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06 JUNE 2018 WEDNESDAY
StarPropertyTV
UNITING TO
REBUILD
THE COUNTRY Looking back at the nation’s development for us to move forward. > P04-05
+ The JOURNEY FROM
19572018
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
CHANGES IN STORE FOR PROPERTY SECTOR Review of taxes and mega projects likely to affect the market. > P03
CENTRALLY SUITED FOR CITY LOVERS
MRCB offers easy urban living and connectivity within KL Sentral. > P06
Home & Living: Win the Battle for Space
Overcome space limitations with creative and practical ideas . > P08
02 06 JUNE 2018
STARPROPERTY.MY
Events highlights
MOVING AHEAD ON SOLID GROUND
Video Producer ALAN KHAW Designers Kwong Chee Oon Queeny Yong Nurul Aida Tajudin
Winners of StarProperty. my book on exceptional developments
StarProperty.my Buyers’ Sentiment Survey is back to make your voice heard! Spend six minutes of your time and win one year’s subscription of The Star e-paper. Answer the survey at bit.ly/ BuyersSentimentSurvey2018
Congratulations to the winners of StarProperty.my coffee table book titled “Malaysia’s Most Exceptional Developments 2018/2019”! For full list of the winners, visit bit.ly/ CTB2018winners
Scan to join the contest
MARKETING & SALEs Head of Customer Engagement & Support Ivy Leong 03 7967 1347 ivyleong@thestar.com.my
Marketing Manager Faye Tan fayetan@thestar.com.my
Visit the upcoming property exhibition AEON MALL BANDAR DATO' ONN (Ground Floor, Centre Court) 3 - 8 July 2018 10am - 10pm to explore Stand a chance to win a home! the latest • Win a home worth more than RM550k in PJ Midtown!* housing offerings in the market. Attend talks by prominent speakers to gather essential information on property matters. Go to fair.starproperty.my for more information. * Terms and conditions apply
Property Business Head of Sales JAMES OOI jamesooi@thestar.com.my Acting Head, Sales (Agent Business) Kent Thew 03 7967 1388 (ext 1861) kentthew@thestar.com.my
StarProperty.my fair is back in Johor
StarProperty Real Estate Awards 2018 The StarProperty Real Estate Awards (SREA) 2018 is back! For more information, visit https://bit.ly/srea2018.
StarProperty.my Best@ makes its debut on June 27
Scan to check full list
StarProperty.my’s new series showcases the unique lifestyle and the BEST guide for local and international homebuyers & investors. Stay tuned with us at https://www.facebook.com/ StarProperty.my/
Bumiputra property fair StarProperty.my is organising a Bumiputra property fair comprising a property exhibition, Rumah-rumah Malaysia, games and contests. For more information, visit fair. starproperty.my.
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Content Writers Tharmini Kenas Aisyah Suwardi Ng Pau Ling Hakim Hassan Viktor Chong Irfan Ramlee Abdul Azim Aiman Azman
StarProperty.my Buyers’ Sentiment Survey 2018
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Content Coordinator Tharmini Kenas
StarProperty.my Event Highlights
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Asst Manager, Content & Customer Engagement LEE YAN LI lylee@thestar.com.my
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Editorial editor@starproperty.my
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Assistant General Manager ERNEST TOWLE ernest@thestar.com.my
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StarPropertyTV
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providing the foundation for an even better platform ation-building. A word with huge implications for for the next generation will be more achievable should present and future generations, cutting across By these conditions come together seamlessly. all aspects of life and involving everyone in this Ernest Towle Functional yet affordable real estate with sustainacountry. The result of GE14 on May 9 reflects the collective asble development provides an essential component for topirations of the majority of Malaysians for change and to day’s Malaysia and its future. Proper housing will help home unite to move the nation forward. In some ways, the winds of owners grow their wealth over time to help future generations. change have blown Malaysia into unchartered waters. But the funThe real estate industry, which supports so many other sectors damentals of a developing nation remain. and a plethora of people, affects multiple lives and can potentially Nation-building will involve matters ranging from a modern edutransform them immediately as well as in the long term due to the historic rise in property value. cation system to affordable housing. Needless to say, this will include To the previous government, we thank you. To the new governheavy commitment on infrastructure as well as real estate development, we hope and pray you will guide this country well and take all ment. of us to greater and sustained achievements. For the country to thrive, the government must provide a safe enTo all Malaysians, may we collectively embrace a brave new Mavironment for social improvement, functional infrastructure, access laysia, be resilient to changes in the future and build a stronger nato skills training and opportunities for economic growth. tion together. Living well, or at least better than the generation before, while
AD F M RE IS E SI O N
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AEON MALL SHAH ALAM
26 June - 1 July 10am - 10pm Stand a chance to win a home! • Win a home worth more than in PJ Midtown!*
RM550k
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Forum on post-GE14 real estate market Join the upcoming StarProperty.my forum titled ‘The Real Estate Market Post-GE14: Where are we headed?’ Three highly sought-after speakers will be exploring the effects of post-GE14 on our property market as well as the implications of cancelling the HSR and MRT3 projects. To register, visit starproperty.my/forum
Congrats to winners of Jeryl Lee concert contest Eighteen-year-old Malaysian singer Jeryl Lee, who wowed the Sing!China contest in 2016, is having her first concert tour in Kuala Lumpur on June 9. In a contest organised by StarProperty.my from May 28 to June 4, three winners will receive tickets to the concert. Visit StarProperty.my facebook page to find out if you are one of the winners!
Latest happenings
Gamuda Land to check on its biodiversity measures Gamuda Land has made a pledge to scientifically audit the health of biodiversity at its new towns through its Gamuda Parks. Gamuda Bhd deputy group managing director Mohd Rashdan Mohd Yusof said the implementation of sustainable measures were done at the early design and master-planning stages to cultivate an environment that has richer biodiversity and yet low maintenance.
S P Setia launches Barras starter homes in Semenyih
Mah Sing introduces new digital vacant possession
S P Setia’s Barras starter homes were launched on May 26 and 27 at Setia EcoHill 2 in Semenyih, Selangor. Barras, the first of the starter homes series, is a collection of 20’ x 70’ double-storey terrace homes priced from RM513,000 and due for completion in Q3 of 2020. To help young customers, Setia is offering an attractive Easy Home Ownership Package. Aside from the 7% bumi discount and early-bird rebates, the developer will fully absorb all incidental costs including SPA, loan agreement and MOT legal fees.
The newly adopted digitised process of vacant possession was introduced by Mah Sing earlier this year for its Avens Residence. Mah Sing chief executive officer Datuk Ho Hon Sang said the new process had shortened the time taken for customers to complete the required documentation and paperwork.
CIMB to hold mega property and auto auction CIMB will be organising a live auto and property auction. There will be both physical and online bidding for more than 130 properties and motor vehicles. The auction will be held on June 30 from 9am at Hotel Istana KL.
STARPROPERTY.MY
06 JUNE 2018
By Aisyah Suwardi aisyahs@thestar.com.my
03
Feature
changes IN STORE for PROPERTY SECTOR Review of taxes and mega projects likely to affect the market
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HE change in government after the historic GE14 and the appointment of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the seventh Prime Minister of Malaysia sent shock waves across the country and the international stage as well as jolted business owners and share market players. The subsequent lifting of the 6% Goods and Services Tax (GST), the scrapping of the High-Speed Rail (HSR) and Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) 3 mega projects, plus the reported national debt of RM1tril by the Pakatan Harapan government have left property market investors and stakeholders wondering what lies ahead for the sector.
Hartamas Real Estate Sdn Bhd associate director Tan Kian Aun
Sunway University director of Economic Studies Dr Yeah Kim Leng
Uncertainty in the market Halting the HSR and MRT 3 projects, which amount to about RM155bil, will hit those property investors who believe in the concept of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and its potential for connecting townships and regions. According to Hartamas Real Estate Sdn Bhd associate director Tan Kian Aun, the cancellation of the HSR project has affected investments in townships that are earmarked for HSR stations, among them Muar, Batu Pahat, Malacca and Bangi. He reckons the review of mega projects such as the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) and Bandar Malaysia has created uncertainty in the market with the public adopting a wait-and-see attitude. However, Tan hopes that the mega projects could be reinstated at a lower cost when the issue of national debt has been resolved because such projects bring growth into undeveloped areas and benefit the nation as a whole.
Hoping for positive changes Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said that while abolishing GST would impact the transactional costs of real estate, property prices often involve a complex matrix that need to take into account other measures. He agreed that zero-rating the GST would increase the people’s purchasing power and reduce cost of living. Some industry players are optimistic that the tax reduction will bring positive changes to the property market. Nilai Harta Consultant Sdn Bhd head of department (valuation) Umran Suffian Hussein believes that Malaysia’s property market will see an improvement by early next year. He said the lifting of GST is the most awaited event by Malaysians, especially first-time homebuyers. While GST was not imposed on residential housing, the addition of GST on building materials meant that developers had to bear a
From left: MIEA vice-president Kelvin Yip, past president Nixon Paul, president Eric Lim and secretary-general Chan Ai Cheng at a recent press conference at Two Square in Petaling Jaya.
CBRE|WTW managing director Foo Gee Jen
Nilai Harta Consultant Sdn Bhd head of department (valuation) Umran Suffian Hussein
Mah Sing Group Bhd chief executive director Datuk Ho Hon Sang (centre) at the launch of the Desire campaign.
higher project cost. At the same time, most developers have been quick to react to the policy changes by the new government. Mah Sing Group Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Ho Hon Sang said that the company would pay close attention to the adjustments brought about by zero-rated GST and plan their strategies accordingly. CBRE|WTW managing director Foo Gee Jen pointed out that from Sept 1, the Sales and Service Tax (SST) will be reintroduced and definitely affect the property market. “The economy is still soft at the moment, so we can’t expect too much. The market may experience a positive sentiment but in somewhat minimum effect due to the uncertainties and re-introduction of SST,” he said. Sunway University director of Economic Studies Prof Dr Yeah Kim Leng urged property developers to take the opportunity at this time of 0% GST to boost sales by providing more attractive packages.
More transactions for this segment Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA) secretary-general Chan Ai Cheng said commercial and industrial properties should experience more transactions because the purchase cost is expected to be 6% lower. She said the segment has been stagnant for the past few years since the implementation of GST, although she noted that this sector was also affected by the economic performance of the country. Chan added that the demand for this property segment will improve if business in the country picks up. During this time of uncertainty, newly sworn-in Minister of Housing and Local Government Zuraida Kamaruddin remains cautiously optimistic on the prospects for the local property market. “One has to have a holistic view; no single factor affects the property market. Although there is an indication that
Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad
What are the key developments affected by the halt of HSR project?
0% GST will cause a positive effect in the real estate sector, other factors need to be considered,” she added.
Log on to bit.ly/ hsrdevelopment to read more.
“Although there is an indication that 0% GST will cause a positive effect in the real estate sector, other factors need to be considered. – Zuraida Kamaruddin
04
STARPROPERTY.MY WEDNESDAY 06 JUNE 2018
By Tharmini Kenas tharmini@thestar.com.my
cover story
UNITING TO REBUILD THE COUNTRY
Looking back at the nation’s development for us to move forward
N
ATION-BUILDING is a concept that focuses on the structure of the country and aims to deliver a national identity. Malaysians young and old have come together as a unified voice to rebuild their country; they have proven that strength lies in unity. Building a sturdy house is no small feat. Similarly, growing a neighbourhood may take years before it bears fruit. And building a viable nation will take both tangible and intangible elements to establish a strong foundation. Public infrastructure, housing and community, as well as economic zones with strong commercial and industrial offerings are part and parcel of the nation-building process. The cultivation of a good neighbourhood through housing developments can only be done if the well-being of the nation is at the heart of the matter. From seamless public transportation to world-class buildings, StarProperty.my explores and highlights Malaysia’s development through the years to relook at the country’s progress. It’s a reminder that nation-building is a collective effort and there is no better time than the present for everyone to contribute to a new Malaysia.
2001
THE JOURNEY from 1957-2018
1957
Opening of Stadium Merdeka
1962
Opening of Parliament Malaysia
1980 1974
Establishment of Petronas
1982
Opening of The Kuala LumpurSeremban Expressway E2 (PLUS highway's first route)
1972
1983
Establishment of Proton
1971
• Opening of National Mosque • Opening of Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (Subang Airport)
1993
Opening of Pusat Sains Negara
Opening of North-South Expressway (the longest expressway in Malaysia)
Opening of Sunway Lagoon
1984
Establishment of New Economic Policy (NEP), after the 1969 racial riots
1965
1994
1995
•Establishment of Putrajaya •Start of KTM Komuter operations
1992
Opening of First MRSM (Maktab Rendah Sains Mara) or Mara Junior Science College
• Opening of Putra World Trade Centre • Opening of Dayabumi Complex
1963
• Establishment of National Museum • Opening of National Zoo
Building of KL-Karak Expressway
• Opening of KL Sentral Station • Formulation of BNM 10-year Financial Sector Masterplan • Completion of Telekom Tower
1969
Opening of National Leprosy Control Centre
1996
1991
• Opening of the Light Rail Transit System (STAR LRT) Phase 1 from Sultan Ismail to Ampang. • Opening of KL Tower • Opening of Sungai Buloh Prison • Completion of Petronas Twin Towers (the tallest building in the world from 1998 to 2004)
• Groundbreaking ceremony of Kuala Lumpur International Airport • Groundbreaking ceremony of the Kuala Lumpur Tower
1985
• Opening of the first Penang Bridge • Establishment of Strata Title Act
1987
1999
• Opening of Sepang International Circuit • Opening of Istana Budaya • Opening of Petronas Twin Towers • Putrajaya replaced Kuala Lumpur as the administrative capital of Malaysia
1990
Establishment • Inauguration of of National Mara building Development • Completion of Policy Maybank Tower
1998
• Opening of Bukit Jalil national stadium • Opening of Pasar Seni Station • Inauguration of KLIA • Launch of Axiata Arena (Stadium Putra) • Completion of Maxis Tower
COVER STORY 05 STARPROPERTY.MY WEDNESDAY 06 JUNE 2018
Highlights of the infrastructural developments
TRY
1962
1985
1985
The 20-story 77 metre tall tower has a modernist architectural style
The 13.5-kilometre bridge connects Perai on the mainland with Gelugor on the island
The act came into force in all states in Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territories on June 1 2015. In Penang, it came into force on June 12 2015.
1991
1994
1996
2017
It is the longest controlledaccess expressway in Malaysia with the total length of about 772 km
It was the tallest building in the world from 1998 to 2004 and it’s structural system is a tube in tube design invented by Fazlur Rahman Khan.
The estimated contract value of the project is RM 36 billion
Opening of Parliament Malaysia
t
Groundbreaking ceremony of the Kuala Lumpur Tower The official groundbreaking for the Kuala Lumpur Tower was overseen by the 4th Prime Minister of Malaysia Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
Opening of the first Penang Bridge
Establishment of Strata Title Act
Opening of North-South Expressway
Completion of Petronas Twin Towers
1991
Groundbreaking ceremony of Kuala Lumpur International Airport As the world's 23rd-busiest airport by total passenger traffic, it handled 58,554,627 passengers and 710,186 tonnes of cargo in 2017.
Start of MRT (Sungai buloh-Kajang line) operations
2016
• Construction begins for Merdeka PNB 118 skyscraper • Signing of MOU for KL-Singapore High Speed Rail • Ipoh named as Lonely Planet’s 6th best city in the world • Signing of 14 MOUs between Malaysia and China in relation to the defence, economy, agriculture, education, finance and construction sectors • Launch of Iskandar Malaysia (special economic zone in Johor Baru) • Establishment of Iskandar Malaysia, the Southern development corridor in Johor • The inaugural StarProperty.my Awards celebrating the best of the best housing developers in Malaysia
2003
Launching of the Southern Integrated Gateway project
2004
Opening of East Coast Expressway (first phase KarakJabor)
2012
Opening of Legoland Malaysia, the first international theme park in the country
2014
• Launch of the Melaka Gateway project • Start of KLIA2 operations
2018
• Re-election of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the 7th Prime Minister of Malaysia (the world's oldest elected state leader at the age of 92) • StarProperty.my Awards 2018 is back to acknowledge the excellence of the property developers in Malaysia
2011
• Opening of Terminal Bersepadu Selatan • Completion of the new Istana Negara at Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim
2008
• Launch of K Residence (the first and tallest luxury condominium in Malaysia) • Inscription of Malacca and Penang as Unesco world heritage sites
2015
Launch of Pan Borneo Highway Sarawak
2017
• Start of MRT (Sungai buloh-Kajang line) operations • Launch of Digital Free Trade Zone • Celebration of 10th anniversary of the SMART Tunnel • The spinoff of StarProperty.my Awards to Southern Malaysia: Jewels of Johor
06 06 JUNE 2018
STARPROPERTY.MY
Advertorial
The development will stand statuesquely in KL Sentral on 4.75 acres of land.
For investment, dual-key units are available where you will find two bedrooms and a suite within a unit.
Sentral Suites will appeal to city dwellers who enjoy the benefits of a cosmopolitan lifestyle.
CENTRALly SUITEd FOR CITY LOVERS MRCB offers easy urban living and connectivity within KL Sentral
K
NOWN for its notable efforts in rejuvenating Brickfields in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB) is now offering a centralised residential option in the form of Sentral Suites along Jalan Tun Sambanthan. The 4.75-acre property, slated for completion in the second quarter of 2021, was launched in May last year. Sentral Suites will appeal to those who love city living – in particular its culture, heritage and connectivity – and enjoy the benefits of a cosmopolitan lifestyle. The residence also caters to prospective buyers looking for a balance between modern and stylish architectural accents set within a tropical sanctuary boasting two acres of landscape and facilities that feature 15 Sky Pods and an equal number of Sky Gardens. Sentral Suites will stand tall at 41 storeys with 1,434 serviced units spread across three towers. The property offers-
various functional layouts of between 650sq ft and 1,166sq ft that sell from RM728,800. The configurations include one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom units. For those looking to invest, dual-key units are available where you will find two bedrooms and a suite within a unit. Being close to KL Sentral has many benefits, especially having direct connectivity to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport via KLIA Express in just half an hour and seamless access thereafter to neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Singapore. Residents of Sentral Suites will get to enjoy convenience of amenities such as food outlets, malls, hospitals and schools. Sentral Suites is a stone’s throw away from Malaysia’s most iconic historical and cultural landmarks, notable among them being the Petronas Twin Towers, KL Tower, Petaling Street, Central Market and the National Museum.
Residents of Sentral Suites will have urban convenience with amenities that include food outlets, malls, hospitals and schools.
Sentral Suites will appeal to those who love city living – in particular its culture, heritage and connectivity. Sentral Suites is centrally located at a tranquil spot that overlooks the city.
Wednesday 6 June 2018
Starproperty.my
7
08 06 JUNE 2018
Home&Living
STARPROPERTY.MY By Tharmini Kenas tharmini@thestar.com.my
WIN THE BATTLE FOR SPACE Overcome space limitations with creative and practical ideas
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MALL living space is fast becoming a trend among urban residential developments. For those who are used to lots of elbow room, the lack of space may be frustrating. Urbanite millennials, however, have a different mindset and seem to make do with the reality
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Spaces that are thoughtfully planned will be of great benefit. The terms ‘limited space’ and ‘small space’ will be meaningless once you know how to work the space. These five easy tricks to maximise your living area will make any given space comfortable.
your 4Hide bed when
not in use
Play with colour but keep it light Colours are crucial to set the tone of the space. For small areas, try to keep it light. Colours such as white, beige, light blue and light grey will make the limited space look airy and roomy. Neutral and bright colours are known to bring in light while dark colours seem to close in on occupants.
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of limited space. City dwellers have to make the best out of their situation. Small space does not have to be congested and messy, as much as it does not have to be limiting. All it takes is just a few tweaks to maximise space and wave goodbye to stressful living.
Use foldables wherever possible Foldable furniture is the way to go if you have limited space. Apart from saving space, foldable furniture offers functionality. Once done, fold them away and use the space for other purposes. For example, the work-table and chair need not be left out in the open at all times. These items will only be used when needed and, hence, can be folded.
for 3 Hunt multi-purpose furniture
Having one piece of furniture for a specific function will only limit your space. Using multiple-purpose furniture will reduce the number of items within your space. For instance, opt for a table that can serve as a desk and a dining table; a coffee table that doubles up as a storage container; and a deep sofa that can be transformed into a bed. The ideas are endless when it comes to multi-functional furniture.
Yes, hide your bed to maximise your living space. A single or double bed will take up most of the space in a small unit. You cannot possibly get rid of your bed, neither can you give up space for it. The best option is to hide your bed. Use a pullout bed that can be hidden underneath a platform, convert your couch into a bed, suspend your bed from the ceiling or retract it from the wall. These are some ways in which you can end up with considerable space in your hands.
big with 5 Go storage baskets Storage baskets of the right size and placed correctly will reduce clutter at your place and provide you with some needed space. You will be surprised how much space you can unearth by keeping away clothes, books and general items. A spring-cleaning session and a few baskets are what you need to create space.
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