One of the activities tailor-made for the children by Design For Learning.

PENANG: With its development philosophy LiveLearnWorkPlay as a framework, the S P Setia Foundation hosted 100 students from SK Batu Ferringhi, SJKC Aik Hua and SJK(T) Tasek Permai to an exciting Sports Day which saw the students working together in teams of ten to finish five activities together. Themed ‘Sports Day For All: Building A Better Malaysia’, the event was organised in collaboration with Design For Learning, an educational design studio that works on improving learning and teaching experiences for young children.

Held at the rooftop area of Subterranean Penang International Conference & Exhibition Centre (SETIA SPICE), the event was made even more memorable with the attendance of S P Setia and S P Setia Foundation chairman Tan Sri Datuk Sri Dr Wan Zahid bin Mohd Noordin and S P Setia Property North management team.

“The S P Setia Foundation is happy to bring forth a sports day programme that integrates the spirit of unity, inclusivity and patriotism with fun and educational activities especially as we celebrate Malaysia’s National Day in this month of August,” said Tan Sri Wan Zahid in his opening speech, according to a statement.

He explained that the current sports days held in schools focuses merely on physical abilities and teamwork. “Only the physically active students are selected as competing athletes, and these selections hardly take into account other criteria such as a student’s interest and passion towards the sport. There is a lack of opportunity and awareness for special children to be a part of sports days when in fact research has shown that 70% of these kids want to be included in,” added Tan Sri Wan Zahid.

The collaboration with Design For Learning prepares all the children involved with specially-designed sports activities that are based on three essential elements namely; educational, inclusiveness and learn by play. More than 30 special children from SJKC Aik Hua joined in the event which saw more than 40 volunteers coming together to assist.

One of the sports activities facilitated by volunteers from Team Setia.

“The educational part of the programme today taught the children about the rich history of Malaysia and its famous buildings around the country. In terms of inclusiveness, our sports day allowed every student to participate and enjoy the sports activity that was not only engaging and fun; but also encouraged the team members to come together to discuss each other’s strength,” said Anne Marie Tan, Community & Partnership Manager of Design For Learning.

Tan explained further saying that students learn best through the act of playing. Therefore, the whole sports day programme is based on the element of ‘learning by play’ so that students including the special children can receive maximum learning output.

It was indeed a fruitful day well spent, and the students were intrigued by the unique approach to a sports day through this initiative by the S P Setia Foundation. Team ‘Blue’ emerged as the most creative team in building their ‘cardboard city’ for the event and received medals and souvenirs for their effort. “We really enjoyed this sports day as we learned a lot about our country as well as made new friends from other schools,” said the winning team captain, Jonathan A/L Baskar,10 from SJKT Tasek Permai. Besides having an exciting day, every child went home with a specially-designed medal engraved with the inspiring words “I am a winner” for their participation in the sports day.

“The S P Setia Foundation will continue to engage more activities with young children in the future as they need to be nurtured from a tender age in order to build a better Malaysia,” said Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr Wan Zahid. “Initiatives such as these can help instil unity and provide a platform for special children to integrate with their peers as we aim to make an impact on young minds,” he added.

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The Expert Advisory Committee for KLRCA’s Standard Form of Building Contracts
Lam Wai Loon: Deputy Chairman of the Expert Advisory Committee, Lam Wai Loon, introducing the Suite of Standard Form of Building Contracts.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration (KLRCA) launched its suite of Standard Form of Building Contracts at an event held on 15th August 2017 at the Majestic Hotel, Kuala Lumpur.

KLRCA’s Standard Form of Contracts (SFC) is a suite of standard form contracts inspired by the prevalent issues plaguing the Malaysian construction industry, aimed at filling the gaps of existing standard form building contracts in governing relationships, rights and duties of parties to a building construction project.

KLRCA’s SFC is Malaysia’s first ever CIPAA-compliant suite of building contracts and contains more mechanisms for parties to resolve disputes and deadlocks including mediation, encouraging parties to continue work despite disputes, while preserving parties’ rights till completion –making continuity of works and working relationships its highest priorities.

KLRCA is the first arbitral institution worldwide to launch a suite of this kind which is suitable for all building construction projects in Malaysia which will be customisable and complimentary.

The half-day event commenced with remarks by KLRCA director Datuk Professor Sundra Rajoo and presentations on the Introduction to the Contracts, Advantages of the Contracts and Key Features of the Contracts Website.

Key industry players comprising architects, lawyers, quantity surveyors, contractors, property developers, engineers nationwide were in attendance to witness this monumental milestone.

Datuk Professor Sundra Rajoo discusses KLRCA’s new brainchild, the Standard Form of Building Contracts.

At the launch, Datuk Professor Sundra Rajoo touched on KLRCA’s existing relationship with the construction industry. “The players of the construction industry have already benefited from the efficient dispute resolution processes and acknowledge our continuous efforts to further tailor the legal framework to their needs. There is no better illustration than our recent statistics; as of today, we have more than 1100 registered cases (as compared to 22 cases in 2010),” he said according to a statement.

He acknowledged the issues surrounding the construction industry in Malaysia and added, “Although the numbers are impressive, the problem runs deeper – and rather than just hacking at the leaves it would be better to dig at the roots instead. We have come to realise that the problem goes beyond simple payment issues and stems from the contracts used by the parties.”

Offering KLRCA’s SFC as solution to these issues, he explained, “KLRCA’s SFC were engineered in a way to become a hybrid that bridges and fills the gaps of local and foreign standard form contracts with due consideration given to current laws and judicial precedents impacting the Malaysian construction industry while simultaneously maintaining a recognisable model.”

Gracing the launch was Minister in the Prime Minister’s Deparment Azalina Othman Said. The Minister backed the need for KLRCA’s SFC in stating, “In the short space of just three months, led by the Government of Malaysia’s vision of improving the nation’s construction industry, Datuk Professor Sundra Rajoo and his KLRCA team together with a line-up of dedicated industry experts making up the advisory committee embarked on a tedious and arduous journey to produce a more complete, refined and easy to use suite of Standard Form of Building Contracts; the ‘KLRCA Standard Form of Contracts (SFC).”

YB Dato’ Seri Azalina binti Othman Said, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, officiates the Launch.

“While several Standard Form of Building Contracts already exist in the market today, there remain noticeable gaps that require addressing and bridging. KLRCA saw the need to address this. The role of an ADR Centre has gone beyond the days of just merely resolving disputes. It now also extends to dispute avoidance,” she said.

More than six hundred participants of the various disciplines involved in the construction industry and ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) scene were gathered in Kuala Lumpur to attend the long-awaited launch which introduced the solution to the myriad of challenges faced throughout the nation’s construction industry to pave the way to a truly effective and comprehensive regime.

The Malaysia-centric contracts will be tweaked in the coming months to meet and suit international standards for projects outside Malaysia.

KLRCA’s SFC is the Centre’s second significant product launch for the year 2017. It was only in May, during the Kuala Lumpur International ADR Week (KLIAW) 2017 that the Centre introduced its 2017 Arbitration Rules. Included in the new rules were many new provisions to ensure expeditious and cost-effective administration of arbitration proceedings.

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By NUR IHSAN FADHLINA
ihsan@mystar.com.my

“A great city is the city that is built suitable to live by the eight and 80 olds,” said 8-80 Cities director Gil Penalosa during the World Class Sustainable Cities (WCSC) international conference that was successfully held for the ninth time at the Royale Chulan Kuala Lumpur Hotel.

“If the city is safe and convenient for them, then it will be the great city for all. We must stop building cities as if everyone is 30 years old and athletic in order to create the best environment,” Penalosa added.

With the theme “Transforming Cities: Design, Nature and Human Lives”, the event organized by the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association Malaysia (REHDA) Federal Territories branch together with Malaysian Institute of Planners (MIP) and the Malaysian Institute of Architects (PAM) with the support of Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), featured four international speakers from different expertise.

Penalosa in his talk titled “Designing Cities for Children and the Elderly” also said every city should have central park to connect the community.

“In a central park, people will meet each other as equal. The authority should focus on building a park that serves good activities, safety, and has equitable access to be used throughout the year, whether in winter or summer,” said Penalosa.

Municipality of Copenhagen chief architect Tina Sabay also spoke at the conference about “Integrating Nature to Make Cities Resilient & Livable”.

In her talk Tina said, to create a resilient and livable city it should be implemented from large to small scale.

“For the large scale, the government would need to spend more money to create natural spaces within the city. Nature has to be an essential complementary feature to a built environment. Thus the need for more landscape architecture creations.

“Creating a city with an edge, where it shows the flexibility and creativity of the city with trees and flowers planted everywhere, and also creating a unique neighbourhood that can attract people from different area to come to the city, is also the best way to be implemented. This would assist with the commercial maturing of a city, thus aiding a city’s growth,” she said.

According to Tina, among the initiatives that can be implemented in small scale through local methods include the adoption of trees whereby one should be responsible for the tree adopted.

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By NUR IHSAN FADHLINA
ihsan@mystar.com.my

From left: BSN deputy chief executive Siew Kin Meng, Sin Hee Yang Property Group managing director Datuk Loo Chee Wee, Sin Hee Yang Property Group executive director Loo Chee Yang and BSN senior vice president Akhsan Zaini during the press conference.

PETALING JAYA: The upcoming Karnival Perumahan Bumiputra will be offering attractive packages for homebuyers, including up to 100% end-financing loan packages, full stamp duty exemption for the property value of up to RM300,000 and RM200 monthly financial assistance for the first two years.

The event is a collaboration between Sin Hee Yang Property Group and Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN). It will be held on Aug 19 and 20 August (Saturday and Sunday) from 10 am to 6 pm at No 5, Jalan Bunga Raya 2, Taman Bunga Raya, Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, Sepang.

The objective is to introduce BSN’s Youth Housing Scheme (YHS) to qualified potential married or single buyers aged 25 to 40 years with a household income not exceeding RM10,000 per month.

YHS comprises a total of 246 units of houses comprising of single- and double-storey terraces and single storey semi-d.

“With a convenient accessibility like B32 highway serving Salak Tinggi-Nilai, LCCT main road and amenities such as Sekolah Kebangsaan Kg Labu Lanjut, Dewan Orang Ramai Kg Baru Lanjut, Mitsui Premium Outlet, KLIA, and Putrajaya, we expect this carnival will attract potential buyers, especially those who are looking for a luxury yet affordable home,” said Sin Hee Yang Property Group executive director Loo Chee Yang during the press conference.

Sin Hee Yang Property Group managing director Datuk Loo Chee Wee added, “The development is located on the border of Selangor and Negeri Sembilan and we foresee the great opportunity of this place. Since the price of the property at the city is unaffordable for some people, this is a good offer for youngsters to own property.”

There will be luxurious yet affordable properties offered at the price of RM328,000 to below RM500,000 in seven housing schemes that cater to Bumiputera.

According to BSN deputy chief executive of retail banking Siew Kin Meng, “YHS is open for the first 20,000 units on a first-come-first-served basis. Our sales executives will deliver a personalized service in assisting your submission on the facility. Thus, grab this opportunity before it ends.”

Other attractive promotions that will be offered during the carnival are special rebate up to 10% and only RM1000 booking fee, as well as three months’ of instalments that can be redeemed from the developer.

For more information, visit BSN’s website at www.mybsn.com.my or contact BSN’s Customer Service Hotline at 1300-88-1900.

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Mah Sing group managing director Tan Sri Datuk Sri Leong Hoy Kum, (seated – 1st from left), chief executive officer Datuk Ho Hon Sang, (seated – 2nd from left) and group strategy & operations director Lionel Leong (2nd row, first from right) holding 3 award trophies from QLASSIC Day 2017 with team Mah Sing.

KUALA LUMPUR: Mah Sing Group Berhad’s (Mah Sing) Icon City, Petaling Jaya won 3 awards at Construction Industry Development Board’s (CIBD) QLASSIC (Quality Assessment System in Construction) Day 2017 awards ceremony today.

Icon City, Petaling Jaya was awarded Best QLASSIC Achievement Awards 2017 for the residential (large >RM100million) category as well as 2 High QLASSIC Achievement Awards 2017 for Tower 1 and Tower 3A.

QLASSIC is a system or method to measure and evaluate the workmanship quality of a building construction work based on Construction Industry Standard (CIS 7:2014). Scorings were given based on the first inspection that was carried out. Rectification and correction carried out after the assessment will not be rescored as the board encourage “doing things right the first time and every time”. All winning projects have QLASSIC score of more than 80%.

According to a statement, Mah Sing’s group managing director Tan Sri Datuk Sri Leong Hoy Kum said, “In all that we do, we want to reinvent spaces and enhance life. Therefore, we always focus on quality to enhance the lives of our buyers. This award is a testament to our efforts in successfully delivering high-quality properties.”

Icon City – An Integrated Development in the heart of Petaling Jaya

Located at the intersection of Federal Highway and LDP, the 20-acre Icon City has an estimated Gross Development Value (GDV) of RM3.2billion.

Icon City features 30 Jewels (7-storey and 8-storey shop offices), Neon Food Hub (4-storey retail shops), 2 towers of Icon Residenz serviced suites, 2 towers of i-Sovo, and 1 tower of The Volt (MSC Building). Phase Two of Icon City is currently in the planning stage with the upcoming launch in the near future.

Icon City has won numerous awards which include iProperty.com People’s Choice Award 2014 for Best Commercial Development, Property Press Awards 2013 for Best Infrastructure Redevelopment, Asia Pacific Property Awards 2012 for Best Office Development Malaysia (Highly Commended) and Best Commercial Redevelopment Malaysia (5-Star). Icon City is also certified with 3 green standards which are USA’s Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED), Malaysia’s Green Building Index (GBI), and Singapore’s Green Mark for its various components.

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Some elements may be out of our control, but it is worth paying attention to the following factors that could affect the sale of the house.

1 Undesirable surroundings

Property prices will be considerably lower if the house is located in a seedy neighbourhood with a bad reputation. Worse still if the house has weeds growing all over the lawn, rubbish is left uncollected, and the area has bad security ratings.>

2 Lower prices of nearby houses

While sellers are free to set any asking price they want, property agents and valuers will often base the value of a house on the surrounding property prices. Buyers will do the same. If neighbouring houses fetch a lower price on average, the estimated worth of your house in the market will be affected.

3 Losing out from bad location

Connectivity, traffic, infrastructure and facilities in the area are important keys to unlocking the potential of your house as a potential good buy. For example, a house that is located too close to noise sources or far from a good educational institution will look less appealing to buyers.

4 Optimise the living spaces

While local buyers are slowly coming to terms with smaller living areas, space optimisation is still a big consideration. Bad space arrangement will turn away buyers while limited lighting will always be a minus.

5 Bad structural integrity

If there’s a problem with the foundation of your house, having the best marble or stainless steel will not help you. Cautious buyers are weary of houses that need structural fixing because the cost is hard to measure.

The article was first published in Chinese in Property Trends e-mag. To celebrate the upcoming two-year anniversary of Property Trends, StarProperty.my is holding a movie ticket contest.

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Pantai Sentral Park offers a chance to discover the joys of being close to nature.

Pantai Sentral Park’s fun outing created special bonding moments for family members.

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks,” said American-Scottish author John Muir.

IJM Land Pantai Sentral Park gave specially invited guests a chance to enjoy the wonders of nature – fresh air, lush, green trees and a relaxed environment at Taman Rimba Bukit Kerinchi on August 12, 2017. Along with family and friends, they took time off on the Sunday to enjoy a picnic, bonding with one another while appreciating the many gifts nature offers us.

Arriving at the entrance of the forest reserve, the nature lovers got a chance enjoy the verdant views from a hanging bridge before walking down man-made steps to the ideal picnic spot. Some chose to lay their mats next to the flowing stream, while others decided to enjoy the picnic on natural, green lawns. The morning picnic was set amidst the natural forest, a gentle stream and sounds of birds chirping – an ideal weekend with loved ones.

With a buzz of activity in the natural park, there is plenty of back to nature activities to indulge in – whether jogging on the track, exploring the hiking trail with friends or family – or simply taking in the sights. This time around, guests took the chance to connect with family and friends, sharing a basket full of breakfast goodies, good conversation and company on a cool, breezy morning.

At the edge of the 200-acre forest in Bukit Kerinchi is Pantai Sentral Park, a mixed-use township with 7 residential phases and 6 commercial phases in a fully integrated, modern township. Once completed within 10 to 15 years, residents will have a chance to live, work and play within the 58 acres - created with the idea of promoting a healthy lifestyle for all.

Focusing on Pantai Sentral Park’s core values “People, Planet & Priority”, the visionary township will give some 15,000 residents a chance to experience activities such as bird and small wildlife watching, appreciate rainforest plants and flowers up close, sweat it out with jungle trekking and hiking trails, or walk along the landscaped park made exclusively for strolling, jogging and cycling.

Pantai Sentral Park offers a chance to discover the joys of being close to nature.

Pantai Sentral Park’s Inwood Residences and Secoya Residences will be ready in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Once completed, home owners will be able to embrace living a quality life, with the perks of having a forest reserve close to home, together with man-made green amenities such as Sky Gardens, a pathwalk with trellis, rock water fountain, and topiary garden.

IJM Land gives residents the chance to adopt a well-balanced lifestyle without compromising on modern amenities, including 24-hour security, children’s playground, infinity pool, a sunken sundeck and jacuzzi. With thoughtful designs and award winning concepts, Pantai Sentral Park’s received recognition with Inwood Residences’ Enchanted Garden chosen as the winner of Asia Pacific Property Awards in 2014 for best Residential Landscape Architecture in Malaysia.

Along with gorgeous views, whether the unit is oriented in the north or south, the living space was designed with a shallow floor plate to boost natural lighting. This concept is in line with its concept of offering residents the best of both worlds – nature’s splendour and city conveniences.

“At Pantai Sentral Park, we give home owners and residents of Inwood and Seyoca Residences the chance to adopt a healthy lifestyle. With Taman Rimba Bukit Kerinchi 5 minutes away, they can spend time with family and friends there or enjoy the amenities that promote living life outdoors such as the pedestrian walkaways, green boulevards, Linear Forest Walk and the Lake Arena even closer to home. We want our residents to embrace the opportunity of having balanced, quality lifestyles while enjoying the comforts of modern amenities the township has to offer,” said Grace Foo, Sales & Marketing Manager of Pantai Sentral Park.

Located in the heart of the new Golden Triangle, Pantai Sentral Park is connected to commercial, retail and residential hotspots like Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur, Bangsar and Mid Valley City. Residents will also have the chance to have smoother drives to New Pantai Expressway (NPE) and have easier access to Old Klang Road, Sunway, Subang Jaya and other townships in Klang Valley with the PSP Interchange, scheduled to be completed in 2018.

For more information, visit www.pantaisentralpark.com.my.

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By SHALINI KATESSAN
shalini@mystar.com.my

Minister of Works Malaysia Datuk Seri Haji Fadillah Haji Yusof, at the QLASSIC Day 2017 officiating ceremony.

PETALING JAYA: The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia celebrated the fourth year of Quality Assessment System in Construction (Qlassic) Day 2017, awarding 43 projects that proved to meet a standard of quality.

The event was officiated by Minister of Works Datuk Seri Haji Fadillah Haji Yusof through launching the Quality Guidebook for homeowners, which is an information kit on Qlassic and how to assess the quality of one’s home using Qlassic methods.

Fadillah said, “It is imperative for the construction industry to place great importance on quality standards. The industry, both private and public sectors, must view quality as a prerequisite for industry players to operate and develop.”

During the Qlassic Day, CIDB also awarded 43 developers and contractors who achieved more than 80% of the Qlassic score.

The recognition of the high-achieving construction industry players is also part of CIDB’s efforts to transform the local construction sector by encouraging industry players to enhance the workmanship quality in construction.

“This year, we are encouraged with the increase in the number of projects that have achieved a score of 80% and above,” said CIDB Malaysia chief executive Datuk Ir. Ahmad Asri Abdul Hamid.

“With the current Qlassic growth trend that we are on, we are confident that we will be able to achieve the quality and safety aspirations as outlined in the Construction Industry Transformation Programme (CITP) 2016-2020),” he said.

Perumahan Kinrara Bhd, a member of I&P Group, achieved the current highest Qlassic score of 85% for their private residential project Bandar Kinrara Phase 8A5B.

The QLASSIC Day 2017 award recipients together with the Minister of Works, Datuk Seri Haji Fadillah Haji Yusof during the event.

The latest figures for 2016 shows that Qlassic adoption rates have increased based on the number of projects assessed, which stands at 311 in 2016 as compared to 270 projects in 2015 and 272 projects in 2014. Currently, the overall total number of projects assessed with Qlassic is 1,515.

Furthermore, a forum was held to discuss the quality of construction, the challenges and the initiatives.

Panel members of the “Improving Customer Satisfaction with Qlassic” forum included CIDB Malaysia Technology Sector senior general manager Datuk Ir. Elias Ismail, Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government (KPKT) senior federal counsel and head of legal and claims division Roshan Kshatriya, National House Buyers Association secretary general Chang Kim Loong and Sime Darby Property Bhd chief transformation officer Datuk Wan Hashimi Albakri.

The panel discussion was moderated by Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) technical committee chairman Datuk Ir. Laxana Naidu.
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Sime Darby Property bagged 13 quality building awards at the Qlassic Excellence Award 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Property won a total of 13 quality building awards during the Quality Assessment System in Construction (Qlassic) Excellence Award 2017.

Organised by the Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia (CIDB), the award was given to Sime Darby Property for its diverse creature in townships such as Bandar Bukit Raja, City of Elmina, Bandar Ainsdale, Nilai Impian and more.

The awards also included the commercial development of Ara Damansara by its subsidiary company, Sime Darby Brunsfield.

During the award ceremony, Sime Darby Property also received a special appreciation award from CIBD for being the most wins developer.

“We implement strict internal quality measures to complement the external assessment by CIDB through Qlassic. These awards further highlight the outstanding efforts by the Sime Darby Property team, whose hard work and commitment have produced exceptional results despite a challenging market environment,” said Sime Darby Property chief operating officer Datuk Wan Albakri.

Qlassic is a system or method to measure and evaluate the workmanship quality of a building construction work based on the Construction Industry Standard (CIS 7:2006).

This system enables the quality of workmanship between construction projects to be objectively compared through a scoring system.

Qlassic assessments will be carried out through site inspection and are based on the principles of first time inspection.

Sime Darby Property’s Qlassic results have shown tremendous improvements year on year, such as the reduction of non-compliance at the structural construction stage as well as a decrease in defects per unit.

Qlassic is one of the final stages of Sime Darby Property’s product quality assessment system, following its own stringent internal assessments.

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From L-R: AON Hewitt South East Asia CEO Jeremy Andrulis, Khor,  Johan Mahmood Merican and AON Hewitt Malaysia & Brunei managing director Prashant Chadha.

KUALA LUMPUR: S P Setia won the “Best Employer” award for the eighth time at the Aon Best Employers 2017 award ceremony held today. S P Setia president and chief executive officer Datuk Khor Chap Jen received the honour from Economic Planning Unit (EPU) Deputy Director General (human capital) Johan Mahmood Merican.

“We are delighted to receive this award for the eighth time. If there is any single attribute that stands out from our win, I would say it is teamwork. Teamwork is always the hallmark of Setia’s culture,” said Datuk Khor proudly.

S P Setia was awarded one of the Best Employers in Malaysia in 2016, 2015, 2013, 2011, 2009, 2005 and 2003. On top of that, in 2013 and 2011, S P Setia was also named Malaysia’s Best of the Best and Overall Best Employers respectively. The leading property developer was also given a special recognition last year with the ‘Commitment to Engagement’ award, according to a statement.

Relying strongly on its development philosophy LiveLearnWorkPlay, S P Setia takes employees engagement seriously and discusses the results of its annual People’s Pulse Survey in the management’s meetings. The Group understands that its successes are attributed to the loyalty and strength of the team hence various engagement activities, training for talents development, skills and experience enhancing workshops as well as team building activities that strengthen the team are ongoing programs at S P Setia.

“In Setia, 62% of our current employees are from Gen-Y and we have to create good challenges for them to keep them engaged continuously. The Gen-Y group love challenges and excitement. They want their opinion to be heard and they want to be credited for outperformance and excellence. As an employer, it is important for the company to engage with these employees and give credit where credit is due,” said Datuk Khor.

A company that is solidly grounded in its traditions, S P Setia’s annual Family Day and Annual Dinner remains a strong favourite amongst Team Setia in its yearly calendar of activities. During these events, teams from S P Setia’s offices across six countries gather for a day full of fun, friendly competition, performances, food, drinks and much laughter. It creates a great platform for the team to get to know each other and learn to work together to put on a successful event.

Besides getting together to play, a highly engaged team is also a team that happily volunteers their time for S P Setia’s corporate social responsibility activities such as its annual World Environment Day awareness events, festive celebrations with its communities, its Setia Caring School Programme and more. The high number of volunteers at each company event shows the loyalty and commitment of Team Setia to the company’s performance.

“When a property developer is branded as a Best Employer, our customers would expect that we also adopt the best approach in serving them. They will have more confidence in us as well as in our products and services, and remain our loyal supporters,” he added.

The Aon Best Employers program is a global study and was first conducted in 2001. In Asia, it is run in 12 countries which include China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. Participation in the program helps define what makes a winning workplace as organisations that are awarded are those that inspire strong commitment and superior performance from its people, drive business results through effective people practices and manage their businesses in ways that build long-term success and sustainability.

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SOME say there is never a right time to buy a house, or rather anytime is a good time to purchase property.

But when house prices are rising, everything seems to be way above your budget. And when the housing market is softening due to economic reasons, you are unsure about buying a house during times of uncertainty.

When it comes to one of the biggest purchases of your life, it still pays to have a proper financial plan and a clear goal to avoid being saddled with a huge loan that you cannot settle.

While most young people still aspire towards home ownership, they should be aware of circumstances that could make purchasing house inadvisable – at least for the time being.

Be mentally prepared

Most young Malaysians would want a place of their own before tying the knot, hence putting pressure on those considering marriage.

In some instances, young people rush into buying a home just before getting married. This may pose an unnecessary burden for newly-weds.

Building a life with your loved one is a long and gradual process. If you are not prepared for home ownership, you could always start by making plans rather than simply jumping on the bandwagon.

Check your finances

The term “Moonlight Clan” has been used to describe young people who live from pay cheque to pay cheque. While it is best to remedy this situation as soon as possible, unstable finances and lack of a steady career among the young are all signs of the times.

To determine if you have sufficient financial resources to buy a house, make sure you have a steady income and that one-third of it covers your monthly loan obligation.

Property comes with responsibilities. If you are not up to the task, your house may end up being auctioned.

Haste makes waste

In this case, the haste to buy a house may result in a waste of opportunity for you to find a more suitable home.

If you are in too much of a hurry to buy a house, you could end up making a wrong choice in terms of the house type, location or budget.

Although house prices are on an upward trend, it is better to be patient when house hunting rather than diving into the market.

Be flexible

Renting a place is usually a commitment of 12 to 24 months, which is a shorter period compared to a housing mortgage of 20 years or more.

Renting offers more flexibility and is a suitable option for those who enjoy a free and easy life who want the option of switching localities.

Starting a business

If you are full of entrepreneurial spirit or in the midst of starting your own business, you need a more flexible cash flow and financial obligations.

Renting a place allows you to divert a portion of your income to paying living expenses or covering the operating cost of a business.

This article was first published in Chinese in Property Trends e-mag. To celebrate the upcoming two-year anniversary of Property Trends, StarProperty.my is holding a movie ticket contest.

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The Experiential Luxury Opportunities Start With ‘Confluential’

The ‘Confluential’ art exhibition which runs from 19 August to 18 September 2017 features the ‘Tunefulness’ series by Malaysian artiste Ng Foo Cheong.

KUALA LUMPUR: KSK Land Sdn Bhd (KSK Land), developer of 8 Conlay, in collaboration with contemporary gallery, Art WeMe, is hosting an art exhibition themed ‘Confluential’ from 19 August to 18 September 2017, from 9am to 5pm, at the luxurious 8 Conlay sales gallery.

Comprising 28 works, the exhibition showcases a myriad genres of paintings and sculptures that collectively touch on the power of confluence of Asian cultures. ‘Confluential’ features three celebrated international artists, Sanzi from China, Liao Ying Hsi from Taiwan and Saenkom from Thailand; and notable Malaysian artists, CN Liew, Lok Kerk Hwang and Ng Foo Cheong.

Commenting on the art exhibition, KSK Berhad group CEO and KSK Land managing director Joanne Kua said, “At KSK, we are enthusiastic advocates of luxury experiences. That is why we curated 8 Conlay to be so much more than a refined living space for our residents. Our mission is to inspire a new way of luxury city living in Kuala Lumpur. We want to provide 8 Conlay residents with the opportunities to create their own luxury memories. It is all about bringing their story to life.”

‘Wish to Fly’ is a series of stainless steel and bronze sculptures by Taiwanese artist, Liao Ying Hsi.

“That is the reason why we decided to partner with Kempinski Hotels, Europe’s oldest luxury hotelier, to conceive the idea of 8 Conlay being a ‘Confluential’ place. ‘Confluential’ represents a marriage of confluence, confidence and influential. It is an extension of KSK Land and Kempinski going beyond material luxury. The exhibition will set in motion our journey, enabling 8 Conlay residents to embrace luxury in different forms, blending high-value arts, travel, designs and bespoke services.”

“The art exhibition is also a tribute to the nation as we come together to celebrate the 60th Merdeka Day and Malaysia Day in September. We chose to commemorate the country with art as the nation reaches another great growth milestone worthy of a big celebration,” she said, according to a statement.

Kua further added, “Confluential aptly describes the unique dialogue of past and present cultures. Malaysia, or specifically Kuala Lumpur, has been a centre of economic growth in the region for decades. Standing at the confluence of new trade roads, being open to the world and welcoming new influences, Kuala Lumpur can be said to be a hub for creative business as well as the melting pot of Asian cultures.”

An artful tribute to Malaysia.
(From left) KSK Berhad group CEO and KSK Land managing director Joanne Kua, Art WeMe Contemporary Gallery director Liew Su Fei and Malaysian artiste Ng Foo Cheong at the launch of KSK Land’s Confluential Art Exhibition. ‘Confluential’ represents a marriage of confluence, confidence and influential.

Due for completion in 2020, 8 Conlay will comprise two branded residence towers called YOO8 serviced by Kempinski, the five-star Kempinski Hotel Kuala Lumpur, and an innovative retail component strategically located in the heart of the Kuala Lumpur city centre. Kempinski will manage the hospitality for the residence towers, providing residents with ala carte hotel services such as housekeeping and general concierge services. In addition to the suites, Kempinski will also operate and manage the Kempinski Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

Specialising in Contemporary Asian Art, Art WeMe is a contemporary gallery committed to showcasing engaging arts by established, mid-career and promising young artists from around Asia.

Want to contribute articles to StarProperty.my? Email editor@starproperty.my.

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By Pau Ling Ng
pauline@thestar.com.my

Datuk Wong Tuck Wai, COO of S P Setia (on bike) in a group picture with the teams of SP Setia and Mobike at the launch event.

PETALING JAYA: SP Setia recently introduced Mobike to Setia Alam and Setia Eco Park at Shah Alam, one of the first dockless smart bike-sharing platform which has ventured into more than 170 cities globally over the past 15 months.

“Smart bike-sharing offers big townships and their residents and visitors many benefits, including reduced traffic congestion, decreased pollution and a simple yet cost-effective urban transportation option,” said SP Setia deputy president and chief operation officer Datuk Wong Tuck Wai at the launch of the Mobike partnership. The event was held at Setia City Convention Centre (SCCC) yesterday.

Furthermore, the launching of Mobike offers alternative transportation option for citizens to solve the “last-mile” challenge in a greener manner, which is in line with Shah Alam City Council’s initiative to turn Shah Alam into a low-carbon city by 2030.

Datuk Wong Tuck Wai, COO of SP Setia, addressing the crowd at the launch.

Recently, bike-sharing service is emerging worldwide in recent years as it built a bridge between cities’ commute gaps to link-up public transportation dead zones.

“Mobike goes beyond the means of moving around. It’s a lifestyle,” said Mobike international expansion vice president Chris Martin. The presence of Mobike helps improve urban mobility in an eco-friendly way, hence making Malaysia a greener world-class tourist destination, which subsequently driving more business to local merchants.

“We are truly excited to partner with S P Setia Bhd, a highly-regarded Malaysian property developer, to bring our customised smart bike-share service to Malaysia, a country which is embarking on an exciting and ambitious path to achieve an efficient, integrated, and sustainable public transport system.

“We envision that Mobike’s dockless and convenient bike-sharing service will grow in tandem with the nation’s push to redefine the transportation sector’s environmental impact for a sustainable and well-connected country,” he added.

With a distinctive silver and orange appearance, Mobike is designed with proprietary high-tech features that benefit both users and partner cities.

Every Mobike is equipped with unique smart-lock technology and built-in GPS connected via the Mobike IoT network. This allows for tracking the location, monitoring the condition of each bike and location-based demands for bikes in real-time, to manage supply and help solve the “last-mile” challenge.

A total of 600 Mobikes will be deployed in designated locations within S P Setia’s flagship townships, Setia Alam and Setia Eco Park.

The bike-sharing service is currently available. To celebrate its launch in Malaysia, Mobike is providing one month of free services in September, with a one-time fully refundable deposit at a promotional rate of RM9. After the promotional period, the deposit will return to RM99, and the price will be set at RM1.50 for every 30 minutes.

Want to ride with Mobike? All you have to do is download Mobike app, scan QR code to unlock the bike and ride away.

After complete the trip, users need only park the bike at any authorised bike parking area near their destination and manually close the lock on the bike.

Want to contribute articles to StarProperty.my? Email editor@starproperty.my.

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By VIKTOR CHONG viktor@mystar.com.my

Kudos to the winners of the StarProperty.my Real Estate Award 2017

THE night of Aug 8 heralded the top players in the real estate industry as they took to the platform to claim their much-deserved recognition.

The StarProperty.my Real Estate Awards Night 2017 (SREA 2017) aimed to showcase the nation’s best agencies, agents and individuals as a way to acknowledge their dedicated service and contribution to the community.

Star Media Group Bhd group managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai, chief operating officer Calvin Kan and chief revenue officer Lim Bee Leng presented the awards which were divided into three sections, namely agency, negotiator and outstanding personality.

The judges included Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia president Datuk Ter Leong Yap, deputy secretary-general II Michael Chai, Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association past president Datuk Ng Seing Liong, author of property investment books Renesial Leong and StarProperty Sdn Bhd assistant general manager Ernest Towle.

For more information, visit srea.starproperty.my/.

AGENCY

Rising Star Agency

This title crowns the upcoming, new and best agencies that are less than three years in operation and displaying great potential to become a successful performer in the real estate market.

Project Marketing Agency

This award is attributed to firms that shine in the developer-related project marketing regardless of singular project or multitude of projects.

Excellence Agency/Branch

This award recognises the individual or branch of real estate firms that have excellent achievements in the Klang Valley.

Regional Agency

This award recognises external real estate enterprises that have excellent achievements outside the Klang Valley.

PERSONALITY

Influential Individual

This award recognises the non-agent players in the industry who have nonetheless make a huge contribution through visionary leadership and steadfast commitment.

Outstanding Agent

This award recognises the most outstanding estate agent who has gone the extra mile in pursuit of service, ethics and results, as well as demonstrating exemplary management skills with a proven track record.

NEGOTIATOR

All-Star Negotiator

This title is bestowed upon any REN (Real Estate Negotiator) who has shown good qualities as a leader in managing individuals, showing exemplary leadership qualities and reflecting the agency’s best practices to meet industry standards, while achieving substantial achievements in listings, sales, marketing and after-sales.

Rising Star Negotiator

This award is presented to the new Real Estate Negotiator (REN) who has been in practice for less than two years and reflects exemplary leadership, promotes good agency practices and meets industry standards.

Most transacted

This award is presented to the most notable real estate transactions completed by REN. Accomplished REN who have displayed exceptional achievement in the sale or lease transactions are represented by this award.

Deal of the year

This award is handed to the most notable real estate deal completed by a REN. Crafted to highlight accomplished REN, the winners are chosen among those who have displayed exceptional achievement in sales or lease transactions.

Want to contribute articles to StarProperty.my? Email editor@starproperty.my.

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Question: Why is the stadium so cold?
Answer: Because there is a lot of fans.

Why look for a lame joke if you can watch a real comedy show?

Finish the steps to get a chance to win a pair of tickets to “Laugh Die You”, presented by one and only “Phua Chu Kang” Gurmit Singh and his hilarious partners Indi Nadarajah, Kavin Jay and Sulaiman Azmil.

1. Share the StarProperty.my Facebook pinned post to your personal page and add the hashtag #WAHStarProperty.

2. Register at wah.starproperty.my and complete the slogan.

3. Please end the WAH slogan with LDY (stands for Laugh Die You) to join this contest.

Terms and condition:
1. The contest will end on September 27 (Wednesday) at 11.59pm. Only the winners will be contacted through email and phone call.

2. Fifteen (15) winners will be chosen to receive the prize of double Gold tickets to “Laugh Die You”.

3. Each individual is entitled to 1 entry to win 2 tickets only. Please provide the full name and accurate details in the registration, as it will be used to contact the winners.

4. Please set your shared post to public and send us the link to the shared post upon being contacted. The failure to do so will result in disqualification of the participation in the contest.

5. All prizes must be claimed from Sep 29 to Oct 3 (weekday from 10 am to 5 pm) at Menara Star, 15, Jalan 16/11, Phileo Damansara II, 46350 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

6. Winners are required to bring their valid MyKad for verification purposes.

7. The contest is open to all Malaysians of 18 years old and above.

8. The prizes are final, non-transferable and non-convertible to cash.

9. Taking part in the contest is free of charge.

10. In the event of any dispute, StarProperty.my’s decision is final. No further correspondence will be entertained.

11. StarProperty.my reserves the right to extend, cancel or amend this campaign at any time.

12. StarProperty.my may check whether the entries are valid and can disqualify any entrant for tampering with the entry process, including submitting an entry that breaches these terms and conditions.

Want to contribute articles to StarProperty.my? Email editor@starproperty.my.

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By VIKTOR CHONG viktor@mystar.com.my

Seasoned property agencies come together to showcase their commitment

(Left) Star Media Group Bhd CRO Lim Bee Leng and (right) and COO Calvin Kan with All Star Negotiator Award winners Jeff Lim, Derek Soh, George Loo, Juliana Teh, Ng Hang Wai, Jonathan Lai and Teammy Lee.

DESPITE a storm looming over the property horizon, competitors and collaborators alike were all smiles at the StarProperty.my Real Estates Awards 2017.

Held on Aug 8, the event was organised by StarProperty.my to showcase the unwavering patience, commitment and stellar services provided by agents and agencies of the property market. These seasoned agents came together under one roof to share their tips for success as well as their opinions regarding the current economic climate.

Recipe for success

With experience comes an innate understanding of the crucial aspects 2017of the real estate industry.
Rina Properties Asia Sdn Bhd general manager Morgan Koh believes that the agent’s performance must always be measured.

“Our company’s agents must see numbers as a gauge for results and quality of service. Having satisfied customers will then improve our reputation. When we provide excellent service, customers will come back.”

Koh said his company focuses on training and educating agents to ensure that they have the latest updates, news and information from the market.

“We make sure that our agents are responsible for what they say and do,” he added.

Echoing this sentiment is Gplex Realty Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Christopher Liang. His company provides a 90-day jumpstart programme for new agents as well as weekly training and regular meetings.

Regional Agency Award winners celebrating their achievements with Lim (left). From second left: Vincent Tan, Property Hub (Sabah) Sdn Bhd resident manager Sharon Goh and IQI Realty Sdn Bhd group VP Dave Chong.

“They should have intimate knowledge about real estate after the three-month training programme. Our agents are also given special incentives,” said Liang, who added that with its core value of professionalism, GPLEX aims to change the culture and image of the real estate agency as an average career.

Meanwhile, FLP Realty Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Fallon Loo was excited at winning an award because her company is relatively new in the industry. “Our company invests a huge lot in our people,” said Loo.

Affirm Plus Properties Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Hendry Lee believes that a good work environment is important.

But he said it is more important for agents to keep their promises when dealing with clients.
Mapleland Properties senior negotiator Juliana Teh said agents must have a pleasant disposition and dress well.

“Always serve with a smile and with passion. It is not about the money; it’s building relationship and reputation,” said Teh.

Leadership matters

Homefield Real Estate Sdn Bhd special projects manager Ainal Maryam Zamzuri said that a lead agent must be knowledgeable and always be on the ground.

“Without experience, he cannot lead the team,” he said.

Polygon Properties Sdn Bhd associate partner George Loo reckons that a good leader must also know how to care for his team members. “When they need help, you should be there to teach them.”

Loo added that agents must have integrity and be sincere in their work. “Never hide problems. Some agents tell their customers that furnishing is provided when it is not.”

Star Media Group Bhd group MD and CEO Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai (middle) with winners of Rising Star Negotiator Award (from left) Ainal Maryam Zamzuri, Daniel Chieng, Roshindar Kaur Dhillon and Jenny Liu.

Polygon Properties director Derek Soh said that a supportive group leader is what a real estate negotiator looks for.

He believes that a good leader should bring the agents up to speed regarding their marketing, networking and career paths.

Greenfield Properties senior negotiator Jenny Liu echoed Soh’s comment. “The leader sets a good example from her work so that the team members will be able to emulate the results,” she said.

“What’s important is that we all come together and work hard as a team,” said Total Realty Sdn Bhd co-founder Kho Chng Guan.

The drive of passion

Dreamvest Realty Sdn Bhd co-founder Jeff Ong has faith in his people. “The key factor has always been our negotiators who have given us today’s results. Since we are all selling the same thing, it boils down to quality service to win this competition.”

Megaharta Real Estate Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Clement Ong says that quality is defined by the agency’s ability to create value. “We see the real estate agency as half business and half professional. A successful agency creates value for its staff and for the market at large,” said Ong.

Most of the winners attributed their success to the key factors of passion, integrity and discipline.

“You have to love this field if you want to last long,” said Homefield Real Estate Sdn Bhd director Munirah Mohammad who has been in the industry for over 28 years.

Lim (left) presenting the Outstanding Agent Award to Homefield Real Estate Sdn Bhd director Munirah Mohammad.

Huttons One World Sdn Bhd executive director Amenny Chua and Property Exchange negotiator Daniel Chieng expressed the importance of discipline and commitment.

“The team must keep on learning,” said Chua.

According to CBD Properties Sdn Bhd senior negotiator Jonathan Lai, a successful agent must be able to combine passion, perseverance and a healthy mindset in order to provide quality service.

“With focus and innovation, we will achieve good results,” said Property Hub Sdn Bhd senior vice president

Benjamin Tee who believes that the agency is more than a business because it also serves the community.

Optimism against all odds

Vivahomes Realty Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Alvin Foo sees most of the challenges coming from stiff competition among agencies for market share.

“The price per sq ft of properties is stable but the number of transactions has decreased,” he said.

Acknowledging that the market trend is going down, Foo believes that commissions should not be given out to win deals.

Vivahomes Realty Sdn Bhd senior negotiator Ng Hang Wai talks about having the right people.

“During a recession, we should focus on moveable products. In good times, we can get five out of 10 people to close the deal. In bad times, we can only get two out of 10 people. The fundamental importance is in getting the right person. You will have a higher chance of closing the deal,” said Ng.

Tech Realtors Properties Sdn Bhd director KT Chua says there is always a market for buyer and seller because everyone needs a roof over their heads.

The winners of Excellence Agency Award celebrating their achievement with Star Media Group CRO Lim Bee Leng (third from right). From left: Cornerstone Realty director of sales marketing Wong Yau Long, Tech Realtors Properties Sdn Bhd director KT Chua, Affirm Plus Properties Sdn Bhd CEO Hendry Lee, Tech Real Estate Sdn Bhd founder Alex Lee Hong Boon and IQI Realty Sdn Bhd group VP Aaron Siow.

“Many buyers are still making transactions, irrespective of commercial or residential properties, or even land for agricultural use. The best time to buy is when the market is soft; sell when the market is on a bull run,” said Chua.

Sharing this optimism is Gather Properties Sdn Bhd managing director Vincent Tan, who thinks that the market is not soft.

He explains: “It is just that the bank loan is a little tight at present. We need to filter through the customers and get the quality buyers.”

IQI Realty Sdn Bhd senior negotiator Jeff Lim commented on the surplus of buyers looking for a good deal. He said:

“Agents need to have a complete listing on hand so that we can give the customers more choices.”

CBD Properties Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Adrian Wang, however, advised caution. “Always adapt to the current environment. We need to change, train and gain knowledge to upgrade ourselves.”

He stressed the importance of cash flow as well as to be mindful of spending. “Spend on advertising to bring attention to the firm,” said Wang.

Supporting Wang’s statement, Tech Real Estate Sdn Bhd founder Alex Lee said: “If we can’t change the market, we change ourselves. That is what I tell my agents.”

Cornerstone Realty director of sales and marketing Wong Yau Long said: “In this challenging market, we stay ahead of the competition by coming out with creative ideas.

IQI Realty Sdn Bhd group vice-president Chen Tse Ping believes that there are certain aspects which are crucial to the agencies’ survival.

“If we are capable of combining good products, mindset and quality people, we can survive the bad market,” said Chen.

IQI Realty Sdn Bhd team members choosing props at the photo booth.

Upholding the industry standard

Property Hub Sdn Bhd negotiator Roshindar Kaur Dhillon is concerned about the issue of illegal agents. “The biggest problem that we have now is illegal agents. Companies who are in it for the long term must make sure that their agents are registered first,” she said.

CBD Properties Sdn Bhd team leader Sebastian Sam said the agent’s job is to help smoothen the way and close the transaction. “If the vendor is a little difficult to get through, we need to negotiate in such a way that both parties win,” he added.

In agreeing with Sam, Terence Tih of Tech Real Estate Sdn Bhd shares this learning curve: “There will be times when the client wants something. After complying with his request, the client will say that he wants something else. It is all about different clients and how to manage them,” said Tih.

“Never give up when you fail. Be persistent and try again. You will finally succeed,” said GS Realty Sdn Bhd negotiator Teammy Lee.

Some photos of the glamourous night

Want to contribute articles to StarProperty.my? Email editor@starproperty.my.

The post Beacons of inspiration appeared first on Malaysia Premier Property and Real Estate Portal.

Potential home owners registering to view the new show unit of Mercury @Setia Eco Cascadia.

JOHOR BAHRU: Boasting an exterior design inspired by the Morning Star, with abstract shapes and gradation of sunburst colours ranging from shades of orange to yellow, the Mercury eco home collection sits idyllically within the Setia Eco Cascadia township in Johor Bahru.

“The Mercury double-storey terrace houses in the Aurora precinct offers ample living space for comfort and privacy. Besides a lifestyle-designed kitchen with views of the park, each unit opens up to 20ft of back land rear gardens offering refreshing walkways where residents can take quiet, tranquil walks and enjoy the natural greenery,” said S P Setia Berhad general manager Saniman Amat Yusof.

“We have a brand new vibrant show unit and we are happy to note that so many interested purchasers have given us positive feedback after visiting it. Many would like to adopt similar designs to maximize the 1969 sq. ft. built up each unit offers,” added Saniman in a statement.

More than 200 potential home owners turned up for a delightful Tea Party held in conjunction with the launch of the new show unit and joined in the many fun-filled activities held for the whole family such as hat decorating for young kids, mug-painting as well as recycling of popsicle sticks to make reusable items like photo frames and containers.

The Mercury double-storey houses collection in the Aurora precinct offers ample living space for comfort and privacy.

Located on 33 acres within Setia Eco Cascadia, the Mercury collection stays true to its tagline of ‘Living in Nature’s Miracle’. With four bedrooms plus three bathrooms in each unit which has a land size of 20’ x 75’, the homes are targeted to those who prefer living an ‘eco-concept’ lifestyle in one of the most unique eco townships in the country. The majestic waterfalls around the development paint picturesque scenes that are simply breath-taking with 15 percent of the total land area of Setia Eco Cascadia being reserved for the cultivation of flora.

“One unique feature of the Mercury unit is the en-suite bedroom on the Ground Floor which provides convenience to the home owners especially families with senior citizens. Besides living in a 24-hours gated and guarded community, the township is also easily accessible via the North-South Expressway (NSE), Eastern Dispersal Link Expressway (EDL) and the Tebrau as well as the Pasir Gudang highways,” said Saniman while pointing out that each precinct in the township has a private clubhouse and playground, amongst other facilities.

Setia Eco Cascadia is certainly a preferred choice for new homeowners as the township has won a number of awards including Honour Awards at Malaysia Landscape Architectural Awards (MLAA) 2016 and the MLAA Merit Awards for Metamorphosis Park (2015) and Waterfall & Recreational Pond (2012).

Mercury @ Setia Eco Cascadia units are priced from RM693,000 onwards. Interested purchasers can call 07-3512255 or email sec-sales@spsetia.com to obtain more information.

Want to contribute articles to StarProperty.my? Email editor@starproperty.my.

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PETALING JAYA: Build Eco Xpo (BEX) Asia is a three-day event of knowledge building, information exchange and dialogue on the latest in green building and energy-efficient technologies.

Taking place from Sep 12 to 14 (Tuesday to Thursday), Build Eco Expo (BEX) Asia is co-located with Mostra Convegno Expocomfort (MCE) Asia. Over 450 international solution providers will come together to showcase their innovations at the two events.

“BEX and MCE Asia are the ideal platforms to galvanise the Asian green building, HVAC-R, water, energy and heating communities into action towards sustainable development,” said the World Green Building Council’s (WorldGBC) Board of Directors Chair, Tai Lee Siang in a statement.

“Though green building adoption is accelerating in Asia, the rate of change is not fast enough as the average green building penetration rate is only 10%. The green building industry, governments, and consumers need to join hands to tackle the problem of climate change quickly and decisively,” elaborated Tai.

An array of innovations

The trade floor will showcase an exciting range of innovative development amongst Asia’s building developers, engineers and architects.

An innovative curated feature by Surbana Jurong, titled Life in the Time of Climate Change, will highlight how sustainability is not just a buzzword, but a lifestyle. The feature will integrate building and sustainable innovations in a house. Within the house, participating companies will demonstrate the contribution of smart technologies towards improving the environment.

Smart and intelligent systems will take centerstage throughout the show floor with solutions such as
Internet of Things-enabled devices and systems, autonomous sensors, applications and software.

Furthering knowledge exchange

BEX and MCE Asia will both feature series of complementary seminars, Green View and Mostra Xchange, comprising 40 expert speakers.

BEX Asia’s Green View seminars will focus on issues pertinent to the green building industry followed by discussions that will be led by experts from renowned organisations across the world. The key session highlights and speakers will touch on issues such as innovative HVAC strategies, smart lighting technologies and their value-added applications, iconic green buildings in Asia as well as perspectives and strategies for creating sustainable, functional and aesthetic living spaces.

Seminars at Mostra Xchange will focus on HVAC-R, water and solar energy industries. Discussions at Mostra Xchange will be led by experts and cover issues such as energy-saving hospitals, air filtration technology, challenges of energy-efficient buildings, and computer air filter performance simulation.

BEX Asia will be running from Sep 12 to 14(Tuesday to Thursday) at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre during the Singapore Green Building Week (SGBW) 2017. The event expects to attract green building experts, industry professionals, policymakers and end-users.

For more information, visit www.bex-asia.com.

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By SHALINI KATESSAN
shalini@mystar.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR: Sunway Group proudly announced its new mid-market hotel development at Cheras.

Sunway Velocity Hotel, offering 351 rooms, is a transit-oriented, integrated hotel within the Cheras vicinity. It will be ready for operation on Sep 20.

The joint venture project between Sunway Bhd and Fawanis Sdn Bhd has a gross development cost (GDC) of RM146mil.

“We are confident that we will be able to operate at about 75% occupancy in the first year of the hotel opening due to consideration of integration, connectivity, market size and our competitive pricing,” said Sunway Hotels & Resorts operation cluster director Kelly Leong.

“We anticipate about 60% corporate and 40% leisure base. In 2017 and 2018, we are expecting Malaysian to constitute 60% of our guest with the balance coming from Singapore, China and guests residing in the Asia Pacific region,” said Leong.

“The hotel is synergistic to the now 96% occupied Sunway Velocity Mall, which is welcoming 1.5 million visitations a month currently.

“Our guests will have access to over 500 retail stores, 150 food and beverage outlets, as well as a host of entertainment centres and recreational facilities, making it an ideal destination for a traveller who prizes conveniences,” he added.

The hotel is linked to Light Rapid Transit (LRT) and two underground Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) stations.

The guest will have easy access to Bukit Bintang shopping district and KL Sentral, as well as other attractions nearby.

The upcoming medical centre is scheduled to be open in 2019.

Want to contribute articles to StarProperty.my? Email editor@starproperty.my.

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