Emkay Land Property Trust In The Works

THE Emkay Group of companies, controlled by developer Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal Abu Bakar, said its plans to set up a commercial property trust could take two years to materialise.

Chief operating officer Peter Teh Heng Poh said the real estate investment trust (REIT) is still in the idea conception stage, but it is targeting to have at least 500,000 sq ft of net lettable area in the trust.

“Based on the buildings that we have, the size is already there. We are working on other details,” he told Business Times in an interview in Damansara Perdana yesterday.

The REIT will likely be listed on the local bourse and will own mainly the Emkay Group’s properties in Cyberjaya as well as in Damansara initially.



Among assets to be sold into the trust is the four-storey Bangunan Mustapha Kamal in Cyberjaya, which has 121,500 sq ft of lettable area. The building has been completed and the group is in negotiations with potential tenants, Teh said.

In Damansara Perdana, the 21-storey Menara Mustapha Kamal, which is due for completion in September 2009, will also be included in the property trust.

This building will have 201,508 sq ft of lettable area and the group plans to retain four floors for its own use.

Teh said most of the upcoming buildings in MKN Embassy Techzone, a freehold IT building project on 4.1ha site in Cyberjaya, are also slated for the trust.

The so-called campus development will have clusters of specially-built office blocks for IT firms sharing some common facilities, he said. The project is modelled after a similar concept in Bangalore done by its partner, the Embassy Group of India.

“There will be four blocks under the first phase and we plan to buy more land from Setia Haruman Sdn Bhd to build another eight blocks in Phase 2,” Teh said.

Setia Haruman is the master developer of Cyberjaya and is an associate company of Emkay Group, in which Mustapha holds majority shares.

Teh said the first two blocks in Phase 1 of the Techzone that are due to be done in the next few months, will not be put into the REIT because it is already in talks with some local funds for en-bloc sale.

“There are many fund managers looking to buy the buildings because they want recurring income. If they can get a seven per cent return, they are happy,” he said.

The upcoming blocks in the first phase of Techzone should measure some 250,000 sq ft in gross built-up each, Teh added.

Other potential candidates for the trust include two 10-storey office towers within the NeoCyber mixed development project in Cyberjaya. Emkay Group plans to start construction on these towards the year-end, which will have another 260,700 sq ft lettable area.


Published: 2008/04/16
By Chong Pooi Koon , Source : Business Times Online

TdC to step up its broadband service

PETALING JAYA: Time dotCom Bhd (TdC) is expanding its broadband service Time Netlynx to include high-end residential areas in Penang by year-end, said its managing director Datuk Baharum Salleh.

“We will be offering broadband speeds of up to two megabits-, four megabits-, six megabits- and 10 megabits- per second (Mbps) to the residents on the island,” he told reporters at TdC Hari Raya open house here yesterday.

He said TdC was looking for partners to expand its residential broadband services in the country.

Baharum said the packages were competitively attractive with the 2Mbps package priced at RM75, 4Mbps at RM179, 6Mbps at RM269 and 10Mbps at RM469.

He said the prices were better than what was currently in the market and that further expansion was possible with proper funding.

Baharum said TdC was also looking for the best way to fund the residential broadband service expansions.

“The issue here is funding. At the moment, we have zero borrowings and I want to deliberate to the board to seek funding to further expand the services (in Malaysia),” he said.

Baharum said so far, TdC had rolled out its high broadband facility in Ledang Heights Nusajaya. “There are three areas in Nusajaya that we plan to supply broadband services to the next area, which is Nusa Idaman and we target 1,500 subscribers from those areas,” he said.

He said TdC was still waiting for the government’s approval for its new submarine cable projects and cable landing stations and expected the decision would be reached by year-end.

TdC launched its residential broadband service on Aug 30 this year, where he said the company had spent RM1 million in its pilot service in Damansara Perdana, and was targeting to capture 500,000 subscribers nationwide over a three-year period.

Credit : The Edge Daily, by Tamimi Omar

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Time Launch new broadband service Netlynx target Damansara Perdana

KUALA LUMPUR: Time dotCom Bhd hopes to sign up 1,000 subscribers for its newly launched high-speed broadband service, Time Netlynx, within three months.

Managing director Datuk Baharum Salleh said he was confident the 10 megabits per second broadband service would eceive “overwhelming response from the consumers as they have been waiting for it for so long”.

”Netlynx will put Malaysia on par with other ICT-advanced countries in the region such as Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong,” he said yesterday at the launch, which was officiated by Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik.

Datuk Baharum Salleh (left) and Palette Multimedia Sdn Bhd executive director Sukhdev Singh at the launch of Time Netlynx

Baharum said Time had invested about RM1mil in its pilot service in Damansara Perdana, and was targeting to capture 500,000 subscribers nationwide over a three-year period.

Read more @ The Star Online - Time targets 1,000 users for new broadband service

Related Post :

1) The broadband arena has a new gladiator...

2) Govt mulls investing in fibre optic lines

Complaints from Flora Damansara residents taken note by MK Land

Open Letter from MK Land's Saujana Triangle Sdn. Bhd.

WE refer to an article that appeared in StarMetro on Aug 3 with regards to the inspection conducted by Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) on Aug 2 following complaints by residents of Block F, Flora Damansara, Damansara Perdana.

The developer was not invited for the scheduled inspection with MBPJ. However, as the matter had come to our notice, we attended as observers.

It appears that the purpose of the inspection arranged by the residents was to highlight defects at the building. The defects highlighted were mainly leakages and cracks.

Further, we were not approached by any of your representatives present for comments.

The residents complaints dated July 18 should have been addressed to us as the developer (Saujana Triangle Sdn Bhd) and not MK Land Holdings Bhd.

Upon receiving the complaints on July 20, we had already commenced action to resolve the issues and concerns raised. However, the rectification works cannot be carried out instantly.

There is a need for advice from consultants and others as well as a need for verification, observation and monitoring prior to works being carried out.

Our consultant engineers have confirmed that there are no structural defects as contended in the article.

Some of the defects highlighted are due to vandalism.

Nevertheless, we will try to address these complaints.

We also noted that some of the complaints raised have been attended to and rectification works completed.

We have had problems with previous contractors who we have terminated and with a lot of effort have completed the buildings subsequently with new contractors.

With patience, the issues can be resolved in a proper and amicable manner.



FREETIE BOLER

Legal Manager

For and on behalf of Saujana Triangle Sdn Bhd

MBPJ to meet Flora Damansara condo owners and builder to resolve problems

By K.W. MAK
Photo by YAP CHEE HONG
News from The Star

THE Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) will arrange for a meeting between the council, residents and the developer of Flora Damansara to resolve issues involving shoddy workmanship of the condominium.

MBPJ officers visited Flora Damansara Block F yesterday to inspect the defects in the structure.
These defects were highlighted in a report that was sent to MBPJ and to MK Land Holdings Bhd on July 18.

See this: Ho pointing out a defect at the
Flora Damansara condominium to MBPJ officers.

The defects include cracks at all floors in the car park area and leakage on the floor below the swimming pool with inoperative surface conduits.

The report also highlighted an incident, which happened on July 1 at around 5.20am where building debris from higher floors fell onto two cars parked below, causing serious damage.

Exposed cables, water seepage and cracks were also pointed out to the MBPJ officers during the inspection.

The Flora Damansara Residents Association pro tem committee will submit the building plans and other documents to the council.

“We would like owners to get in touch with us and provide copies of any complaint that they have filed with the developer,” said Residents Association pro tem chairman Ho Fook Chuan.

The owners can call Ho at 012-297 5597.

Damansara Perdana Buyers up in arms over late delivery and compensation

By JADE CHAN
Photos by NORAFIFI EHSAN

jade@thestar.com.my

APARTMENT buyers of Block F, Flora Damansara, in Bandar Damansara Perdana are unhappy with the developer over several issues, including late delivery of vacant possession and delay in compensation for their apartments.

They recently held a meeting with several representatives from the developer Saujana Triangle Sdn Bhd, a member of MK Land Holdings Berhad. Present as mediator was Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Yong Dai Ying.

A number of Block F buyers have yet to receive the keys to their units and compensation for late delivery.

These buyers, and those from the other apartment blocks at Flora Damansara, also raised several issues regarding the security, building structure, and state of common facilities at their blocks.

Clearing the air: (From left) Fatimah, Yong and Ho informing reporters of the outcome of the meeting between the apartment buyers and the developer.

There are over 600 apartment units in Block F, and over 3,000 units at Flora Damansara. Blocks A, B, and D are low-cost apartments while Blocks E, F, and H are medium-cost apartments.

“This is our second attempt, with Yong’s help, to meet with the developer. Our attempt to hold the first meeting on Dec 9 was ignored despite our early notice to them,” said Block F president Ho Fook Chuan.

During the closed-door meeting, the buyers voiced their problems while the developer’s representatives attempted to address as many issues as possible.

“I’m happy that we’ve solved most of the problems,” said Yong when briefing the media on the outcome of the meeting.

“Saujana Triangle will pay the Block F buyers their liquidated damages in full for their apartment units, as per the sales and purchase (S&P) agreement.”

MK Land Holdings Berhad senior general manager Fatimah Wahab said, “We will look into the terms of payment for the other issues like parking, renovation, and common facilities, and get back to the buyers on Monday.”

She said the late delivery of 20 months was due to the issues Saujana Triangle had with its main contractor.

According to Ho, the developer was supposed to settle the compensation immediately upon vacant possession.

“The residents of Flora Damansara will be forming a Pre-Management Corporation (PMC) headed by Ho to act as a liaison between the residents and the developer,” said Yong.

Unhappy lot: Flora Damansara apartment buyers gathering at the office of Saujana Triangle Sdn Bhd before the meeting.

“This pro-tem committee will act as the liaison until the residents get the full strata title for their apartments and form their own permanent committee.”

“The committee will meet up with the developer’s management every two weeks to rectify issues of the whole Flora Damansara community,” said Ho.

Yong added that the developer’s management would hold a weekly Wednesday meeting from next week onwards as an avenue for the purchasers to talk to a task force set up by Saujana Triangle.

“This weekly meeting is open to all residents and provides a platform for them to talk about the issues they’re facing as individual purchasers,” she said.

Ho said, “We also want the keys to our apartments to be handed over to us immediately upon us paying the maintenance fees.

“They previously handed the keys in batches (about 15 a day), but they’ve promised to hand over all the keys after today’s meeting.

“We want to move into our respective apartments within one month from the date of defect rectification and submission of our units, and the developers have promised that they’ll do the necessary rectifications within two weeks.”

Related Stories:
Condo owners versus management firms
Strong-armed tactics used to bully residents

Citibank to open branches in Damansara Perdana, Petaling Jaya by year end 2006

By Surin Murugiah - The Edge Daily

Citibank Bhd will open two branches in Selangor by year-end, having doubled its branch network in the past six months, said its country officer and chief executive officer Piyush Gupta.

He said the new branches would be in line with its organic growth strategy to better service customers and for greater reach, especially to meet the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The two new branches will be located in Jalan Batu Tiga Lama in Kampung Bukit Kuda and Damansara Perdana.

“We have doubled our branch network in Malaysia in the last six months.

"Our expansion will be further strengthened with the setting up of more service centres nationwide and the introduction of innovative and competitive products,” he said.

read full article press here.......

Technorati Tags: Citibank, Damansara Perdana, Petaling Jaya, Urban City, Malaysia, Banking, Business, Property, MK Land

MK Land Sponsor Friendster Cafe Event - KL International Motorshow 2006 Charity Party Bash

You are invited to join us at this fun and unforgettable night with your friends and family. Enjoy scrumptious delicacies from the Friendster kitchen with a variety of canapés like the Slow Cooked Scallop on French Loaf with Caviar and Baked Aubergine Puree with Crispy Puff served with free flow of wine, beers and mocktails! Ignite your fashion sense with the Catwalk-fashion show by Ms. Malaysia Oriental Pearl semi-finalist and be blown away by other dazzling performances. There will also be Lucky draws with Merchandise, Holiday Vouchers Sponsor by MK Land and more exciting prizes to be won!

Read Full Article Press Here

OR

Visit Friendster Cafe and Restaurant Website @ http://www.friendstercoffee.com

Brighter days ahead for MK Land

MK LAND Holdings Bhd may be looking at brighter days again if its plans to restructure the group's operations and introduce a more impressive suite of higher-end property products showed results.

Instead of building only high-rise apartments and condominiums in its flagship Damansara Perdana development, the company now wants to offer landed residences, including semi-detached houses and bungalows, from June onwards.

Next year MK Land will be ready to kick off its 98-acre Setiawangsa project that has an indicative gross development value of RM500mil.

Unperturbed by talk of a supposed rift between them, executive chairman Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal Abu Bakar and executive director Datuk P. Kasi, are fervently working to introduce more positive changes to the organisation after the company's sales and earnings were eroded last year.

“We expect this year to be the worst year for MK Land, and things should start to improve next year,” Kasi told StarBiz at the MK Land head office in Damansara Perdana.

With a consolidation exercise to revamp the company's operations, the group should be more efficient and profitable going forward.

Datuk P Kasi (left) and Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal.

Mustapha said the company's focus was not to launch a high volume of properties, "but we are looking at higher value products that will spur the company's earnings potential."

CLICK HERE TO READ FULL ARTICLE

Hassle-free passage, Damansara Perdana interchange bypasses LDP

PETALING JAYA, SELANGOR, Tues.

---

Traffic flow to Damansara Perdana will be smoother with the opening of the Damansara Perdana-Sprint Expressway interchange today.

The RM24 million MK Land interchange project provides motorists with direct access to the Sprint Expressway or Penchala Link from Damansara Perdana, bypassing the Lebuhraya Puchong-Damansara, thus improving accessibility to the township.

The new interchange allows swifter passage for those entering and exiting Damansara Perdana during peak hours, and motorists heading towards Kuala Lumpur using the Sprint Expressway.

The alternative route enables motorists to skip the LDP tunnel during heavy traffic conditions.

Prior to the opening of the interchange, motorists from Damansara Perdana heading towards Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur had to spend 10 to 15 minutes just getting through the tunnel.

READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE

Abdullah Instructs PWD To Monitor Stalled Police Projects

SPRINT... Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu views the traffic flow after the opening of an elevated access to the Damansara Perdana-Penchala Link in Kuala Lumpur. Pix: Shahrizan Jeffri Aziz

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 24 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has instructed the Public Works Department (PWD) to monitor all development projects involving the police, including the stalled construction of police stations and quarters, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said Tuesday.

The prime minister wanted all projects carried out by consultants appointed by the Internal Security Ministry to be on schedule and within the budget, he said.

"Today, at the committee meeting on the implementation of improvements to the Royal Malaysia Police, the prime minister asked the PWD to monitor stalled projects that have been awarded to the consultants," he told reporters after the opening of an elevated access to the Damansara Perdana-Penchala Link here.

The Utusan Malaysia newspaper recently quoted Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Noh Omar as saying that even though RM1.2 billion had been allocated to build 25,000 units of police quarters nationwide, most of them had stalled.

Samy Vellu said he would call a meeting with all the consultants soon to explain the work arrangements and deadline to complete the projects.

When asked to comment on Abdullah's statement that only 84 per cent of projects under the Eighth Malaysia Plan (2001-2005) had been implemented, he said all projects under his ministry had been implemented successfully.

READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE

City & Country: Truly Malaysian offices

Imagine this — walking through a lush green landscaped plaza dotted with 15m high trees, into a glass lantern lobby 9m high, supported by elegant round black steel columns that are contrasted by over-burnt brickwork flooring.
No, you're not at an exotic holiday destination tucked away somewhere in a mystical location. Welcome to the Petaling Jaya Trade Centre (PJTC), a cluster of leasehold offices being built on the fringe of Selangor's Damansara Perdana township.
The simplistic and conventional name of PJ Trade Centre belies the story of this up-coming true-blue office development. More than that, this is also a story of the debut of Ahmad Khalif, the son of prominent property developer Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal, co- founder of MK Land Holdings Bhd, in the property development arena.
Going against the flow of conventional boxed but tried-and-tested office buildings that shout sleek marble and granite finishing, the duo of Ahmad Khalif Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal and Peter Chan is taking a stand on what a truly Malaysian-inspired grade A office development should be all about. (Chan was the former chief operating officer of Saujana Triangle Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of MK Land Holdings and developer of the 750-acre leasehold Damansara Perdana township.) The name of the developer is Tujuan Gemilang Sdn Bhd of which Chan is the executive director. The 26-year-old Ahmad Khalif, formerly general manager (special functions department) in MK Land, holds the post of executive chairman.
Interestingly, the architectural design, character and even the spirit of PJTC are deliberately made to depart from the trodden path of developers. For starters, the design of the façade of the four tower blocks is inspired by the age-old Malaysian art of intricate weaving. Apart from the main lobby areas (one in each of the four blocks), which will be cooled with the aid of air-conditioners, the corridors and other common areas have been designed to make full use of the flow of cross winds.
The layout design of the office units says a great deal of the deliberate use of abundant natural lighting. Natural air circulation is also generously promoted, thanks to the installation of windows rather than fixed glass façades.
For a refreshing change, the building materials used are strictly local. But would the starkly back-to-basics design narrow its target market base? Sleek and shiny granite or marble is, after all, still the usual choice for high-end buildings these days.
The Ahmad Khalif-Chan team is unfazed. "We are taking a stand on this matter; we are aware that there will be those who are not in tune with it; but so be it," says Chan. "We have even told our staff to be prepared for more rejection than usual..." It is as if Chan is reminding himself of the self-admitted daunting task ahead.
Chan is not joking. Not exactly known to be one who minces his words, he concedes that he is very aware of the stiff competition he faces, together with factors like rising interest rates and their brave venture into untested design grounds.
"All we need is just 137 buyers," he says, again almost reassuring himself. "That's all...," Chan continues.
PJTC comprises four blocks. Block A will not be for sale — it is given back to the land owner, MK Land's Saujana Triangle, in exchange for the 5.4-acre tract and some cash. Here, Ahmad Khalif points out that there were restraints set right from the start — in that, to avoid competition and any form of conflict of interest, the understanding with the landowner was that plans for this tract should not comprise any product being offered in Damansara Perdana by Saujana Triangle. Block D is being marketed en bloc. Blocks C & D comprise 137 units, the regular type of which are sized from 2,143 to 2,945 sq ft. There are penthouses for sale — these are huge, to the tune of 19,581 sq ft!
The average pricing is set at RM360 psf but for now, the developer is offering a discount of 5% and an additional early bird discount of 3%. This effectively brings the psf rate down to RM330. Before the 8% discount, the typical units are priced from RM760,800 to RM1.15 million (see project fact sheet).

READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE

Samy: PWD to monitor police infra projects

PETALING JAYA: Implementation of infrastructure projects involving the police force will now be monitored by the Public Works Department (PWD).

Works Minister Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu said the decision on the matter was decided by the Cabinet Committee on Police Management Improvement which met at Putrajaya on Jan 24.

The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Speaking to reporters here after opening the traffic interchange linking Damansara Perdana to the Damansara-Puchong Highway and the SPRINT Highway, he said the various projects involving the police force, such as construction of new stations and quarters for staff, as well as upgrading of existing ones, will still be managed and implemented by consultants appointed by the Internal Security Ministry.

READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE

INTERVIEW: Malaysia MK Land Expects Pft Growth From FY07

   By Carolyn Lim
  Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES

KUALA LUMPUR (Dow Jones)--Malaysia's MK Land Holdings Bhd. (8893.KU) expects to reverse the past few years of sliding profits starting with the year that ends June 2007, senior executives at the homebuilder said.

That financial year will also mark the start of development of luxury houses at MK Land's flagship Damansara Perdana project, Executive Director Kasi Palaniappan told Dow Jones Newswires recently.

The houses - the first MK Land is building in the capital - are aimed at offsetting slower demand for apartments, which have been the company's main product thus far. MK Land is Malaysia's seventh-biggest homebuilder in terms of market capitalization.

"By doing landed property, we are opening another avenue. If (apartment sales) slow down, we have got another product, another market coming up so we can boost our revenue," Kasi said.

READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE

New standard in office building

By ANGIE NG

PJ TRADE Centre, a boutique office development at the entrance of Damansara Perdana, will become a new landmark at the thriving Petaling Jaya's Golden Triangle.

Situated on 5.4 acres, the first corporate office development in Damansara Perdana will comprise four Grade A office blocks housing 210 signature offices.

The land was previously owned by Saujana Triangle Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of the MK Land group, which is developing the Damansara Perdana township.

It was acquired by Kesan Sanubari Sdn Bhd in 1996, which went into a joint venture with the developer of PJ Trade Centre, Tujuan Gemilang Sdn Bhd, in March last year.

Construction of the RM280mil project started last month, and it is scheduled to be completed in 2009.

Ahmad Khalif Mustapha Kamal (left) and Peter Chan READ FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE

Designed to be different

Christopher Fernandez
As we enter an era that places great emphasis on work productivity and efficiency, the commercial projects taking shape have to be designed to support the demands of today. Nobody knows this better than Tujuan Gemilang Sdn Bhd (TGSB), developer of what it says will become a landmark in “the Golden Triangle of Petaling Jaya” in Selangor.

For this reason, its RM280 million venture, the Petaling Jaya Trade Centre (PJTC) that commenced site-clearing last month is being built to be “more comfortable, conducive and productive” than the conventional.

“It is a unique concept that we are offering; one that we believe Malaysian entrepreneurs will appreciate as we enter a new level of sophistication and affluence,” said TGSB’s executive director Peter Chan.

Targeted primarily at the knowledge-based industry, he added that the project’s forward-thinking nature should make it “the choice of the discerning crowd”.


This is also the development with which the company’s executive chairman, Ahmad Khalif Mustapha, son of MK Land Holdings Bhd chief executive Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal, is eager to prove his mettle as a developer in his own right.

As for the concept, PJTC’s designer Kevin Low of Small Projects said: “The basic concept is based on a Malaysian paradigm, one less reliant on Western concepts, both with respect to choice of construction materials and building design.

“As a result, it is better adapted to suit the local tropical context.”










Read Full Article Here

MK Land rethinks sales strategy

MK Land Holdings Bhd will improve sales efforts and venture for the first time into landed property in the Klang Valley to strengthen the group’s profitability, its executive director Datuk P Kasi said.

On Wednesday, the property developer announced a lower net profit of RM15.22 million for its first quarter ended Sept 30, 2005, compared with RM20.8 million a year ago, while revenue fell 35.36% to RM114.71 million from RM177.73 million previously.

For the financial year ended June 30, 2005 (FY05), MK Land posted a net profit of RM120.21 million, 25.6% lower than the RM161.57 million a year ago. Revenue slid 2.23% to RM904.99 million from RM925.67 million.

Speaking to reporters following the company’s AGM and EGM in Shah Alam on Nov 24, Kasi blamed slow sales, delays in construction and provisions for late delivery charges as the main causes of the weaker financial performance.

He said that in order to maintain FY05’s performance, MK Land would have to launch new products and lock in sales.

“We are improving our sales efforts; we are trying to relook our sales strategies and we will see how we can market new products.

“We are now replanning some of our new launches in 2006 and we hope this will help us reposition ourselves in the market. Within our current projects, we are trying to reposition ourselves in terms of pricing and the facilities we provide,” he said.

Another strategy, said Kasi, was to go into landed property in Damansara Perdana. “In the Klang Valley, we have never introduced landed property products. The semi-detached homes in Damansara Perdana, of which we hope to launch Phase One in 2006, will give us a new avenue to improve our performance,” he added.

He said Phase One would comprise 35 to 45 units and have a gross development value of RM50 million to RM55 million. Additional phases, he said, would be introduced as and when the market demand was there.

“Other than semi-dees, we are also planning for a package of bungalows within the Damansara Perdana area but these are still in the planning stages,” he added.

Meanwhile, commenting on market speculation that MK Land would be issuing RM300 million in bonds, Kasi said: “The company has not announced the issue of bonds. People are speculating that we will. We are only considering it because interest rates may go up and all that.”

He said the speculated figure was probably derived from the company’s existing bonds. “We see no reason to raise another RM300 million.”

Orang Asli receive individual land titles

For possibly the first time, 147 Orang Asli families were given something the original inhabitants of this land had never been given before: individual land titles. The handing-over ceremony at the Desa Temuan Bukit Lanjan community hall near here was to have marked the end of a 10-year development project by MK Land Berhad to bring the Orang Asli of Bukit Lanjan into the mainstream with an innovative compensation package.

It is also the beginning of a new way of empowering the Orang Asli and is set to become the yardstick by which other Orang Asli compensation schemes will be measured.

In the past, the Orang Asli as a community could not own land.

What ancestral land they had was held in trust for them by the Government.

If they were made to vacate the land for development, they would be compensated with land elsewhere — but the land was communal property. If an Orang Asli left the community, he left the land.

Which is what makes today’s handing over of individual title deeds so significant.

"What is special about today is that they have their own land — not reserve land. They own it. Individually," said MK Land chairman Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal Abu Bakar after handing over title deeds to 10 representatives of the community.

"This is one of my greatest successes — to be able to see this through to the end after 10 years of planning and 350 meetings between the company, the Department of Orang Asli Affairs and the Orang Asli village committee to come up with this programme," he said.

"This project is not so much about physical or structural development as it is about a mindset development — it is a paradigm shift.

"Not only have we taken them physically into town living, but we are also attempting to change the way they look at the world and at the role they have to play in it."

In 1995, MK Land bought all 256.44-hectares of the Orang Asli reserve land at Bukit Lanjan from the Government at a cost of RM91.8 million.

But instead of the sum going into the government treasury, the money was allocated for the resettlement and betterment of the Bukit Lanjan Orang Asli.

Under the compensation package, each of the 147 Bukit Lanjan Orang Asli families would be allocated a four or five-bedroom single-storey bungalow at Damansara Perdana to live in, a double-storey terrace house in Damansara Damai to rent out, and RM45,000 worth of Amanah Saham Bumiputera unit trusts.


Related Article @ New Straits Times
Related Article @ Malay Mail

MK LAND ( Developer of Damansara Perdana) Share Summary

MK LAND HOLDINGS BERHAD

Symbol & Code : MKLAND (8893)

Board : Main

Industry : Properties

High		Low
	Prices 1 Month	0.950	(18-Oct-05)	0.725	(28-Oct-05)
	Prices 3 Months	1.000	(30-Aug-05)	0.725	(28-Oct-05)
	Prices 12 Months	2.350	(17-Feb-05)	0.725	(28-Oct-05)
	Volume 12 Months	192,904	(19-Nov-04)	30	(12-Apr-05)

Copy Cat received complain

Odd balls to roll over to playgrounds

By K.W.MAK

The weird looking balls at the SS3 junction are "a mistake."

THE weird looking balls at the SS3 junction will be moved to playgrounds around Petaling Jaya.

Kampung Tunku assemblyman Datuk Dr Wong Sai Hou said the balls were a mistake.

"The balls were an idea that was based on MK Land's Damansara Perdana landscaping and were supposed to sport the council's colours and be an artistic representation of Petaling Jaya Municipal Council’s progressiveness," said Dr Wong.

"However, on the day when they were put up, the Landscape Department director Zuraidah Sainan was in hospital and the contractor that was doing the job did not know how to arrange them," he added.

The fibreglass balls, purportedly costing RM500 each, will be shifted after the holidays and replaced by plants that do not obstruct the view of motorists.

StarMetro highlighted the matter on Oct 22 after residents called up to complain about the odd-looking structures “decorating” the junction.

An about-turn from the days of old

Metropolis, a new column on everything you wanted to know about a neighbourhood, features highlights, its history, places of interest and the goings-on in the area. Today, JAYAGANDI JAYARAJ stops by at Damansara Perdana and Mutiara Damansara

THE view of Damansara Perdana from Perdana View Condo is impressive.

It overlooks a well-planned bungalow housing area while the surrounding hills offer a sense of peace.

Even better is the constant waft of wind that sweeps through the condominium’s pool sides.

The skyline 'littered' with popular names.

“The location of Damansara Perdana is excellent,” said Damansara Perdana Exclusive Condo residents’ association secretary Nicholas Tay. “It is ideal as everything we need is in the vicinity.”

Tay, 35, is one of several young married couples who have made Damansara Perdana, developed by MK Land Holdings six years ago, their home.

It was previously the Orang Asli Temuan settlement.

Today, the area features medium-cost and high-cost condominiums with modern facilities, such as the Emerald, Metropolitan SQ and Armanee Condominium. There is also a Perdana Business Centre in the vicinity.

“Residents are mostly couples who are below 40 years old,” said Tay. “I find the location Petaling Jaya’s best.”

Mutiara Damansara, the commercial hub nearby, is made up of popular establishments such as Ikea, Ikano Power Centre, The Curve and Tesco Hypermarket.

Formerly a palm oil plantation estate, Mutiara Damansara has been developed by Mutiara Rini.

Ismail … ‘now we have a permanent house’

Today, it is a popular destination for families from all over Klang Valley.

Mutiara Homes Residents Association chairman Syed Nasurudin Al-Aidid agreed with Tay.

“Most families shop in Mutiara Damansara,” he said. “For those living in the vicinity, schools are within easy reach in Bandar Utama and Taman Tun Dr Ismail.”

Mutiara Homes is located opposite the shopping area and consists of double-storey houses, bungalows, condominiums and more shop lots.

Like in Damansara Perdana, families at Mutiara Homes are also young couples.

Syed Nasurudin said Mutiara Homes community was a united lot. This, he said, was evident from the association’s activities to enhance security recently.

“Although we have social gatherings from time to time, we are even better united where security issues are concerned,” he said.

“A few months ago, we held a gotong-royong to fix barbed wires and shredded glass pieces on a border wall to prevent break-ins,” said Nasurudin.

The commercial hub is busy, not only on weekends, but on weekdays too.

While Ikano Power Centre, The Curve and Ikea provide wholesome family activities, Cineleisure Damansara is a centre for youth. It is a five-storey entertainment, lifestyle and leisure mall that features a 10-screen Cineplex.

The entertainment outlets, concept stores and food outlets are designed to attract the younger crowd, aged between 14 and 24.

The secondary target group is those who are 25 to 40 years old.

Soon to be completed, the mall will also feature an outdoor youth park and is keen on holding activities like X-Games.

A family returning home after shopping at The Curve.

Amidst massive development at the two areas, there is still a small group of Orang Asli at the Desa Temuan settlement in Damansara Perdana who go about their lives at a leisurely pace.

“Those days, we lived in make-shift huts and moved about the jungle, but now we have a permanent house,” said community leader Ismail Cat, who is better known as Tok Batin.

“Most of us do odd jobs at constructions sites and some work at factories,” he said. “Some still make a living out in the jungle at the hills.”

Ali Siham, 46, is one such resident who goes to the jungle to collect banana leaves everyday. He sells them to traders at nearby Kampung Pencala.

“I usually leave about 8am and will be back by 1 or 2pm,” he said. “I sell one bundle of leaves for RM1. I usually return with about a dozen bundles.”

The settlement has 147 houses and has facilities such as a school, community hall and a museum that displays Temuan heritage.

Both Mutiara Damansara and Damansara Perdana are easily accessible via a few highways – Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP), New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) and Pencala Link.

Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Yong Dai Ying said the two areas were located in Petaling Jaya’s Golden Triangle.

“The areas are a major shift from the older part of Petaling Jaya and we anticipate a two-fold population increase in the next five to 10 years.”

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Infomation About Damansara Perdana

Damansara Perdana, Petaling Jaya, Selangor Petaling Jaya's Most Innovatively Vibrant and Prestigious Address

In recent years, Damansara Perdana has flourished quickly to become the best selling township in Petaling Jaya with total sales now exceeding RM1.9 billion. Widely regarded as a township with many firsts, properties here have proven to have good capital appreciation and investment returns.

The 750-acres Damansara Perdana is located within the Golden Triangle of Petaling Jaya, which also consists of Bandar Utama and Mutiara Damansara. This vicinity has consistently been voted by The Edge as the most sought-after address in the Klang Valley. Be it business, convenience, leisure or residential, this place is abundant of life with impressive accessibility via the LDP, SPRINT highway (Penchala Link), Persiaran Surian, and NKVE, renowned shopping and entertainment centres 1-Utama, IKEA, The Curve, Tesco and Cathay Cineleisure (to be opened for business soon), offices, hotels, schools, and much more.

Metropolitan Square Condo @ DP

With the recent opening of the 24 million ringgit direct-connection to the SPRINT highway (Penchala Link), traveling to Kuala Lumpur City Centre is a breeze. It only takes about 7 minutes to reach Jalan Duta from here. This fast-developing township is only a mere 5 minutes to Mont' Kiara via the SPRINT highway Penchala Link.

Since the handing over of Perdana Condominiums in 2002, the masterminds of this unique township and leading property developer MK Land Holdings Bhd has continuously innovated new cutting-edge lifestyle-oriented properties with good quality. Built around its theme 'Resort-style, High-tech, High-art', investors had a taste of the first glass-edged pool in a condo, mini golf driving range, e-lifestyle township and duplex condos with a private garden.

Impressive mixed developments have been consistently handed over on time with CF i.e. Perdana View condo and service apartments, Emerald condo and service apartments, Perdana The Place, Perdana Business Centre, and most recently the prestigious Armanee Terrace Condominiums.

Business Center @ DP

This RM9.7billion township will be launching its first landed property this year in the form of boutique semi-detached homes. With the newly improved road interchange system at the entrance of Damansara Perdana, traffic conditions have been greatly improved. The commitment towards the design and development of Damansara Perdana by MK Land will ensure the consistent capital appreciation within this area.

You can still be a part of this vibrant community. Currently, the most modern development in Petaling Jaya, Metropolitan SQ (MSQ), is selling fast. With 2 blocks of condominiums completely sold out, there is now a choice of the Milan and Paris condominiums which feature the first glass-edge pool in Malaysia, wi-fi ready units, modern clubhouse facilities, various choices of layouts to choose from, and more. Also available at Metropolitan SQ are retails shops and rare grade-A offices. Phase 1 is expected to be completed by end-2006.

Those who missed out on owning the industry trend-setting Armanee Terrace Condominiums (ATC) have yet another chance. The new and improved Armanee Terrace II condominiums are now open for sale. This luxury duplex condominiums feature a private garden, double-volume ceiling in the living room, full-glass frontage, superb security, club services wi-fi, and much more.

Visit the Damansara Perdana Show Village today to feel the difference that has made this township the talk of the town in recent times. Take advantage of owning a piece of this bustling township now to benefit from its proven capital appreciation in years to come.

Damansara Perdana interchange bypasses LDP Highway

Developer Information:


Saujana Triangle Sdn Bhd (339170-W)

Address:
No. 1 Jalan PJU8/1 Perdana Business Centre, Damansara Perdana, Petaling Jaya 47820 Selangor.
Phone:
603-7727 8728
Fax:
603-7727 8869
Website:
www.damansaraperdana.com.my
Holding:
MK Land Holdings Berhad

More Information @ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damansara_Perdana

Map of Damansara Perdana click here

Map of Damansara Perdana

How to go Damansara Perdana? The following is the Map & Master Plan of Damansara Perdana

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Map of Damansara Perdana



Master Plan of Damansara Perdana



Other Map of Damansara Perdana

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Blogging Damansara Perdana

Puporse of this blog - Monitoring Petaling Jaya's favorite modern township and this blog was NOT affiliated with Developer(MK Land),Management or Associate of Damansara Perdana, we will soon setup related link like photo or video album, Forum for Damansara Perdana(as the developer stop their online forum, i think everyone know whats the reason behind), If you have any idea to help this blog getting better, please do not hesitate contact us by : damansaraperdana@gmail.com

Lets Blog Damansara Perdana together :)

Regards,
Founder of Damansara Perdana Blog & Forum