Economic Overview
Investments
MILS Logistics Hub scores a first.
IMPSA invests RM70mil in new…
Emirates keen to push KL halal…
CIBA to make 200 million conta…
Limahsoon to spend RM10m on…
Lion DRI plant to be Malaysia’s…
Enco plans RM22m biomass pl…
Telenor sets up research center…
Silver Bird JV plans RM50m Jo…
RM21.6b petroleum refinery co…
Ta Ann in RM28m biomass ven…
Transactions
Landmark’s REIT back on track.
Wisma TM sold to UM
UM Land plans Setapak comme…
Guthrie Ropel signs S&P deal fo…
AMMB to raise RM217m in REI…
Metroplex to sell Legend Resort…
Paramount buys land in Sg Petani
Retail’s section
AEON Credit plans 10 more bra…
Opening of Klang City Square S…
Jusco store to open in Bandar P…
Carrefour plans to invest RM20…
Tesco aims to open two outlets…
GP Ocean plans seafood chain.
Poh Kong seeks brighter presen…
Centro – the new landmark in th…
Pavilion KL to be fully tenanted…
More stories
Know your neighbourhood
PJ: Adjacent project irks residen…
Tmn Bayu Perdana: Shophouse…
Tmn Cheras Jaya: New bridge a…
Flood chaos in the Valley.
Cheras: Resident’s fear of flood…
SS18: Some buying the idea of…
Key statistics
Quarterly GDP growth
Latest release
5.2% (4Q2005)
Previous rate
5.3% (3Q2005)
5.3% (2005)
7.1% (2004)
Consumer Price Index (CPI)
4.6% (Apr-06)
4.8% (Mar-06)
Industrial Production Index (IPI)
137.3 (Mar-06)
123.8 (Feb-06)
Base Lending Rate (BLR)
6.58% (Apr-06)
6.47% (Mar-06)
Exchange rate: RM to US dollar
RM3.63 (31/05)
RM3.63 (28/04)
Annual GDP growth
Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia & Bank Negara Malaysia
Bank Negara governor said the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth
forecast for 2006 of 6% will remain.
Malaysian exports to the European Union (EU) last year amounted to
RM62.63bil, with significant growth in the electrical and electronics (E&E)
sector. Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) director and
Malaysia American Electronics Industry chairman Datuk S.H. Wong said
this was a 3.7% increase in total exports from 2004.
Analysts see Johor as having the greatest potential for development under
the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), with the UEM and MMC group being the
main beneficiaries. Some RM2.2 billion has been allocated to develop the
Southern Johor Economic Region (SJER).
Bank Negara’s Monetary Policy Committee has decided to leave the
th
overnight policy rate (OPR) unchanged at 3.5% after a discussion on 24
May 2006.
Electricity tariff in the peninsula will go up by 12% from June 1. However,
the increase will not affect the low to medium income group which uses
less than 200kWh of electricity per month as the existing rate of 21.8 sen
per kWh remains unchanged.
Selangor and Federal Territory are facing a serious shortage of sand,
which could disrupt the construction and manufacturing sectors. Sand now
costs twice as much as before; the current price in the Klang Valley is
RM30 to RM40 per tonne.
More stories
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INVESTMENTS
MILS Logistics Hub scores a first
th
(New Straits Times-06 May 2006)
MILS Logistics Hub (MLH) has become the first hub in Asia Pacific region to operate cold and dry storage services in a
commercial free zone. The services offered solve the need of having multiple warehouses across the region. This makes
the regional logistic hub in Pulau Indah, Selangor, attractive for transshipment and regional distribution activities.
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IMPSA invests RM70mil in new facilities
st
(The Star-01 May 2006)
IMPSA Malaysia Sdn Bhd will invest close to RM70mil to expand the first phase of its manufacturing facility in Lumut, in
anticipation of high production volume for cranes in future. The expansion of Phase One would eventually boost
manufacturing and erection production capacity to 18 STS and 36RTG cranes per year. The Phase Two production
capacity, estimated to cost approximately RM50mil, would see 36 STS and 72 RTG cranes, being manufactured annually.
The company's Lumut plant workforce presently totals up to 1,600 workers, including the company's sub-contractors and
suppliers in the vicinity.
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Emirates keen to push KL halal hub plan
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(New Straits Times-08 May 2006)
Emirates Airlines aims to be the forefront in helping the government to position Malaysia as global halal food hub. Based
on the geographical location of its hub in Dubai, seen as a meeting point between the East and West, Emirates cargo
manager Bobby Chang is optimistic that the airline can provide much needed synergy in the distribution of Malaysia’s
halal food products globally.
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CIBA to make 200 million contact lenses yearly at Johor plant
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(The Star-09 May 2006)
Atlanta-based CIBA Vision Corp will be producing 200 million contact lenses yearly at its RM500mil Johor plant within
seven years. Head of global supply chain Mike Dilworth said the company could expect to record between RM300mil and
RM400mil in annual sales from the product. He said 95% of the high-quality contact lenses, patented and registered as
O2OPTIX, would be exported to over 70 countries. “The state-of-art manufacturing plant is the company’s first fullyintegrated manufacturing and moulding plant in Asia,” Dilworth said during the ground-breaking ceremony of the plant by
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Effendi Norwawi in Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) in Gelang
Patah, about 40km from here.
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Limahsoon to spend RM10m on Perak Green Project plant
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(New Straits Times-09 May 2006)
Second Board listed Limahsoon Berhad will invest RM10 million to set up a plant to produce charcoal, activated carbon
and biofuel in Perak. The plant, scheduled to start production in September this year, will initially be capable of producing
6,000 tonnes of charcoal, 2,000 tonnes of activated carbon and more than 6,000 tonnes of bio-fuel annually.
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Kerambit to set up small arms ammunition plant
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(New Straits Times-12 May 2006)
A licensed arms and ammunition dealer, Kerambit Sdn Bhd will set up a plant to manufacture small arms ammunition, 12
gauge shotgun cartridges and simulation bullets in Brisu, Alor Gajah. It is expected to be completed by 2008. The 29.2ha
site would also have a shooting range, training complex with war zone, rifle range, air gun range, armoury, skeet and trap
range as well as outdoor shoot gallery to attract tourists.
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Lion DRI plant to be Malaysia’s biggest
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(The Star-20 May 2006)
The Lion Group is building Malaysia's biggest direct reduction iron (DRI) plant at its steel complex in Banting, which will
have a production capacity of 1.54 million tonnes annually. Group chairman Tan Sri William Cheng said the RM1bil plant
is slated for operation either by year-end or early 2007. The DRI is a high-purity feedstock mainly for steel- and ironmaking as well as foundry applications.
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Enco plans RM22m biomass plant
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(The Star-15 May 2006)
Steam boiler manufacturer Enco Danstoker (M) Sdn Bhd plans to build a RM22mil biomass steam plant which uses
cleaner development mechanism application to reduce dependency on fuel for power. Managing director Ng Lam Chun
said the company was engaged by Pascorp Paper Industries Bhd, a subsidiary of Pahang State Economic Development
Corp, to build the plant to supply its paper manufacturing operations in Bentong. Construction of the plant, to be located
adjacent to Pascorp Paper's operations, would start in two months after approval from the relevant authorities, Ng told.
The plant is expected to be completed by mid-2007, he added. At present, Enco Danstoker has 12 biomass plants in
Sabah, Malacca, Perak, Kedah, Selangor and Thailand.
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Telenor sets up research centre in Cyberjaya
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(The Star-24 May 2006)
Global telecommunications leader Telenor has opened a research and innovation centre (R&I) in Cyberjaya. Johansen
said to stay competitive, Telenor would stay close to local markets and Malaysia, thanks to its central location in SouthEast Asia, that provided the best venue to cover existing and potential new markets in the region.
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Silver Bird JV plans RM50m Johor plant
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(The Sun-25 May 2006)
Silver Bird Group Berhad and its joint venture partners, EPF and Mayban Ventures Sdn Bhd are investing RM50 million in
a bakery plant in Johor, as part of its regional expansion plan. The proposed plant will be completed in 24 months with a
production capacity of 6,000 loaves of bread per hour, was aimed at serving southern Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore,
Indonesia and Philippine markets.
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RM21.6b petroleum refinery coming up near Lumut
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(New Straits Times-24 May 2006)
The sleepy hollow of Manjung is gearing up for a major transformation. An investment of US$6 billion (RM21.6 billion)
may be coming its way. This follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding between a local company and a
China-based consortium to establish a petroleum refinery here. The joint venture will involve the construction of storage
facilities for liquefied petroleum gas, a petrochemical plant, a condensate refinery, crude oil refinery and a jetty.
JS Valuers Research & Consultancy Sdn Bhd
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Ta Ann in RM28m biomass venture
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(The Star-26 May 2006)
Ta Ann group, a timber and oil palm conglomerate, is investing RM28mil in a biomass power plant at its plywood
processing factory in Sungai Sadit here. “This plant, fed by wood wastes from our processing operations, can generate
about seven megawatts of energy per hour, almost all the power required by our processing plant,” Hamed said in a
statement ahead of the group’s AGM today. He said the procurement of machines had been finalised and the plant should
be ready for commissioning next year.
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TRANSACTIONS
Landmark’s REIT back on track
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(The Star-06 May 2006)
Landmark Berhad includes The Andaman, a resort hotel in Langkawi to set up a real estate investment trust (REIT) and
has recently received the regulatory body's approval. Last September, Landmarks submitted to the SC a plan to float a
REIT that would have the shopping centre as its sole property. The proposal included Landmarks selling its interest in
Sungei Wang Plaza to the REIT for RM550mil. Landmarks would receive RM175mil in cash and 375 million new units
(issued at RM1 each) in the REIT. However, the company announced in early February that the proposed listing had not
received the green light from SC. On Feb 24, it said it had asked for a review of the SC's decision, and added that the
application incorporated a proposal by Eminent Aspects Sdn Bhd, the proposed management company of the REIT, to
acquire The Andaman from Landmarks. The property was described as a five-star resort hotel with 188 rooms.
Top
Wisma TM sold to UM
st
(The Star-01 May 2006)
Telekom Malaysia Berhad has agreed to sell its 25 storey Wisma TM building to the University Malaya for RM70 million.
The sale is in line with TM’s strategic direction to rationalize and streamline its businesses from Wisma TM and other
locations to Tower 1 and Tower 2 of Plaza Cygal, which is located next to Menara TM, its headquarter.
Top
UM Land plans Setapak commercial project
rd
(The Sun-03 May 2006)
United Malayan Land Berhad (UM Land) has proposed to spend RM30 million to buy a 30,490 sq metres leasehold plot
for commercial development of 61 shopoffice units. UM Land will be purchasing the land from Akademi Pendidikan
Pemandu Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Boustead Properties Berhad. This is the first time UM Land will be venturing into
Setapak and also the company’s first commercial development in Klang Valley.
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Guthrie Ropel signs S&P deal for sale of land
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(The Star-06 May 2006)
Guthrie Ropel Berhad entered into sale and purchase agreement with Flora Horizon Sdn Bhd, Hartawan Development
Sdn Bhd, Pilihan Teraju Sdn Bhd and Paduwan Development Sdn Bhd, for the sale of four parcels of Ladang Bertam in
Melaka for RM91 million. Ladang Bertam encompasses 2,285 acres under oil palm plantation.
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AMMB to raise RM217m in REIT offer
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(New Straits Times-13 May 2006)
AMMB Holdings Berhad will raise gross proceeds of RM217.25 million from the initial public offering of AmFirst Real
Estate Investment Trust (AmREIT). The establishment of AmFirst REIT, a new property trust, comes after the
restructuring and rebranding of AmFirst Property Trust (AmFPT), which involves the dissolution of AmFPT. The proposal
will also involve the proposed sale of Menara AmBank to AmREIT for RM230 million. This will give AMMB an estimated
gain of RM26.79 million. The AmREIT will include the RM199 million AmBank Group Leadership Centre and RM57 million
Menara Merais.
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Metroplex to sell Legend Resort
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(New Straits Times-13 May 2006)
Metroplex Berhad, a hotel and property firm, is in negotiations with its lenders to sell The Legend Resort, Cherating and
expects to sell the hotel by year end. It wants to sell the resort to its profitable time sharing subsidiary, Legend Worldwide
Holidays Berhad (LWHB). LWHB currently leases from Metroplex The Legend Hotel, Kuala Lumpur and The Legend
Hotel, Cherating under its time-share scheme, as well as affiliates with other independent resorts and hotels around the
world and Interval International Inc, a Miami based time share exchange company.
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Paramount buys land in Sg Petani
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(New Straits Times-23 May 2006)
Paramount Corp Berhad has made an offer to Ideal Appraisal Sdn Bhd (IASB), a subsidiary of Sharikat Permodalan
Kebangsaan Berhad, to purchase 585.7 acres of freehold agriculture land in Kedah for about RM39.193 million. The
purchase price is subject to determination of the exact size of the land by a land surveyor to be appointed by Paramount.
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RETAIL’S SECTION
AEON Credit plans 10 more branches by year end
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(The Star-02 May 2006)
AEON Credit Service (M) Sdn Bhd plans to open 10 more AEON Credit branches and AEON Spot locations by year-end.
The credit services company would also introduce automated teller machines with cash deposit function at its branches by
the fourth quarter of this year, executive director Yasuhiro Kasai said yesterday. AEON Credit, which has 20 branches,
provides easy payment schemes at Jusco departmental stores and other chain stores and retailers.
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Parkson sees sales growth with rebranding
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(New Straits Times-01 May 2006)
Parkson Corp Sdn Bhd is anticipating a 12% growth in sales for Parkson Subang Parade this year following a rebranding
exercise. Prior to the reopening of the store, Parkson Subang Parade is one of the four top performing Parkson stores in
terms of sales volume and has registered an 8% annual growth. Last year, Parkson renovated a few stores in Ipoh,
Kajang and Melaka. By end of next month, Parkson will relaunch its flagship store at Suria KLCC. The renovation aims to
provide a better shopping experience for customers, with better store layout, design and detailing as well as lightings,
floorings, display fixtures and amenities.
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Opening of Klang City Square Shopping Complex
th
(The Star-06 May 2006)
The Klang City Square Shopping Complex was officially opened, in conjunction with the handing over of the Certificate of
Fitness to the owners.
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Jusco store to open in Bandar Perda
th
New Straits Times-05 May 2006)
AEON Co (M) Berhad will open a new store in Bandar Perda, Bukit Mertajam. The store, to be located within Phase 1 of
the Central Mall, is expected to be opened at the end of 2007. AEON will enter into a lease for a shopping centre
agreement with D’ Aseana Mall Sdn Bhd to manage the store. This will be the first shopping centre for AEON in Seberang
Perai and second outlet in Penang. The Central Mall will be largest and most integrated shopping centre in the northern
region and is scheduled for completion in the third quarter of 2007.
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Carrefour plans to invest RM200m in Malaysia
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(New Straits Times-08 May 2006)
Carrefour plans to pump in some RM200 million in Malaysia this year for outlet expansion, small and medium enterprises
(SMEs) promotion and to keep prices low. This is to finance the opening of two stores, one in Kepong and another in
Johor. The two stores are part of the nine licenses the company has already secured from the Domestic Trade and
Consumer Affair Ministry for opening of hypermarkets in the country.
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Tesco aims to open two outlets annually
th
(The Star-10 May 2006)
Tesco Stores (M) Sdn Bhd aims to open two new outlets per year, said director for corporate and legal affairs Azlam Shah
Alias. Tesco has eight outlets in Selangor, Malacca, Perak, Pahang, Penang and Kedah. The company had previously
revealed its plan to open 15 to 20 outlets within the next five years, with an investment of RM50 million to RM20 million for
each store
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GP Ocean plans seafood chain
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(The Star-12 May 2006)
Main board-bound GP Ocean Bhd plans to set up a seafood restaurant chain in one or two years, said chief executive
officer Datuk Andrew Lim. “It’ll be something like the KFC and McDonald's outlets. We will make use of our 100-odd
value-added products,” he told StarBiz after the visit of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra
Jamalullail to the company's stall at the 3rd Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS 2006) yesterday. GP Ocean,
the country’s largest fisheries and seafood producer, was adding perhaps the final component of its fully integrated
seafood business, Lim said.
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Poh Kong seeks brighter presence
th
(New Straits Times-12 May 2006)
Malaysia’s largest jeweler, Poh Kong Holdings Berhad will spend close to RM40 million to open at least 10 more retail
outlets across the country over the next 18 months. Poh Kong, which owns and manages 67 outlets nationwide, will
spend between RM3.5 million and RM5 million on each store.
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Centro – the new landmark in the making
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(The Star-08 May 2006)
A huge “For Sale” banner covers the front of the Centro office tower in Klang. For motorists travelling along the Federal
Highway, this banner and the presence of workers and cranes at the former abandoned hotel project is a welcome sight.
For many years, this project and another tall building in nearby Bandar Baru Klang stick out like “sore thumbs” in full view
of motorists travelling along the Federal Highway. However, over the past few months, since Datuk Teo Chiang Kok’s
company took over the hotel project, one can see the rapid transformation from a dirty and darkened building into one that
will soon be an iconic landmark in Klang.
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Pavilion KL to be fully tenanted by end 2007
th
(The Star-09 May 2006)
The new mixed-used development project, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, currently under construction, is expected to see all of
its commercial units fully leased out by end-2007. About 45% of its shopping mall's 450 available outlets are already
leased out. The development, on 12.6 acres of land in the Golden Triangle, is said to be the last piece of prime real estate
in Kuala Lumpur, according to Kuala Lumpur Pavilion Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Brisco Fan. Kuwait Finance House
is an investor in the project. The commercial unit, a seven-storey shopping mall designed to cater to middle-class and
upper-end shoppers, is scheduled to open its doors in the third quarter.
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Retailers cut sales growth forecast
th
(New Straits Times-17 May 2006)
The Malaysian retail sales growth forecast for 2006 has been revised downwards to 7% from a previous 8% in response
to rising costs of goods and services and higher borrowing costs. But the growth forecast by the Malaysia Retailers
Association (MRA) is still higher than the 6.2% growth recorded last year
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New crowd puller for Bukit Bintang
th
(The Star-15 May 2006)
The Bukit Bintang shopping belt in Kuala Lumpur will see yet another new shopping mall by the third quarter of next year.
Called the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur Shopping Mall, it will add 450 shop lots with a total net lettable retail area of 1.37 million
sq ft. Spread over seven retail levels, it will have 13 specialty anchor tenants. The good news is that there will be lots of
new retail brands (20% of the 450 brands will be new brands), with six retail precincts each catering to a different
consumer niche.
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New Metrojaya store to turn in higher sales
th
(The Star-20 May 2006)
Metrojaya Bhd expects its MJ by Metrojaya department store at The Curve shopping centre, which was relocated from
Section 14 PJ, to chalk up 20% more sales in its first year of operations, said chief executive officer Robert Heng. “The
company invested about RM4mil to set up the 60,000-sq-ft fashion concept store, which focuses on demand from men
and women,'' he told a media briefing yesterday. Heng said the new store was unique as it offered exclusive brands and
services, including Bath and Bloom, Intoxi Kate, L'Institute Lancome, OPI Nail Studio and Dermalogica Skin Spa. It also
carries existing brands such as Chanel, Giorgio Armani, Hugo Boss, Inizio and Hush Puppies. He said Metrojaya also
planned to set up two department stores and five specialist stores soon.
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Sa Sa plans to open five more outlets
nd
(The Star-22 May 2006)
Beauty products retailer Hong Kong Sa Sa (M) Sdn Bhd plans to open five new outlets in Malaysia this year, said vicepresident and general manager Corina Loi. “We plan to open four outlets in the Klang Valley in the second half of the year
and one in Penang by year-end,” she told StarBiz. Loi said the company would be investing about RM300,000 to set up
each store. At present, Sa Sa has 10 outlets in Malaysia – nine in the Klang Valley and one in Malacca.
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DVD stakeout at shopping malls
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(The Star-25 May 2006)
In a move to stamp out DVD and VCD pirates, enforcement officers from the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs
Ministry will be stationed at popular shopping complexes in five towns and cities. Deputy Minister Datuk S. Veerasingam
said the officers had been stationed in complexes here, in Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Johor Baru and Kuantan. In Johor
Baru, 50 officers have already been monitoring the situation round the clock at the Holiday Plaza since last weekend after
a raid on one of the shop lots at the mall in which 200 pirated DVDs and RM100,000 worth of pirated goods were seized.
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Orion Project banks on Pearl Point makeover
th
(New Straits Times-25 May 2006)
Orion Project Management Sdn Bhd, the operator of Pearl Point Shopping Mall, is projecting 90% occupancy for the mall
after it undergoes refurbishment works. Located in Jalan Klang Lama, Kuala Lumpur, the firm has invested some RM5
million over the past seven months to upgrade and revamp the mall to cater for changing demand. The revamped mall’s
soft opening will be on June 18. About 70% of the mall has been occupied so far. AEON Co (M) Berhad signed a nineyear lease with Pearl Point to operate its second J-One supermarket outlet.
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KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD
Adjacent project irks residents
th
(The Star-06 May 2006)
Residents of Taman Medan, Petaling Jaya, especially those living along Jalan 29 and Jalan 30, are at loggerheads with
the developer of an adjacent housing project which the residents claim is encroaching into their territory. The residents
claim that since they were two different projects, the developer should have built its own access roads for the use of its
lorries and tractors to transport construction materials to its project. Some of the residents who were interviewed said side
lanes, which were once about 6m wide, have now been narrowed down to just 3.6m or less. There are a total of 20
houses along Jalan 29 and a side lane of less than 3m separates the Buana Perdana project and the Taman Medan
housing estate.
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Shophouses knee-deep in floodwater woes
th
(The Star-08 May 2006)
Occupants of a row of shophouses in Jalan Batu Unjur 7 in Taman Bayu Perdana dread the rain. Whenever it pours,
water and litter from drains inundate their premises. Dr M. Shanmugam said his clinic was flooded six times this year
alone. “The flooding isn’t a recent occurrence,’’ he said. “It began three years ago, but of late the flooding has become
worse.’’ Engineering director of Majlis Perbandaran Klang, Md Noor Mahmud said the council had taken the necessary
and appropriate steps to ease the problem. “We have given the approval to construct a culvert that would prevent
backflow of water into the area whenever it rains,’’ he said.
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New bridge a gift from developers
th
(The Star-10 May 2006)
Residents of Taman Cheras Jaya who frequently used a narrow concrete bridge to Kampung Sungai Balak will now have
access to a new bridge and road that caters to two-way traffic instead. The road and bridge near the Sungai Balak
junction is an alternative short cut used by motorists to get to Balakong, Cheras, Seri Kembangan, Putrajaya, Kajang and
Semenyih. Modal Ehsan Sdn Bhd and Port City Holdings Sdn Bhd built the bridge and 1.2km road at a cost of RM4mil.
Both developers have housing projects, Taman Sutera (Modal Ehsan) and Taman Cheras Prima (Port City Holdings) in
the area.
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Flood chaos in the Valley
th
(The Star-11 May 2006)
Flash floods hit several parts of the Klang Valley after a two-hour downpour, and some vehicles were swept away by
floodwaters. Among the worst hit areas was Damansara Damai near Sungai Buloh where 30 vehicles were washed away.
Three cars were also washed away near Taman Billion in Cheras. In the areas around Taman Miharja and Batu 9 Cheras,
the water level rose to 1.5m, while uprooted trees in Jalan Imbi and Jalan Istana brought traffic to a standstill.
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Residents’ fear of floods comes true
th
(The Star-15 May 2006)
Houses in Jalan Kooperasi Cuepacs 1 in Cheras were flooded in Wednesday’s downpour. The residents have been
highlighting the problem since 1999 and even after two disasters nothing is being done to solve their predicament. Last
week, the monsoon drain at the housing estates overflowed onto the roads and into the houses during the evening
downpour.
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Some buying the idea of market at proposed site
th
(The Star-16 May 2006)
Not all residents of SS18 in Subang Jaya are against the idea of having the pasar tani from SS13 set up shop once a
week in the area. Showing a list with some 300 signatures, mostly from residents of SS14, SS15, SS18 and SS19, SS13
Pasar Tani Committee chairman Mohd Yazid said they were supportive of the move. Not long ago, a group of about 100
residents had voiced their protest over the moving of the pasar tani to the neighbourhood, citing cleanliness, a
kindergarten and school in the area, operating twice a week (on Thursday and Friday) and traffic problems in the evening
as reasons. So, the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) revoked its decision to allow the market to be relocated.
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Gone is the quiet of eight bungalow owners
th
(The Star-17 May 2006)
Chaotic best describes the traffic problems that eight bungalow owners in Lorong Sambau in Taman Chi Liung, Klang,
face. It was once a quiet residential stretch as it was a dead end with a little greenery. It all ended eight months ago when
the Klang Municipal Council (MPK) allowed a developer to link Jalan Sambau 14 to Lorong Sambau to facilitate
construction material to be brought into Taman Bayu Emas.
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Bukit Gasing residents wary of foothill project
th
(The Star-18 May 2006)
Bukit Gasing residents from Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya have come together to object to a proposed development by
developer Sanctuary Gasing at the foothill of Bukit Gasing on the Kuala Lumpur side. The developer had, through a public
relations agency, approached residents of Maxwell Towers, Fraser Towers and Cameron Towers on March 24 to get
feedback for the proposed development, but failed to provide basic details about the project. Maxwell Towers Residents
Association chairman Victor Oorjitham said the environment impact assessment (EIA) study done by the Geological
Survey Malaysia and Universiti Malaya had proven that the hill was highly unstable
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Patience running out in Seri Kembangan
th
(The Star-18 May 2006)
At first it was the traffic congestion. Then, it was the empty promises that have been going on for years. Now, it is the
potholes and the people in Seri Kembangan feel that their patience has been tested long enough. Joseph Chong, who
works at Taman Bukit Serdang Industrial Zone, is one such person. He says the authorities, such as the Public Works
Department (PWD) and the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ), need to seriously look into the quality of roads in Seri
Kembangan. Taman Seri Serdang resident David Santana said many sections of Taman Serdang Jaya to Taman
Andalas, Jalan UPM to Jalan Seri Serdang also faced the same problem. “The roads have been in a bad condition for
many years and when the potholes get bigger it adds to the traffic congestion,” he said
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Pond becomes a dump and residents are fuming
th
(The Star-18 May 2006)
The residents in Bukit Rahman Putra 7/3 in Sungai Buloh have begun to get restless when a privately owned pond in
Jalan BRP7/3 has become a dumpsite for rubbish, mostly construction waste. Following complaints from the residents,
the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) blocked the entrance to the pond with earth and soil. But, a bulldozer cleared
these away and garbage trucks were back at the scene to dump rubbish and construction waste. There were also
discarded furniture and plastic bags. The pond-cum-dump is only about a 100m from a row of houses. Last Friday, three
officers from the Selangor Department of Environment visited the site and said MPS ought to take action, and quickly.
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New lease of life for SS15’s deserted back lanes
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(The Star-19 May 2006)
The back lanes of Subang Jaya’s SS15 commercial area, which have been neglected for the past 25 years, have come
alive with the opening of a flea market. The first phase of the flea market project opened on May 13 with 350 stalls. Once
completed, scheduled in March next year, the flea market will have 1,000 stalls and will be promoted as a tourist
attraction. The flea market project has been awarded to Subang Uptown Sdn Bhd under a build, operate and transfer
(BOT) agreement that will give the company a 25-year concession to manage the stalls and collect revenue from
advertisement boards along the lanes. Subang Uptown chief executive officer Azizul Rahim Saedin said the project
involved works to beautify the back lanes between Jalan SS15/4 and Jalan SS15/4B, Jalan SS15/4B and Jalan SS15/4C
and Jalan SS15/4C and 15/4E. Azizul said the stalls would operate from 8.30pm to 3am daily. “To fully utilise the back
lanes, there will be about 500 parking bays that will be made available from 7am-7pm daily,” he added.
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Condo folk worried over hill project
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(The Star-20 May 2006)
Residents of Belair Condominium in Lorong Basong, Damansara Heights are concerned over plans for the hill located
right next to their homes. Urban Hallmark Sdn Bhd, which owns the undeveloped green patch, has started preliminary
work to build four apartment blocks designed like bungalows there. “We are worried that the development on the hill will
affect us. The green hill has always been a boon to us. There is also a risk of a landslide due to the development,” said
Belair Condominium resident Dr Colin Abraham. Residents of Lorong Basong are also concerned that the narrow access
road will not be able to cater for the new residential areas.
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Dream homes are a nightmare for buyers
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(The Star-20 May 2006)
Their dream homes had everything they wanted but the ugly water patches that appeared later were something buyers
did not bargain for. Six months after moving into his property at SL13 Bandar Sungai Long near Kajang, Tan Han Siong
noticed a thin brown line in the dining area. Upon close scrutiny, the line turned out to be unsightly moisture pockets
running through the bottom length of the wall. According to Tan, complaints were forwarded to the developer as the house
was still under the defect liability period. “However, things have gotten worse since the touch-ups were done. Now the
moisture pockets have appeared on my kitchen wall and disappear behind the newly installed cabinets,” he said.
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We want a sound barrier, not a bridge.
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(The Star-20 May 2006)
Residents of Section 10 Petaling Jaya do not want the pedestrian bridge that was authorised by the Public Works
Department (PWD) built in their area and want the Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MPPJ) to protect their rights. Section
10 Residents Association president M. Paramasivam said residents were not consulted about the project and that piling
cranes had in fact entered the residential area last Sunday too (and was also stopped by MPPJ officers). “In the first
place, it is in an area that is not beneficial to the public as there are no bus stops there. The bridge will also create more
openings in the area and that is a security concern for us,” he said
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Bungalow buyers hold protest
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(The Star-15 May 2006)
Bungalow purchasers at the Diamond Creek Country Retreat in Behrang are fuming over the non-maintenance of the
RM1bil retreat which they claimed had attracted wild beasts to the area. Staging a protest here yesterday, the owners
demanded that the developer, Diamond Approach Sdn Bhd, maintain the retreat which had been left uncompleted for over
10 years. House owner Valentine Siva, 66, said the 1,620ha project site was in an unkempt state as a result of neglect.
The promised clubhouse, 18-hole golf course and equestrian club are half-finished dilapidated buildings, overgrown with
shrubs and infested with mosquitoes.
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Road closed for good reasons
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(The Star-22 May 2006)
Residents of Taman Puncak Jalil want the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) to reopen a road that links the housing
area to Bandar Kinrara. Doing so would provide them with an easier access than the current main road that leads to Bukit
Jalil Highway. Resident Halimahton Saadiah Kamarulzaman said the road to Bandar Kinrara was opened a few months
ago but was closed following complaints from residents in Bandar Kinrara. “Residents have no choice now, but to use the
main road.''. Halimahton said the residents did not mind using the main road if it was safe and the conditions were not
poor. “The MPSJ has not been able to have it upgraded despite numerous complaints from residents in the area,'' she
said.
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Things looking brighter for villages
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(The Star-22 May 2006)
Residents in Kampung Puah Lembah and Puah Asal have been living with soil erosion incidents that threaten to turn into
landslides for so long. But, there is hope yet. Federal Territories Ministry parliamentary secretary Yew Teong Look, who
visited the villages recently, promised to look into the problem and the residents’ other concerns. Their other worries are
flash floods and inadequate drainage system. The two villages are situated near Sungai Gombak. The villagers also
brought to Yew’s attention the lack of public amenities in the villages. “We have no lamp posts and this has become
convenient for snatch thieves,’’ said Kamaruddin.
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Illegal structures along highway to come down
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(The Sun-26 May 2006)
All the illegal structures along the Federal Highway will be taken down. This was agreed to at a meeting between the
Public Works Department (PWD) and the Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (MPPJ) on Wednesday. There are an
unspecified number of unlicensed billboards along the Federal Highway.
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Township battles against burglars
th
(The Star-26 May 2006)
There are no crocodiles in Bandar Sungai Buaya in Rawang but the 1,000 residents living here are having sleepless
nights for another reason; a surge in crime rate. The township is living under fear as one particular group of burglars are
said to be using spells to rob victims of their cash and valuables. For the last six months, there were 14 burglary cases
reported in this township forcing the residents to form the Bandar Sungai Buaya Action Committee which are mainly
involved in carrying out patrols from 12 midnight to 5am.
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Tunnel plan to ease Salak South flash flood
th
(The Star-26 May 2006)
The Federal Territory Drainage and Irrigation Department is carrying out flood mitigation work at Pekan Salak South in
another effort to alleviate flash floods problem in the neighbourhood. This time plans are under way to create a tunnel
from Kampung Ikan Emas to divert water from Sungai Kerayong to the Sri Johor water retention pond in Cheras whenever
there is a downpour. “Once this happens water will be channelled to the pond and it will only be released back to Sg
Kerayong once the water level has receded,” said Seputeh MP Teresa Kok. “Currently, work to deepen and widen the Sri
Johor water retention pond has already started,'' added Kok. The project, which will take 30 months to complete, is
expected to resolve the flash flood problems in Salak South town once and for all.
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Petronas can fast track corridor
nd
(The Star-22 May 2006)
Petroliam Nasional Bhd's (Petronas) task of spearheading the development of the eastern corridor – which is rich in oil
and gas (O&G) resources – is seen as a good fit by the investment fraternity. The eastern corridor encompasses
Kelantan, northern Terengganu and western Pahang. The development of the eastern corridor, together with the northern
and southern corridors are part of the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP), which has the objective of spreading economic
development throughout the country instead of only in populated city centres. Under the 9MP, eastern region states will
be given an allocation of RM22.3 billion.
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World class facilities for sports tourism
th
(The Star-24 May 2006)
Kedah has ventured into sports tourism, now that it has world-class sports facilities. The imposing RM37.1mil Aquatic
Centre in Gunung Keriang, the scenic RM2.5mil shooting range in Pokok Sena, and the impressive Muadzam Shah
Sports Complex that boasts a RM4.2 million hockey field and RM1.85mil squash court, are among the new landmarks in
the state. Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said the state would aggressively woo European athletes to use
the facilities in Kedah for training during their winter season.
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Crackdown on fake goods in JB
th
(The Star-25 May 2006)
The state Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry has taken the piracy war a step further by clamping down on
premises selling fakes. On Saturday, some 60 officers from the ministry, police and the Johor Baru city council (MBJB)
raided the Holiday Plaza here, checking 31 outlets and seizing more than 200 DVDs. A day later, 10 other premises were
raided and the enforcement officers seized more than RM100,000 worth of pirated goods. “The pirated goods were cheap
imitations of branded items, like belts, wallets, handbags and sunglasses,” said the division's acting director Adilah Abd
Aziz.
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The information contained herein is available to the public and have been derived from sources which we believe to be
reliable. This publication is on the basis that the information made available to us is accurate and complete. However, we
cannot guarantee its accuracy or completeness. JS Valuers Group accepts no responsibility if this should prove
otherwise. No liability can be accepted for any loss arising from the use of this publication.
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Chan Wai Seen
Director, Research & Consultancy
Tel: 603-2162 4133
Fax: 603-2162 4188
Email: wschan@jsvaluers.com.my
Website: www.jsvaluers.com.my
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Copyright© 2006 JS Valuers Research & Consultancy Sdn Bhd
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