Straits Residences by Kerjaya Prospek

Kerjaya Prospek Property (KPP) plans to acquire land to build serviced apartments.

Major shareholder of the company Datuk Tee Eng Ho (pictured) told The Edge Malaysia that the purchase will involve “a few plots of land: two in the Klang Valley and one in the northern region”.

“The land will be used to build serviced apartments. Announcements will be made very soon,” Tee said.

He added that KPP will continue to focus on pocket land development by launching mid-range to high-end high-rise products.

The weekly reported in its latest issue that KPP’s “net profit jumped threefold to RM63.53 million for the financial year ended March 31, 2021, from RM21.24 million in the previous year, thanks to the higher sales and development progress at its projects — Bloomsvale in Jalan Klang Lama (Kuala Lumpur), Kaleidoscope in Setiawangsa (Kuala Lumpur) and Straits Residences in Seri Tanjung Pinang (Penang)”.

Tee also “believes” prospects for the company’s construction arm Kerjaya Prospek Group Bhd (KPG) will “be better this year after the full lockdown last year”.

Meanwhile, the business publication also reported about Tee taking control of Eastern & Oriental Bhd (E&O).

Tee said the purchase of shares in E&O is based on his belief that the property market will see light at the end of the tunnel by year-end or next year.

“I am a long-term player … I talked to Sime Darby after getting to know that it was planning to sell its stake in E&O. It was good timing because I am very confident about the property market,” said Tee.

“The world is printing too much money and inflation will come back. So, we will see property prices shooting up. People could have more money as they don’t have the chance to spend,” he added

Tee also said that he “appreciates” E&O’s premium branding with “many high-end property projects over the years”.

“I have known E&O since 1996 when I did the first shoplot project for the company as a contractor. From a low to medium developer, E&O slowly became a high-end and premium developer. Its hotels are the best in Malaysia,” Tee explained.

He said E&O’s value is also “reflected by its sizeable land bank, especially in Penang”.

It has been reported that Phase 2 of its flagship STP project — a master-planned seafront development on the northeast coast of Penang island — spans 760 acres.

“In addition to 348 acres of land in Gertak Sanggul, Penang, it also has a land bank in the Klang Valley and Johor,” wrote The Edge.

Tee said that E&O’s shareholders should also not be too concerned about its debt level. “I have already put so much money in E&O. If I am not worried, why should they? The most important thing is how you create the value.”

As for the E&O Hotel in Penang, the group will consider selling the hotel if the price is right. “For a developer, everything can be up for sale if the price is right. However, it is not easy to sell, as we want a high premium [and not just the] market price,” Tee said.

Source: EdgeProp.my

A new era of the Penang ferry service will start soon with a RM20mil upgrading works of the Raja Tun Uda ferry terminal on Penang island and Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal in Butterworth that will begin in June.

Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) chief executive officer Datuk Sasedharan Vasudevan said contractors had been picked and works would be completed within 12 to 15 months.

“The Butterworth terminal will be completed first within eight months as it is more urgent. Presently, those who disembark have to walk up a flight of stairs.

“At present, the passenger-only fast boats disembark on a temporary pontoon adjacent to the existing Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal.

“We have consulted physically challenged groups on the design of the terminal to ensure that it is OKU-friendly and easy to use, ” he said.

Sasedharan said priority would be given to the upgrading of the waiting and ticketing areas at the terminals.

He said the month of June would also see the awarding of tenders for three passenger-only water buses and two ferries for two-wheelers.

“There are 30 local and international bids for the tender of vehicles and the letter of award to the successful bidder will be given by the end of June.

“It could be two companies that will be given the job to build the water buses and ferries for two-wheelers with certain specifications.

“We are looking at the best kind of vehicle to ply between the island and mainland.

“Since it is a short run, a catamaran will not be suitable and we are doing an engineering study on the best possible kind of boat. We have brought in a marine engineering company to help us in the tender process, ” he said.

Sasedharan said the phasing and transition period of the vehicles would be about 12 to 15 months.

“All the vehicles may not be delivered at the same time and one might come first within seven months and the rest later.

“It would not be an issue as we could mix and match with the existing fast boats and roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) ferries.

“We would be spending roughly around RM80mil for both the ferry terminal upgrade and the procurement of the water vehicles.”

The iconic Penang ferries ceased operation on Dec 31, with only a single ferry carrying motorcyclists plying from the ferry terminal between the island and mainland.

A Ro-Ro boat for motorcyclists and two fast boats carrying passengers operate from the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal in George Town.

All four-wheelers presently use the Penang Bridge and Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge.

In the meantime, the number of people using the fast boats and Penang ferry has reduced since the imposition of movement control order (MCO) 3.0.

Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng said there were only 449 passengers from Prai to Penang on the fast boats and 478 people from Penang to Prai on May 25.

“However there were only 166 from Prai to Penang and 168 from Penang to Prai on May 26, which was a public holiday due to Wesak Day, ” he said.

Tan said the number of motorcyclists on the Penang ferry was 370 from Prai to Penang and 479 from Penang to Prai on May 25.

“The figures were vastly reduced to 149 from Prai to Penang and 159 from Penang to Prai on May 26.

“This shows Penang people are very disciplined and aware of the situation presently and are working from home, ” said Tan on his Facebook posting.

Tan said while the usage of the ferry and boats had reduced, the standard operating procedures (SOPs) would be adhered to with hourly sanitisation carried out.

“PPC and Penang Port Sdn Bhd will always monitor and prioritise the wellbeing and safety of the passengers at all times, ” he said.

Source: TheStar.com.my

By Ar. Tan Bee Eu

While our country grapples with the rising cases of Covid-19, one recent headline caught the attention of many Penangites. The launched of Slimhaus Development, being the first prefabricated housing to use Industrialised Building System (IBS).

Since 2003, the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) has been relentless in encouraging the construction industry to embrace IBS methods in construction. Many homebuyers may have heard of construction methods of Industrialized Building System (IBS), prefabricated housing and modular housing. So, what is the difference, many asks? Wikipedia explains that Industrialized Building System (IBS) is a term used in Malaysia for a technique of construction whereby components are manufactured in a controlled environment, either at site or off-site, placed and assembled into construction works. Worldwide, IBS is also known as Prefabricated / Prefab Construction, Modern Method of Construction (MMC) and Off-site Construction.

Yet to many homeowners/buyers, it may still sound like an untested experimental product, rarely offered as a Mass Housing product as in the case of Slimhaus. Hence when shopping for their dream home, most Penangite homebuyers may still lean towards conventional development built using brick and mortar.

The scenario above prompted this article, to shed an impartial review on the construction method championed by Slimhaus Technology. My writings is based on a recent lively virtual chat with Ar. Gerald Chin (the CEO of Slimhaus Technology Sdn. Bhd.) whom incidentally was a Guest Speaker at my PechaKucha Talk Event in 2018. Imagining myself as a sceptic homebuyer, I quizzed Ar. Gerald with endless interrogation of common questions and shot head-on burning questions many have. To keep this article short and simple, here’s an excerpt of 5 selected questions covering the “bare basics” to understand what is Slimhaus all about.

IBS has been pursued by many Construction Players in Malaysia for years. What makes Slimhaus Technology any different?

In recent years, we see many companies emerged as IBS manufacturers of building components. Slimhaus is the first IBS company providing full housing solutions where the entire house is constructed using IBS technology. We are also very pleased that Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) granted us the Pioneer Status for our Construction System.

What are the biggest advantages of Slimhaus as an IBS system?

Groundbreaking consistency in quality control as every building component is manufactured off-site under systematic manufacturing methods. Think of it as building houses like we build cars & electrical appliances with precision and accuracy off-site at the manufacturing plant. All manufactured in the factory and easily assembled on site. Instant occupancy with zero or minimal renovation works. All services are modularly built into the building components; -i.e. Plug & Play wiring harnesses, Plug & Play extension power outlets, modular air-con compressor mounting system, centralised vacuum system etc.

What is the lifespan of Slimhaus? If it’s built like cars/appliance, any warranties provided then?

Slimhaus comes with total 4 years of building warranty. It’s a known fact that steel buildings have an average lifespan of 50 to 100 years. Many of the world’s tallest skyscraper was built using steel structure and IBS system, for example, our very own iconic Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) Petronas Twin Towers.

What is the process involved in building Slimhaus?

We run everything from design, R&D to production under Slimhaus Technology Sdn Bhd. It’s similar to an IKEA product that you purchase off-shelf. Our Manufacturing Plant fabricates the house components from cutting, drilling, welding, finishing to produce a final product of a Flat Pack.

One Flat Pack contains over 68 pre‐manufactured H‐Steel Components and complete customized pre-manufactured bolting & finishing accessories. This Flat Pack is then transported to the project site and installed by our specially trained Installation team to completion in 30 days per house. That is the beauty and efficiency of our IBS System.

Slimhaus apparently does not include a single brick. Can your neighbors hear all your secret conversations? How do you address this concern?

Slimhaus’s building components of party wall, internal wall and flooring system all complies to the required Building By-laws including BOMBA Fire Safety Regulations. We have formulated a wall solution based on a sandwich panel concept that performs on par, if not better than a conventional brick wall.

One of the biggest game-changer that IBS brings to the playing field is significantly low reliance on massive foreign labour at site. Slimhaus is empowering local youth to undergo technical training to become Skilled Assemblers. If your interest is piqued on IBS and wish to understand the technical aspects of Slimhaus, just send your queries to the Editor. Perhaps, that may pave way to a subsequent discussion of the IBS System used by Slimhaus. Till then, please stay home! Stay safe, everyone!

(Credits: Special thanks to Ar. Gerald Chin for graciously sharing details of his IBS Total Housing Solution in Malaysia, and providing the photographs.)

Ar. Tan Bee Eu is Professional Architect registered with Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia and has 20 years of working experience in international and local architectural projects. Currently, an academician with Universiti Sains Malaysia, School of Housing, Building and Planning; specializing in Passive Design of Natural Lighting and Modular Construction Design. Ar. Bee Eu also founded Pechakucha Night Penang, an International Copyrighted Talk Event using the format of 20 images x 20 seconds.
(More about Ar. Tan Bee Eu)

A nationwide full lockdown will take place from June 1 to 14 and all sectors will not be allowed to operate during this period except the essential economic and service sectors.

A special National Security Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Friday (May 28) made the decision to implement the full lockdown for 14 days.

In a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), it said the decision was made following the steep climb of Covid-19 cases that breached the 8,000 mark with more than 70,000 active cases on Friday.

“So far, 2,552 people have died and the number is climbing.

“The existence of new and more violent virus variants that are highly infectious also influenced today’s decision.

“With the steeply increasing numbers, our hospital capacity nationwide to treat Covid-19 patients is also getting thinner,” the statement read.

Should this first phase of lockdown succeed in reducing the number of daily cases, the PMO said the government would move on to the second phase that allows some economic sectors to open provided no large gatherings are involved and physical distancing is practised.

“Phase Two of the lockdown is expected to last for four weeks after Phase One ends.

“After that, Phase Three would start with the implementation of the movement control order (MCO) where no social activities are allowed.

“Most economic sectors would be allowed to operate according to strict SOPs and physical distancing at workplaces, which will be limited,” it said, adding that the decision to move from one phase to the next is subject to risk assessments by the Health Ministry.

“The assessment would be made based on the daily cases and the hospitals’ capacity nationwide to treat Covid-19 patients,” it added.

PMO also assured that the government would prevent the country’s public health system from collapsing.

“Various support and assistance will be given to the Health Ministry to increase the hospital capacity throughout the country.

“The government will also increase the number of vaccines to be administered to the people over the next few weeks to expedite herd immunity in the country.”

Following the government’s decision to implement a full closure of the economic and social sectors, PMO said the Finance Ministry would detail the assistance package to the people and affected businesses.

“An announcement on this assistance package will be made soonest.

“We call on all Malaysians to remain disciplined and always adhere to the SOPs to break the chain of Covid-19 infections.

“It is best to stay home to flatten the Covid-19 infection curve,” it added.

Source: TheStar.com.my

The proposed first phase of Sunway Valley City integrated development by Sunway Property at Paya Terubong in Penang Island. It is strategically located along Jalan Paya Terubong, about 8km to George Town and Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone.

The initial phase of this project will see the construction of a 24-storey commercial building, featuring 237 units of shop offices and 205 units of office suites. There will be 3 levels of car parking podium.

This project is still in its planning stage and pending approval. More details to be available upon official launch.

Project Name : (to be confirmed)
Location : Sunway Valley City, Paya Terubong
Property Type : Commercial
Total Units: 237 (shop offices), 205 (office suites)
Built-up Area: (to be confirmed)
Indicative Price: (to be confirmed)
Developer : Sunway City Sdn. Bhd. (Sunway Property)