Zefer Hill Residence

Calling to mind the word ‘zephyr’, which means soft, gentle breeze, Zefer Hill Residence definitely allows residents to enjoy the cool, gentle breezes of this development at the pinnacle of Puchong – both literally and figuratively. These beautifully designed condominiums perched on a hill offer unforgettable, panoramic views of the surroundings. The residences are also located within a growing and expanding population and township.

These beautifully designed condominiums perched on a hill offer unforgettable, panoramic views of the surroundings. The residences are also located within a growing and expanding population and township.

Excellent Accessibility, Convenient Locale

Conveniently located in Puchong, the development situated almost exactly midway between Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, Zefer Hill Residence is also offers a good balance of the established and the upcoming with major, mature townships like Subang Jaya, UEP Subang Jaya, Bandar Sunway and Petaling Jaya and key growth areas like Seri Kembangan, Cyberjaya and Putrajaya all within its ambit. Established amenities like schools, colleges, medical centres, sports arenas as well as food and shopping centres are just minutes away from Zefer Hills Residence. The development is also well connected through an extensive web of highways such as the Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP), Puchong-Sungai Besi Highway, Shah Alam Expressway (KESAS), New Pantai Expressway (NPE) and the Federal Highway.

Fantastic Facilities and Features

A myriad of special features await residents of Zefer Hill Residence as the condominiums have been designed to radiate a sense of space and the design details confirm this theme. For instance, a 6-panel sliding glass door between the living-dining area and the balcony creates a roomy feel while selected units boast of a semi-open concept for the master bathroom, adding to the overall airy atmosphere.

The condominiums also come with a host of fantastic amenities in the common areas such as a Jacuzzi, swimming pool, kids playground, gym, sauna, badminton and squash courts, a surau, fibre optic facilities, nursery, laundrette and convenience store, among others.

Security is assured with Zefer Hill Residence’s reliable, 3-tier security system.

Eco-Friendly Haven

The eco-conscious will be pleased to note that Zefer Hill Residence incorporates green building features such as a rainwater harvesting system for gardening, as well as specially selected sanitary ware to ensure efficient water usage, and low volatile organic compound emitting materials – such as paint, adhesives and sealants – are being used for construction. Other green features and systems in place include the implementation of a responsible construction/domestic waste management system and T5 lighting for corridors.

Availability & Purchasing Promotion

Zefer Hill Residence is a freehold development available in 9 exclusive designs with prices starting from RM 546,500 onwards. Covering a total area of 5.768 acres, the built-up sizes of the 346 units are from 1,356 to 2,139 sq ft.

Those keen on owning a unit at Zefer Hill Residence are in for a treat with a number of irresistible offers such as the interest subsidy scheme, an early bird discount, a bumiputera discount and a special discount. Those waiting to ride the zephyr breezes of Zefer Hill Residence need wait no longer as the show unit is available for viewing and it is now open for registration. Zefer Hill Residence is slated for completion by April 2015.

Reliable Developer

Villamas is a group of companies with a central business of property construction and development and has successfully completed residential and commercial projects in Klang Valley and Melaka. Dedicated to maintaining their impressive track record of completing all projects ahead of schedule and achieving 100% sales, their previous developments include Villa Park at Seri Kembangan, Villamas Apartment at Puchong and Bukit Kepong Baru at Kepong. While their ongoing projects are Serin Residency at Cyberjaya and Atmosfera Condominium at Puchong.

Source: iProperty

IOI Celebrates 1st Anniversary Of Privilege Card

The IOI Privilege Card Members’ Day was a fun and lively affair as families and residents gathered at the event held to commemorate the first anniversary of the IOI Privilege Card.

Touted as the first community discount card in Malaysia, the card introduced by IOI Properties Bhd is aimed at uniting the IOI business and residential communities while strengthening community ties.

The IOI Privilege Card entitles cardholders to discounts and promotions on goods and services offered by participating outlets within the IOI townships. Other card features include allocated car park bays at IOI Mall (in front of Jusco).

Cards are issued free of charge to residents of IOI townships in the Klang Valley, namely Bandar Puchong Jaya, Bandar Puteri Puchong, Bandar Puteri Klang, Bandar Putera Klang, and IOI Resort City in Putrajaya. No minimum spending, point accumulation or joining fee is required before cardholders can enjoy the privileges.

IOI Properties Bhd marketing manager Mohd Ezuddin Sami’an said the IOI Privilege Card was introduced in April 2009 with about 10 participating merchants.

“The card offers more exclusivity and perks for the local community,” he said.

“It provides added value and convenience for the residents to shop, dine and enjoy various lifestyle programmes, which in turn would encourage better business for the merchants.

“Most of our merchants are located at Bandar Puteri Puchong and Bandar Puchong Jaya at the moment, as almost 50% of these areas have commercial blocks.

According to him, there are plans to have more features, including allocated car park bays at IOI Boulevard and free wi-fi within selected commercial areas.

Among the activities held during the IOI Privilege Card Members’ Day at The Palette, IOI Boulevard were a treasure hunt, eating competitions, health talk and fitness demonstration, sand art, free massage sessions, juice-making and bread-baking demonstration, stage games, sculpture balloon giveaways, as well as exhibitions by selected merchants.The team Friends 5 was declared the treasure hunt champion and won a RM250 cash voucher.

The second and third prizes went to the Kasawari Heights Residents Association (RA) from Bandar Puchong Jaya and Bandar Puteri 12 RA, who won RM150 and RM100 cash vouchers respectively.

Four other teams won consolation prizes comprising vouchers from IOI Privilege Card merchants.Updates on the latest card promotions are available in IOI Properties’ quarterly newsletter called ReachOut and via www.myioi.com/privilege/.

Source: The Star

Less Crime In Puchong Jaya

As of April 19, the crime rate in Puchong Jaya has dropped by 8.5%.

Puchong Jaya police station officer-in-charge Chief Inspector Lokman Ahmad said they had solved 183 cases and nabbed 66 criminals this year.

The police station, which covers 24.8km, also recorded a decrease in crime rate by 10.4% last year.

“The highest number of cases involve vehicle and motorcycle theft, most of which happened at shopping malls and flats,” Lokman said.

He revealed the figures at a meeting held at Bandar Kinrara 5 on Sunday.

Special officer to Home Minister Datuk Lau Yeng Peng said the ministry had taken a series of proactive measures to bring down the street crime index and crime index, such as increasing police presence and establishing more Malaysian Police Training Centres (Pulapol).

“Every year, about 5,000 police officers retire while fewer than 6,000 new officers join the police force.

“There is only an increase of 500 to 1,000 police officers each year because of the lack of training centres,” he said.

In Puchong and Seri Serdang, for instance, there are 320 men in blue in four police stations serving half a million people.

“The ideal figure is one policeman for every 250 people, or 500 at the most.

“The situation will soon be improved as more Pulapol centres will be built under the 10th Malaysia Plan,” Lau said.

He added that the public could volunteer through Community Policing and Rakan Cop.

In response to a question on people feeling discouraged to lodge police reports due to unfriendly cops, Lokman said the public could inform him if such incidents happened in his police station.

Source: The Star

Vio Serviced Apartment @ Setia Walk

The Loaf @ IOI Boulevard

Japanese style Bakery and Bistro with the finest quality of breads, The Loaf opening soon @ IOI Boulevard

Contraflow To Cut Traffic Jam

Lingkaran Trans Kota Bhd (Litrak) is introducing yet another traffic management scheme, a contraflow system, to ease the congestion during peak hours.

The contraflow system will start at the Petaling Jaya Selatan toll plaza and head towards Bandar Puchong (Km19.3 to Km22). Motorists going towards Puchong Perdana and Putrajaya will be required to enter the dedicated lane which is located on the extreme right of the toll plaza. There will be four tollbooths for motorists and the lane will end in front of the Esso petrol station in Puchong Perdana.

This will involve the closure of the flyover in the opposite direction towards Bandar Sunway and the Kesas Highway at the Puchong Jaya interchange to make way for an additional lane for Puchong Perdana and Putrajaya-bound traffic.

The dedicated lane for the contraflow is only meant for light vehicles heading towards Puchong Perdana and Putrajaya.

Motorists from Puchong heading towards Bandar Sunway, Kesas Highway and Federal Highway are advised to keep to the left lane and use the slip road after IOI Mall.

Motorists heading towards Bukit Jalil and Bandar Puchong Jaya are advised to use the commercial lanes, not the additional lane that is meant for motorists going towards Puchong Perdana and Putrajaya.

The Highway Ronda team will be stationed at strategic locations. Motorists are advised to adhere to the signages put up before the Petaling Jaya Selatan toll plaza and along the dedicated lane, which leads to and from Puchong Perdana.

The contraflow system will be in effect from 4.30pm to 8.30pm, Monday to Friday, except for public holidays.

Litrak chief executive officer Sazally Saidi said more than 10,500 motorists were expected to benefit from the traffic management scheme.

"We have been studying this traffic flow system for months and, theoretically, the contraflow system should work based on our studies. We are certain that, with the additional lane, the traffic flow will improve," he said.

Sazally said the contraflow system should reduce traffic congestion by 10 per cent.

"In any new scheme, there are bound to be hiccups. It will take about two weeks for road users to get used to the system. To ensure a safe journey we advise all road users to be vigilant and adhere to the signages and use the right lane," he said.

Source: NST

Skyville Residences By IOI Properties

Skyville 2 1/2-storey semi-detached homes designed to elevate the heights of luxury to a new high. A 250ft above sea level,with nature as the perfect backdrop, this is where your sanctuary lies between heaven and earth.

Set on an elevated vantage point of Bandar Puchong Jaya, this exclusive & guarded enclave features the best of lifestyle comforts and the serenity of an all-round natural greenery. Truly, Skyville offers you grandness in between blue skies and nature’s greenery.

Koi Kinrara Phase 2

Address: Puchong Jaya, Puchong, Selangor

Property Type: Condominium

Tenure: Freehold

Built Up: 1,063 - 3,164 sq. ft.

Listing Price: From RM236,600 - RM793,500

Bedrooms: 3

Bathrooms: 2

Total Units/Lots: 500

Expected Completion Date: 2012

KOI KINRARA clubhouse has an excellent array of facilities & Services that await to pamper and cater to the residents

Clubhouse Services

Cafeteria & Restaurants, Retail Shop, Mini Market Services, Laundry, Mini Reading Room

Active Lifestyle

Squash Court, Tennis Court, Gymnasium Room, Sauna Room, Infinity Room, Wading Pool

Community's Fun

Business Centre, Function Room, Children's Playground, BBQ Pit

KOI KINRARA Suites is a development on freehold land located on high ground. A place where one can enjoy the soothing peace and quiet of nature while basking themselves in the air modern living concept. Its strategic and excellent location in the heart of Puchong. All units in this development offer captivating views of Sunway horizon, PJ & KLCC skyline.

For more information, please contact +603-5623 333 / +6012-292 5998 / +6013-331 3655 / +6019-387 3122

Source: iProperty

Puchong Community Orchestra Wows The Judges At Youth Music Festival

The Puchong Community Orchestra and Choir (PCOC) participated in the Malaysian Youth Music Festival on Aug 29 and won the gold award.

A total of 16 musicians, led by Xavier Anthony, played in the competition organised by the Malaysian Youth Orchestra Foundation.

The conductor Xavier Anthony, who has years of experience conducting orchestras and school bands, brought out the best from the 16-piece strings, winds and percussion ensemble.

The PCOC was awarded the gold award (first place) in the Chamber Ensemble Category.

The ensemble played two pieces, the Don Giovanni Overture by Mozart and Carmen Prelude by Bizet, and won the award with outstanding results.

Judges said the orchestra brought colour to the two pieces with great dynamics.

For the Don Giovanni Overture, the strings were played with a cheerful lightness despite the fact that Mozart pieces have never been easy for string players.

The PCOC musicians were delighted with the result, having played their hearts out as they had only decided to enter the competition and started practising for it less than two months ago.

The gold award is significant to the PCOC as it is the first competition entered since the orchestra started in October 2008.

The objective of the PCOC is to nurture the orchestra for the communities in Puchong. By bringing music to the community, the PCOC hopes to develop the talents of young musicians, providing them with opportunities to be exposed to a variety of musical styles and the experience of playing in an orchestra.

The PCOC ensemble musicians normally play with many other music enthusiasts, both young and old, in a full orchestra and choir.

The orchestra is open to all budding and veteran musicians with the spirit of making music for fun.

Many different musical genres are explored, and the orchestra provides a platform for individuals to express themselves and to improve their musical skills.

The PCOC is currently expanding its membership and welcome all musicians to come and play together every Sunday at 3pm at 67B, Jalan Kenari 20, Bandar Puchong Jaya, 47100 Puchong.

Souce: The Star

Police Make Their Presence Felt

The Bandar Bukit Puchong police has taken proactive measures to combat crime in Bandar Puteri.

Since Aug 5, two makeshift police booths have been erected at the junction of Jalan Puteri 1/1 and Jalan Puteri1/6 (next to Giant Hypermarket), and Jalan Puteri 5/2.

Both are in busy commercial areas where crime is rampant.

According to Chief Inspector Basri Sagoni of the Bukit Puchong police station, the nationwide effort was in response to the National Key Result Areas (NKRAs) announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, one of which specified the reduction of street crime (including snatch thefts and unarmed robbery) by 20% by the end of 2010.

Apart from establishing a police presence in the crime hotspots, the booths also allow the public to approach the police easily for help.

“The police officers are stationed there 24 hours, in three shifts – 8am to 4pm, 4pm to midnight and midnight to 8am,” Basri said.

He added that there were more officers patrolling the streets.

However, the booths will be removed after a certain period of time.

Selangor MCA Youth Chief Dr Kow Cheong Wei welcomed the move as it instilled confidence in the public who visited the areas.

“The traffic in Bandar Puteri 1 is quite messy, providing opportunities to snatch thieves to prey on defenceless victims.
“The police presence will definitely deter them from commiting crime,” he said.

Kow added that he had even received enquiries from business communities in Puchong Jaya and Puchong Perdana to help them apply for similar booths in their areas to curb crime.

Source: The Star

RM300million Congestion Mitigation Exercise

As the sole highway linking the north and south parts of the Klang Valley, the Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP) is choked with traffic, especially during the peak hours in the morning and evening.

Since January 1999, the highway, which is 40km long, has provided a link between Kepong, Damansara, Sungai Penchala, Bandar Sunway, Puchong and Putrajaya.

Over the years, many commercial and residential projects have mushroomed along the highway causing greater congestion much to the frustration of highway users.

According to Lingkaran Trans Kota Sdn Bhd (Litrak) chief executive officer Sazally Saidi, 66 mixed-development projects have taken off along the highway since 1999.

Saidi said the irony of the LDP was that out of the average 1.8 million users daily in January this year, only 400,000 were paying toll while the rest were just passing through.

The situation at the LDP will get worse as the number of users is set to increase.

In Puchong, for instance, the Setia Walk project is estimated to contribute 2,544 vehicles during the morning peak hours and 3,017 in the evening.

The traffic near the Sunway toll will probably worsen when the new Taylor’s College at PJS 7 is up in the future with the estimated users at 1,323 in the morning and 1,846 in the evening.

Not far away, the Lagoon Perdana and Sunway South Quay development will contribute over 6,000 vehicles during peak hours in the morning and evening.

In Petaling Jaya, the completion of the Tropicana City Mall is estimated to add 534 vehicles in the morning and 4,060 in the evening onto the LDP.

The Paradigm mixed-development in Kelana Jaya will also contribute between 3,000 and 4,500 vehicles.

“There are seven highways in the east-west direction, namely the North Klang Valley Expressway, Penchala Link, Damansara Link, Federal Highway, New Pantai Expressway, Shah Alam Expressway and South Klang Valley Expressway.

“But the LDP is the sole highway servicing the north-south direction,” Litrak communications head Bhavani Krishna Iyer said.

On Oct 13 last year, the then Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed was reported as saying that the Government was studying a proposal for an alternative highway to the LDP to help reduce the traffic congestion.

However, this is not happening, as pointed out by Works Ministry secretary-general Datuk Thomas George when met at the launch of Litrak’s Frequent Travellers Pro­gramme recently.
“No such project is being planned as far as I am concerned.

“From the feedback we gathered, the congestion is bad during the peak hours and it’s fine otherwise. It’s the responsibility of the concessionaire to ensure a smooth flow along the highway,” he said.

The good news is, Litrak is going to spend RM300mil for congestion mitigation work that will begin in the third quarter of the year and is expected to be completed in three years.

Litrak group director Datuk Azmi Mat Nor said this was Litrak’s third enhancement project.

“The first one completed in 2005 involved six interchanges, highway expansion, toll plaza expansion and system improvement. It cost about RM400mil.

“The second one at RM200mil is the upgrading of Taman Tun Dr Ismail interchange and the widening of Motorola interchange, which is now ongoing.

“About 40% of the total toll collection revenue as at March 31 this year has been allocated for all three projects.

“For each ringgit collected from toll users, we are giving them back 42sen in the way of highway enhancements,” he said.

For this latest mitigation plan, work will be conducted at six critical congestion hotspots namely Persiaran Surian into LDP, Daman­sara Utama interchange to SS2 interchange, Puchong Jaya interchange, Puchong Intan interchange, Puchong Perdana interchange and Puchong Perdana interchange to Kampung Bharu Puchong interchange.

There will also be an expansion for three toll plazas — Penchala, Puchong Barat and Puchong Selatan — for added capacity.

“We will have additional staggered toll collection lanes at these toll plazas,” Sazally said.

Source: The Star

Kondominium Atmosfera

Luxurious homes with an affordable price tag, Kondominium Atmosfera is set to delight even the most discerning of buyers

Located in Puchong Jaya, an established residential area with good accessibility, is Kondominium Atmosfera; a luxury high-rise residential development in Selangor. Taking up residence on the serene heights of Puchong, the luxury condominium beckons you to a private sanctuary complete with the luxury of resort facilities.

Touted to offer affordable luxurious living, Kondominium Atmosfera comprises two condominium blocks on 6.5 acres of freehold land. Tropical themed landscapes greet you as you enter the development that comes with a full facility clubhouse and modern security features that ensure peace of mind.

The luxurious condominium features extensive recreational facilities. Take time out to enjoy the outdoors in the playground, meditation garden or reflexology garden, or relax and melt your worries away in the sauna room or Jacuzzi. Tropical plants and a landscaped water feature grace the development, providing a tranquil atmosphere for relaxation and rejuvenation.

Meanwhile, fitness enthusiasts would be delighted with the range of sports facilities available such as swimming and wading pools, gymnasium, squash and badminton courts, futsal court and basketball court. Take a dip in the pool with surrounding tropical landscapes or spend some quality time with your kids splashing in the wading pool enveloped by lush greenery, or bask in the sun on the nearby sun decks.

The wide range of facilities and amenities provided by the developer encourage a fit and healthy lifestyle for every resident of Kondominium Atmosfera.

Affordable homes with luxurious features for the discerning buyer

Homes at Kondominium Atmosfera come with luxury specifications such as 2ft by 2ft polished porcelain tiles, spacious living areas and functional layouts. If you opt for selected units, you would enjoy shower and basin mixers, storage, heater, long bath and an exclusive roof garden with a private pool.

Available in 13 designs, the 453 condominium units – including exclusive penthouse duplex units – come in a variety of sizes to suit different needs. The exclusive penthouse duplexes offer a spacious home, with select units offering smartly-designed balcony pools where one may enjoy the breathtaking views from one of the highest points of the condominium.

The built-ups range from 1,282 sq ft to 2,775 sq ft, and prices begin at RM261,360 with a Bumiputra discount of seven per cent. These homes are targeted at discerning buyers, including professionals and executives as well as those who seek to upgrade their homes.

Targeted for launch within this month, completion of Kondominium Atmosfera is expected in May 2012. The developers are presently offering free two parking bays, free legal fees for Sale & Purchase Agreement and an early bird discount for buyers.

Developers with a commitment to quality in product, pricing and service

Boasting a track record of early delivery for all of its projects, the developer, Villamas Sdn Bhd, is a group of companies with core businesses in property development and construction dating as far back as 1985.

Since then, the company has been developing projects in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Melaka, offering a wide variety of properties including landed homes such as bungalows, semi-Ds and terrace homes; strata residential such as condominium and apartments, as well as commercial developments such as shop offices.

Villamas Sdn Bhd is a developer with a commitment to deliver products of the greatest value in its category, a vision achieved by emphasizing on design, quality, pricing, delivery and customer service. Its meticulous planning and execution at both project and corporate levels lead the company to vast improvements in every new project it embarks on.

Source: The Star

Pre-opening Party For Puchong's Latest Draw

The birth of yet another Puchong landmark, IOI Boulevard, was celebrated in style recently.

Themed The Swirl of Senses, the pre-opening cocktail party of the new integrated lifestyle office and retail development by IOI Properties in Bandar Puchong Jaya was enhanced by clever play of lighting and music by the Puchong Orchestra group.
The guests were then introduced to the latest addition in the boulevard, the Palatte - an open courtyard covered by wave-shaped glass canopy.

The developer said they planned to turn Palatte into an arts sanctuary.

“It was conceptualised to provide a signa-ture place for amateur and aspiring artists to showcase all forms of art, music, food, calligraphy, dance, painting, fashion design, photography and more, free of charge,” IOI Properties general manager Lee Yoke Har said.

The highlight of the party was the unveiling of an artistic mural by 300 Limkokwing University of Creative Technology students of 14 nationalities as a way of leaving their creative mark.

Limkokwing Malaysia Design Innovation Centre assistant creative director Stanley Clement said the mural captured the essence of IOI Boulevard.

Selangor senior executive councillor Teresa Kok, who is also Kinrara assemblyman, welcome the idea of an arts sanctuary
“The lack of venues to promote art in Selangor is one of the reasons why it is difficult to attract tourists to stay longer in the state.

“The Palatte is a place where one can enjoy life, be it a cultural show or an art exhibition,” she said.

All 18 F&B and 18 retail lots in the Palette would not be sold, but only leased out by IOI Properties for full control of the tenant mix.

There are 322 office units and more than 1,000 basement parking bays at IOI Boulevard.

Source: The Star

Card For Two Townships

A closer tie between the residential and business communities in the IOI townships is made possible through an exclusive privilege card.

The card, with the tagline Opening Doors to Privileges Every Day, offers special discounts on goods or services to the cardholders at participating outlets within the IOI townships, namely Bandar Puchong Jaya and Bandar Puteri Puchong.

“We have a sizeable commercial component in the IOI townships.

“With the slow down in the economy, their businesses may have been affected.

“With this one-of-its-kind card, we bring the residents to the retailers — the residents enjoy the discounts while the business operators get the revenue,” IOI Group legal and general operations general manager Lee Yoke Har said.

Now, there are about 21,000 residential and 5,950 commercial units in both IOI townships.
Lee added that the card would also encourage the residents to spend in the townships, instead of travelling far.

And the good news is that about 60 retailers have signed up for the programme.

“They are from the fashion, food and beverages, health and beauty industries.

“For now, we are targeting to rope in the standalone retailers and in the future, we may bring in those brands in the IOI Mall,” Lee said.

Every property owner, business operator or resident in these two townships can be a cardholder.
“No application is needed and there will be no application fees. One only needs to prove that he is residing or operating a business here by showing us his identity card, and water or electricity bill,” Lee said.

The card will be distributed in either mid-March or end of March.

Change In Profile But Not Values

Lee Yoke Har's resemblance to older brother Datuk Lee Yeow Chor is uncanny. Soft-spoken and affable, her quiet strength and firmness are very similar to her sibling's when it comes to dealing with the issues of the day.

The children of IOI Corp Bhd's executive chairman and CEO Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng, Yeow Chor is group executive director of the IOI group of companies and executive director of IOI Properties Bhd, while Yoke Har is the general manager of its legal and general operations department — a position that has enabled her to stay out of the public eye.

Two months ago, however, Yoke Har, who has been with the group for 13 years, donned another hat. She took over the marketing operations of the group's property division, which is a hot seat indeed, given the current tough property market conditions.

"I am not a corporate person," Yoke Har stresses to City & Country in what is her maiden media interview. "Please focus on the exciting projects and plans we have to share with you…

" She reports to IOI Properties' executive director Datuk David Tan, a trusted chieftain of the Lees and who has been with the group for ages. Then there are her brother and father.

With Yoke Har spearheading the marketing portfolio for the property division, Tan is free to focus on other equally demanding chores, with project management being a priority.

"He has a lot on his plate and he needs to juggle his time a lot," explains Yoke Har, whose newly put-together team oversees the marketing of key Klang Valley developments, comprising those in Puchong and Klang and IOI Resort in Putrajaya.

The changes being effected are aimed at coordinating and expediting decisions so that the developer can move at a fast clip. Raising the profile of IOI Properties — a brand that is synonymous with dependability and being conservative and low profile — is also in the works.

Says Yoke Har: "We want people to know us... It is high time there was coordinated effort to do this. Our style has always been to do things quietly; do it well and people will know. (But it has been) too quiet. This has been going on for years. But our values have not changed…"

For IOI Properties, indisputably a top Malaysian property developer that has been active since 1982, the changes are perhaps overdue, seeing how the demands of property investors have surged in recent times.

No, the changes are not a knee-jerk response to the troubles ailing even the most established players across the globe, says Yoke Har. In fact, she sees the property market bottoming out in nine months. "There is liquidity; people are holding back for fire sales but this has not happened." With the property market getting more crowded and the investment climate more jittery, even the unobtrusive IOI Properties is reviewing its strategies, going forward. This is necessary because the developer plans to launch some RM500 million worth of properties in the Klang Valley this year. The offerings will come from Bandar Puchong Jaya, the newer Bandar Puteri Puchong and Bandar Puteri Klang. In Bandar Puchong Jaya, which sprawls over 1,000 acres, more upmarket homes, like the 2½-storey superlink Vistaria Residences, have emerged in the residential component. The next six months will see the launch of sixty 2½-storey semi-detached homes and light industrial units here. Meanwhile, almost 80% of the 930-acre Bandar Puteri Puchong has been developed. It will unveil thirty-six 2 and 2½-storey bungalows and seventy-eight 3 and 4-storey shopoffices over the next half year. Over in Bandar Puteri Klang, new homes and shopoffices will be rolled out from end-February. In short, IOI Properties is not about to put a stop to new launches.

PUCHONG FINANCIAL COMMERCIAL CENTRE

So, exactly what is going to be different about the developer? For starters, it will embrace fresh and compelling development concepts and designs. Add to the concoction a loyalty programme designed to reach out to and please both buyers and occupants to secure repeat buying.

The new and bolder designs are evident in the upcoming Puchong Financial Commercial Centre (PFCC) taking shape diagonally across the Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP) from the IOI Mall. Work on two of the five PFCC towers on an eight-acre freehold tract is slated to be completed this April. "These are not very high — 11 and 20 storeys. But you will not miss them as you drive along the LDP," says Mohd Ezuddin Sami'an, IOI Properties' marketing manager.

"They are iconic… they stand out from the other buildings in Puchong.

" Puchong has too many traditional shophouses and offices, says Yoke Har. She is confident a "happening" PFCC, with its contemporary design incorporating environmentally friendly features, will lift Puchong's image to even that of Bangsar.

Looks and design aside, the developer is counting on the proximity of Cyberjaya as drawing point. However, a building can only be audited as a Cyberjaya Centre upon its completion. "We are confident of getting the status," says Yoke Har, adding that the building designs have incorporated the necessary criteria.

While the original plan was to build all the five towers in four to five years, the timeline had to been tweaked to seven to eight years in the light of the current global credit turmoil. So, the developer is improving the designs of Towers 3, 4 and 5, based on the experience and feedback from the nearing completion of Towers 1 and 2.

Combined, the five towers will offer a net lettable area of 1.15 million sq ft. The 12-storey Tower 1 (built at RM35 million) will have 125,000 sq ft, and the 20-storey Tower 2 (built at RM70 million) 253,000 sq ft. In all, there will be 1,920 parking bays in the basement, all of them interlinked.

The developer has tagged an average RM600 psf for Tower 1, while it intends to keep the LDP-fronting Tower 2 for investment. Office space in Tower 2 is being leased out at an average of RM4 psf, while the retail space is going for RM6.50 psf or so.

It is worth noting that weak market sentiment notwithstanding, two local parties have shown interest in the buildings, with talks already in the second stage. One party is looking at leasing Tower 1 en bloc while the other is exploring a buy-and-lease-back option for Tower 2.

"We are flexible; we cannot be leaving the buildings empty for six to nine months, so if the price is good, we don't mind selling..." says Yoke Har, without disclosing the numbers now on the table. One of the parties is looking at relocating its operations, while the other is expanding and relocating its business.

IOI BOULEVARD

About a kilometre down the thoroughfare from PFCC, workers are putting the finishing touches to IOI Boulevard, a hybrid office-retail/lifestyle development modelled after London's Covent Garden. "Business sophistication" and "stylish entertainment" are some of the developer's taglines for this development that comprises six blocks of office-cum-retail space. Enclosed within is the Palette, which comprises thirty-six 2-storey retail outlets that look into a 108ft by 240ft courtyard. "This will be a platform to promote arts. Budding artists, musicians and photographers, for example, can showcase their work here free of charge. We will also build a stage in the courtyard, which will be shielded by a tinted, high glass ceiling," says Yoke Har, adding that they have factored into the design the need for air to circulate.

The developer has tied up with LimKokWing University, whose students will paint two murals in the Palette. IOI Properties is also working with the Puchong Orchestra to explore ways to promote the latter.

Of the six office-retail blocks, all equipped with individual lifts, the developer plans to keep two, both fronting the LDP for recurrent income. Since its launch last June, 60% or 262,000 sq ft of the total saleable area of just under 446,000 sq ft have been sold at an average of RM450 psf, with the ground floor retail space going for RM980 psf. Space at the Palette is leased at an average of RM6 psf. In all, IOI Boulevard offers a total net lettable area of about 730,000 sq ft, with another 133,000 sq ft in retail space at the Palette.

IOI Boulevard is targeted for completion in April and is likely to be opened in May. It will be interesting to see how much IOI Properties can do to bring arts to live in Puchong.

SIERRA PUTERI

Outside the Puchong boundary closer to Sepang, earthworks for a 485-acre mixed development township with a gross development value of RM1.6 billion called Sierra Puteri, have been completed. Construction will start as soon as the authorities approve the building plans. The gated development on undulating grounds will boast designs in departure from IOI Properties' norm. However, the layout will still be functional, says Yoke Har.

The lower-density units will be designed after precincts, each of which with its own park. There will be lots of buffer parks, she continues. The maiden launch, featuring the traditional 2-storey 2ft by 75 ft terraced homes, has been slated for the second quarter this year at a pricing she declines to reveal immediately.She would however only say that it will be priced at a premium to the conventional link homes in the close by Equine Park.

IOI Properties' move to go slightly up markat at Sierra Puteri makes sense given the abundant traditional offerings coming up in Equine Park. IOI Properties' target market: Puchong and Kajang upgraders and those staying in Serdang of course.

IOI FAMILY

Fostering loyalty in customers is an integral part of marketing and it is no different for developers. Come late March or April, IOI Properties will unveil its loyalty programme, which will see some 85,000 IOI Privilege Cards distributed, in the developer's two townships of Bandar Puchong Jaya and Bandar Puteri Puchong.

The cards will be given out free to those in the catchment area to shop, dine and enjoy other services for less in participating shops in Puchong, where the developer has built some 1,700 commercial units.

The developer will also take on the role of promoting the participating outlets, which are expected to offer 10% to 15% discounts or privileges in kind for a year. So far, 60 outlets have signed up. Potential candidates are tenants in IOI Mall — 199 in the old wing and another 100 in the new extension, which at press time was awaiting its certificate of fitness. The extension expands IOI Mall's 650,000 sq ft of net lettable space to about a million sq ft.

Yoke Har is particularly excited about the loyalty programme and it is easy to see why. A thriving township can only equal an appreciation in capital values and yields. And happy investors could potentially translate to repeat buyers. So clearly, IOI Properties is the ultimate beneficiary of the programme, if it works.

The community-based programme, Yoke Har points out, is an extension of the developer's community services which it undertakes seriously and with commitment. "We have been working a lot behind the scenes. Do you know we have someone dedicated to working with the residents' associations in Puchong? Besides our website, we also publish a bi-monthly residents' newsletter called Reach Out…"

"We want to make residents feel privileged. At the same time, we are supporting the business operators in our townships as part of our after-sales service. The programme makes sense — these are self-contained townships; everything one needs one can find there. The convenience, the variety, now the pricing with the discounts offered," she adds.

Yoke Har does not discount the possibility of the IOI Privilege Card being used by third parties, which augurs well for the participating businesses. Obviously, the plan to extend the coverage of the loyalty programme is on the cards.

IN THE PIPELINE

Traditionally a township developer, IOI Properties has withstood the test of time and thrived on the legacy of its developments. Recurrent income from property investments and property management fees now help make up the property division's 30% or so contribution to IOI Group's earnings. The ratio, Yoke Har says, is going to change with more emphasis on property, but she is unable to immediately provide the numbers.

IOI Properties is also active outside the Klang Valley, for example Singapore, although plans there have been deferred given the current downturn.

Another project to look out for is a mall planned for Putrajaya, the details of which the developer declines to divulge for now. All said, IOI Properties is geared to give competitors a run for their money.

Source: The Edge Daily

The Verve By IOI

IOI Properties Rides Financial Strength

IOI Properties Bhd retains its position as a Top 10 developer in the country on the back of its strong financial position. Riding the housing market boom in the 1990s, the company grew to become one of the biggest and most profitable developers in Malaysia.

Although IOI Properties posted a lower 2QFY2008 group revenue of RM182.3 million compared to RM208.8 million in the preceding quarter due to uncertainties in the political situation and sharp rise in petrol prices, executive director Datuk David Tan is optimistic about the company's performance.

He says, "We have landbank in strategic locations and high-growth areas and we have the purchasers' confidence. As a township developer, IOI Properties provides a wide range of products that cater to changes in market sentiments." "Bandar Puchong Jaya used to be the backwaters, so we've come a long way.

Being recognised as one of the Top 10 developers every year (since The Edge Top Property Developers Awards was introduced in 2003) is wonderful, but we want to remain humble," says Tan, who played an instrumental role in designing the township.

So, what's ahead for IOI Properties?

The company is embarking on an ambitious project to develop the Puchong Financial Corporate Centre (PFCC) with office buildings being retained for leasing. "All banks, including foreign ones, have at least one branch in Puchong. Maybank has three branches while Public Bank has two. Banks are doing well due to the catchment of businesses here. So, developing a financial centre here is a natural move," explains Tan.

"Puchong has transformed from an industrial area to a location for major employers. However, it does not yet cater for the 'upper-middle' type of employers. We want to attract these types of employers as well as companies that want to move away from Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur. "We are in the midst of negotiating with two major anchor tenants. PFCC will be the first green building block in Puchong," adds Tan. IOI Properties is also developing an office-cum-retail and entertainment hub called IOI Boulevard. According to Tan, 75% of the units have been sold. The company, however, has retained the two blocks facing the LDP Highway and the internal boulevard. "People will judge the image of the place by its frontage and so we want to control the tenant mix and manage it actively to ensure the place is vibrant. It's good for the buyers of other units in the long term," he says.

While developing parts of Puchong, IOI Properties is setting its sights on luxury developments elsewhere to add to its portfolio mix. In the pipeline is a high-end condominium along Jalan Ampang tentatively called Verandas. Also being planned are seafront luxury condominiums, Seascape and Pinnacle, in Sentosa Cove, Singapore. While pundits say prices have peaked at the time when IOI Properties entered into the agreement to acquire the 99-year leasehold land in Sentosa Island, Tan believes otherwise. He says the land is valuable because it is the last piece for sale at Sentosa Cove and furthermore, Singapore has many economic factors in its favour.

Source: The Egde Daily

Making Music In Puchong

Puchong will soon make a name for itself as perhaps the first and only township in the country to have its own orchestra.

This is not a pipe dream but something that is slowing taking shape as the Puchong-based Regent Com-munity Services is getting the music playing to form the Puchong Mini Orchestra and Choir.

According to Regent director Neil E. Rode, after some brainstorming, it was decided that having an orchestra was one of the most viable ways to bring the community together.

“We decided that forming an orchestra is a great way to touch the community through music. It’s high time we do something to bring the community together,” he said.

Some people may not consider the idea possible or practical, given the fact that Puchong does not seem to have the sort of cultural environment with high-tech modern concert halls that the big cities have.

But Rode is confident that, with initiative and hard work, accompanied by moral and financial support from the authorities and people, the project will be a resounding success.

“We know it is so much easier if we park ourselves in other areas like Petaling Jaya, where the financial status of the people is much higher,” he said.

“But our ultimate aim is to develop the lower-income group and we feel that we could be a guiding light in Puchong,” Rode said.

According to Rode, the non-profit, non-religious and non-racial project will be a channel for music makers to develop their talents and at the same time provide wholesome entertainment for the community.

“Some people may be interested in playing in an orchestra but they don’t have the professional level required to join the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO),” he said.

“So, we are creating an opportunity for these musicians to learn and develop their skills. They need not worry about the lack of qualification or experience as we will provide them the opportunity to be trained,” Rode said.

Anyone 12 years of age and above, and people from the nearby townships, are invited to join the orchestra and choir.
The main criterion required to join the orchestra and choir is the love for music. Of course, the ability to play musical instruments is essential.

“We don’t expect them to be great performers, but at least they must have a feel for it and have some knowledge for music in order for them to progress,” voice trainer Peter Wong said,

The Regent hopes to get the orchestra going by November and it will have regular practices and performances, especially during festive seasons.

“We want to allow it to evolve. It does not belong to us. We are only the initiators and we want the Puchong people to see and love the orchestra as their own,” Wong said.

Currently, several auditions had been conducted and a few music schools had also expressed interests in working with the Regent.

“One of the principals is keen to have his students perform in our orchestra,” Wong said.

The Regent also welcomes sponsors to provide financial and other resources, such as musical instruments, to help the orchestra develop.

“Music learning and training is expensive and we hope there will be some sponsorship from established corporate houses to provide training for the people from the lower- income groups,” Rode said.

Auditions will be conducted on two Sundays — Aug 24 and Aug 31 — at 2pm at the Regent Centre located at 67B, Jalan Kenari 20, Bandar Puchong Jaya, Puchong.

For more details or to make an appointment for auditions, call Francisco at 016-656 7413 (musicians) or Wong at 017-651 2499 (singers).

Source: The Star

Opening Of Link Road Delayed

The completion date of the much-awaited link road between Bandar Puchong Jaya Selatan and Pusat Bandar Puchong in Selangor has been delayed again due to shoddy work.

Senior state executive councillor and Kinrara assemblyman Teresa Kok, accompanied by officers from the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) engineering department and several residents, visited the site on Tuesday and found the condition of the road deplorable.

Still in a mess: The MPSJ will give the contractor another month to rectify the faults.

The project was originally scheduled to be completed by March 13, but two months after the deadline, cracks have appeared in certain parts of the 300m two-way road.

Pointing out the uneven surface on a particular stretch of the road, Pusat Bandar Puchong Residents Association president Awies Ung said the road had sunken even before it was opened to public.
Teresa even described the tar pavement as being like “a thin layer of kaya spread on bread”.

According to a MPSJ spokesman, the construction work has not been completed, as can be seen from the bare road shoulders that are rocky and muddy.

The MPSJ officer said the council would give another month for the contractor to complete the job.

“We do blacklist contractors whose do shoddy work,” he said.

The officers said the MPSJ would inspect the road after the repair work had been done.

Ung, meanwhile, suggested that streetlights and guardrails be installed for the safety of road users.

“There is also a need to build sound barriers to curb noise pollution which is affecting residents living along the two sides of the road,” he said.

The MPSJ officer agreed to look into the requests, but suggested that instead of a wall, it would be better to have trees planted on the road shoulders.

“A wall might be an eyesore, so why not plant leafy trees to act as a sound absor-ber,” he said.

The link road is meant to help solve the massive traffic jam along the Damansara Puchong Highway (LDP).

It links Jalan Serindit in Bandar Puchong Jaya Selatan and Persiaran Wawasan in Pusat Bandar Puchong and will benefit many motorists as they can bypass the LDP to get to their destinations.

Source: The Star, June 5, 2008

High Demand Seen For Commercial Space

There is robust demand for commercial space in Southern Klang Valley but inadequate supply of quality commercial space.

With the increasing land value in the central business district of the Golden Triangle, buyers are slowly moving from the KL city centre to some areas outside the city.

Reapfield Properties Sdn Bhd corporate services head David Wong said the upcoming commercial projects in Puchong included the SetiaWalk project by SP Setia Bhd, expansion of the IOI Mall by IOI Properties Bhd as well as a mixed development project that would include office towers and shophouses in Bandar Puteri near the Giant hypermarket.

SetiaWalk, located on 20.8 acres in the mature township of Pusat Bandar Puchong, is one of the main commercial projects in Puchong. At its soft launch, 57 shop office units were sold.

PPC International Sdn Bhd Thiruselvam Arumugam said Puchong was an area with limited commercial development projects.

Most of its commercial developments centre along Jalan Puchong in Bandar Puchong Jaya and focus on sundry businesses.

He said the Giant hypermarket in Bandar Kinrara, Tesco hypermarket in Pusat Bandar Puchong and IOI Mall Puchong were among the significant commercial buildings in Puchong that drew in the crowd to the area.

Shopping malls such as the Alamanda Putrajaya, Jusco Equine Park and Subang Parade have continued to receive good occupation and rental prices. In Seri Kembangan, Equine Park was the only dominant commercial project, said Wong, adding that there was no upcoming commercial development in the area.

Demand for corporate offices was lower in Seri Kembangan than for retail shops.

Developers are competing to launch high-end condominium projects in Subang on commercial-titled lands.

According to Wong, there is a trend to build commercial buildings within five km from the KL city centre.

However, there would be a limit to the supply of commercial buildings in Southern Klang Valley as there was limited demand for corporate offices beyond this five km fringe, he said.

Source: The Star, 28 April 2008