other agencies working for Petronas under the same project.

I must say, it was a huge project and congratulations for landing the gig. So what were the challenges that you guys faced during the project?

Egn: Thank you. Basically, I guess it was client demands, trying to blend local culture with contemporary art...and heights!

Everyone was afraid of heights. Handling the skylifts was an experience.

Phey: “BAH” is a word commonly used in Sabah. Inside the “B” you can see three hands meaning that Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsula are rejoicing. Inside “A” shows the strong culture here in Sabah – you can see local Sabah motif there. And inside the “H” shows the rich nature found here, for example the rafflesia flower.

It’s interesting to finally know the meaning behind the murals. So what do you guys think about the art scene in KK? Anddy: Our art scene is still relatively small but off course it will grow in its own pace. I can only do my part as a painter whenever I can.

Egn: Street art is still very young in KK. But a lot more can be discovered because it’s pretty new here. We kind of feel like we have this responsibility now to show the good. A lot of the critics are also comparing KK with KL art, which I think is wrong. Sabah art, or even art on its own should be progressing at its own pace. Art moves with everything.

So are you guys trying to pave the way for the young, aspiring artists in Sabah?

Phey: The skylift! And another challenge for me was painting in the rain.

Egn: Honestly I don’t know.

Is that really challenging? Why didn’t you guys just stop?

Anddy: If it’s viewed that way then, why not? All I know is, I am doing what I love, which is painting. Everything else is just noise to me. But if by chance what I do can connect to kindred spirits even if it’s just one person, I’m happy.

Egn: Because of a tight schedule.

Anddy: Yup, and when the rain hit, the paint just dripped all the way down the wall. I like painting in the rain though. But the production crew were worried about safety.

Egn: If the future generations know not to touch paintings in galleries, then I would die happy.

Check out Cracko Art Group’s workspace, ‘The Asylum’ at No. 86a, 3rd floor, Block G, Gaya Street, 88000. www.PropertyHunter.com.my

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FEATURE EVENT

PH ANNUAL PARTY

BRING IT ON 2016!

By Property Hunter

Maxx Media, the publisher for East Malaysia’s leading property magazine Property Hunter, threw an annual party on Thursday, January 21st to celebrate their accomplishments for 2015. The event was held at E-West Café Lounge and attended by more than 100 business partners of the company.

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“2015

has been quite a challenging yet exciting year for us,” said Elson Kho, Director of Maxx Media.

According to Kho, the event was also held to celebrate the magazine’s new look which is better than before through its new cover and design, as well as the papers used, which are eco-friendly and can be easily recycled.

“We could not have been able to achieve this if it’s not because of our supportive clients.

Their contribution to the company is indeed priceless and as a token of appreciation, we would like to thank them personally by organizing this event,” Kho explained.

Founded in 2012 by Michael Hiew, Property Hunter had walked through various stages in local as well as international accolades throughout the region. In 2014, Property Hunter was awarded with the “Outstanding Promotion of the Sabah Housing Market” by The Malaysia Reserve Property Press Award and had expanded their wings wider since.

The event also featured sneak peeks of some events which will be organized by Maxx Media in 2016.

“We have a lot of exciting events and new things in store for this year,” said Kho. “Our property exhibition, PH Expo will continue and similar to last year, our starting point will be in Kota Kinabalu, before we

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proceed to other major cities and towns in

the band “Diary of Us”.

East Malaysia. The first PH Expo this year will be held in Sabah Trade Centre on March 18 to 20,” he continued.

“Also, on February 27, we will organize a property expo in Brunei. It’ll be our first time in Brunei and we are very excited about it,” revealed Kho. “This year we would also like to put highlight properties in Penang, and therefore there will be an exhibition exclusively for Penang properties which will be held in Imago Mall on March 25 to 27.”

Apart from organizing multiple property exhibitions, the company had also revealed that a new mobile app tailored for ‘hunting’ available properties across the region is being developed and will soon be launched in March this year.

“It’s 2016, and our ways of communication and information retrieval have completely changed. Users will be able to score their property on the go and faster than before.”

Kho explained.

PH Annual Party is an annual event organized

by Maxx Media to commemorate the team’s hardworking spirit as well as to enhance the existing network with their business partners.

The event was served with delightful music by

Property Hunter’s Fantastic 4 – from left : Jack Wong, Caleb Tseu, Michael Hiew and Elson Kho

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“Diary of Us” decorate the evening with their music Alby, Iza, Caleb, Jeff, Khay Inn & Victor from Property Hunter

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FEATURE EVENT

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Guests checking in at the reception area Vu Yen Peng (standing), Akil Salleh, Alex Chan and Yong Ket Leong posed with the PH Angels From left : Datuk Ho Jia Lit, Datuk Yeo Boon Hai, Daniel Yong, Datuk Gerard Goh, Datuk Sr Chua Soon Ping and John Tan

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Guests were served with a delicious buffet style dinner Aniq Nazreen Amin and Mahathir Khan Property Hunter team From left : Michael Ling, Benny Ng, James Voon and Roy Chiew

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Property industry’s movers and shakers from Tawau From left : Bruce Fong, Caleb Tseu, Joel Low, Juliana Chai The founder of Property Hunter, Michael Hiew (middle) with Lim Teck Kiong (left) and Theresa Tan

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Jason Lee (left) and Jacob Chong getting listening intently to the presentation From left : Puan Sri Nina Khan, Casey Chong, Simon Set and Irene Foo

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FEATURE EVENT

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The banquet hall Property Hunter team together with Philomena Chai (third from left) and Alex Loh (far right) From left : Moses Wong, Bernard Chu and Michael Hiew

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Standing from left : Rezza Edward, Irene Wong, TJ Lim, Joel Low, Simon Set Sitting from left : Pauline Chok, Ken Fu, Alex Lee, Yun Lai Michael Ling (far left), Dato Louis Tan, David Lam, Rayner Sedomon and Jen Kah

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Standing from left : Donald Dunstan Wong, Sebastian Ong, Michael Hiew, Richard Chong, TJ Wong, Sitting from left : Andy Chua, Henry Tai, Datuk Marco Yap and Joel Low From left : Alice Chu, Serena Sham Wong, Kimberly Chow, Jessica Lo, and Maria Leong Jack Wong (left) with Ceaser Mandela

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Property Hunter sales team with Eric Wong (second left) and Samson Chu (third left) From left : Jhasmine Wong, Yani Sri Norfitriani, Chew Fei Sean and Caroline Yong Phaedress Hing (left) and Roy Chiew (right)

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EVENT

LBS EXCEEDS 2015 SALES TARGET OF RM1 BILLION

By Property Hunter

Group Confident of Achieving Sales Momentum In 2016, Supported by Portfolio of Its Properties

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LBS Bina Group Berhad (LBS) has achieved a total of RM1.029 billion in sales for the year 2015, which is an increase of 60% in comparison to the previous year of RM644 million. The key developments which contributed to LBS achieving its 2015 sales target include mainly residential projects located in Selangor (RM864 million).

“We enjoyed a fruitful year in 2015. One of the reasons we continue to meet out targets is our understanding for the needs of Malaysian home buyers. We look forward to intensifying our efforts to provide even more options to a wider spectrum of home buyers and investors in 2016. Following a successful year, the Group is confident on achieving its sales momentum for 2016, citing a strong portfolio of properties.” said LBS Managing Director, Tan Sri Lim Hock San.

future launches include a mix of high-rise and landed residences, spanning from affordable to premium range homes as well as commercial developments.

In support of the Government’s efforts to house more Malaysians, LBS continues to play a proactive role in providing more affordable home options with upcoming developments like the Rumah Selangorku in Bandar Saujana Putra and Perumahan Penjawat Awam 1Malaysia (PPA1M) in Bukit Jalil.

Moving forward, LBS is confident of maintaining the momentum of demand for its developments to achieve an additional 20 per cent in sales for the year 2016. The Group expects its developments in the Klang Valley to contribute the bulk of sales of more than 85 per cent.

To date, LBS has 2,659 acres of undeveloped land bank. The Group’s

Bandar Saujana Putra

BSP 21

10 blocks of serviced residence

GDV

Details

Development

Township / Area

State: Klang Valley

Key launches: Ongoing

Phase 1: 4 blocks, 892 units Phase 2: 1 block, 278 units Next Launch

Balance 5 blocks, 1,432 units Shops, 28 units

RM1.4 billion RM436 million RM148 million RM584 million RM812 million RM 23 million RM835 million

Price range: Block F&H: From RM317,900/ unit Block G, I & J: From RM524,900/ unit Shop: From RM700,900/ unit

RM233 million

BSP Village on going

From RM1.18 million/ unit

Skyvilla

D’ Island Residence, Puchong

on going

Corallia 4

Next launch

Puchong

Klang

Shah Alam

Desiran Bayu Next launch

Telok Gong Industrial Park Next launch

Taman Perindustrian Alam Awana @ U10

State: Pahang

Next launch

Cameron Centrum

Precint 1

Next launch

17 storey condominium164 352 units Price range: From RM649,900/ uni t

RM252 million

Double-storey semi D 82 units Price range: From RM1.7 million/ unit

RM148 million

Double-storey Cluster-link, Double-storey Semi D, Double-storey terrace house 598 units Price range: Cluster Link: From RM600,000/ unit Semi-D: From RM820,000/ unit Terrace house: From RM420,000/ unit

RM330 million

Semi D factory, Bungalow factory, Low Cost factory 96 units Price range: From RM3.5 million/ lot (Semi D factory) From RM5.8 million/ lot (Bungalow factory)

RM304.7 million

Industrial Lot 13 lots Price range: From RM8.9 million / lot

RM243.6 million

Shops 58 units Price range: From RM1.2 million/ unit (2 storey) From RM2.5 million/ unit (4 storey) From RM3.2 million/ unit (5 storey) Hotel 158 units Price range: From RM300,000/ unit

RM165 million

RM165 million

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NEWS

RM515 MILLION ALLOCATED TO UPGRADE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY IN SABAH RM2.3 billion fund approved by the federal government for four years, until 2019.

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The Federal government has allocated RM515 million to strengthen and upgrade transmission and supply of electricity in Sabah.

RM515 million has been allocated by The Federal Government in order to strengthen and upgrade transmission and supply of electricity in Sabah. According to Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili, the allocation was part of the

“All these efforts will improve the quality of electricity supply to the users,” he told reporters at a Christmas Day Open House organised by Parti Bersatu Sabah in Penampang, as reported by The Star.

Ongkili said the ministry would also place an additional Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for the Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) to ensure the agency upgraded its performance in the distribution of electricity to consumers as well as to reduce interruption.

SB

He said he would be monitoring SESB very closely, as he also had a KPI to keep the level of electricity interruption to a minimum level.

“We are setting (to achieve) 300 (minutes) of System Average Interruption Duration Index (Saidi) in Sabah,” he added.

In the meantime, he said the Cabinet would decide on the implementation of a 380MW gas-fired power plant in Sandakan in January.

Under the project, the gas would be channeled from Tuaran to Sandakan using a piped system and pass through several districts including Tuaran, Kota Belud, Kota Marudu and Beluran to meet the demand for power in the east coast of Sabah.

AUSTRALIAN VERSION OF SURVIVOR WILL BE FILMED IN PULAU TIGA, SABAH The location of Australian version of the hit American reality series Survivor has been revealed to take place in Pulau Tiga, west of Sabah in the Kimanis Bay, according to the sources reported by news.com.au.

The show maroons a group of strangers (as one or more tribes) in an isolated location, where they must provide food, water, fire, and shelter for themselves, while competing in challenges to earn either a reward, or an immunity from expulsion from the game in the next of the successive votes for elimination.

The last two or three survivors face a jury composed of the last seven, eight, or nine players voted off. That jury interrogates the

final few, and then votes for the winner of the game, the title of Sole Survivor and a million dollar prize.

While it will be presented to viewers as a deserted and isolated spot, the island is actually home to a resort, a campsite, restaurant, national park and a popular diving spot of the region.

The island is also the same location for the very first US season in 2000. The US version has been very successful, and regarded as one of the best reality shows in the history of US television. The series ended their 31st

WE WANT A NEW BUILDING - SM SCIENCE SABAH

The Boarding School Alumni Club of Sabah and SM Science Sabah (CLASS) are appealing to the relevant authorities to build a new building in the school compound as the old building is decaying, reported The Borneo Post.

The club president Siti Noraishah Azizan said starting Monday January 4, students

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season last December and the next season will premiere in this coming February.

The island has also been nicknamed commercially as “Survivor Island”.

According to news.com.au, early work for filming preparation is currently in progress.

SB

and teachers were forced to move to the Teachers Education Institute campus in Tuaran as the old school building was under maintenance.

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“We hope the relevant parties will give serious consideration for the welfare for the students and teachers of SM Science Sabah.

“At the moment, we are forced to use the campus in Tuaran while maintenance of the old building is underway.

“We also hope the relevant authority will come to our assistance and provide the school with better facilities and infrastructure to preserve the good image of SM Science Sabah,” she said.

Siti Noraishah has served in the school for 34 years since 1984 and it is said that the school was the first boarding science school in Kota Kinabalu.

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Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili Pulau Tiga Aerial view of the school compound

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HOT TOPIC

WHEN TWO BECOME ONE THE MERGING OF TWO TERMINALS

By Property Hunter

Property Hunter investigates the results of the recent move of Terminal 2 into Terminal 1 (KKIA) and how it has affected businesses in both areas including Tanjung Aru.

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A Brief History The second busiest airport in Malaysia, Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) is located approximately 8 kilometres southwest of the city centre. It is the main gateway for people around the world to enter Sabah which was previously known as North Borneo.

KK‘s first airport was located in Tanjung Aru, and today it is widely known as Terminal 2 or “Airport KK Lama”. Built by the Japanese Army, the airport first began as a military airfield during World War II. It suffered severe bombings by The Allied Forces until the surrender of the Japanese Army in 1945, rebuilt by the British colony and in 1963,

The decision was made by the government to consolidate all airlines to be operated into one terminal, without considering the limited expansion space and the possible congestion on the terminal.

AirAsia Berhad, renowned as the best low cost carriage airline in the world and the main utilizer of Terminal 2 opposed the decision and refused to move despite a government directive to do so. As of 1st August, 2015, it had missed the deadline given by the government five times. The group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes emphasized that by moving to Terminal 1, the cost imposed to passengers will increase, as the airport tax is higher in Terminal 1 as compared to Terminal 2.

However, the issue was resolved after a series of negotiations between AirAsia and the authority in-charge were conducted, and finally, on 1st December last year, AirAsia finally moved to Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 was closed effectively.

New Experience As the relocation happened in the final month of the year, the busiest month for airports everywhere, KKIA was no exception. December is packed with school breaks and the festive season, with holidayers and locals flying in and out to their respective hometowns.

In this particular month, combined with the merger of the two terminals itself, the capability of the airport to handle the increased traffic of passengers and aircrafts is tested. To those who have been to the airport recently could undoubtedly notice that it’s busier than usual. Cafes and fast food chains are packed with people and even the waiting seats are almost fully occupied.

“Everyone is still adapting to this new environment,” said Linda, one of the flight attendants.

Stationed in Kota Kinabalu, Linda said that the relocation did not really affect her personally, but from her observation, she noticed there was a bit of a delay in the immigration check points.

“If possible, I think the immigration check points need to be added.

More airlines are using this airport now, so there was obviously an increase on traffic flow,” she suggested.

the runway was further reinforced and lengthened to 1,921 meters to cater for Comet 4 jet operations. As commercial flights and passenger arrivals gradually increased, a larger terminal building was needed. In the 1970s and 1980s, a new terminal building was built on the other side of the runway. Almost all commercial flights were shifted to this newer and larger terminal, which was then rebranded as “Terminal 1”. This new terminal was demolished and rebuilt in mid-2009, as to increase passenger capacity and giving it the new modern look that it has today.

“In terms of the amount of people, sometimes I see people sleeping at the airport late at night, waiting to board the plane. We do not have an airport hotel yet in KKIA, so in my opinion, I would suggest for the authorities to prepare some “capsule rooms” to make it convenient for overnight stayers at the airport.”

Meanwhile, the original airport has undergone a total renovation before being reopened on 1st January 2007 in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2007 and has been renamed as Terminal 2. With its new name, the old airport had functioned to serve charter and low cost carriers, the main airline utilizing the terminal being AirAsia.

Two Become One

After 9 years serving as the low cost carrier terminal, Terminal 2 again went through another transition recently, into a cargo and general aviation based terminal. All of the airlines which had been operating in Terminal 2 were ordered to move into Terminal 1 (KKIA).

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HOT TOPIC

Increased Business in KKIA

“It was a bit emotional. I was working there for 4 years, and that was the place I go to every day. Then suddenly, you had to move.” - Rosmah, ticketing agent

For years now, there have been many empty shoplots at KKIA, and very little options for food. Previously, crowds weren’t big enough for businesses to operate. But that’s set to change now with how busy the airport has been since the merger.

“It’s crazy, every day is a busy day for me,” said Remmy, who works at one of the famous fast food chains in KKIA. ‘Perhaps it will be like this from now on, and I also heard rumors of a famous coffee chain opening here,” he continued.

“I don’t know any other details, but I think this is a good thing overall and it will give more options to passengers.”

Sarah, who works at the bookshop in KKIA noticed that there are more people entering the bookstore to read and buy books.

“My friends and I have been a bit busier this month. Some books and especially magazines, ran out of stock quickly than the previous months. I have been working here for the past 3 months and I can see the difference,” she explained.

“I think there will be an increase on stocks this year, so we can prepare the incoming wave of customers,” she predicted.

Game of Taxis Ammar, one of the original taxi drivers stationed in Terminal 1 pointed out that it has been a bit more challenging lately. According to him, now he has to wait at least two hours for the next rotation of customers due to the increasing number of taxis that moved from Terminal 2.

“There are about 180 taxis in this airport now, so driving customers from the airport is lesser in a day,” he said.

Yet, it is a different story for Leong, who is also a taxi driver in KKIA – he claimed that the relocation did not really change much for him.

“The airport does get busier now, and I can always find customers, and for me it doesn’t change much.”

“What’s changing every day is the people I meet,” he laughed.

Rosmah, who is working as a ticketing agent for taxis and airport limousines shared some of her experiences during her last day in Terminal 2.

‘It was a bit emotional. I was working there for 4 years, and that was the place I go to every day.

Then suddenly, you had to move. It felt weird,” she said.

“But everything remained the same. My colleagues are still the same, it’s just the working environment that’s different,” she continued.

“This month is busier. That is the obvious thing I noticed,” she smiled.

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Business Slowing Down in Tanjung Aru “I predicted that this was going to happen,” said Sarah, who is the owner of a backpacker’s hostel in Tanjung Aru. “Part of our main customers here were the young travelers or backpackers who were catching the plane the next day or within the next few days. They usually come here because it is close to the airport – they can just walk there, instead of taking a taxi from town at 3.00 am to catch their flight.”

“Without Terminal 2 here, it’s no longer the same,” she continued.

“Well, this hostel will still be open as usual, we still have people checking in from time to time, but it’s getting less and less every day,” she added.

It is almost the same story with Chin, who owns a restaurant in Tanjung Aru town.

“Since last month, the amount of customers have started to decrease.

Most of the time people choose to eat here before proceeding to the airport, and I often ask them where they are heading – but these usual random conversations I have with people no longer happen much,” he shared.

“But overall, I still have customers. We have two high schools here – SM Stella Maris and SM La Salle and we have people working in Tanjung Aru Plaza, and people who live in the police quarters. So, it’s still business as usual,” he emphasized.

The Future of KKIA According to Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad (MAHB) Managing Director, Datuk Badlisham Ghazali, the relocation was necessary because Terminal 2 no longer had room for expansion, as it is a “landlocked” area – which means that there is no more space to expand the terminal. Furthermore, Terminal 2 was congested with the increased number of passengers arriving at the terminal.

Prior to the relocation, Badlisham also revealed that there was a masterplan to look into expanding KKIA to accommodate 16 million passengers annually from the current 9 million.

“This has been in discussion with the Sabah State Government for many years and our stand is that it is better to have an integrated terminal for both full service and low-cost carriers. It is all about connectivity and will draw even more passengers to come into a hub like Sabah,” he said.

“I am really pleased. This new building is far more spacious and the facilities work well, especially the air conditioning system,” expressed Nurul, a Sabahan who claimed to always fly in and out from Kota Kinabalu for business purposes.

“I think this can be considered as a total upgrade for KKIA airport, and I mean not because it’s a “newer” building and all, but to finally have a base where we can all gather without having the division status,” she said, referring to the status of Terminal 2 which people often associate with bad facilities due to the domination of budget airlines utilizing the terminal.

“Maybe in the future this airport will be expanded into something bigger. Maybe in the future we will have various terminals in KKIA, like in most huge airports around the world. Sabah is full of potential, especially in tourism,” she concluded.

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HOT TOPIC

MRTA or MLTA What are the fallacies?

By Jerry Low

As a property investor you might have come across ‘Mortgage Reducing Term Assurance’ (MRTA) and its brother, ‘Mortgage Level Term Assurance’ (MLTA). Both have its pros and cons.

Depending on who you ask you will get a certain preference for one or the other.

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I wanted to dig deeper behind such tables so I went on to check with major bank officers and insurers.

The first thing I noticed is that bankers will promote MRTA and life insurers will advocate MLTA. No prize for guessing who gets the commission for which product. Contrasting the information I got from both parties here is what I found:

FALLACY #1 MRTA is compulsory!

It is not and Bank Negara does not state this. However, a form of protection is strongly encouraged for financial planning. Most banks will also give better loan packages if an MRTA is purchased from them. If a person is adequately insured, he can use his personal life insurance in place of an MRTA or MLTA subject to review and agreement from the bank.

FALLACY #2 All MLTA is term assurance.

There are cases where customers have been sold whole life plans or investment link insurance plans as a level term assurance. Protection wise it still fulfills the purpose of covering for the loan in the event of death and disability but premium wise it’s higher. It’s best to understand the protection duration we need and plan accordingly.

FALLACY #3 The coverage is insufficient.

Basic MRTA and MLTA do not cover critical illness. Most MLTAs have the option of including a medical rider for dreaded diseases, whereas MRTA do not. Purchasing a home could be a 30 year commitment. A medical rider should be seriously considered. Statistically, most people go through a critical disease at one point in their life. A counter argument to this is that if a person is struck with a dreaded disease, he would eventually lose the ability to do meaningful work and be classified as totally and permanently disabled – making him eligible for claim. Such cases are subject to debate and best avoided with critical illness protection.

A Quick google search will show you many tables like these:-

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HOT TOPIC

FALLACY #4 Cash Value MLTA proponents promises guaranteed cash value back at the end of the tenure and hence, free protection. This is partially true depending on the policy type of the MLTA. MLTA policies with guaranteed cash back are generally more expansive and might have an investment portion to it. Again, the guaranteed portion will differ from policy to policy. On the other hand it’s also true that at the end of the tenure the cash value for MRTA is burned. However if the housing loan is settled early the MRTA can be surrendered for cash value.

FALLACY #5 MRTA cannot be transferred It sure can! One of the main disadvantages of MRTA often highlighted is that an MRTA is tied to the property, and a new one must be purchased each time a new property is purchased. This makes MLTA a more compelling choice for investors.

Fact is this is only partially true as some banks offer the option to transfer the balance sum assured for MRTA to another property. In some situations however it might just be more beneficial to purchase a new policy rather than doing a topup. Transferring MRTA from banks to banks is also complicated. Check with your local bankers for more information that best meets your situation.

FALLACY #6 MRTA is easily impacted by BLR fluctuation Partially true, especially if the sum insured and the duration is a small fraction of the loan amount and tenure. If the full amount and tenure is bought, it is fairly robust. This is because the interest rate used to calculate the MRTA is usually higher than the BLR. Most banks use approximately 7% vs. BLR 6.6% (effective being around 4.4% assuming the banks give -2.2%). Furthermore, the BLR only impacts the outstanding amount. If the applicant is unable to serve the loan then he is given approximately 3-4 months before the house is auctioned off. If a claim is made on the MRTA within that time frame it should be able to cover for the difference due to BLR increase (unless it’s a very, very, drastic change).

This article was extracted from www.kopiandproperty.com and is reproduced as part of a partnership between Property Hunter and kopiandproperty.com.

So,

which one to buy then? Well the decision is once again in your hands. The purpose of this article was to provide additional information for contemplation. A clichéd answer would be, “If the budget is within range, get an MLTA, else get an MRTA”.

Either way its best to get one or the other as a safeguard!

Feel free to email Jerry at: wenghigh@gmail.com

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HOT TOPIC

Location! Location! Location!

LOCATION! REPUTATION! PROMOTION!

By Elson Kho

In many property seminars that I have attended in the past, and having met countless of property gurus, the universal saying in buying property has always been “Location!

Location! Location!�. To a certain extent, the phrase has significant impact. However, my recent experience and observation has proven otherwise.

Having been in the property industry for a couple of years, I thought I would have sufficient knowledge to embark on the property investment journey.

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GOLDEN

RULES

My first experience in property purchase was in 2014.

By then, I have attended dozens of property investment seminars, spoken to countless property gurus, investors, developers, agents - basically, everyone that mattered in real estate. Thinking I was knowledgeable enough and ready, I started shopping around for a good investment grade product during one of our Property Hunter Expos (Kota Kinabalu Edition) in March. Indeed, there were many good projects to be considered at the expo.

Since it was my first attempt in property investment, I was naturally cautious. I tried to collectively implement the things I have learned over the past years.

The idea was to invest in a revenue generating property which I will hold for at least 5 years - so, I came up with a list of ‘golden rules’ to guide my decision making process:

No. 1 Location! Location! Location!

No. 2 Risk of project abandonment!

No. 3 Potential of rental return!

With these in mind, I braved myself through the expo, studying projects that appealed to me. Finally, I landed myself on a commercial retail project. For the sake of this narrative, let’s call it “Sea Facing Mall”.

REALITY Today, 18 months down the road and looking at the existing condition of the mall, I gravely regret my decision.

FIRST of all, the opening of the mall was delayed by months, which meant that our guaranteed rental income had also delayed as it only took effect from the day the mall opened.

SECOND, when the mall finally opened, occupancy was less than 50% and the tenant mix was rather weak. I was told by the sales person that since the size of the mall is relatively small, they envisioned it to be a food haven, with all sea facing units designed for restaurant occupancy.

Unfortunately, the quality of the restaurants were not on par with the picture they painted during the sales pitch.

Yes, they managed to secure the first Hard Rock Café outlet and a couple of quality Japanese restaurants - but that’s about it. I must also stress that the food court looks pitiful. Imagine a food court from the 80s - cheesy interior with dim lights and those plastic chairs...you get the idea.

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HOT TOPIC THIRD, the upkeep and maintenance of the mall is so poor. To date, some of the toilets are already not functioning, there are still construction stains on the escalators. And speaking about the escalators, two to three of them are on constant repair every time I go to that mall.

FOURTH and last but not least, the management of the mall is simply incapable. They have failed to attract quality tenants, and at the same time were unable to hold quality events to generate crowd to the mall. A mall without a crowd is a doomed mall.

Eight months after Sea Front Mall first opened its doors, its condition has gone from bad to worse. The physical aspect of the mall is deteriorating, and the crowd is decreasing.

When there is no crowd, the tenants have no business.

And when there is no business, some of them eventually stop paying rent. When this happened, I ultimately stopped receiving my guaranteed rental income too (as of December 2015, the management has failed to pay my guaranteed rental income for five consecutive months.

LESSON LEARNED The lesson I took from all this?

Rewind to the time of purchase, I should have also taken into consideration the reputation of the developer and the track record of the management of the mall. As this is an investment that came with “Guaranteed Rental Returns�, the return on investment is solely dependent on the management of the mall.

With such a prime, sea-front, city center location, the mall is not performing because its management is incapable. Therefore, location alone does not determine the success of your investment. On the other hand, there are properties in second or third tier locations performing better than primed properties as a result of a strong management team.

Investment with a Guaranteed Rental Return Scheme is not always favourable as you are dependent on the capability of the management to manage your property. Unless the management team has a proven track record, you are pretty much stuck with the contract which you can do nothing about.

And in my case, I no longer receive my rentals as promised.

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After this experience, I no longer believe the golden rule of “Location! Location! Location!”. Instead, I came up with my own golden rule: “Location! Reputation! Promotion!”.

Location is still very important.

Reputation of the developer reduces the risk of delayed projects, or worse, abandoned projects. It also determines the chances of success after the project is handed over.

Promotion means the sales package offered by the developer at the time of purchase.

Another lesson I took from all this is that property investment is not all smooth sailing. I have learned to look at it from multiple perspectives, to follow my instincts and to not just follow “textbook”.

Despite all this, the unfavourable experience does not deter me from future investment, but instead will help me make better decisions in the future.

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FURNISH

Oriental Charms

An oriental styled home gives us an instant image of zen and serenity. Recreate your space with some of these minimal, oriental inspired furnishings for a sanctuary right at home.

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1.

Concrete Pot with Succulent @RM90 (Fiska)

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Vintage Chinese Biscuit Tin Lamps @RM2,046 (Journey East) www.PropertyHunter.com.my

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Upcycled Teakwood TV Console @RM4,096 (Journey East)

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Japanese Chopsticks @RM8.90 (Fiska)

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Upcycled Teakwood Coffee Table @RM2,401 (Journey East)

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Marble Series Mug @RM35 (Fiska)

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Upcycled Teakwood Bookcase @RM4,661 (Journery East) www.PropertyHunter.com.my

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DRIVE

The All-New Audi Q7: The Great Quattro速 Audi Malaysia introduces the second-generation Audi Q7; the Great Quattro速 forges ahead of the pack with striking design, exceptional drivetrain, lightweight construction and class-leading technology

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ontinuing the momentum from their recent introduction, Audi Malaysia launched the all-new Audi Q7 on last November 20. Also known as the Great Quattro®, after the legendary permanent allwheel drive system that the brand is renowned for.

The second generation of the Audi Q7 is set to be the benchmark by which all premium SUVs are measured.

First introduced back in September 2005 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the original Q7 was the pioneering SUV from Audi, laying the groundwork for the marque’s future success in luxury SUVs. It broke new ground with its streamlined body style, capable driving dynamics, luxurious comfort and ergonomic practicality. This winning formula resulted in near-universal acclaim from motoring enthusiasts, design aficionados and everyone in between, also resulting in a dedicated Audi Q range of SUVs including the Q5 and Q3.

Greatness on the Move: The Sum of Its Parts The new Audi Q7 SUV comes with the latest generation 3.0 TFSI V6 petrol engine with combined demand-controlled direct injection and manifold injection. An 8-speed tiptronic transmission is standard, and this allows the engine to produce a maximum output of 333 hp and a total of 440 Nm of torque from 2,900 to 5,300 rpm.

Befitting its title as the Great Quattro®, the Audi Q7 is also equipped with Audi’s legendary permanent all-wheel drive system and 20” cast aluminium wheels, allowing it to accelerate from 0 – 100 km/h in just 6.3 seconds (a full 1.6 seconds faster than its predecessor) and onwards to an electronically-governed top speed of 250 km/h. Despite its exhilarating performance, the new Audi Q7 3.0 Quattro® records a combined fuel consumption cycle of 7.9 litres/100 km as well as a CO2 emissions rating of 183 g/km.

The sporty and agile handling dynamics of the new Audi Q7 are also remarkable for a large premium SUV and are a result of superior technical development and the use of the new MLBEvo platform. It is evident that the all-new Audi Q7’s lightweight construction ethos, powerful drivetrain combination and dynamic chassis setup allow it to showcase its best-in-class acceleration, handling, efficiency and driveability.

Introducing the all-new Audi Q7, Immo Buschmann, Managing Director of Audi Malaysia shares, “The original Audi Q7 was the living embodiment of Audi’s Quattro® philosophy, combining the capability of an off-roader with comfort and utility of a family vehicle as well as the prestige and presence of a business sedan.

In much the same way that its predecessor was a pioneer by defining all the characteristics of a luxury SUV back then, the allnew Audi Q7 blazes ahead today with the very latest advances in lightweight design, drivetrain technology and class-leading innovation for a luxury SUV simply known as the Great Quattro®”.

Not content with all-round performance, the all-new Audi Q7 is also a cossetting and comfortable experience with adaptive air suspension as standard, uniting air suspension with a continuously variable electronically controlled air spring damper system that ensures comfort, dynamic handling and that the vehicle will always remain level, regardless of the load distribution.

Designed for Greatness: Cutting-edge Design and Lightweight Construction The all-new Audi Q7 represents an interpretation of the refined Audi Q design language, combining tight surfaces and sculpted edges on a powerful and imposing silhouette, resulting in a confident and assured road stance. The trademark Audi Singleframe grille boldly announces the arrival of this impressive SUV, with its LED headlights and signature daytime running lights forming a distinctive double-arrow pattern. A muscular and sculpted shoulder line, pronounced wheel arches and wraparound tailgate that extends around the D pillar are also carried over as a nod to the first-generation Audi Q7.

In terms of dimensions, the all-new Audi Q7 measures 5.05 metres long, 1.97 metres wide and 1.74 metres tall, resulting in the largest interior space within its segment. However, this large SUV weighs up to 325 kilogrammes less than its predecessor, thanks to Audi’s strict adherence to the principle of lightweight construction including the usage of intelligent design, multimaterial assembly and the strategic deployment of aluminium components.

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Greatness from Within: Versatile Ergonomics meets HighTech Comfort Open the door of the all-new Audi Q7 and you will encounter a luxury class lounge for up to seven people. Featuring electrically adjustable front seats with four-way lumbar support, a generously apportioned second row with ample leg room and a versatile electrically-operated third row of 50:50 split seats that can be folded down to increase the cargo space from an already spacious 770 litres to a cavernous 1955 litres, the new Audi Q7 is the perfect companion for the varied and demanding lifestyles of today.

Building on Audi’s immense experience in crafting the finest interiors, the interior is a clean, crisp and minimalist, springing to life upon the press of the Start button. Immediately, the Audi virtual cockpit, that made its debut with the TT coupé powers up providing the driver with information on demand. An additional 8.3” central screen with high-resolution graphics also rises automatically from the dashboard upon engine ignition, providing the front seat passenger with access to all the features of MMI navigation plus with MMI touch including 3D navigation, infotainment and telephone features. In terms of infotainment, passengers are spoiled for choice with a Bose® 3D sound system featuring a 15-channel amplifier with 19 loudspeakers for a total output of 558 watts.

The new Audi Q7 also features new settings for Audi drive select.

In addition to the standard Auto, Dynamic, Efficiency, Comfort and Individual settings, this capable SUV also features an Allroad mode which prepares for a mixed terrain by lifting the ride height by 25 mm and Lift/Offroad mode which prepares the SUV to go far off the beaten track by raising the right height to the maximum of 60 mm. Additionally, the new Audi Q7 also offers a convenient loading mode, which lowers the rear axle by 45 mm in order to increase accessibility to the luggage compartment.

As with all Audi models, the new Audi Q7 comes packed with numerous electronic and mechanical features to ensure an efficient and safe driving experience whether on or off the road, including a start/stop system with energy recovery, tyre pressure loss indicator, hill descent control, Electronic Stabilisation Control (ESC) which includes Traction Control (ASR), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD), Electronic Differential Lock (EDL) and Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and a total of eight airbags.

Greatness Distilled: The All-New Great Quattro® “The Audi Q7 is a game-changer not just for the brand, but for the entire premium SUV segment and I am confident that much like its predecessor, the Great Quattro® will be a resounding success for Audi in Malaysia,” added Mr. Buschmann.

The all-new Audi Q7 is offered in ten colour choices: Carrara White, Glacier White, Floret Silver, Carat Beige, Argus Brown, Ink Blue, Graphite Grey, Night Black, Orca Black and a special Daytona Grey with pearl effect. Available for booking at all authorised Audi dealerships from 20 November onwards, the Great Quattro® is priced from RM 589,900.

For more information, please visit www.audi.com.my today.

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Audi Q7 3.0 TFSI® Quattro® V6 petrol engine with combined demand-controlled direct injection andmanifold injection with mechanical charging module 2,995

333/5,500 – 6,500

440/2,900 – 5,300

8-speed tiptronic Cast aluminium wheels of 10-spoke star design, size 9J x 20 with 285/45 R 20 tyres

6.3 seconds

250 (limited)

7.9 litre/100km

183g/kmt

From RM589,900

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HOME

CHOOSING THE RIGHT CERAMIC TILES FOR EACH ROOM Choose your tiles according to their intended function, and not only for their beauty. Wall tiles which have lower mechanical strength, should not be used for the floor. On the other hand, porcelain and floor tiles which have high mechanical strength are suitable for the walls if desired.

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LIVING & DINING Non-slip tiles are recommended especially if you have small children and elderly persons at home. Alternatively, you can consider smaller tiles with more grout lines that would be less slippery. Low maintenance tiles on the dining room floor will make cleaning easy.

KITCHEN You have to choose low maintenance tiles with higher chemicals and slip resistance as they only require regular cleaning with household detergents. Counter tops could be tiled for hot pots to sit on. Work tops and food preparation areas should be protected with high mechanical strength tiles for easy maintenance.

BATHROOM Choose non-slip tiles with low water absorption properties and high chemical resistance to bath foams, soap, shampoo, chemical cleaners and disinfectants to ensure low maintenance. Use different tiles with creative colour combinations on walls and floors to give you better visual relaxation.

BEDROOM You should use tiles with pleasant colour combination that help create a comfortable and relaxing environment.

It will relax you and ease your mind from a long hard working day.

GARAGE & DRIVEWAY Not only should non-slip, high mechanical strength tiles be considered, smaller-sized tiles with more grout lines may provide additional slip resistance and can be another option.

POOL & GARDEN Your garden can be improved with easy maintenance tiles. Tiles with low water absorption and high slip resistance are suitable for the pool area.

COMMERCIAL & PUBLIC AREA Tiles for commercial and public areas should be durable, non-slip, easy to maintain and look clean.

All pictures provided by White Horse Ceramics www.PropertyHunter.com.my

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NEWS

NOT SUCH A HAPPY NEW YEAR IN CHINA

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China’s first trading session of 2016 has resulted the same weak performances like in the previous year, instead of a fresh start for the new year.

According to BBC, it was reported that the panic and pessimism are getting intense and more people selling their shares because of “following the trend” as others are also selling their shares.

So why did Chinese shares fall by 7% today, causing trading to be halted? And what does it say about confidence in the Chinese market and more importantly - the economy?

Here are four things you should know about the stock market falls in China today:

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reason behind why shares fell. Manufacturing data contracted again - for the tenth straight month. The figures are further demonstration of the ongoing narrative about China’s economy, that state led investment into manufacturing is slowing down and that the economy is transitioning into services. China releases services data on Wednesday - which should show things are improving.

Circuit breakers come into effect This was the first day that China’s new “circuit breaker” came into effect, and that’s why when shares plunged by 5% trading was halted by 15 minutes. When trading resumed, and shares continued to fall by 7%, trading was suspended altogether. The measures were created last year after the stock market crash in China, but only came into effect today. Circuit breakers in themselves aren’t unusual - lots of countries have them for individual stocks, or for a few minutes - but it is unusual to stop trading altogether for a share fall of 7%. An indication perhaps of just how much the authorities want to avoid another crash.

Yuan weakens again There was a sharp depreciation in the yuan just ahead of the plunge in Chinese shares.

Weaker manufacturing data This was what most analysts said was the

OIL PRICE ROSE AFTER SAUDI ARABIA CUTS TIES WITH IRAN

Oil prices rose in Asia Monday after crude kingpin producer Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran following a row over the Saudi execution of a Shiite cleric, reported AFP. Saudi Arabia announced the decision Sunday, a day after protesters ransacked its embassy in Tehran over the execution of the cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Iranian diplomats had 48 hours to leave.

Iran’s supreme leader warned Saudi Arabia it would face “quick consequences” for the execution. Fearing further upheaval in the already volatile Middle East, the United States has urged regional leaders to try to ease tensions.

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People are selling because people are selling There’s nothing like the herd mentality to get things started for the new year. Retail investors in the Chinese stock market are often driven by sentiment and tend to follow the crowd. When they hear of some bad news from brokers or their friends, and other people start selling - they start selling too.

Falling prices attract more people to dump their stocks, and although shares are still above their lows, authorities will be keen to avoid the kind of share market crash we saw last summer.

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At around 0610 GMT, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in February was up 77 cents, or 2.08 percent, at US$37.81. Brent crude for February was trading 91 cents, or 2.44 percent, higher at US$38.19.

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China cut the yuan’s value against the dollar, making it weaker than 6.5 for the first time in more than four-and-a-half years. There’s speculation that the People’s Bank of China has abandoned trying to hold the yuan up against the dollar, which means it’s signalling that it won’t step in to shore up the yuan.

There are concerns that this indicates money is flowing out of China, and that the fall could get out of control. Some investors may be worried about what would happen if the yuan continues to weaken - and the fact that policy makers are allowing it to weaken shows they’re concerned about the economy’s outlook too.

Sanjeev Gupta, head of the Asia Pacific oil and gas practice at professional services firm EY, said that “continued adverse news involving the Middle East region could result in spike in prices, at least in the short term.”

“Oil started the new year on the mend, as Asian markets reacted to fears that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East may threaten the supply of oil,” said Bernard Aw, market strategist at IG Markets in Singapore.

But Gupta added that the current supply glut would likely restrict any sharp upswings. Saudi Arabia is the biggest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, which last month decided against cutting output levels despite a plunge in oil prices.

Despite the rise, Aw said the persistent global crude oversupply would continue to weigh on prices over the longer term.

Iran is also a key OPEC member.

“Unless we see a convincing drop in oil output from these two nations, and the broader oilproducing community, the supply glut issue will persist, which means oil prices would remain under pressure for a longer period,” he told AFP.

1.

2.

China’s first trading session of 2016 has resulted the same weak performances like in the previous year, instead of a fresh start for the new year.

Iranian protestors during a demonstration near the Saudi Arabian embassy in Tehran.

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NEWS

PENANG LRT CONSTRUCTION WORK TO START IN 2018

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impact, and socio-economic impact on the fishermen community in Teluk Kumbar, Permatang Damar Laut and Gertak Sanggul areas.

The report will be prepared by environmental consultant Dr Nik & Associates Sdn Bhd. Szeto said one of the concerns of the reclamation work would be the livelihood of the fishermen in the area as they have to travel farther for fishing activities.

“We haven’t got complaints about environmental issues. So far, we only have political issues,” he said.

Certain parties have questioned the Penang state government for allowing too many reclamation activities on the island, which raised concerns about the impact on the environment and marine life.

Szeto reassured that the chosen site is the best site for reclamation as there is no seagrass in the area.

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Construction work on the Penang light railway transit (LRT) project, which is part of the first phase of the island’s Transport Master Plan (TMP), will start in 2018, reported by The Edge Financial Daily.

According to SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd, the Gamuda Bhd-led project delivery partner (PDP) for the TMP, it will be finalising the cost and alignment of the entire project by year end.

“We expect to start the construction of the LRT in 2018. It will take six years to complete,” SRS Consortium project director Szeto Wai Loong told The Edge Financial Daily in an interview.

The proposed Bayan Lepas LRT alignment begins from Komtar and ends at the Penang International Airport, running along the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway (LCE).

It was previously reported by local media that the construction of the LRT project is scheduled to take off in the first half of 2017.

Szeto said the LRT project, which has a total alignment length of approximately 20 km, is one of the first components to be implemented under the TMP. The other component is the Pan Island Link Highway, which is expected to start construction in 2017.

He pointed out that the LRT project and Pan Island Link Highway were determined as the first components in the delivery

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sequence of the TMP as they fetch economic internal rates of return of 12.2% and 14% respectively, which are the highest among other components.

Previously, the reclamation was said to be carried out in Middle Bank, partly a seagrass bed — a natural marine ecosystem and breeding spot for marine life — located near Gazumbo Island next to the Penang Bridge.

He added that the construction of the LRT project is expected to have minimal environment and social impact as the alignment runs past the LCE and Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, which have a wide reserve.

However, environmentalists and civic groups opposed the proposed project on the grounds that it had the country’s secondlargest seagrass bed.

“We are not acquiring a lot of people’s land compared to other similar developments,” he added.

The Edge Financial Daily reported on Monday that the estimated cost for reclaiming the two islands measuring about 1,300 acres (526ha) and 2,100 acres respectively to be about RM7 billion to RM8 billion.

Meanwhile, on the plan to reclaim two islands in the south of Penang Island, Szeto said the detailed environmental impact assessment report will be available to the public for review by mid-2016.

The reclaimed land will be fully owned by the Penang government and the land will be auctioned to finance the RM27 billion TMP. “The public will have a month’s time to comment. It will take us another month to address all the issues that are relevant,” he explained, adding that the consultant had already started various studies that will take six to seven months.

He said various studies will be carried out to determine the marine and environmental impact, sea current and sedimentation

The reclamation, identified as a land swap model to finance the TMP, is expected to take off in 2018 once federal and state approvals for the project components are attained.

The proposed TMP would feature a LRT from Komtar to Bayan Lepas, a monorail from Komtar to Air Itam and Tanjung Bungah, e-buses across the North Channel, bus rapid transits on the mainland, and a 20 km Pan Island Link Highway connecting Tanjung Bungah to the Penang International Airport and the LCE with tunnels cutting through the hills.

SRS Consortium, a joint venture in which Gamuda holds 60%, with Ideal Property Development Sdn Bhd and Loh Phoy Yen Holdings Sdn Bhd holding 20% each, received its appointment letter as the PDP on Aug 14.

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59

NEWS

IS PR1MA A TOTAL FAILURE?

WM

middle-income Malaysians, and is aware of affordability in areas where PR1MA is present.

PR1MA further explained that it even takes on demand analysis, using ‘location preference data’ given by registrants, which number 1.2 million people to date.

“Our product matches the demand at the location of our projects. We cannot stress enough that PR1MA projects to date are in locations where PR1MA homes are in demand by middle-income Malaysians nationwide,” PR1MA added.

The government’s affordable homes scheme, the 1Malaysia People’s Housing Programme (PR1MA) has failed to meet the demand for affordable homes, said REI International Holding Sdn Bhd CEO Dr Daniele Gambero.

According to Gambero, the homes scheme is a total failure as it is not delivering homes at the right value in the right places, Sundaily reported on December 15.

Armani Media Sdn Bhd managing director K.K. Chua concurred, saying that only 10% of the 500,000 units targeted have been approved.

“PR1MA target is 500,000 homes by 2020 and 72 projects have been approved, which can only deliver 50,000 units. That is only 10% of the set target. Of the 50,000 units approved, none have been delivered and we don’t know when they will be delivered,” he said.

He said the main issue with the programme is the location of the projects, which are “far flung”.

Gambero pointed out that PR1MA is just the tip of the iceberg as there are many other schemes for affordable housing in Malaysia.

“Why not unify them under one name, one minister – International Trade and Industry Ministry or Finance Ministry – and just have one entity in charge of it.

“In terms of figures, the numbers in the last three Budgets are ridiculous. If we consider that all developers in Malaysia cannot deliver more than 160,000 homes a year (based on Rehda statistics), how can the government or agencies promise 500,000, 600,000 or 700,000 units?” he questioned.

Gambero also said that under Budgets 2014, 2015 and 2016, a total of 800,000 homes have been promised, of which less than 25,000 have actually been launched,

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therefore he urged the government to look seriously at this issue in a proactive way.

A GOOD THING TO DO Meanwhile, Andaman Property Management Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Seri Dr Vincent Tiew said PR1MA is a good programme but lacks communication.

“There are projects that are actually built in very prime areas but I think PR1MA lacks communication, of consistently sharing information and creating awareness with the public.”

He highlighted two concerns – the questionable approval of many units in areas with low population and the segregation of allotments in such projects.

He said some PR1MA projects with up to 6,000 units have been approved in areas with a population of less than 20,000, just to meet the numbers. It is also unclear whether or not the bumiputra quota still applies to PR1MA.

“PR1MA is a good thing to do.

But as they moved along, PR1MA suddenly realised that the funds to buy land and build are getting tougher to get, almost impossible.

So they changed the style to joint venture, to deliver the numbers.”

MORE THAN JUST BRICK AND MORTAR PR1MA, responded to the statements made yesterday stressing that it is empowered to plan, develop, build and maintain its developments throughout the country, and that it focuses on delivering “more than just brick and mortar”.

The corporation pointed out that it recognises the demand for market home for

The corporation had also rebutted that as for now, its Members of Corporation (MOC) has approved the construction of a total of 232,807 units from 190 projects.

“That is approximately 97 per cent of our three-year mandate of 240,000 units. Of this 67,435 units are already in various stages of construction and 883 units have been delivered,” PR1MA added.

PR1MA further indicated that it needs to maintain the momentum it has achieved in constructing 500,000 homes for the middleincome group. It also stated that so far, PR1MA had reached significant milestone and will continue to attain its next benchmark.

The corporation added that it has recorded considerable progress despite of being newly established. Additionally, PR1MA regarded that it will remain mindful that there is plenty to be completed to ensure it achieves its mandate.

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TIME

PRECISELY ON COURSE BIG PILOT’S HERITAGE WATCH 55 BIG PILOT’S HERITAGE WATCH 48 For 75 years, the historic Big Pilot’s Watch (52-calibre T.S.C.) was the largest wristwatch ever made at IWC in Schaffhausen. In 2016, IWC Schaffhausen unveils its successor: with an amazing 55-millimetre case diameter, the Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 55 eclipses a record that was set back in 1940. Like its big brother, the Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 48 looks very much like the historic original, but makes a few more concessions to modern ideas of aesthetics and comfort.

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WATCH

B I G. CO M P A C T. A U T H E N T I C. Anyone with a Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 55 (Ref. IW510401) on his wrist can be sure of one thing: making an impression.

IWC’s engineers took their cue from the original design and size of 1940 and brought the Big Pilot’s Watch back to life.

Except this time it is in titanium. The lighter material is a nod to modern-day possibilities: weighing less than 150 grams, the watch is not quite as heavy on the wrist as the 183 grams of the original in stainless steel. Back then, size meant important advantages. Firstly, it meant that the watch could have as big a movement as possible, guaranteeing the precision required for navigation or observer’s watches.

Secondly, a large dial was better able to accommodate clear numerals and offered much greater legibility. Back in those days, the dial design was very much based on historic cockpit instruments. Anything not absolutely necessary was abandoned to ensure that important information could be read off quickly and easily, even in poor visibility. The dial was matte black, and IWC’s watchmakers had coated the big Arabic numerals and indices showing the minutes with a thick layer of beige-coloured radium. The health hazard posed by radioactive luminescent coatings was only recognized years later, at which point radium was replaced by harmless materials. The current Super LumiNova®* coating guarantees excellent legibility. As in the original, the chapter ring, Arabic numerals and propeller- like hands are beige.

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FRICTION CLUTCH PROTECT S HAN D - W O U N D C AL I B R E A G A INS T O V E R W IN D IN G As is usual in an observer’s watch, the titanium case is sandblasted to eliminate reflections that might be detrimental to the watch’s legibility or betray the wearer’s position to the enemy. The watch movement itself is protected against magnetic fields by a soft-iron inner case. The cone-shaped crown is a reminder of those early days of flying, when pilots in their unheated cockpits were forced to wear thick gloves. Back then, the crown needed to be unusually large and chunky to make setting and winding the watch possible even with gloves. And today, as in the past, the crown makes the daily ritual of winding the watch by hand a very special experience. With such a large crown, it would be easy to overwind and damage the mechanism, which for safety’s sake is equipped with a friction clutch to prevent this from happening. The IWC hand-wound 98300 calibre features an elongated index for simple and precise setting of the active length of the spring, a highly effective shock absorption system and a 46-hour power reserve. The case back has been kept decidedly simple: the numbering from 01/100 to 100 /100 is an unmistakable sign of this great watch’s exclusiveness. The Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 55 is limited to 100 pieces and available exclusively from selected IWC boutiques all over the world.

BIG PILOT’S HERITAGE WATCH 48 WI TH 8 - D A Y M O V E M E NT The Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 48 (Ref. IW510301) makes more concessions to modern-day aesthetics and concepts of comfort.

And that, of course, begins with its size. On the wrist, the 48-millimetre case is particularly impressive and is guaranteed to attract inquisitive glances at the office or the dinner table. The watch is suited to everyday use thanks primarily to its light titanium, which reduces its weight to 120 grams. The IWC hand-wound 59215 calibre gives the owner the convenience of a 192-hour power reserve that guarantees accurate running for 8 days before it automatically stops. Just how much energy remains can be seen on the power reserve display visible through a small aperture covered by sapphire glass on the back of the watch. Despite the aperture, this Pilot’s Watch also has a soft-iron inner case that guides magnetic fields safely around the movement.

The 48 Heritage Watch likewise features a friction clutch against overwinding and is sup- plied with a riveted calfskin strap.

OB SE R V E R ‘ S W A T C H E S ONC E C A M E WI TH S E P A R A TE D O W N - T O TH E – S E C O N D AC C U R AC Y Using an observer’s watch back in the 1940s called for a chronometer with down-to-the-second accuracy and a secure grasp of astronomy-based navigation up” time was a complex business. Prior to take- off, the flight commander would set his observer’s watch by a fixed chronometer in the flight preparation centre; this was set using a time signal on the radio, which in turn took the time from a central seconds pendulum clock.

On board the aircraft, the Pilot’s Watches were thus the most precise. The navigator held the octant and was connected to the wearer of the observer’s watch, the flight commander, by radio.

When the observer had set the sights of the octant so that they were in line with the star or sun, he would call out “Attention, zero!” and switch on his octant. On hearing the keyword “zero”, the wearer of the observer’s watch would read off the precise time. The exact course could then be calculated using a set of special tables.

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HOT TOPIC

USING FENG SHUI TO FIND YOUR FIRST PROPERTY

By Twosmiths & Company

A talk with feng shui consultant Henry Fong shows that there is more to the ancient Chinese practice than just furniture arranging.

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Why Should Feng Shui Be Used To Find Property?

How Would It Benefit The Buyer?

Feng Shui is a Chinese metaphysical science that enables one to live in harmonious relationship with the surrounding environment and Earth’s cosmic energy. It is about achieving balance between positive and negative energies, and looks at improving one’s luck by manipulating the surrounding of the places where he or she spends most of their time – and for most people, this includes the house and office.

Property hunting with feng shui in mind prompts the homeowner to study the effects of a property, such as its facing direction, internal layout and the surrounding area. When done right, the principles of feng shui can be used essentially to improve luck, which typically includes career, wealth, relationship, health and even travel luck.

What Are The Major Feng Shui Factors One Should Look Out For When Buying Their First Property?

Whenever and wherever possible, one should select a property with house facing directions that are beneficial to the breadwinner.

Explained as the direction that allows in the most cosmic and environmental energies, using the house facing direction is one of the more effective ways to influence one’s destiny and luck. It works by bringing or exposing us to our beneficial energies or “useful gods” that can help smooth out or enhance our destiny potential and luck.

Special mention is given to non-grounded properties and floor levels.

Feng shui does not encourage one to live very high up, such as on top of a mountain, because it exposes the occupant to certain elements, especially wind (gentle wind is favourable, strong wind is not). Living on the higher floors of an apartment follows the same concept, which is

why lower floors are preferred. For those living or choosing to live in high floors, you need to manage the wind-flow in the house with the use of screens to slow down and ensure a smooth energy flow.

It would also be useful to know the background information and history of the property, such as when the property was built, when a renovation was carried out, when did the last occupant move in and out. These are important as they are often used to determine the Period of the house, which in turn can help you determine the property’s auspicious quality.

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HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF HOW THAT WORKS: Any house completed and occupied after the 4th Feb 2004 but before the 3rd Feb 2024 (a span of 20 years) is known as a Period 8 house. Any house completed in the preceding 20 years is known as a Period 7 house, while those completed in the 20 years from 2024 would be known as a Period 9 house.

In the current wave of period 8, properties that face SW1, NE1, NW2, NW3, SE2 & SE3 are known as ‘Wang Shan Wang Shui’ (Prosper Mountain Prosper Water) houses. Such properties are auspicious for relationships and health, as well as for career and wealth. The facing side of such properties should ideally face water (e.g. a real lake, or pseudo open area like playground), while the sitting side should face a mountain (e.g. real hill or pseudo taller building). Both of these attributes should not be reversed, as in mountain at the facing and water as the sitting, or else the auspicious quality of the house is degraded.

Moving on, properties that face N2, N3, E2, E3, S1 and W1 are know as ‘Wang Shan Bu Wang Shui’ (Prosper Mountain But Not Prosper Water) houses. These properties are auspicious for relationships and health, but do not give wealth and career luck a boost.

As for Period 8 houses that face NW1, SE1, SW2, SW3, NE2 and NE3, they are known as ‘Shang Shan Xia Shui’ (Prosper Neither).

These houses do not give career, wealth, relationships or health luck a boost. In other periods, such houses may be considered unlucky but in period 8 such house also inherit other positive patterns known as Combination of 3 and Continuous Bead Patterns, thus balancing the auspicious quality of the property.

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Does Feng Shui Only Apply To The Property Itself, Or Are External And Surrounding Factors Also Important?

Both the internal layout and exterior factors are important. However, since the big influences the small, the surrounding landform and structures are in a way more important and have greater importance than the propertys internal layout. And in turn, the house layout has a greater significance than the room layout.

Is It Possible To Renovate Away Bad Feng Shui?

Assuming that the external landform and structure are already good to begin with, it is possible to renovate a property in order to have good feng shui. However, do note that this could be a costly affair. Take for example a house that does not have a favourable shape. Renovating said property to a favourable shape can be prohibitive. Or, perhaps the layout is not optimal and you need to swap the kitchen with another room, relocate the door, and so on – these would all involve certain amount of costs.

If there are sha qi from structures that generate killing energy, it is possible to block them in some cases. But if it is the landform that is not favourable, then there is honestly nothing much one can do.

Can you share with us the significance and some examples of moving in rituals?

In feng shui, the move-in date and time are important as it is believed to enhance the auspiciousness of the house. A practitioner will usually use a combination of date selection methods to find an auspicious date for the move-in while ensuring that the date do not clash with the animal sign of members of the family.

The moving procedure differs between practitioners, and for me, there are three things that a homeowner should do to signify the start and completion of the move-in. First, he or she should start the move-in at the selected auspicious date and time. Second, a meal and beverages must be cooked and prepared in the new property – a simple one would do. And third, he must sleep over at the new house.

Doing all these would complete a successful move in.

Henry Fong is a feng shui consultant based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He offers professional feng shui consulting services for residential and commercial properties, and can be contacted through email (henry@henryfong.com) or via his official website (http://henryfong.com/) and Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/foongshway). www.PropertyHunter.com.my

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IT’S HARDER TO BE A HOUSING DEVELOPER IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

By Chris Tan

Property development has captured the imagination of Malaysian businesses across the board in the last decade.

Almost every sizeable company has a property division and almost all businesses with extra cash and land bank are venturing into property development

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Even landowners without capital are joint-venturing with developers to ensure that they have a bite on this seemingly expanding yet lucrative piece of cake. One may see companies relocating their operations or headquarters from the very prime land which they were sitting on to start their claim as a property developer. To further maximize the return on land and matched with the preferred lifestyle living in urban Malaysia now, the strata format has gained momentum. Not to mention that the current market trend is to move out from parents’ home after financial independence and every nuclear family is seeking its private living space.

the redemption sum owed to its bridging financier if the amount of redemption sum is more than 35% of the purchase price before the purchaser makes payment in excess of 50% of the purchase price. The purchaser need not make any further payment until the developer complies with the same.

The stipulated manner of delivery of vacant possession in Schedule H is now conditional upon the separate strata title has been issued by the authority. Nonetheless, the developer may apply for certification from the Controller before delivery of keys to the purchaser in the event that the strata title is not issued yet - provided always that such non-issuance of strata title is not attributable to the developer’s fault.

With the effective implementation of the Housing Development (Control and Licensing) (Amendment) Act 2012 (“HDAA”), Strata Titles (Amendment) Act 2013 and Strata Management Act 2013 (both “Strata regime”) on 1st It is also a requirement now June 2015, the rules of the game have now changed for under the Strata Regime to file the developers in Peninsular the Schedule of Parcels prior Malaysia and the barrier of entry has never been higher. to the developer selling any Previously, a housing developer has to deposit RM200,000 with the Controller of Housing (“Controller”) as a requirement for the developer license and it is now increased to 3% of estimated cost of construction minus land cost. The estimation nature of this basis would also open up a floodgate of consultation until amicable agreement.

parcel or proposed parcel in the development area which in effect restricts the developer from making any adjustment to the proposed quantum of provisional share units for its later phase development. The mere act of filing is simple but the upfront commitment in limiting the commercial gain is painful to developers.

It is also a requirement now under the Strata Regime to file the Schedule of Parcels prior to the developer selling any parcel or proposed parcel in the development area which in effect restricts the developer from making any adjustment to the proposed quantum of provisional share units for its later phase development. The mere act of filing is simple but the upfront commitment in limiting the commercial gain is painful to developers.

There are also notable amendments to the prescribed sale and purchase agreement under HDAA 2012, especially Schedule H that facilitates the strata residential development.

Under the new Schedule H that’s to be used for housing projects with advertising permit and development license issued after 1 June 2015, the developer has to settle

The previous 14 days deeming provision for delivery of vacant possession is now 30 days from the date of service of notice, effectively cutting the construction period to 35 months.

The amendment in the schedule of payment postpones 5% of the purchase price to be paid to the developer from previously during construction stage to the date of taking vacant possession by the purchaser.

There are also now improved statutory termination and abandonment provisions under the HDAA 2012 that provides for situation where the purchaser may terminate the sale and purchase agreement upon the housing developer ceases or refuses to work for a continuous period of 6 months and the housing developer upon conviction, shall be liable for a fine ranging from RM250,000 to RM500,000 or a maximum 3 years imprisonment or both.

Homeownership is the undisputed agenda of the day.

While the Government is still playing catching-up in its efforts to provide affordable housing, a regulated regime in private housing development is the better way to go now. The significance of raising the bar will phase out smaller and “fashionable” developers out of the housing development system while ensuring that serious players to deliver on their promise under a much regulated regime.

Indirectly, homebuyer protection in Peninsular Malaysia has now moved up a few notches.

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HOT TOPIC

BRIGHT FUTURE OF KOTA KINABALU

By Property Hunter

Kota Kinabalu, the capital of this beautiful state of Sabah, where modernity and remnants of the good old days coexist side-byside, giving the city its undeniable charm. The coastal city is superb, offering paradise beaches and islands and lush rainforests with the majestic Mount Kinabalu seemingly a grab away. A fast growing city with warm hospitality and a major gateway into the tourism of Sabah – “KK” as we fondly call her is also one of the most thriving industrial and commercial centres in Borneo.

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By virtue of this, it isn’t surprising that Kota Kinabalu was chosen as one of the catalyst cities in the 11th Malaysian Plan last year, to boost the country’s economy towards the last leg of vision 2020.

The city landscape is already changing immensely, with infrastructure improvement plans and many large-scale developments added (and on its way) to the recently fantastic structures such as the Gleneagles Hospital and the newly opened Plaza Shell, setting the standard to the city scene.

The Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), Malaysia’s second largest airport, has already seen tremendous revival, after the move of Terminal 2 into KKIA (previously Terminal 1). Businesses at the airport and immigration counters have been busier than it’s ever been, and according to CAPA (Centre of Aviation), Kota Kinabalu is quietly emerging as an international hub. CAPA also said that Malaysia Airlines is opening a base here in KK in April, which is expected to lead nearly 30% traffic growth.

DEVELOPMENTS THAT WILL CHANGE THE CITY LANDSCAPE Currently, development of the waterfront, where the landmark begins with the Oceanus Mall and ends with the International Convention Centre is carefully attended to by the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA).

One of the most anticipated projects on this stretch has to be Jesselton Quay (previously called the Jesselton Waterfront Development). The scale of this project is comparable to that of the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and will house the new Sabah Convention Centre, which is currently under construction and a proposed International Cruise Terminal that will become the base port for cruise liners coming into KK. A mixed development of high-end residential properties, combined with retail lots and office towers and hotels will line the perimeter of the city coastline, and will be a beautiful sight to behold from boats and ships arriving into KK as this port will be the second entry point for tourists coming into the state.

Moving down towards the Tanjung Aru-Kepayan exit is the the Aeropod – another mixed commercial development and future transport hub for KK. This 60-acre development project which sits directly opposite the international airport will comprise of 40-acres of residential and commercial property and 20-acres to be an open/ public space. One third of the land will be dedicated to an improved railway system network with an upper concourse designed for a future LRT that has a similar line as the railway system.

Aeropod Deputy General Manager, Chan Tah Seong said that they are riding on the fact that the current railway station is already a tourist spot and that they will facilitate the growth using the railway station as a landmark and the integrated development project [Daily Express].

There is no point in building high, innovative structures if it’s a hindrance for many to get to.

Heading further towards the outskirts of KK, is the International Technology and Commercial Centre (ITCC), which will pump the Penampang district into a vibrant town. The ITCC is envisioned to be the technology hub of Sabah, and according to its website – “a www.PropertyHunter.com.my

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HOT TOPIC catalyst to spur the creative macro and micro economy in Penampang, propelling Sabah into an innovation-led economy”.

This state-of-the-art complex will not only enhance the commercial activity along Jalan Penampang, but it also has adequate facilities to house incubators and academies to create entrepreneurs in the tech field and pique interest from global investment.

IMPROVING MOBILITY One of the many factors that have contributed to the urbanisation of Sabah’s towns is its network of roads. Kota Kinabalu is the beneficiary of this progress with all roads leading into the city, with experts saying that the key factor for KK to leap into modern status is its transportation network.

In last year’s announcement for budget 2016, the government has pledged to allocate RM 1 billion for a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line for Kota Kinabalu. It makes sense, considering that the bus system is the most used public transport in the city. Despite its shortcomings, the bus system has still managed to play its intended role as a transport provider. Having an efficient BRT will not only benefit those working in and around KK, but will also be very convenient for the growing number of tourists coming into Sabah.

The new BRT system, along with the improved railway train system and the proposed LRT station at Aeropod will tremendously ease traffic flow and the amount of cars increasing every day. It will also improve the way people move around, fuelling progress and it is hoped that these upgrades and improvements will open doors for economic growth.

MORE WORLD-CLASS TOURIST SPOTS Sabah is known for many attractions – islands and beaches offering beautiful sunsets and spectacular dive spots, primary rainforests with diverse wildlife, and of course the majestic Mount Kinabalu among many other things.

Many attractions here are still considered underdeveloped, but most of them have great potential to become big attractions for tourists.

Gaya Island, just minutes away from KK by boat might be known for its five star resorts – currently there are three operating there – yet, it’s still a little rough around the edges because of squatter villages.

However, there is a plan underway to redevelop ‘Pulau Gaya’ into a premier tourism spot by the State Government.

DAP Kota Kinabalu MP, Jimmy Wong Tze Phin believes that the development of Pulau Gaya would resolve the many existing problems such as excessive rubbish along the waters by relocating the village settlers.

However, Sabah Park Chairman, Tengku Datuk Zainal Abidin Tengku Mahmood said that only one-tenth of the island’s area was allowed to be developed due to Gaya’s rich biodiversity. An expedition recently discovered that there is much more on Pulau Gaya than expected.

Much biodiversity, like the existence of proboscis monkeys were found, and Gaya’s relatively untouched rainforest is also important.

Kokol Hill, is another potentially viable tourist spot with already a few resorts unassumingly taking precedence there. Kokol Hill is less than an hour drive away from the city, but it also offers panoramic views of KK on the west and a view of Mount Kinabalu on the east and has amazing sunsets. Herein also lies a place where the temperature is consistently cool.

The State Government’s plan for Kokol Hill is to turn it into an ecofriendly locale, with home stays, boutiques, chalets and cafes adopting green approaches. Also, there are plans to build an observation deck with a canopy walk and a designated area for selling local products such as fruits and flowers.

Many attractions here are still considered underdeveloped, but most of them have great potential to become big attractions for tourists.

AN ECO-FRIENDLY CITY The state government wants to turn Sabah into a green state with aggressive policies to promote green energy, eco-tourism and sustainable living among the people. The Green City Project and the Kota Kinabalu Coastal Pedestrian Walkway & Cycleway are two projects that will pave the way and cultivate this vision in KK and promote it as a “Nature Resort City”.

The Green City project hopes to upgrade and build new landscape

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areas within the city and to enhance KK’s green linkages and beautify the city and to upgrade living conditions and niches of the city.

Kota Kinabalu Coastal Pedestrian Walkway & Cycleway will stretch at a distance of 25.6km from the University Malaysia Sabah up until the seaside town of Tanjung Aru, passing through the CBD and heritage sites like the Australian Place and Atkinson Tower. Built in four phases, the 1st phase has already been completed and has been in use since 2014. Pedestrians and cyclists can walk and cycle together along this trail while enjoying the scenic coastline.

BUILDING THE FUTURE BY PRESERVING THE PAST While new city development is always a good sign of progress, perhaps the government and local developers could also look into reusing old structures and giving new life into them to preserve the past of KK, hence keeping its charm.

A suggestion and idea would be to revive some brownfield buildings like the warehouses along Tanjung Lipat into an art’s and cultural space – with an international art gallery, artisan stores, prime restaurants and bars, and perhaps a cinema playing art-house movies, just like the L’Entrepôt in Paris, or another example would be the old converted warehouses at Clarke Quay, Singapore where it is now an attractive food and entertainment hub.

Another suggestion, is to turn the old British Colonial Heritage building that was destroyed by the fire across Suria Sabah into a city centre park. By keeping the destroyed structure, it can be beautified by placing plants and benches everywhere, giving the public a sanctuary within the city to sit and relax.

This would be a great addition to the government’s “Green City Project” and renew its current dire state and a good way to remember and celebrate the city’s past.

THE KEY FACTOR FOR PROGRESS One of the major key factors to support all this development is the public transportation. The authorities need to give utmost priority towards the upgrading and providing a better transportation system or it won’t take too long before the CBD turns into a traffic congested hub. There is no point in building high, innovative structures if it’s a hindrance for many to get to. This in turn could have an opposite affect on growth and make KK lose its charm and attraction.

It is imperative to put an efficient public transport system in place, not only to reduce the number of vehicles on the road, but also stimulate productivity of people going to work every day. Sabah is also currently facing rapid economic development, which will make it an exciting and vibrant place for foreigners and with a good transport system, will help boost KK’s attraction and viability into a ‘liveable’ city, in-line with the 11th Malaysian Plan towards 2020. www.PropertyHunter.com.my

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LIFESTYLE

MALAYSIA AIRLINES ROLLS OUT NEW A330 BUSINESS CLASS SEATS Sepang, 3 November 2015: Malaysia Airlines yesterday, unveiled its new A330-300 Business Class seats at the World Travel Market in London. The new seats, which will be introduced in April 2016, will see all 15 A330-300 aircrafts fitted with the new configuration by September 2016.

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he business class seat pitch, which measures at 43 inches with a width of 20.6 inches and length of 76 inches (fully flat), is one of the best received business class seats in the industry. The seats come with increased working space with 90% of all seats having direct aisle access due to the 1-2-1 and 1-2-2 seat layout, with extra stowage space for personal items. Each seat is equipped with a Panasonic 16-inch touch screen inflight entertainment system. Every aspect of the new product has been carefully designed with the passenger’s comfort and needs in mind.

Malaysia Airlines Group Chief Executive Officer Christoph Mueller said, “We are very excited to be introducing this latest product from Malaysia Airlines. The new seats and configuration have been designed to give a superb space for work, play or sleep. All of our A330 business class seats will now feature fully flat beds allowing our guests the ultimate in comfort and versatility”.

He added, “This product will make us more competitive against other full-service carriers and is part of the airline’s push to be more customer centric, offering new, personalized and innovative products.”

Malaysia Airlines A330-300 has 27 Business Class seats and 263 Economy Class seats.

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HOSTEL BUILDING IS UNSAFE FOR STUDENTS

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building should be built immediately to meet the rising number of students in the future.

He advised the students who live in the hostel to remain vigilant and jointly maintain the old building.

Ellron who is also the Sook assemblyman, understood that the site of the new building is already provided, including the dining hall and kitchen and space for learning.

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The hostel building of Tulid Secondary School in Sook is unsafe and uncomfortable for students to live in, said Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Ellron Alfred Angin as reported by The Borneo Post.

According to Ellron, the building is already obsolete and he suggested that a new

“While waiting for the new building to replace this building, I asked that the building be repaired so that it is more comfortable.

“During the visit to the building, I saw all the equipment including beds, mattresses and pillows are obsolete and cannot be used by more than 300 students living in the hostel,” he said.

NEW LANDMARK IN PENAMPANG READY BY END 2016

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The RM500 million ITCC Penampang which will be the new landmark that will change the face of the district will be completed soon by the end of this year, reported The Borneo Post.

ITCC Penampang is one of the EPP projects listed under the Sabah Development Corridor

The water level was around two feet high but no residents were evacuated.

According to the Beluru District Office, the 28-door Long Teran Batu longhouse has 230 residents, 50-door Long Teran Kiri has 230 residents, Long Luyang has 129 families with 1,000 residents, while the 200-door Long Jegan has 1,590 residents.

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He believes most of the students who live in the hostel are from a distant village and their parents cannot afford to bear the expenses of paying transport fare to send their children to school.

Earlier, Ellron was briefed on the hostel by the principal of the school, Rutil Taisang

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(SDC) and comprises four main components – mainly the shopping mall, office tower banquet hall, hotel block and condominium.

The construction began four years ago and the developer is targeting to complete the first phase – the shopping mall, by the second quarter of this year, said General Manager of Sabanilam Enterprise (developer) Mr. Ceasar Mandela Malakun.

Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau expressed gratitude to Datuk Seri Panglima Clarence Bongkos Malakun and family for being innovative.

FLOOD CONTINUES TO HIT SARAWAK – 3 LONGHOUSES AFFECTED Three Upper Tinjar basin longhouses were hit by flood on Monday, January 11, The Borneo Post reported.

Ellron also asked the District Education Officer here to look into his call to build a new hostel for the students.

“This is what we want and this is exactly what innovation can do. I will look at what the ministry can facilitate to make sure that the vision of this company to turn this venue into an international information technology centre will be realized,” he said.

“This centre is interesting to my ministry because we have been entrusted to commercialise innovative products or alternative technologies,” he added.

ITCC is targeted to be fully completed by the end of this year. Issuance of OC for the first phase is expected to be obtained in the second quarter and the second phase by the end of the year.

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The flooding occurred after continuous rainfall on Saturday and Sunday morning.

Marudi Fire and Rescue Department officers and personnel have been monitoring the situation along with administrative officer Reagan Edwin from the Marudi District Disaster Relief Committee.

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Since early January this year, Sarawak has been hit with severe amount of heavy rain fall causing several districts including Kuching affected by the flood.

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The school entrance Aerial view of ITCC Penampang Since early January this year, Sarawak has been hit with severe amount of heavy rain fall causing several districts including Kuching affected by the flood.

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By Charles Tan

www.kopiandproperty.com

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How long can ‘a good time’ last?

I don’t personally believe that any bank would reject a home loan application if the buyer qualifies for it. However, buyers these days also have to accept and deal with the responsibility for having it rejected. This is especially true if they have maxed out their credit cards right before applying for their first mortgage. Secondly, many of these buyers are also unwilling to buy at distant areas because everyone wants to buy a condo in an area where everyone wants to buy. FYI, my first home was just a 700 sq. ft. apartment in Relau, an area considered unpopular or disconcerting.

In an article in The Star, The Association of Banks in Malaysia (ABM) says that first-time home buyers who are eligible will continue to be able to obtain financing. In fact, it reiterated one major reason why loans may be rejected; buyers must ensure that they buy based on their financial circumstances or affordability. It said, “The business of our member banks is in the main lending or extending credit. There is no intention whatsoever to make lending more difficult, particularly for first-time home buyers.” It has had to defend its members because of the many fingers

from different parties pointing at them as the major cause why many buyers were unable to obtain loans for their first property. ABM further pointed out that most of the time, if it’s for first-time home buyers, the banks would usually lend up to 90 percent of the property price.

Aside from new property launches, there are also secondary choices. And besides these, there are also the state and federal government affordable home schemes.

Sometimes, the distance may be a little far or the area is not the most popular but it is best to take a long term view when we are thinking about affordability.

Truth is, even for popular areas, the properties were once affordable. Who knows, perhaps in the near future, the centre of the ‘popularity’ may shift? Just look at those huge integrated developments which the developers tout as ‘city within a city.’ Of course, we can always buy the developments NEXT to these for a more affordable tag if we think the integrated ones are way too expensive. Always choose and decide objectively.

Is it a good time to buy Malaysian property right now? Let’s discuss this funny term, ‘good time.’ I’m not so sure if anyone really likes to describe the current volatile stock market, the dropping Ringgit, as well as the falling property market in terms of transactions, as ‘a good time.’

Seriously though, my friends who have a few properties are still buying or viewing properties as we speak. Last year, I didn’t buy any property but I have ‘poured’ some money into the stock market. Yes, ‘poured’ because I have never put in so much money in the stock market before. Well, we’ll just have to wait.

But coming back to the topic, ‘a good time.’ Every strategist or entrepreneur would tell you that it is when there are threats, there are opportunities. If there aren’t any threats, the companies on top would always be top and new companies would never emerge. Therefore, life would be so boring, right?

Well, there’s a saying that goes, ‘one man’s meat is another man’s poison.’ This applies in everything, especially in property investment. I just go to know about another investor friend who does exactly the opposite of what I have been doing. From him, I learnt that perhaps landed property should also be considered as there are many opportunities. From me, he understood why all my purchases has been high-rise and he is thinking of starting with his first high-rise soon. Both of us agreed that during times of slowdown, it is ‘a good time’ for

those who are ready. Ready to take calculated risks. Remember, no one knows how long this slowdown could last. That’s why it has to be a calculated risk because we may be wrong!

I seldom believe those analysts who say that after 10-12 years of good times, a crisis should happen for everything to clean itself and restart for higher growth. I only believe that we should always buy undervalued, whether its property, stocks and even a new pair of leather shoes. It was definitely ‘a good time’ during the 1998 crisis especially for those who bought stocks when the index was lower than a water well. Well, everyone seems to have forgotten that it’s a well…… so, when the recovery started, those who bought during that bad period had ‘a good time.’

Stop asking developers to build cheaper homes. Stop asking agents if the house you are viewing is worth buying.

It’s even funnier to ask your stock broker if the market is low enough to enter. Truth is, none of them would be able to give you an answer. You should just trust your gut feeling and do what feels right at the time.

Perhaps the best question to ask ourselves is, ‘Is this a good time for me, since it’s considered a bad time for many?’. Whatever answer you have should guide your actions for the next few months or longer or even forever.

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FEATURE EVENT

M101 SKYWHEEL REDEFINING THE KUALA LUMPUR SKYLINE Premiering the First Iconic Design Project in Malaysia

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UALA LUMPUR, 21 January 2016 – M101 Holdings Sdn. Bhd. (M101), Meridian 101 degree named after Malaysia’s coordinates in 2012 is innovating the real estate landscape in Kuala Lumpur by revealing their latest design project M101 SkyWheel on January 21.

Founded by Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Seth Yap Ting Hau and Yang Berbahagia Datuk Chua Eng Pu, M101 conceptualized “Metropolitan Living” encouraging foreigners to invest in Malaysia partnered with the renowned Studio F. A. Porsche. The European design studio will develop interior design spaces as well as exclusive private suites and a facade theme for the unique building.

M101 SkyWheel, a two tower state-of-the-art complex will house the highest Ferris-wheel in South East Asia. The cabin interior of the Ferris-wheel will also be designed by Studio F. A. Porsche, known for its distinctive, timeless and unmistakeable signature design since its foundation in 1972.

The Ferris-wheel will be located on the 52nd floor and at its highest vantage point, it will provide a view from 220m above ground.

M101 SkyWheel features the world’s highest shopping experience with a SkyMall that extends from 48th to 52nd level. With over 200,000 sqft of retail space, this exclusive Mall will give guests from around the world a unique experience while enjoying the Kuala Lumpur skyline.

“Malaysia is recognized as an important market for safe and stable investments as well as an emerging economy with world-class infrastructure.

Partnering with Studio F. A. Porsche, one of Europe’s leading design studios, will further help to position Kuala Lumpur to become a world-class city by 2020,”

“Investment in retail property remains strong and M101 believes that it’s not enough to just build. Instead, the part played by developers and planners is crucial in realising the full potential of the real estate sector and its part in economic and social development for Malaysia,” said Dato’ Seth Yap Ting Hau. “Malaysia is recognized as an important market for safe and stable investments as well as an emerging economy with worldclass infrastructure. Partnering with Studio F. A. Porsche, one of Europe’s leading design studios, will further help to position Kuala Lumpur to become a world-class city by 2020,” Datuk Chua Eng Pu elaborated.

With a sense of powerful vision M101 SkyWheel is a true engineering feat masterpiece, a ‘all-in-one’ integrated commercial and retail development. It encompasses the famous Planet Hollywood Hotel, impressive retail space and Culinary Heaven with lifestyle amenities as well as an award winning landscape designed by Lim In Chong (Inch) from Inchscape Sdn Bhd and Veritas, a reputable multi-award winning architectural firm with a gross development value estimated at RM1.4Billion.

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With Studio F. A. Porsche’s unmistakeable nature of work for more than forty years, the company is widely regarded for its puristic interpretation of luxury and for its philosophy that design is not simply decoration: it is a “harmony of aesthetics and function”.

“We are truly excited to take a creative part in this landmark project. Thanks to the visionary approach of M101, our studio’s design language will be a wonderful match. The project is run through our Studio`s South-East Asian branch office, a big benefit because it is literally around the corner. We are proud to be able to contribute to the appeal of this great city”, commented Roland Heiler, Managing Director Studio F. A. Porsche.

M101 SkyWheel will continue what the Petronas Twin Towers have started and further elevate Kuala Lumpur as a must-see destination. It will give Malaysia a symbol to further increase tourism and boost economic growth.

“That’s the beauty of M101 SkyWheel, it’s for the public with easy access, a great location in the heart of Kuala Lumpur”, Chua further explained.

“That’s the beauty of M101 SkyWheel, it’s for the public with easy access, a great location in the heart of Kuala Lumpur”

M101 brand has already launched two projects, namely M101 Dang Wangi and M101 Bukit Bintang, which will be completed by June 2017. M101 SkyWheel is the flagship project under the M101 brand, making it the third and largest project grossing RM1.4Billion in Gross Development Value.

The company plans to launch a total of ten projects under the M101 brand around Kuala Lumpur by the end of 2018 with a combined total of RM4 billion Gross Development Value which will truly redefine the skyline of Kuala Lumpur.

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Previous Page 1. M101 SkyWheel (04): A scale model of the officially launched M101 SkyWheel

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Current Page 2. M101 SkyWheel (02): (From left) Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Seth Yap Ting Hau, Founder and Executive Director, M101 Holdings Sdn. Bhd.; Frank Angelkötter, Chief Financial Officer, Studio F. A. Porsche; Yang Berbahagia Datuk Chua Eng Pu, Founder and Executive Director, M101 Holdings Sdn. Bhd.; Tobias Huettl, Studio Manager (Singapore), Studio F. A. Porsche, and Roland Heiler, Managing Director, Studio F. A. Porsche.

M101 SkyWheel (01): Official launch of the M101 SkyWheel (From left) Yang Berbahagia Datuk Chua Eng Pu, Founder and Executive Director, M101 Holdings Sdn. Bhd.; Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Seth Yap Ting Hau, Founder and Executive Director, M101 Holdings Sdn. Bhd.; Frank Angelkötter, Chief Financial Officer, Studio F. A. Porsche and Roland Heiler, Managing Director, Studio F. A. Porsche.

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M101 SkyWheel (05): A closer look of the scale model of the M101 SkyWheel

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NEWS

INSURANCE FOR LONGHOUSES PROPOSED

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the damage, which they can use to rebuild their longhouses.

Though the government usually would provide assistance to rebuild their longhouses and provide immediate assistance, he said there was a limit to how much and how far it could help.

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Telang Usan assemblyman, Dennis Ngau has proposed that all longhouses in Sarawak should have insurance coverage, as reported

by The Borneo Post.

He made this suggestion when visiting fire victims in Long Anyat in the interior of Baram on Monday, saying the insurance would be a cover against fire and natural disasters.

According to Dennis, most of the people living in the area are poor and depend on their farm, jungle and river for living and have no proper income. Should there be any unpredictable disasters occur to their home, at least with the insurance coverage they could have receive some compensation for

He also noted that sometimes it took quite some time for the victims to repair and rebuild their longhouses due to insufficient funds.

Nevertheless, he understood the worries and constraints of insurance companies in giving longhouses insurance coverage.

“They don’t want to take any risk if they do not meet the criteria.

Most of the design and material used don’t really meet the criteria,” he added.

coverage scheme for longhouses, considering the devastating impact caused by fire in rural and remote areas in Baram and other parts of the state.

Acknowledging that most rural communities did not know much about firefighting, he urged the Fire and Rescue Department to provide them with proper training on fire fighting and give them firefighting equipment.

As most rural areas are far from the Fire and Rescue station, he proposed that longhouses and villages set up their own volunteer fire fighting squad to be first responders during fire incidents.

Dennis was accompanied by Miri Welfare Department officer Joseph Lau and headman Johnny Belong.

As such, he urged the government through the Ministry of Housing and Housing Commission to come up with an insurance

GOODS PRICE INCREASED UP TO 50% BECAUSE OF CHINESE NEW YEAR have limited disposable income for the coming festive season.

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With the Chinese New Year celebration coming this February 8, employers and consumers are beginning to feel the financial pressure, reported The Borneo Post.

For starters, all imported Chinese New Year goods, such as Chinese sausages, preserved duck, canned and dried mushrooms are 30 to 50 per cent more expensive.

According to Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Indusrty (KKCCCI) President Datuk Michael Lui Yen Sang, parents would feel the pressure to scrap enough money to buy Chinese New Year goods, especially when schools just reopened not long ago on January 4.

He said parents who had to deal with their household burden, new academic year and assessment tax at the start of the year would

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“Traditionally, we will be feeling the Chinese New Year atmosphere two weeks before. But I think the market will be quieter now,” he said when contacted by The Borneo Post yesterday.

Similarly, Lui said employers also felt the pressure to disburse bonus for their employees so the latter could buy Chinese New Year goods, and the situation was far from favourable.

He said employers would normally award their employees the same amount of bonus as per the year before, but many employers were in trouble themselves and might have to drastically reduce their employees’ bonus.

“Some companies are also showing the telltale signs of impending closure,” he added.

Lui also said that many sectors were facing the risk of closure because of the huge pressure, including government policies.

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For instance, he said business operators in Penampang had to start paying a fee for second signboard affixed to their premises this year, which he estimated to be around RM7 per square foot.

Even Lui’s trading house, Syarikat Lui Kim Chock Sdn Bhd, which distributes consumer goods, is seeing less order for hampers by corporate bodies to be given out to their clients and business partners this year.

He said the current situation was caused by the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), depreciation of the Malaysian ringgit and weak commodity prices.

Asked what the government could do to alleviate consumers’ burden, Lui hoped that the State Government could emulate the Selangor state in exempting low-income households and residents of low-cost housing from assessment tax this year, which would benefit not only the Chinese community, but also other races as well.

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One of the longhouses in Sarawakt All imported Chinese New Year goods, such as Chinese sausages, preserved duck, canned and dried mushrooms are 30 to 50 per cent more expensive, said KKCCCI president Datuk Michael Lui Yen Sang

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CONDOMINIUM FOR SALE

Extracted from PropertyHunter.com.my

*Listing are accurate at the time of print. Kindly contact the respective agents for updates.

For more real estate listings, please visit www.propertyhunter.com.my

90

www.PropertyHunter.com.my

CONDOMINIUM FOR SALE

Extracted from PropertyHunter.com.my

*Listing are accurate at the time of print. Kindly contact the respective agents for updates.

For more real estate listings, please visit www.propertyhunter.com.my www.PropertyHunter.com.my

91

BUNGALOW/VILLA FOR SALE

Extracted from PropertyHunter.com.my

*Listing are accurate at the time of print. Kindly contact the respective agents for updates.

For more real estate listings, please visit www.propertyhunter.com.my

92

www.PropertyHunter.com.my

APARTMENT FOR SALE

Extracted from PropertyHunter.com.my

*Listing are accurate at the time of print. Kindly contact the respective agents for updates.

For more real estate listings, please visit www.propertyhunter.com.my www.PropertyHunter.com.my

93

APARTMENT FOR SALE

Extracted from PropertyHunter.com.my

*Listing are accurate at the time of print. Kindly contact the respective agents for updates.

For more real estate listings, please visit www.propertyhunter.com.my

94

www.PropertyHunter.com.my

APARTMENT FOR SALE

Extracted from PropertyHunter.com.my

*Listing are accurate at the time of print. Kindly contact the respective agents for updates.

For more real estate listings, please visit www.propertyhunter.com.my www.PropertyHunter.com.my

95

APARTMENT FOR SALE

Extracted from PropertyHunter.com.my

SHOP/FACTORY/RETAIL/OFFICE/COMMERCIAL FOR AUCTION

Extracted from PropertyHunter.com.my

VACANT LAND FOR AUCTION

Extracted from PropertyHunter.com.my

*Listing are accurate at the time of print. Kindly contact the respective agents for updates.

For more real estate listings, please visit www.propertyhunter.com.my

96

www.PropertyHunter.com.my

www.PropertyHunter.com.my

97

CONDO/FLAT/APT/TOWNHOUSE/RESORT FOR AUCTION

Extracted from PropertyHunter.com.my

LANDED/CLUSTER FOR AUCTION

Extracted from PropertyHunter.com.my

*Listing are accurate at the time of print. Kindly contact the respective agents for updates.

For more real estate listings, please visit www.propertyhunter.com.my

98

www.PropertyHunter.com.my

www.PropertyHunter.com.my

99

100

www.PropertyHunter.com.my