Pasar Malam @ Taman Putra Prima

Index Living Mall @ Puchong

Aeon to increase investments despite subdued sentiment
Aeon will open its first furniture outlet called the Index Living Mall in Puchong via its 70%-owned joint venture with the Thai-based Index Living Mall, which is the largest furniture retailer in Thailand.
“The products will be sourced from Thailand. The initial capital is about RM10mil,” Poh said.
Index Living Mall has its own manufacturing plant in Thailand and is currently already exporting to other countries with a franchise business as well.
Source: TheStar

Aeon forms Malaysian JV
Japanese retail giant Aeon and Thailand’s Index Living Mall have joined together in a Malaysian joint venture. Aeon and Index Living Mall will own 70 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively, of the joint venture called Aeon Index Living Sdn Bhd.
The JV plans 20 stores by 2020 with the first to open next year. Index Living Mall is a successful furniture chain likened by some as an Asian answer to Sweden’s Ikea.
For Index Living Mall, which operates special malls entirely devoted to selling furniture not only in Thailand, but also in markets like Vietnam, Myanmar, Nepal, Laos as well as Dubai, the new venture will leverage its brand across the region.
While for Aeon, it will support its goal to become a leader in retail in Asia, it says.
The two companies are optimistic about the new venture citing that Malaysia’s home furnishings market is still fragmented with few international brands. The country’s per capita income is also twice that of Thailand, making the market more attractive.
Source:  Inside Retail Asia

Puchong Utama Interchange - Update 25/5/2014

(雪蘭莪‧蒲種24日訊）居民引頸長盼14年的蒲種烏達瑪交通樞紐將動工，預料2016年2月正式通車後可紓緩白蒲大道的交通，令逾5萬人從中受惠。該交通樞紐將橫跨白蒲大道，銜接蒲種烏達瑪第二區和蒲種成功花園（Taman Maju Jaya），一旦該交通樞紐啟用，料可紓緩蒲種14英里交通樞紐和白蒲大交通阻塞的問題。
據瞭解，梳邦再也市議會在2000年已委任顧問公司設計該交通樞紐及準備工程招標文件，鑑於該計劃的工程費估計耗資2千萬令吉，以致計劃被擱置。
工程開銷增至2550萬
大道局也在2009年提出，該交通樞紐須提供來回4條車道，同時須開闢一條車道讓白蒲大道的車輛可左轉至蒲種烏達瑪花園，以致該工程開銷增至2千550萬令吉。
後來，市議會在2012年10月批准該項計劃，並在2013年宣佈重新招標，以在同年4、5月動工，詎料最後還是無法落實。
發展商貢獻金僅1100萬
雪貸款支付不敷費用
行動黨金鑾區州議員黃思漢向《大都會》社區報透露，市議會在今年2月初已完成招標程序，受委承包商料在提呈所有文件後就可動工。
他說，據瞭解，蒲種居協聯合總會早在十多年前就已向市議會提呈興建交通樞紐的建議，他在擔任市議員期間也協助爭取，市議會在3年前基於僅收到其中1千100萬令吉來自發展商的基本建設貢獻金，導致該計劃的進度被拖延。
“市議會已在去年獲得雪州政府貸款以支付不敷的費用，因此市民大可放心，該計劃將會依據原定計劃進行。”
他坦言，蒲種烏達瑪交通樞紐雖呈鑽石形，但基於白蒲大道與打昔柏麗瑪花園路交界處設有2間油站，導致從蒲種烏達瑪第二區欲右轉至白蒲大道往蒲種IOI廣場方向的車輛，必須在打昔烏達瑪花園路的交通圈U轉，再駛出白蒲大道往目的地前進。
“根據市議會的交通樞紐發展藍圖顯示，當局將拆除打昔柏麗瑪花園路與柏西蘭柏蘭嶺三岔路的交通燈，打昔柏麗瑪花園路靠近湖泊的位置則增建交通圈。”
下班時段車龍塞3公里
蒲種居協聯合會主席植清鼎指出，蒲種人盼望了十多年的交通樞紐終有了眉目。
他說，近年來，蒲種14英里至16英里一帶的屋業發展迅速，人口和車流量劇增，現有的蒲種14英里交通樞紐根本無法負荷龐大的車流量，尤其是上下班繁忙時段，堵塞情況更是嚴重。
“蒲種14英里交通樞的交通阻塞已嚴重影響了白蒲大道的交通順暢度，尤其是下班時段，車龍長達3公里延伸至蒲種鑽石花園交通樞紐。”
他認為，一旦該交通樞紐啟用後，蒲種烏達瑪第二區的居民可直接從白蒲大道駛入，該區的居民可縮短至少5公里路程。
交通樞紐2016年啟用
該居協聯合會副主席陳韋鳴坦言，該計劃雖遲了14年，但總算如願以償落實，有望在2年後啟用，紓緩蒲種區擁擠的車流量。
“據悉，一項五星級酒店工程正於蒲種打昔柏麗瑪附近興建中，若民聯雪州政府數年前建議的公教中學分校和蒲種益智華小分校的建議得以落實，該交通樞紐可帶來巨大的幫助。”
他促請市議會需如期完成該計劃，以免市民的希望又再度落空。

(星洲日報‧大都會）

Strong Interest in New Project

A preview event organised by Bukit Hitam Development Sdn Bhd (BHD) for its Epic Suites development drew a crowd of potential buyers who started queuing at 5am outside the company’s sales gallery in Bukit Puchong.
Epic Suites, set to be officially launched this Saturday, is BHD’s latest offering.
The project is situated in the heart of Bukit Puchong, one of the up-and-coming development areas in the Greater Kuala Lumpur region.
BHD general manager Edward Lee said, “The response was truly overwhelming and better than expected.

“People started waiting outside our office from as early as 5am on Saturday.”

Within the two days, more than 70% of the 150 units of the first block of Epic Suites were booked.
Set on 0.93ha of prime, freehold land among retail and commercial developments, the project comprises two 21-storey blocks of low-rise serviced apartments.
The apartments will come in six different designs with built-up areas ranging from 619sq ft to 1,206sq ft, with prices starting at RM490 per sq ft.
“We believe we have a good offering in Epic Suites as it is the ideal investment, not only for those planning to stay on their own but also for those with families as they can choose between a one-room studio, a two-bedroom unit and a three-bedroom unit within a safe living environment in a strategic location,” Lee added.
Members of the public who missed out on the sales preview can learn more about Epic Suites at the project’s launch on May 24 and 25 from 10am to 4 pm at the BHD Sales Gallery.
Having maintained a low profile over the last two years to fine-tune its masterplan for the Bukit Puchong township, BHD has now ramped up its thrust in the area with the launch of Epic Suites, among other developments within the vicinity.
Lee says potential people investing in Epic Suites and other property in the Bukit Puchong township have good reason to do so as BHD has a good track record.
Lee adds that completed units within the township have nearly doubled in value since it was launched.
For example, the developer’s Park Villa townhouses, launched in 2008 with built-ups between 1,259sq ft and 1,560sq ft, that were priced at RM218,000, have been transacted in the secondary market recently at RM430,000.
Similarly, the medium-cost Baiduri Courts of about 750sq ft units that were going at RM87,000 when it was launched in 2007, was recently transacted at RM170,000.
For details on Epic Suites and other BHD upcoming projects, visit www.bukitpuchong.com.my.

Source: TheStar

Mitrajaya to Develop Landbank

SITTING on land worth over RM600mil, Mitrajaya Holdings Bhd’s market capitalisation appears small at slightly over RM300mil. But that is the problem that almost all companies with property held for development face – the market does not attach a premium for property that has yet to be developed. In the case of Mitrajaya, it also has RM1.2bil worth of construction contracts to date and the company plans to more than double the order book this year. As for its property division, Mitrajaya plans to launch projects amounting to RM2bil in gross development value (GDV) to realise its value. A big chunk of Mitrajaya’s fortune lies in its landbank, which is worth about RM620mil and booked at only RM160.55mil in the books. Speaking to StarBizWeek in an interview, managing director Tan Eng Piow says it will make strategic moves in unlocking the value of its land. Taking its 3.76ha at Seksyen 28, Petaling Jaya as an example, the plot sits along Federal Highway but as the development along the stretch has not matured yet, Tan prefers to keep it until the time is right.“Otherwise, we will not be able to realise the best value out of it,” he quips.
Another parcel that it holds for a long time is the commercial land in Puchong Prima, which is ripe to be reaped. Surrounded by commercial shops, Tan sees an opportunity for a different product that is more in demand now - mixed development. It plans to launch the RM1.5bil project next year. “Timing is right as the parcel will be served by the extension of the LRT Ampang Line in the future,” he says. The upcoming project sits on a 6.07ha parcel, which is the last piece of land available in the enlarged 101.17ha-integrated township development in Puchong Prima. The proposed mixed development project will consist of a five-storey shopping mall, one budget hotel and three blocks of serviced apartments with a net sellable area of one million sq ft. “We will build a link bridge to the LRT Station and will work with an international architect for this particular project,” he says.

X2 Residency Skydeck