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Transcription

WIN A BOOK! THE LATEST PROPERTY INVESTING BESTSELLER!
pg 42
Since 2006
Where to Find
HOTSPOT
ALERT!
Affordable
Houses
It’s not expensive to buy
Why you should start
hunting in RAWANG
Staying
Married
for Life
pg
43
No Money,
No Experience?
Bestselling author
THE
MALAYSIAN
GARDEN
FAIZUL RIDZUAN
shares smart ways
to invest in properties
Own a home-grown
concept to be proud of
edefining dition
uly ugust
. W
.
.
www.homefinder.com.my
PP 14487/01/2013( 031596)
ISSN 1823 - 8106
M ICA ( P) 21 3 / 01 / 201 2
Contents
July-August 2012 | Redefining Edition
COVER STORY
43
The Affordable Life
In the past decade, and more so in the past couple of years, rapidly
escalating house prices have brought up the issue of affordable homes.
But are rising prices all there is to the issue? With the help a few experts,
we de e dee er n o he
e nd find o wh c n e done nd where
you can look for affordable properties.
PROPERTY
20
26
36
A Fine Collection
OSK Properties showcases their
award-winning collection of
properties including Pan’gaea @
Cyberjaya and much more.
Bulk Purchasing Properties
– Is it Safe?
Learn the ropes of purchasing properties in
nd find o he ood nd he d.
Faizul Ridzuan:
Journeying To 23 by 30
Family, the Heart of a Home
LIFESTYLE
It is not easy looking for the perfect
home for your family. Fortunately,
Sime Darby Property’s Medina in
Nilai Impian answers that very need.
Coming Home:
Embracing
Nature’s
Tranquility at
Gita Bayu
Fancy a resort-like
lifestyle, with the
beauties that nature
can offer yet close
enough to the urban
lifestyle of the city?
o c n re find one
here in Gita Bayu in
Seri Kembangan.
y
40
50
30
2
Photography
BILL CHEONG
Rawang: A Tin Town’s
Emerging Potential
This once small tin-mining town has
transformed into a property hotspot
in recent years.
2012
edefin n
d on
ON THE COVER
FAIZUL RIDZUAN
shares his inspirations
and journey in
property investing.
54
55
56
58
60
63
64
We speak to the man behind the bestselling
ro er y n e men oo nd find o more
about his inspiration behind it.
The Last Lecture…
and the most important one
Unconventional methods of teaching
and learning are sometimes the way
to go. It’s experiential.
I’d Read This
Books you’d like to check out
Staying Married for Life
How sweet it is to see elderly couples still
affectionate for one another. Enrich your
marriage and treasure it for life.
Be Your Teens Role Model Your child
learns from you. So lead by example and you’ll
be able to connect to them well.
10 Fun Things To Do With
Your Family
Jolly ideas you’d like to try out
I’d Listen to That
Recommended for your listening pleasure.
Devialet D-Premier
home m fier n e ny o her.
See its beauty, or rather listen to it.
Urban Living at its Best
Precinct 11 is a stunning development created as a modern, well-planned,
suburban haven with a backdrop of exquisite greenery. Having won the
FIABCI Award for Malaysia’s Best Master - Planned Development, it’s a
testament to the finest of urban living combined with nature, World-class
amenities and facilities offer the best of contemporary lifestyle needs for
work, education, recreation, comfort and convenience.
Type
A
B
C/D/E
Lot Size
20’ x 70’
22’ x 75’
27’ x 86’/80’/87’
Built Up Area
2,127 - 2,240 sq ft
2,461 - 2,543 sq ft
2,831 - 3,078 sq ft
Land Area
1,400 - 3,036 sq ft
1,650 - 2,875 sq ft
2,240 - 3,655 sq ft
Rooms
4 bedrooms
3 bathrooms
4 bedrooms
3 bathrooms
5 bedrooms
5 bathrooms
Price from
RM 555,888
RM 647,008
RM 826,585
Contents
July-August 2012 | Redefining Edition
LIFESTYLE
66
68
72
Have a Good Night
We spend at least a third of our lives
in slumber land, yet not many know
how important a good bed can be for
our sleep. Bolster & Bedd can help you
choose the perfect bed for your body.
16
Named one of Asia’s Top 10 fashion
designers, Carven Ong shares about
his passion, his philosophy and how a
woman can choose the perfect gown.
The Malaysian Garden
Elephant Gate Groundbreaking
17
Taylor’s Architecture
Degree Gets Accredited
18
YEYLOL Unveils Smart Digital
Home System Powered
by Microsoft
IJM Land Introduces
Bandar Rimbayu
Canary Garden’s Inaugural
Sales Preview
WIN A
BOOK!
THE LATEST
PROPERTY INVESTING
BESTSELLER!
PG42
4
y
2012
edefin n
d on
P&G Partners with Olympic
Council of Malaysia and Thank
Mothers
Energy Management and
Feng Shui
LBS Presents Keys Ahead
of Schedule
14
Pet Pet’s EasyStart Initiative
Building a Premiere Shopping
Destination
A garden concept rich with our very
own culture and heritage yet able to
blend in with the lifestyles of foreign
lands, now that’s something to be
proud of.
KONE’s People Flow
Solutions for Hatten City
National Achiever’s Congress
and Robert Kyosaki
Malaysia International
Property Investment
Showcase Red Carpet Edition
Carven Ong: Passion
for Fashion
HAPPENINGS
12
Silka Maytower Hotel and
Serviced Residences Aims
to Set Benchmark for
Value-led Hotels
REGULARS
6
8
76
Publisher’s Note/
78
MM2H Guide
79
Subscription Offer
Letters
Real Estate Directory
A useful list of organizations and bodies in
the real estate industry.
Some basic information to making
Malaysia your second home.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
T
he value of life and living has been trailing further and
further away and replaced by the price of living instead. The
world civilization was rapidly transformed by the industrial
revolution in the 18th and 19th century, where changes
in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and
technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural
conditions of the time. It was contagious, spreading from the United
Kingdom, throughout Western Europe, North America, Japan, and then
the rest of the world.
So here we are in the 21st century and we may ask what contributes
to the value of our lives today? Perhaps now is a good time to pause
for a moment and think of what we depend on to be happy, proud,
fied nd ec red
e de n on c n e ny h n o on he
r h r nc e re n
ce nd wh
more m or n
wh we do
in the journey to get there. The lack of real value may lead us nowhere,
and as stress and depression creep in, programs like motivation talks,
positive thinking and holidays will remain just as short term solutions
while material gains, technological gizmos and marketing gimmicks will
pass on as just fads that excite the rhythm of life temporarily. It is likely
that all we need is just the right map to move on.
For A
Healthy
Family,
Healthy
Society
o n ee n o find n
d rec on n e omefinder
r o eh
been molded towards enriching all who aspire towards a purposeful life
and living, whatever the social circumstance may be. We will begin with
the health of the heart at home, the relationships within your family.
Embracing this mission, we have carefully handpicked specialists in
their own right to give you valuable content to further strengthen and
revive the foundations of your life and family.
This edition, we are happy that Focus On The Family Malaysia, a nonrofi or n
on h h e een ro nd or 1 ye r nd re che o
to 20,000 people yearly, has agreed to be our long-term friend. They will
be talking about staying married for life, a life experience which every
couple can relate to as me myself have always wondered about the
secrets of successful marriages. Another article in this edition is about
being a role model to your teenage children, some have confessed that
h
he mo d fic
e o de w h
ren nd d e n ce
to get insights that actually work.
e dn
c o er o he ro er y ron we e een he r n eo e
grumbling about the expensive prices of property nowadays. There is
ome r h n
e he r why nd
o where do we find ord e
homes?
no e
we h e
d
n
ro er y n e or nd
author of the bestseller “WTF? 23 Properties By 30” on our cover. Find
out how he went from zero to 23, and perhaps learn some secrets
nd
r on yo r fir
ro er y
we . nd oo o yo m h e en
get a one-on-one session with the man himself by visiting us on
Facebook and participating in our lucky draw. Autographed books
are also up for grabs.
And A
Good ie
d
d
E
Life.
If you would like to suggest people or organizations you think would be
he
o o her hro h
wr e n we d o e o he r rom yo . h
said, I will leave you to your reading, and I hope that you will enjoy this
ed on o omefinder nd e n Redefining Life and Li ing with us.
Eddie Tan
CO-FOUNDER AND PUBLISHER
6
y
2012
edefin n
d on
LETTERS
Save
Penang!
Something I Didn’t Know
I’ve been investing
in property for
years, but recently
have seen a lot
about Soho, Sovo
and Sofo, Will
there be more of
these? Anyway,
thanks for the
article in your last edition on those mentioned type of
properties, I guess I am more clear about how those
properties can suit my investment.
DAVID KWAN, JOHOR BAHRU
Resi is Dying!
I liked how you portrayed
Penang as a bubbling pot
in the last issue. I truly
agree that the island has
been over developed at
certain spots, and is sadly
killing the beauty of this
island paradise. I hope to
see more of these articles,
to be more enlightened on
other places, like Penang.
B.C. LIM, SUNGAI PETANI
Knowing that the
market is getting
slightly slower, so
at this juncture
we just need to
make an informed
decision. Reading
your last article
about investing in
Non – Residential Properties, the info and advises in
there was doing exactly that and it helped.
ARIF FAUZAN, KUALA LUMPUR
Loved a Story?
Got an idea?
Useful
We want to
hear from you
Email us at mailbox@
homefinder.com.my.
Letters may be edited
for length and clarity.
Include name, age and
contact details.
Good tips! I never really paid
that much attention to Debt
Consolidation before but this was
very easy to understand. The steps
were insightful, showed me saving
is also part of gaining.
VINCENT MOH, PJ
8
y
2012
edefin n
d on
Contributors
SR WONG WEN CHET
CO-FOUNDER AND PUBLISHER
Eddie Tan
B. Bus (Prop). MRICS, MISM, MPEPS, MMAPPM
CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING EDITOR
Sr Wong Wen Chet is the Managing Director of Oregeon
Property Consultancy Sdn Bhd. He is a Registered Valuer
& Registered Estate Agent recognized by Board of Valuers,
Appraisers and Estate Agents and been in the real estate
industry for more than six years. He is also Committee
Member of REHDA Youth under Real Estate and Housing
Developers’ Association Malaysia (REHDA).
Ivan Tan
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Bill Cheong
SUB EDITOR
Lawrence Julius Tiwol
WRITER
Emilio Vergara
CREATIVE & PRODUCTION
Racheal Lenita Pricilla
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Stephanie Chia
SALES AND MARKETING
SR LEE SHEAU HUEY
Fatin Anirah
B. (Hons). Estate Management. MRICS, MISM, MPEPS, MMAPPM
WEB & IT
Sr Lee Sheau Huey is the Director of Oregeon Property
Consultancy Sdn Bhd. She is a Registered Valuer &
Registered Estate Agent recognized by Board of Valuers,
Appraisers and Estate Agents. She has more than six years
of professional real estate experience mainly in research and
valuation of residential and commercial properties.
Mohd Aidil Reza
ADMINISTRATION
Mohd Cazrin
CONTACT US
m
o
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PUBLISHER
TTIEN Media Group Sdn Bhd (877188-K)
J-08-02, Solaris Mont Kiara,
o. 2
n o r
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 603 – 6201 8337/9337
Fax: 603 – 6201 6337
FAIZUL RIDZUAN
Faizul Ridzuan, 31, is a regular nine-to-five employee, author
and property investor. He was a Computer Science major and
a graduate from Malaya University. Faizul has been investing in
properties for six years now, and within five years, had 23 properties
in his portfolio, which is now worth more than RM5 million.
His success in property inspired his first book release “WTF? 23
Properties by 30” which was well received by the general audience
and propelled to bestseller status at a number of bookstores,
including MPH, Kinokuniya and Borders. Faizul is also a panelist
on a local internet property forum www.propertyWTF.com.my
where he actively expands his horizons and meets both new and
seasoned investors. He is a fan of motorcycles.
PRINTER
Percetakan Skyline Sdn Bhd (135134-v)
o. 3
37
n 12 32
TSI Business Industrial Park,
Batu 6 1/2, Off Jalan Kepong,
52100 Kuala Lumpur
DISTRIBUTION
MMS - Media Marketing
Services Sdn Bhd
No 1, Jalan PJU3/45,
nw y m n r echno o y
7 10 e n
y
e n or r
h n.
r
ome nder
hed mon h y y
TTien Media Group Sdn Bhd.
INDEPENDENT ENTITY
or he
her
n nde enden or n
on no re ed o ny
ro er y re ed er on or n
on or
oc on
ro er y re ed com n e . he
her
o no c n
ro y or ny ro er y re ed
com n e . he
her
o n men
o fic
media, media partner or its variant is based on
o fic
ne re on h
nd doe no ho d
he
her
re ed com ny
d ry
com ny or
r n.
rod c
nd er ce y
he
her re rendered r c y on ro e on
ro nd nde enden rom he n ence o ny
ro er y re ed com n e .
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY (FOTF)
Founded by Dr James C. Dobson in the United States
in 1977, FOTF is a non-profit organization with a
clear vision – to strengthen families. From modest
beginnings with a weekly radio program, they are now an
international ministry with offices worldwide, reaching
more than two million people in 155 countries. They
jointly work with a wide network of professionals, from
both the public and government sector – all dedicated to
the preservation of the family.
he
her doe no
r e n ny ro er y
re ed r n c on cond c ed y
c en
oc e or
r n
r rom c n on y
he med
ro d n he nece ry co er e
med e o re nd d er emen
ce. he
her doe no n ny w y enefi mone r y
from transactions occurred between seller(s)
nd yer
h
r e rom he e
ne
re on h .
NOTE
he ew e re ed n he r c e re he
hor .
hey do no nece r y re re en he ew o he
her. he
her no re on e or he
statements or remarks made in the articles unless
e re y
ed.
PERMISSION AND REPRODUCTION
e rod c on o ny r o
materials is prohibited without the written
erm on o he
her.
THIS MONTH, WE ASK:
Roses are red, violets are blue,
Gorillas can’t swim, this is nothing new.
Connect with us on:
HomefinderMalaysia
We know property investing can yield, give us a clue,
We’d like to know how homes made your dreams come true,
HomefinderMsia
And if there’s an investment strategy that has worked for you,
Tell us more, we’d like to try it too.
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10
Send you feedback to mailbox@homefinder.com.my
y
2012
edefin n
d on
TO KUALA LUMPUR /
PUTRAJAYA
TO CHERAS / AMPANG /
GENTING HIGHLANDS
TO SRI PETALING
Endah Parade
(Carrefour)
Technology
Park Malaysia
TO JOHOR BAHRU / SINGAPORE
PROPERTY
BUZZ
LBS Present
KONE’s
Keys Ahead of Schedule
People Flow
Solutions
For Hatten City
Hatten City
in Melaka.
KONE, a leading provider of elevator
and escalators has won an order
o
y eo e ow o on or
Hatten City, a mixed-use development
project in the coastal city of Melaka
in Malaysia. KONE’s solutions will be
de ered o fi e ory ho n m
and two 170-meter-high tower blocks
of luxury condominiums which are
currently under construction.
The Silverscape residential tower
will be the highest building in the
State of Malacca.
12
y
2012
edefin n
e
Property developer LBS Bina Group Bhd under its subsidiary
Seribu Baiduri Sdn Bhd, handed over the keys to unit buyers
of Saujana business Park eight months ahead of schedule. The
commercial development comprising two and three story shop
offices is set to be a prominent trade square within the selfsufficient township of Bandar Saujana Putra. Saujana Business
Park consists of 78 units of shop offices with built-up areas from
3,266 sq. ft. to 9,201 sq. ft. The units, launched at RM184 per
sq. ft., is today valued at RM275 per sq. ft. and is expected to
continue escalating. Saujana Business Park has an estimated
Gross Domestic Value (GDV) of RM62 million.
IJM Land Introduces
Bandar Rimbayu
IJM Land Bhd introduced its Bandar Rimbayu township for
he fir
me
med
re ew or he new de e o men
on 29 May. Designed with an emphasis on sustainable
lifestyles for residents and strong connectivity elements,
the project with an estimated gross development value of
RM11 billion is a mixed township spread over 1,879 acres
close to Kota Kemuning. In conjunction with the launch of
the development project, IJM Land also signed a Service
Agreement with Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) for the
provision of high speed broadband (HSBB) infrastructure
in Bandar Rimbayu. At the signing ceremony, IJM Land was
represented by Dato’ Soam while TM was represented by
Datuk Zaini Maatan, Vice President of TM Selangor.
PROPERTY
BUZZ
CANARY
GARDEN’S
INAUGURAL SALES
PREVIEW
Silka
Maytower
Hotel and
Serviced
Residences
Aims to Set
Benchmark
for Value-led
Hotels
The rebranding of Silka Maytower
Hotel & Serviced Residences,
Kuala Lumpur - formerly known
as Maytower Hotel & Serviced
Residences - is expected to raise
the bar in terms of customer
services and guest expectations
for value-driven hotels in the city.
Opened in 2008, Silka Maytower
Hotel & Serviced Residences,
Kuala Lumpur has been a favorite
with business and leisure travelers
alike, particularly those seeking
value accommodation with quality
guest services.
Situated in the heart of one of
Kuala Lumpur’s main commercial
and entertainment districts, the
hotel’s 193 well-appointed rooms
and suites make it an ideal choice
for exploring Malaysia’s popular
tourist attractions, historical,
modern and natural sights,
shopping, street food, dining and
local communities.
Silka Hotels offer affordable
heart-warming accommodation
with essential home-like comforts
incorporated with innovatively
designed space. For added
convenience, all rooms also come
with a mini-bar featuring items
sold at supermarket prices.
Canary Garden’s Semi-Detached units.
The much awaited 446-acre Canary Garden in Klang hosted its
inaugural Sales Preview in May, opening up for registration to home
buyers. Attracting many potential home buyers, many came to view the
ro er y de e o men howc e. he cce
fir
re ew he d on
12 and 13 May resulted in a great response from the public and is held
weekly on Saturday and Sunday from 9am until 5pm. Canary Garden is a
premier RM3 billion property developments on this prime land is another
exciting project by KSL Holdings Bhd.
e re e ed h o r fir
e re ew w
re o nd n
cce
with 72 units of Semi-Detached Link homes so well received that we had
to open up another block of units for registration…,” said Patrick Khoo,
Project Director of Canary Garden @ Bandar Bestari.
14
y
2012
edefin n
e
“While Silka Hotels offer the
perfect synergy in terms of
facilities, guest services and
location, it is more than just
comfortable accommodation and
convenient location as Silka Hotels
also offer attractive shopping
discounts and service privileges
for hotel guests via its Stay, Shop
& Save programme,” pointed out
Kosmopolito Hotels International’s
President and Executive Director,
Winnie Chiu.
PROPERTY
BUZZ
National Achiever’s Congress
and Robert Kyosaki
The National Achiever’s Congress 2012 (NAC2012) celebrated its 20th
Anniversary from 29 to 31 May at Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre. The
keynote speaker for this year’s NAC was acclaimed bestselling author Robert
Kyosaki known for “Rich Dad Poor Dad”, the number one personal finance book
of all time. During the event, Robert talked about the importance of gaining
financial education and living a financially free life, based on principals from
his book and the cash-flow quadrant. Other guest speakers included Bill Walsh,
Dr Sundardas Annamalay, Marcus De Maria, Steve Clements and many more.
The three-day event was well-received by over 3,800 delegates comprising of
entrepreneurs, top management teams, students, members of the media and
business partners.
Robert Kyosaki (Left) during NAC2012.
Malaysia International Property
Investment Showcase
Red Carpet Edition
The 43rd Malaysia International Property Investment Showcase,
Red Carpet Edition was recently held at the Mid Valley Exhibition
Centre. The annual event lasted from 23 to 24 June, and featured
both local and international exhibitors. Throughout the two days,
exhibition goers were welcomed to sit in and listen to free seminars
featuring various topics such as investment and home defects. The
Homefinder team had a booth here as well, and we were right next
to the stage promoting our latest magazine and giving out freebies.
16
y
2012
edefin n
e
Artist’s impression
of Elephant Gate.
Elephant Gate
Groundbreaking
e h n
e
y
fir
rem er
lifestyle entertainment complex, has
o fic y e n
ro nd re n
Kampong Pandan, Kuala Lumpur on 14
May. The multi-million dollar, 47,000 sq ft
facility (located at No 12, Jalan Kampong
Pandan) is home to 15 food
and entertainment outlets.
As a premier lifestyle destination,
Elephant Gate is conceptualized and
committed to providing its customers
and tenants with services and facilities of
impeccable quality, with an ambience that
is both vibrant and sophisticated right in
the heart of the golden triangle. Given the
varied range of F&B dining experiences
set amidst unique landscaped
surroundings; it’s the perfect venue for
cozy indoor dining or alfresco dining
under the stars. Elephant Gate, with its
charming settings and modern appeal,
defin e y m
or he oc
nd
expatriates community - from families to
working professionals, tourists and a revisit for members of RSGC (Royal Selangor
Golf Club) in the evening.
Connoisseurs can also look forward
to specialty cocktails, malt whiskeys, a
r n e o od
nd fine w ne o ered
by the clubs, pubs and bars at Elephant
Gate. Be it dining or chilling out at the
restaurants, cafes, clubs, roof bar and
nightspots, or an intimate walk along
the open courtyards and pool - a myriad
of pleasant experiences await you at
Elephant Gate with a perfect view of
RSGC and its surrounding skyscrapers
LIFE
WIRE
PET PET’S
EASYSTART
INITIATIVE
Celebrity Dynas Mokthar making an exclusive appearance at Hospital Ampang
to personally present the Pet Pet EasyStart special pack to new mums.
Building a Premiere
Shopping Destination
Bintang Walk is the brainchild of YTL Corp’s
Managing Director Tan Sri Dr Francis Yeoh
and works on it started some 13 years ago.
According to Yeoh, YTL bought Starhill Gallery
and Lot 10 in 1999 at a time when it a stark
shadow of what it is today.
“After careful studies I discovered that the
custom duties is the key consideration for
luxury brands and many Asian countries, with
the exception of Singapore and Hong Kong,
impose high duties on luxury items,” said Yeoh.
This discovery prompted Yeoh to enter
discussions with the government to turn Starhill
Gallery into a tax-free mall and fortunately his
application was approved four months later.
Yeoh then started wooing international luxury
brands and succeeded in getting LVMH to set
e
h
ore n . n n
low rental offer is one of its key advantages as
it allows the luxury brands to set up stores in lot
sizes not feasible in other countries with much
h her ren .
h ome o he
e
h
stores for many luxury brands, it is time for KL to
position itself as a premium global fashion hub.
TAYLOR’S
ARCHITECTURE
DEGREE GETS
ACCREDITED
Taylor’s University reached a
milestone recently after garnering
accreditation for its architecture
degree from the Board of
Achitects Malaysia or Lembaga
Arkitek Malaysia (LAM). LAM’s
accreditation marks the official
recognition of the Bachelor of
Science (Hons) (Architecture)
program offered by the School of
Architecture, Building and Design
(SABD) at Taylor’s University, which
has been assessed and accredited
to have attained the approved
standard required by the Council
of Accreditation and Architectural
Education Malaysia (CAAEM).
edefin n
This fast growing diaper
brand is helping expectant
and new mums through
its EasyStart Initiative,
inspiring them to reach
out to other mums
with the aim of making
the early stages of their
motherhood a little
easier. The program is
exclusively designed for
mothers with newborns
below the age of three
months, free of charge.
It offers an exclusive 365
days worldwide coverage
and RM100 daily
hospitalization allowance
if the mother is confined
to a hospital resulted from
an accidental injury.
e
y
2012
17
LIFE
WIRE
Energy
Management
and
Feng Shui
Schneider Electric, global specialists
in energy management hosted an
event on 16 May themed “Inspiring
Life & Space” to show how interior
designers and developers can inject
“Feng Shui” into a home, and how
to “green” a building as well. Guests
were treated to a talk by Feng Shui
master Kenny Hoo and previewed
energy enhancing innovations like
the Wiser home Control System that
can help conserve energy simply
through a touch of a button.
Malaysia Olympic Diving Athlete 2012 and Malaysia National Sportswoman
2011, Pandelela Rinong and her mom, Pn. Hartini Binti Lamim were invited
to share the announcement of P&G’s partnership with OCM today.
P&G PARTNERS
WITH OLYMPIC
COUNCIL OF
MALAYSIA AND
THANK MOTHERS
Right:
The YEYLOL
machine.
P&G is the company behind favorite brands
such as Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Rejoice,
Olay, Gillette, Oral-B, Duracell, Downy, Dynamo, Pampers and Whisper. They now take
it a step up by announcing a partnership to
support the upcoming London 2012 Olympic
Games on 15 June. P&G will sponsor the
next Olympic Games up to the 2020 Olympic
Games. “…every Olympic athlete has a Mom
and Moms are with their children every step
of the way, nurturing and encouraging them,
and helping them realise their dreams. And
while we are not in the business of sports,
P&G is in the business of helping Moms,”
said Ellie Xie, Country CEO of P&G Malaysia and Singapore. P&G also launched the
“Thank You Mom” campaign for the London
2012 Olympic Games. 18
y
2012
edefin n
e
YEYLOL Unveils Smart Digital
Home System Powered by Microsoft
YEYLOL Technology Sdn Bhd launched its YEYLOL Smart Digital
Home System on 21 June. It is an all-in-one device powered by
Microsoft’s Windows Azure cloud computing platform. The YEYLOL
Smart Digital Home System is specifically designed to be easy to use
for all family members, thanks to its friendly graphical user interface
and navigation features. Featuring a built-in karaoke system with
intelligent search, Blu-ray player, 19-inch digital photo frame, a two
terabyte encrypted hard disk, 9,000 licensed songs and a host of other
applications, the YEYLOL Smart Digital Home System truly offers a
revolutionary way for family members to spend quality time together.
Another unique feature in the System is that content and applications
are updated automatically via Microsoft’s cloud platform every time
the device connects to the Internet.
property
“
HOME IS WHERE YOU LEARN
TO LAUGH, TO SHARE, TO LIVE,
TO LOVE AND, TO FORGIVE.
”
– ANON
INSIDE
c
c
c
c
c
c
A Fine Collection
Rawang - A Tin-Town’s Emerging Potential
Coming Home
Family, the Heart of the Home
Bulk Purchasing Properties – Is it safe?
Faizul Ridzuan
A FINE
COLLECTION
Property A Fine Collection
20
y
2012
edefin n
d on
L
ooking into the locker of a developer,
you’ll find that it is a good estimate of
how well that company has progressed.
One with a fine track record like OSK
Property Holdings Bhd (OSKP) will
likely blow you away with their line-up, one that
will always be an interesting affair to share and
behold. Even more so if these projects are awardwinning developments.
As you’d suspect, OSKP was once again recognized
by the Asia Pacific Property Award for its innovative concepts and impressive architectural design
in 2012. OSKP won in five categories, namely
Mixed Use Architecture, Office Development (including the regional award), Commercial Redevelopment and Residential Property Interior for its
projects Pan’gaea, Paragon, Atria and Mirage by
the Lake.
Keeping that in mind, here are OSKP’s winners,
developments worth a hard and serious look.
A Fine Collection Property
Best Mixed-use Architecture Malaysia
P
angaea [pan-jee-uh] was
a supercontinent that existed 250 million years
ago, long before the separation
of continents to form the world
as we know it today. This was
the inspiration for Pan’gaea @
Cyberjaya, a development by
OSKP. Pan’gaea envisions a
“world in one place concept”,
where the diversities of modern
living are bought together under one common address, in a
city that fulfils the demands of
the present and paves the way
for the future.
PAN’GAEA
Featuring a spectacular high-rise
tower- the tallest in Cyberjaya
so far – Pan’gaea is truly iconic.
Stretching across some 16 acres
of freehold land, this modern,
integrated commercial and residential township includes four
service apartment (Solstice),
two office towers (The Paragon). Boutique shop office (The
Square), street malls (The Patio), a shopping mall (The Gallery) and a resort hotel.
e ow
he c re
e n e
w r n orm 16 cre o
y er y nd c e.
The Meticulous
Architectural Plan
Create a centre of landmark stature
he r n o ec e re med ow rd orm n
ron oc or y er y o e
h he ro ec
ndm r w h n he c y nd o cre e
n e
nd
r n
c or m or en er nmen re
nd en re rene r
c
e wh e cre n
h hy
de r e
ce o e.
Create a celebrated pedestrian
experience
o cre e
e y c y w h n c y en ronmen
nder c re y d o m er
n. n e w
e he
her n o n or he eo e n y er y
nd hey wo d rr e
he r de red de n on
w ho h n he ro e o oo ro nd or endn nnece ry me w h ey o n w h n he
de e o men .
Create active urban street
environments
er ence re choreo r hed n o e ence o e c n nd y h r n ree re
we
ndoor
nd o door en er nmen
ce –
ed o e her
w h nd c ed rden h
dd o he o er ee
nd mo here o
n e wor d. e d n n o he
re den
re
en e o re e nd eren y creed hro h he e o reen
ce nd rden h
order he commerc
one .
Create a center of international
business
n e e re n n ern on c
ho n
nd en er nmen cen er w h ree m
o
ho
ho e nd
ndm r o fice ower.
e
Create a high-end residential enclave
n de re on e o od y h h dem nd or m
o med m ed re den
e he reeho d o ce er ce
r men
ro de d er e r n e o
home r n n rom one o hree
e nd rem er
2 1 edroom d e
e
o wh ch come ry rn hed.
re ch n 0 or e n o he y er y
y ne o ce ower re o ed o e mon he h he
e
n he we ern rec nc o y er y o er n
nn n ew o com emen he re dence rem er o er n .
Create a sophisticated and unique
architectural character
he e
n e
reen
d n nde comn c y
n cro 16 cre o reeho d nd nd
o nd o e e
n we o
r c rch ecre nd conce n he who e y er y .
n dy c m ence cre ed h n
o fi
cen r
r nd nd c ed reener e c
r e h
er e
oc
o n mon
y
d n m de
o o fice nd er
men connec n
he e emen n he
edefin n
d on
y
2012
e cre o
ed y n
h h
ce
rro ec .
21
PARAGON
G
eneration Y is forming the
majority of the workforce
today, and they will only
grow. This change challenged the
developer to conceptualize a fresh
and futuristic approach to commercial office development. Paragon was
thus conceived as an architectural
model of high efficiency and a green
and pragmatic plan for a new plan of
office typology. By questioning and
redefining the term “iconic”, Paragon embodies the virtue of change.
With a strong belief in the importance of a ‘Balanced Concept’, value‐adding to achieve effectiveness
in a work environment, OSKP also
aim to minimize costs for higher efficiency as well. This core principle is
Best Office Development Asia Pacific,
Best Office Development Malaysia
targeting towards a successful work
environment while maintaining a
balance; supporting the growing
dialogue between what the building
offers and what the users and businesses need.
With a curvature-inspired façade,
Paragon offers high exclusivity and
privacy for its units, especially for
those on the higher floors. And
keeping sustainability in mind, the
Green Building Index (GBI) compliant building boasts a design that
includes an internal void area and an
atrium that provides smooth flowing ventilation and inviting natural
lighting into the interiors.
Paragon’s SOFO Suites come with
an additional improvement, featuring modular layouts where two or
more units can be interconnected.
This makes the SOFO units here
highly flexible and able to accommodate a wide variety of uses, be it cozy
home or full-fledged office.
Residents will find that Paragon also
features top-notch facilities like a
fully-equipped gym, sauna room and
a swimming pool encircled by a sun
deck – all for that perfect morning
workout or a refreshing and relaxing
evening.
Paragon @ Pan’gaea
How to get there?
oord n e – 2
3
21
101
12
re w y
e hr y
m n r
chon
or h
o h en r
n
r y
n
1
re w y or o h
n
ey
re w y
3 m rom
2 m rom
e ow
r on c r
re
n red
de.
reeho d
nch r 2012
m ed com e on
– 2 mon h rom
e
1 6 n
– 03 o 1 3 0
od r yo
ow n wo
or more n
o e n ed
o
e e
fice
n
o
e – 26
o 26
0
ed c ed corr dor nd
e c
or
ron n m n cce ro d
c e –
oo
n dec
ye
ed ymn
m
n room
rden err ce
Pan’gaea @ Cyberjaya
ed de e o men – er ced
r men o
e re
o fice
e ho n
m re or ho e ree m
16 cre
e e o ed y
w
n
w
dn hd
d ry
o
ro er y o d n
hd
e r y men e – y er y
erm n
ro o ed
re
on y er y
e
rden
22
y
2012
edefin n
d on
A Fine Collection Property
ATRIA
Best Commercial Redevelopment Malaysia
A
tria Shopping Centre opened
its doors 30 years ago as one
of Malaysia’s premier suburban shopping malls in the Klang Valley. Thoughts of the Atria Shopping
Centre in the 1980s evoke feelings
of nostalgia and fond memories of
shopping in Printemps and Kimisawa and tea dances at Piccadily Disco.
Now, the legacy of Atria is poised for
revival in an exciting new era under
the development of OSKP.
ers. The development will be known
simply as Atria, a mixed development featuring a lifestyle shopping
mall and two five-star SOFO (Small
Office Flexi Office) towers.
OSKP is replacing the old mall with
a RM1 billion development that will
comprise of a five-story retail podium beneath two 16-story office tow-
The futuristic architectural concept,
layouts, technologies and facilities
are set put the new Atria Damansara
a step ahead of the rest, offering exceptional investment opportunities
while pushing up values across the
surrounding areas.
Atria Damansara
The redeveloped Atria will become the
single largest mixed commercial development taking place in Damansara
Jaya featuring approximately 660,000
sq ft of retail space and SOFO suites,
spanning across 5.5 acres.
reeho d
ro m e y . cre
e
3 2 n
2 oc
o13 3
How to get there?
oord n e – 3 7 3
101 36
or h
n
ey
re w y
m n r
chon
hw y
re w y
ench
n eder
hw y
e n
re w y
er nch n
3 m o nd r
m
m o nd r nw y
16 m rom
re w y
7 m o
hw y
How to buy?
e
er nd e
d ed on new
nche rom
ro er y o d n
hd
www.o
ro er y.com.my
or c
603 2161 3322
e ow
he new nd
refined r .
edefin n
d on
y
2012
23
MIRAGE BY
THE LAKE
W
Best Interior Design Show Home Malaysia
e know a “Mirage” exists in
Cyberjaya, OSK Property’s
inspired 150,000 sq ft lakeside-living development. But what
inspires the details of this “mirage”?
OSKP wanted something refined and
elegant, something that is classy and
timeless. They were searching for an
interesting and innovative but also rational design solution; a “classic of the
future” as it should be defined.
Saporiti Italia, a luxury brand celebrated worldwide for their creative
use of innovative materials and
unique manufacturing technologies will bring OSKP’s vision to life,
bringing bespoke luxury to the show
villa and condominium units of
Mirage. Works of craftsmanship includes leather hand stitched furniture
pieces, Calacatta Marble made furni-
Mirage by the Lake
reeho d
12.1 cre
3 ory e
3 n
–
ro m e y
733 o
7
3 ory rden
3 n
– 3 00 o 3 00
2 ory n ed
27 n
– 2 700 o 3 200
ondom n m
13 n
10
o 1 361
24
y
2012
edefin n
ture pieces, designer fabric selection
of soft furnishings are amongst the
many creations that one can expect
from the development.
Working together with Saporiti Italia,
for Mirage’s Show Villas, and their
creativity led to the development of
the first ever cantilevered staircase in
Malaysia which looks like a floating
staircase, the first made for Private
Luxurious Villas.
For the Show Condo, Saporiti Italia’s
creative impulse proves fresh perspective to urban lifestyle. One key
feature in the kitchen is stretched
lighted ceilings that enhance space,
creating the feel of natural daylight.
In the living room, custom made
stucco walls in Venetian stucco create a 3D effect, with niches to display the most precious collections.
The vision was to have a totally Italian Show Villa and Show Condo to
complement the prestige of the architecture and developer’s taste for
luxury home living. These luxury villas and condominiums targets home
owners who have “been around” and
have acquired a taste for the lifestyle.
The concept was inspired by time and
space; Time as “history” reflecting the
d on
roots of the project, time as the “present” because the project is contemporary and time as “future” because the
project anticipates future trends. Then
there is “Space”; Space as “genius loci,’
– the distinct local atmosphere, space
as an expression of “international culture,” deriving from Saporiti’s worldwide experience and those of the target
clients, and space as “comfort” with all
the areas and details being ample and
comfortable for the residents.
How to get there?
oord n e – 2
101
3
o h en r
n o h
en
n
3 m rom
2 m rom
re w y
n
n
ey
y
or h
r y
re w y
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Why buy here?
ood men e nd c e w h n
hor d
nce
ood c chmen o
den nd
wor n c
o
on
e
e de e o er w h o
nd n
r c record
w rd w nn n de e o men
Below:
A Mirage by
the lake
Property Rawang
Rawang
A Tin-Town’s
Emerging Potential
By Wong Wen Chet and Lee Sheau Huey
O
nce a small but busy tin mining town, the quiet settlement of
Rawang located at the northern
part of Selangor is now a thriving
territory with over 30,000 residents. Although tin mining was how the town
got started, it no longer serves as the town’s
main activity. The town was always considered
to have great potential due to high density of
development in and around the town area.
SR WONG WEN CHET
Sr Wong Wen Chet is the
Managing Director of Oregeon
Property Consultancy Sdn
Bhd. He is a Registered Valuer
& Registered Estate Agent
and has more than six years
experience in the property
field and is also a Committee
Member of REHDA Youth.
26
y
2012
Land transaction activity in Rawang has been
very aggressive. Mah Sing Group for example,
purchased two parcels of adjacent land measuring 157 acres in aggregate gross area in
Bandar Kundang in 2012. The group also acquired Semai Meranti Sdn Bhd, the registered
nd enefic owner o
rce o con
ous development land within the Northern
Growth Corridor in Rawang, measuring approximately 225.7 acres (year 2011). Other
noticeable land transactions include the disposal of 37.91 acres of development land by
edefin n
d on
Bina Eksotik Sdn Bhd to Next Fortune Sdn Bhd
in Taman Saujana Rawang (year 2011). This
was preceded by the disposal of 38.15 acres
of development land by Bedford Industrial Dev
Sdn Bhd to Golden Masterpiece Sdn Bhd along
Jalan Rawang-Batang Berjuntai (year 2010)
and the disposal of 22.15 acres by Shang Yong
(Sabah) Sdn Bhd to Rentak Arena (M) Sdn Bhd
along Jalan Rawang Batu Arang (year 2010).
Located approximately 30 km to the north of
Kuala Lumpur, Rawang is accessible via the
North-South Highway and Rawang trunk road.
On June 2011, the KL-Kuala Selangor Expressw y
re w y w o fic y o ened
linking Kuala Lumpur via Templer’s Park with
the township of Ijok, creating an alternative
road link. The expressway successfully shortened the travelling distance between Kuala
Lumpur, Rawang and Ijok, hence making it
more feasible for Rawang residents to work
in the city, and vice versa. Travelling by KTM
(Keretapi Tanah Melayu) trains is also possible,
via the KTM Rawang Station sited nearby the
Rawang town.
Apart from the improved accessibility, the surrounding amenities should also be taken note
of. In year 2010 and beginning of 2012, Tesco
Rawang and Aeon Rawang Shopping Centre
started their operation along Jalan Rawang
and Persiaran Anggun, Taman Anggun. Besides that, there are also existing retail centers such as Giant, Parkson, NSK Supermarket
and Mydin Store.
Rawang Property
The town of Rawang has always been known
as one that possesses great potential, and
that potential is starting to show. There is no
way the gamers will miss the chance to poach
a piece of the Rawang cake. Mah Sing Group
and Glomac Rawang Sdn Bhd of Glomac Berhad have already made their steps into the
town with projects M Residence Rawang and
Saujana Rawang, respectively – both currently
under construction as residential dwellings.
Besides that, notable on-going or launched
projects are those such as Anggun City by
Hong Bee Land, T-Park Land in Templer Park
(condominium) by MCT and Saffron Puteri
Heights (3-story semi-detached houses) by
r w n
fi dn hd nd mer d w ng (linked houses) by Guocoland.
Located at the western portion of Rawang
is Bandar Tasik Puteri. It is a predominantly
residential town in character with very huge
portion undeveloped land remaining. The
ro ec w he med y
c fic nd erhad (AP Land), which was acquired by Low
Yat Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd in 2012. The group
now handles the entire business and undertakings of AP Land – Bandar Tasik Puteri is
one of them. With Low Yat Group taking over
Bandar Tasik Puteri, several projects were
planned and launched at Garden Heights,
Bandar Tasik Puteri, such as low-rise residential dwelling units.
The recorded sales of existing residential
schemes in Rawang are as follows.
Data compiled (refer to Prices of Residential
Properties in Rawang) revealed that the residential sector generally went on an upward
trend in terms of pricing within the past few
years for selected schemes within Rawang.
Preferable schemes in Rawang, like Bandar
Country Homes, Kota Emerald, Taman Bukit
Rahman Putra (Mukim Rawang), Taman Bukit
Rawang Jaya and Taman Rawang Perdana
e er enced
n fic n ncre e hro ho
the years.
A total of 642 transactions were recorded
for residential properties in the selected areas from year 2009 to 2011. Out of the total
transaction, Bandar Tasik Puteri possesses approximately 45% of the recorded transactions
while the rest is equally distributed among the
other remaining schemes. Year 2010 recorded
the highest number of transaction (266) compared to 2009 (155) and 2011 (221), among the
selected schemes.
In the commercial sector, Rawang Commercial
Centre (The Reef) for instance, a three-story
ho o fice w h
nd e o 1 6 0
w
transacted at RM745,000 in 2009. The selling
price then rose at least 30% in year 2010 ranging between RM980,00 to RM1,300,000. It then
further increased between RM1,100,000 to
RM1,460,000 in 2011.
SR LEE SHEAU HUEY
Sr Lee Sheau Huey is the
Director of Oregeon Property
Consultancy Sdn Bhd. She is a
Registered Valuer & Registered
Estate Agent with more than
six years professional real estate
experience mainly in research
and valuation of residential
and commercial properties.
The Low Yat Group recently launched a
residential project called Garden Heights in
Bandar Tasik Puteri Rawang with double-
edefin n
d on
y
2012
27
Property Rawang
man Desa Mas Rawang, a joint venture project by Desa Mahumas Sdn Bhd and Proven
Development and Construction Sdn Bhd was
launched at the price of RM295,000 onwards
for a 1,300 sq ft terrace house.
Other than the ones mentioned above, some
higher-end projects have also been launched.
Zero-lot bungalows known as Zara by Glomac
Berhad (3,600 sq ft) was launched at a price
of RM776,000 onwards and Saffron Puteri
Heights semi-detached houses (3,600 sq ft)
were priced from RM690,000 onwards. Guoco
Land Malaysia, a member of the Hong Leong
Group launched their projects at Emerald
Rawang which were two- and two-and-a-halfstory terrace houses between 1,920 sq ft to
2,080 for a price of RM748,800 onwards. Anggun City semi-detached houses by Hong Bee
Land was launched at RM688,000 onwards for
a 3,000 sq ft unit.
story terrace houses (18’ x 75’) priced from
RM290,000 and low-rise apartment units
priced from RM72,000 (bumi units). On the
other hand, Mah Sing Group and Glomac
Berhad have also launched their projects
(terrace houses) which are priced between
RM582,800 (22’ x 80’) and RM428,888 (22’ x
70’), and above. T-Park Land Condominium by
MCT was launched at a price of RM370,000
for a built-up of 1,210 sq ft, while Aveda Ta-
With the improved accessibility, amenities and
entertainment element present in town such
as the TGV cinema in Aeon Rawang Shopping
Centre, Rawang is progressively turning itself
into a self-sustainable township with great
ability to continuously attract developers and
residents from across the Klang Valley. With
so much activity in the mix, there is no-doubt
h
w n
fin y re
n
r e n re
and potential.
Prices of Residential Properties in Rawang
Scheme
BANDAR COUNTRY
HOMES
Type
Size
(SF)
2009
No. of
Transaction
2010
No. of
Transaction
2011
No. of
Transaction
2-Story Terrace House
1,076
120,000 - 180,000
8
102,000 - 160,000
22
100,000 - 198,000
27
1,300
100,000 - 175,000
8
120,000 - 200,000
23
110,000 - 240,000
26
1,345
185,000 - 185,000
2
173,000 - 180,000
2
200,000 - 220,000
6
1,400
163,000 - 180,000
3
134,000 - 192,000
7
130,000 - 230,000
6
Kota Emarald
2-Story Semi-D
3,605
450,000 - 450,000
1
460,000 - 460,000
1
510,000 - 512,000
2
Kota Emarald (Anggun)
2-Story Semi-D
2,400
N/A
-
450,000 - 506,000
3
493,000 - 620,000
2
2-Story Semi-D
2,626
495,000 - 495,000
1
515,000 - 560,000
8
540,000 - 612,500
6
Rawana Park
1,300
165,000 - 250,000
3
160,000 - 200,000
6
173,000 - 290,000
4
Taman Bukit Rahman
Putra (Mukim Rawang)
1,400
N/A
-
220,000 - 380,000
19
250,000 - 430,000
16
1,650
N/A
-
320,000 - 420,000
12
320,000 - 563,000
8
2-Story Semi-D
3,200
580,000 - 750,000
8
660,000 - 745,000
6
818,000 - 950,000
6
2.5-Story Semi-D
1,916
460,000 - 550,000
4
485,000 - 580,000
4
550,000 - 680,000
5
Taman Bukit Rawang
Jaya
1,650
130,000 - 200,000
5
133,000 - 245,000
11
150,000 - 280,000
15
Taman Rawang Perdana
1,300
120,000 - 180,000
14
110,000 - 190,000
21
120,000 - 250,000
18
1,400
140,000 - 235,000
16
115,000 - 250,000
11
160,000 - 330,000
12
1,044
45,000 - 155,000
49
80,000 - 160,000
49
76,000 - 140,000
27
1,119
80,000 - 142,000
17
80,000 - 160,000
22
130,000 - 150,000
6
1,173
71,000 - 150,000
12
75,452 - 161,000
28
100,000 - 175,000
17
1,496
106,000 - 175,000
4
100,000 - 175,000
11
120,000 - 180,000
12
Bandar Tasik Puteri
155
Oregeon Property Consultancy Sdn Bhd
28
y
2012
edefin n
d on
266
977751-A
221
Property Coming Home
Coming
Home
Embracing Nature’s
Tranquility at Gita Bayu
I
magine driving up tree-lined roads that lead you home after a hard
day’s work, and as you pass through the welcoming entrance and
greeted by friendly personnel , a sense of calmness sets in you as the
bustling sounds of the concrete jungle are left behind. You leisurely
pull through more foliage that genuinely feels like works of Mother
Nature herself, and finally up the driveway to your home that reminds
you of your nostalgic days in the “kampung”, only more sophisticatedly
built. Seems a little farfetched doesn’t it, especially in this day and age of
urban living?
Above:
Gita Bayu presents its residents with a
calming atmosphere among lush greenery.
Right:
The clubhouse is inspired by Balinese and Thai
architecture, designed by world renowned architects.
30
y
2012
edefin n
d on
Coming Home Property
How to get there?
1 30 m n e rom
y
Highway or Besraya Highway
er he ne
he
o 3 mn e o
erem
n
n on
dn
h hw y
THE NATURAL LIFE
This enchanting ambience of
returning to a place where you
can truly call home and where
you can leave your worries at the
gates doesn’t merely exist, but is
one that you can experience right
here within the Klang Valley.
Conceptualized and realized
over a decade ago, Gita Bayu
is a unique residential enclave
that is not only enveloped in
lush forest greenery but also
one that exudes a luxurious and
tranquil lifestyle. One would
feel they are transported to a
distant, more pleasant world,
yet surprisingly, this 118-acre
wonder sits just a stone’s throw
away from the big city, being
tucked away serenely on a hilly
landscape in Seri Kembangan.
Achievements
nner o
c w rd
or e
e den
e e o men 2003
nner o e
nd c n or o e
e or o r m om e
e ory 2003
hor
ed or he
n ern on
h n
w rd e den
e ory – 2003
Originally a rubber plantation,
sights of its once ecological
past is still abundant despite
it now being developed with
just over 350 nature-inspired
homes. The creator of Gita
Bayu believes in embracing
nature instead of tearing down
the beauty of the land to make
way for a development masterplan. This of course has paid
off with Gita Bayu sweeping
several prestigious awards including FIABCI’s Award for
Best Residential Development
and Winner of Best Landscaping for Hotel/Resort/Tourism
Complex Category in 2003.
“When you buy a home here,
you are not simply buying a
physical house but also buying
into a vision where people can
edefin n
leave troubles behind and truly
come home. They can live one
with nature and experience a
peaceful and relaxing lifestyle.
This is the vision of its founder,
Alex Lim” states Andre Keller,
CEO of Gita Bayu adding that
this vision is embodied in their
new tagline, “Coming Home”.
He also shares his own experience
of waking up to the songs of the
birds and rustling leaves every
single morning. It is like being
in a remote countryside. Draw
open the curtains and you’re
immediately blessed with rays
of morning sunlight squeezing
through the jungle trees which
some are as old as 40 years.With
such thick greenery shading the
entire landscape, temperatures
are generally lowered by two to
three degrees making an outdoor
jog seems so much more inviting
even in the mid-afternoon.
Although lifestyle is emphasized,
the up-market homes here at
Gita Bayu are nothing to scoff
at either. Having launched their
first phase in 1996, the original
plan gave owners the leeway to
design their own home from
the ground up. Taking a stroll
around, you will be awed by
some of the uniquely designed
bungalows, each a symbol of its
owner’s identity. Then, there are
the Hill Villas which are situated
on higher grounds, the townhouses called the Town Villas
which give a resort chalet-like
ambience amongst shady leaves,
and of course the cluster bungalows known as the Garden Villas.
d on
y
2012
31
Property Coming Home
h dy ree
ow he hy
o door ro ny me o d y.
wh
y yo r e w h he r y me
en oy n he com ny o n re
en he oo h
ne e
and Thai inspired architecture.
Gita Bayu
Current Developments
20
n ow o
yer
to build their own bungalows
100 n o own
31 n o
rden
n o
Future Developments
nd d
y de ned
bungalows
ondom n m
ho
e
Facilities – n n
on
swimming pool, gymnasium,
multipurpose hall, reading room,
tennis and basketball courts,
o n w n r c
ro nd
he 2 e o er
m o h dy
roads, children’s playground
nd oo
fie d o n
e.
Nearby Amenities – ne
ho n en re ne
on
der nd o h y
ce o he o den or e
e n or r
eon
her
e
n
n
32
y
2012
Certainly, this dream of a lifestyle
would not be complete without comparable resort-like facilities and more
importantly first-rate service. At the
heart of Gita Bayu sits its pride and
joy, a clubhouse that boasts a Balinese and Thai inspired architecture by
world-renowned architects, Lek Bunnag and Bill Bensley. Complete with a
dining pavilion in an open-air verandah surrounded by soothing sounds
from water features, a gymnasium, a
quiet reading room on the top floor
and of course an infinity swimming
pool overlooking one if its two manmade lakes, this would undeniably be
an afternoon well spent just soaking
up the sunlight as well as the sounds
of nature.
“It’s really a sight to see, these residents getting together on weekend
nights at the restaurant as part of a
friendly community,” says Andre.
While the facilities here are generally
catered for its own residents, such a
waste it would be if the atmosphere
at this haven is not shared with the
edefin n
d on
public. Thankfully, Gita Bayu accommodates special functions at
their multipurpose hall or their floating stage on the lake. Imagine the divine walk towards the pedestal at the
edge of the gleaming lake and saying
your “I Do” with your soon-to-be
life partner.
HOSPITALITY FOR
THE COMMUNITY
The developers of Gita Bayu takes
so much pride in their creation of
this modern day Eden that they have
chosen to fully manage and run it
on their own, thus fostering a closer
relationship with the community of
residents which is made up of a good
mix between the quietly affluent local businessmen, professionals as
well as expatriates.
Having traveled to many countries
in his past appointments, Andre’s
extensive exposure to the service industry is now put into practice here
at Gita Bayu.
Coming Home Property
Precious trees within Gita Bayu
Rain Tree or Hujan Hujan
African Mahogany
Rubber Tree
“We are moving towards being a
more service oriented company here
at Gita Bayu as I believe development is not about building houses,
but a community” says Andre adding that plans to improve the restaurant, introducing shuttle service,
even a concierge service is already in
the pipeline.
at the top of a hill called The Peak.
That’s not the only community activity as there is also a residents’ board
where residents themselves plan activities and festival celebrations for
the entire population of Gita Bayu.
it is quite the opposite. Gita Bayu is
conveniently located alongside two
major highways – the KL-Seremban
Highway and the Besraya Highway,
which takes you up north into KL
within 15 minutes on a clear day
and south all the way to Seremban.
Frequent flyers would also find no
hassle travelling just over 30 minutes to KLIA and LCCT via the
ELITE Highway.
Botanical name: Samanea saman
v
r e re d n ree or o erhe d
shade
v
e
fine ro d de en e
n
v
ny
e or r e rden nd r
The dedicated staff of Gita Bayu is
evidently of utmost importance to
this direction. But what’s more remarkable is the sight of the management team themselves getting their
hands dirty making sure everything
is in place. Even as CEO, Andre still
pays attention to each and every tree.
He even sadly points out a withered
tree which was unknowingly poisoned recently.
As for the residents here, indeed they
are a living and friendly community.
Andre shares of some residents who
organize a “tai chi’ morning session
Botanical name: Khaya Senegalensis
v
en
n ed
h de ree
v Widely used as a streetscape tree
v
n row
o 30 me er h h w h
r n d me er o one me er
Botanical name: Hevea Brasiliensis
v
orm y r o one o
y
o de
rubber estates
v
er ree n
y re
od
30 – 0 ye r
CAREFREE AND
CONVENIENCE
Being an exclusive and up-market
gated and guarded community,
needless to say security is paramount. With friendly yet attentive
guards patrolling the vicinity round
the clock, it is no surprise that Gita
Bayu has never had a break-in. In
fact, residents’ confidence is mirrored in each every home, with none
having huge cage-like gates unlike
the conventional houses we know of.
So, with such great atmosphere, you
would think it is far out in the countryside of some rural area. In truth,
You can celebrate your most cherished moments with
r end nd m e
he o n
e on he e.
Daily shopping needs are also answered through the many amenities
nearby including the Mines Shopping Centre, South City Plaza as well
as a host of shop lots. Education for
the young ones is also taken care of
with the Alice Smith International
School and Australian International
School close by.
Inspired by a vision of resort-style
living in harmony with nature, yet
supported by the many urban conveniences within its proximity, it is no
wonder owners themselves choose to
live here. Over the years, Gita Bayu
has grown tremendously from its
humble beginnings, be it the tangibles within or its value. Whether you
are seeking tranquility, convenience,
luxury or another good investment,
Gita Bayu could just be the place you
can truly say you are ‘Coming Home’.
For more on how you can be part
of the community at Gita Bayu,
call +603-8945 5560 or
visit www.gitabayu.com
edefin n
d on
y
2012
33
Transforming
the architecture
of Kajang
F
or decades, the neighbourhood of Kajang has
endured a dubious reputation. The consequence
of being a medium end and highly saturated
residential area, housing generation upon generation.
road leading up to this promise of new life
in Kajang. From Jalan Bukit Angkat to the
township entrance, the way was paved
with tree-lined, landscaped roads that
were fin y m de dr
e. nco r ed
by this streetscape, neighbours gradually
spruced up their compounds.
As the population escalated, so did the
crime rate. Understandably, given the lack
of security and premium homes. The infrastructure then could not support growing
r fic nd h w com o nded y oor
drainage, not to mention the lack of footpaths, cycling paths and multi-lane roads
for residents and daily commuters. Besides
housing, Kajang is a factory-dense industrial zone with pockets of bleak urban landscape, unkempt green and inhospitable
hot spots.
The 366-acre township has since created
a new skyline in Kajang. Recognising that
many living in Kajang sought a better environment, one that is safe and surrounded
by lush green, Gamuda Land went on to
craft a holistic masterplan with a distince y reen fin er r n o recre e
n
in Kajang with emphasis on nature, safety
and luxury. Central to luxury is a residents’
clubhouse featuring a contemporary
Chinese teahouse, Olympic-sized pool
and gym.
In 2008, it all changed for this neglected
neighbourhood when acclaimed developer
Gamuda Land resolved to reinvent the area
by developing Jade Hills.
red c ed
en
n nd ne r y
loyalists quickly upgraded to Jade Hills.
he fir
e r n orm on o re n en ing the Kajang area was building the access
Purchasers shared their surprise from the
moment they drove in, saying they never
imagined such quality living in this area.
Their mindset and expectations changed
in an instant. “No longer is there a stigma
of Kajang being a small, unappealing town.
Jade Hills has raised the bar.” “Relatives
and friends now envy their luxurious lifestyle.” These were common comments.
This shift in perception has increased the
number of buyers whose comfort zone
is far from Kajang. People, not just those
from around, are more and more exposed
o he ood e.
ec on h e ne er
been higher.
Today, 4 years since its launch, Jade Hills
is geared to step up their game. Adding
to the township’s lavish collection of contemporary homes, lush landscaping and
resort-style amenities is the Jade Hills Town
Centre, a commercial parcel comprising
everyday conveniences such as grocery
stores, boutiques, cafés, a music school,
spas and more. The town centre will also
e re 3 nd
orey ho o fice m ing it a natural choice for those seeking a
workplace near to home.
h own cen re de ned o e he fir
of its kind in Kajang with boulevard shops,
an anchor tenant, an array of conveniences
and spaces for work. It is destined to be a
vibrant hub for residents and visitors alike.
Also in the town centre will be Jade Hills’s
fir
nd on y er ce
r men
d e
Suites – 4 blocks of modern apartments
expected to make a change in Jade Hills’s
re den
rofi e.
The management anticipates residents of
Jadite Suites to be young couples or families. It is an option for newlyweds who want
he r fir home nd r cy w ho
en
too far from their family home; a growing
trend observed by many developers, especially in the Klang Valley.
Now not only will residents enjoy lush living, but also added convenience. For investors, the town centre opens up new busine
nd n e men o or n e .
ry
subscribers now enjoy no less than 65%
capital appreciation and the town centre
is projected to boost this percentage many
times fold. Gamuda Land observes that the
mix between residential and commercial
h
ro en o e rofi
e nd ore ee
huge growth not only for Jade Hills but for
the surrounding area as well.
The Kajang transformation continues as
its real estate value climbs from the halo
effect of Jade Hills. Further enhancing the
value of Jade Hills is Gamuda Land’s plan to
build an alternative link road that connects
the township with existing roads from Sungai Besi and Kajang, offering residents and
visitors of Jade Hills more ease. Talks are
underway to explore a toll free status giving commuters a choice of bypassing the
tolled route.
Jade Hills is an award-winning township
that has won the Malaysia Landscape Arch ec re w rd 2010 or ce en
ndscape Planning and Development. It was
awarded by the Institute of Landscape Architects Malaysia (ILAM).
For more information,
please call +603 8737 0122
Property Family, the Heart of a Home
Abundance of parks and playgrounds at Nilai Impian.
The Medina homes feature simple yet elegant designs.
Family,
the
eart
of a Home
Enriching family living at Nilai Impian
36
y
2012
edefin n
d on
A
house is not a home without family; so the saying
goes. With an upsurge in
land prices within the city
aand
nd smaller-sized units being the
trend now, it might be difficult for
a typical household of four or five to
actually experience family living comfortably, like how it should really be.
Fret not, for the young and thriving
township of Nilai Impian, located in
Nilai, just south of KL City, could just
be the perfect place for the perfect family. First launched in 1997, the “Lake
Garden Township” has seen a recent
increase in activity after the integration of the property arms of the former Golden Hope Plantations Berhad,
Kumpulan Guthrie Berhad and Sime
Darby Berhad over four years ago.
Sime Darby Property has transformed
the focus of Nilai Impian from industrial developments to more residential
developments. Now this 1,263-acre of
freehold land is home to about 5,000
people, mostly owner occupiers and
that number is expected to double by
the time it is fully developed.
Family, the Heart of a Home Property
Creating homes as how it should
be, Nilai Impian now has several
residential development projects,
namely Davina 2, Davina 3, and its
most recent, Medina. And since all
houses here are landed, you can forget about being boxed up in a little
pigeon hole amongst more concrete
high-rises. There is also the Impian
Avenue shop-offices within the township catering to the daily shopping
and dining needs for the community.
Similar to other Sime Darby Property
developments here, the latest Medina
double-story linked homes marry modern architecture with traditional charm.
Launched in early April, it showcases
an artistic design with features such as
different roof angles and planes – great
for those who wish for a simplistic yet
well-designed place to call home.
Spaciously constructed, the threeplus-one-bedroom and three-bathroom Medina homes come in two
variants, both with a land area of 20
ft by 72 ft and a built-up of 1,921
sq ft for intermediate units and 1,984
Iluna
sq ft for corner units. Incorporating
large windows and sliding doors, one
would be able to enjoy the much
needed comfort from natural lighting
and ventilation in his own home. Additionally, with an open layout concept that connects living and dining
spaces, it simply makes the interiors
perfect for a conducive family living.
This spatial element is not only limited
to the interiors as each of the homes
is large enough to accommodate up
to two cars under their porches. For
those who prefer a seamless flow between the indoors and outdoors, corner units here feature a balcony for its
family area on the first floor. It also has
a dining area that opens out to the garden terrace, making the atmosphere
during functions at home a much
more cheery one.
edefin n
Nilai Impian
Located in Nilai,
Negeri Sembilan
Freehold, 1,263 acres
50% developed,
Population – 5,000
Current developments
– Davina 2, Davina 3, and
Iluna (Limited units left)
Medina (Selling fast)
Impian Avenue (Sold out)
Medina
2-story terrace, 338 units
3+1 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Land area – 20’x72’,
Built-up – 1,921sf to 1,984sf
Open layout concept,
connected living and
dining space
From RM416,888
d on
y
2012
37
Property Family, the Heart of a Home
Right:
Open layout concept makes the living and
dining area a central spot for the family.
How to get there?
GPS Coordinates – N2°50’31”, E101°48’42”
Via KL-Seremban Highway, take the Nilai exit
Via LEKAS Highway, take the Nilai/Pajam exit
40 minutes from KL City
30 minutes from KLIA via ELITE
30 minutes from Putrajaya or Cyberjaya
via PLUS or ELITE
Why buy here?
Landed properties great for family at a
lower price compared to the city area
Well planned and sustainable township
Good amenities – retail outlets (Tesco & Giant),
family parks and lakes for healthy outdoor life
style, colleges and universities
Good connectivity with many highways
including PLUS, KL-Seremban Highway, LEKAS,
ELITE and SILK.
Reputable developer in building sustainable
communities which has been proven by having
built nine remarkable townships
Located in the Nilai growth area, potential
for appreciation
Mostly owner-occupied
Suitable for?
Families, young and old
Those working within the southern parts of
KL including Putrajaya and Cyberjaya
College and university workforce
How to buy?
Visit Nilai Impian Sales Gallery:
Jalan Nilam 2, Off Jalan Mutiara
Nilai Impian, 71800 Negeri Sembilan
Call +606-794 1040/1041 or
surf on to www.simedarbyproperty.com
38
y
2012
edefin n
d on
Priced from RM 416,888, Medina will follow
in the footsteps of its not-too-distant predecessors, targeting the middle-income group. It
offers homebuyers the opportunity to own a
simple but elegant home at a much lower price
compared to a similar landed one in the city.
And what’s more, being part of the booming
town of Nilai, rest assured that there will be a
handsome capital appreciation in the long run.
Nilai Impian presents its community with a relaxing ambience yet also an active outdoor lifestyle for the whole family. Complete with two
picturesque landscaped lakes and an abundance
of playgrounds and parks, plus a web of pedestrian walkways and bicycle paths for a scenic stroll,
there’s no reason for not spending a little more
precious time with your loved ones anymore.
While many would simply presume Nilai as
being too far away from the city, in actual fact
it is just over a half hour’s drive into KL City.
That’s almost as long as from any other suburb
of KL with the daily rush-hour jams. And since
you will be using the KL-Seremban Highway,
there is no need to tediously plan your daily
travelling times.
Since Nilai Impian is situated in the southern
fringes of Greater KL, it is equally convenient
travelling to the nation’s administrative capital
Family, the Heart of a Home Property
of Putrajaya as well as Cyberjaya, the
Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC)
status city via the ELITE highway
or South Klang Valley Expressway
(SKVE). Better news yet for frequent flyers as the journey to the KL
International Airport (KLIA) or the
LCCT is anything within 20 minutes
to half an hour. There are also many
other travelling options including
the SILK and Maju Expressways,
KLIA Link Road and the KajangSeremban Highway (LEKAS).
Of course it is not all about easy
travelling. A self-sustainable town
on its own with a whole lot more
to come, Nilai has proven itself a
worthy option among homeowners.
Residents here will never be too far
away from shopping or entertainment needs as there are several major retail outlets here including Giant and Tesco hypermarkets, Nilai 3
Wholesale Centre as well as many
other shopping arcades.
ternational students making up the
population of Nilai. Educational institutions here include two of Malaysia’s premier colleges, namely Nilai
University College and INTI College, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia,
International Islamic University of
Malaysia as well as a nursing college.
On top of that, Britain’s premier Epsom College is also set to open their
first institute outside of England
here. With such variety, families with
maturing kids will not need to look
far for a wholesome education.
A township with the family as its
focal point, Nilai Impian imparts a
lifestyle that brings us back to the
basics of family living, one that is
slowly lost through the hustle and
bustle of the big city. Well connected and cleverly planned, residents
here will never find it too far from
major destinations. With a keen eye
for down-to-earth yet excellentlydesigned homes and experience in
creating townships, Sime Darby
Property has again realized a dream
for many with Medina.
Nilai is also famed for being an education hub. Driving around, you
may find that other than young families, there is also a community of in-
Davina 2
edefin n
d on
y
2012
39
Property Bulk Purchasing Properties – Is it safe?
Bulk Purchasing
Properties IS IT
SAFE?
By Faizul Ridzuan
I
n the last 12 months, there has been
a growing trend of individuals and
groups organizing bulk purchases
of properties from developers. Bulk
buying is basically an activity that
allows few or many property investors to invest in a single development as a
group. More often than not, buyers participating in bulk purchases are often promised
m ny dd on
enefi h won e
able should they choose to invest individually.
Sounds good, right? Unfortunately, it is not
as simple as it looks, well at least in my personal opinion. In this article, I wish to highlight
both the pros and cons of bulk buying, and
perhaps offer a few other options to consider.
THE GOOD
e m ne or wh e yo re fi h moner od y. here
ron
o
y h
you would be standing from morning to noon
e n 100 fi h o 100 c omer .
wh
one guy approaches you early in the morning
and offer to buy all your 100
fi h
en he w n
ood
d co n yo
mo
ey
consider since he is helping
you clear your stock faster.
o n e do
end n fi e o
ho r o fin h e n 100
Joseph Stalin fi he – yo c n now e n
10 minutes.
“Quantity,
has a quality of its own”
–
he fi h mon er
o e
he de e o er. n
business, how fast you clear your inventory
matters. This can make or break businesses.
The faster they can clear their existing stock,
the faster they can move on to the next project
and make more money. This is especially true
or de e o er . here ore
no r r e why
a lot of developers love group purchasers as
they can transfer their risk to the buyers and
then move on to the next big thing. They will
e more nc ned o d c
e e erm o
rch er . mon ome o he enefi
a participant of group purchasing can potentially enjoy are:
40
y
2012
edefin n
d on
1
2
Discounts – dd on 1 o 3 re
discounts since there are several buyers
buying from the same group.
Easy ownership – ero or ow down
payment schemes, to help the purchasers
from the group to buy this property using
as minimal cash as possible.
3
4
Knowledge – orm y here w e
previews held by the group for their
members, to discuss the property and its
prospects.
5
Exclusiveness – ome me he e
groups get a preview of the project before
the public does, via private showings organized by the group.
Leverage on network – e wor n w h
would-be buyers of the said development.
This allows one to leverage on other more
e er enced n e or now ed e nd
potentially reduce risks.
In my book, I have mentioned the importance of
networking and how I have tremendously benefi ed y e n n he RIGHT network. The key
here is to be in the right network. I need to stress
here that if you are in the wrong network that
organizes bulk buying, it can cost you big time.
You do not want to be the part of the herd that
is heading towards the slaughter barn. The folow n re re on why don
e o e r o
bulk purchases:
3 H’S
– HYPE, HASTE, HERD
1THE
Hype : Sometimes in order to sell units,
group members will be told by the group leader
h hey c n e ec o
n he y rofi
er
ew ye r . n od y
oom eo e end o e
very excited especially when they themselves or
the people they know have made good money
o o ro er e . hey h n h
and combine that with a few more ecstatic memer yo
h e
ery e hor c e on.
Bulk Purchasing Properties – Is it safe? Property
Haste : When people get excited, good practices
like research are normally thrown out the window.
y fir
hn
er ecome he m n r
of the day. To get people to commit, some develo er w m e ec
h d y on y o er
e
DIBS (Developer Interest Bearing Schemes) which
means no interests during construction period,
e
d nd hone
nd e c – o
e
people as little time to think as possible.
Herd : We are all humans and we never like to
be different. You can remain calm and logical, but
emo on c n
w n h n o er. en yo
h n h he de e o men
o y one yo
start doubting yourself when you see everyone
y n h de e o men
e here no omorrow.
r
ne
e o er nd e ore yo
now
yo re
nd n
he co n er
n
down
oo n ee on
ro er y yo re no
100 con nced whe her w e
ood y.
Dan Rather once said “Once the herd starts movn n one d rec on
ery h rd o rn e en
h y . co dn
ree more.
DISCOUNTS
OFFERED WEREN’T REAL
2THE
Based on my limited observation, most of the disco n o ered weren re . o
r e h
e
us use condominium X as an example. Condom n m h 3 oc 1 2 nd 3 .
a. Block 1 was sold at RM500 psf, and it is
fully sold out.
b. Block 2 was sold at RM550 psf, and it is
also sold out.
c. oc 3 now e n h w ed
6 0
psf to the group purchasers, and still has
m ny n o d n
he
6 0
considered by many seasoned investors as
over-valued.
n order o mo e oc 3 ome ro
w come
and negotiate with the developer to give them
y 10 d co n .
e en 10
he ro
members will still pay RM585 per sq ft, much
more than what the buyers of block 1 and 2 paid
for their units. Hence, they will be in an inferior
position to compete with the earlier buyers in
the future.
3
HEFTY COST TO
JOIN THE GROUP
Most of these groups and individuals organizing
bulk purchases normally charge their members
good money before they can participate in such
events. The lowest I was told was over RM1,000
nd he h he
oe
o e
6 000 or
ew d y em n r nd o or n y o o n
re
ro
rch e . m che
e o er on y
hn h
o o money e ec y when here
are some free, no-fee groups out there that does
the same, albeit informally.
FAIZUL RIDZUAN is your everyday man,
though he is also a book author and property
investor. He bought his first property in 2006,
and now has a portfolio of more than RM5
million. He is the author of instant bestseller
“WTF? 23 Properties by 30”.
VESTED INTEREST
4OFPOTENTIAL
ORGANIZERS TO
PUSH FOR SALE
Some of the organizers of such group purchases
are licensed real estate agents or agency owner . h
m y me n h
here
o
y
that developers will need to pay them commission for each successful sale. If you ask a sales
person if the product he is selling is any good,
ch nce re hey w e yo
ood rod c .
Who in the right frame of mind will go out and
admit that the product their selling to you sucks
big time?
Does this mean that all bulk purchase groups
are bad and should be avoided completely?
h
no wh
m
e n .
rch e
and joining investors clubs certainly has its benefi . c n hor en one e rn n c r e.
one
ho dn ne ec he r own re e rch
ecause someone out there tells you that some
project is a good buy. Whether buying individually
or with group, you still need to perform your own
re e rch nd d e d ence. on e he hy e
h e nd herd n ence yo . o m
e yo r
own man (or woman) as this is your hard-earned
money on the line.
There are many free mediums out there to help
one do their own due-diligence, especially online.
Internet property forums like propertyWTF.com.
my and forum.lowyat.net are very useful, inexpensive research platforms. With few thousand
members in these sites, you can expect decent
n orm on en y he or mer
nd con r or . hey ho d e
e o d
n fic n y n
your decision making process prior to joining any
bulk buying sessions.
y on ne or m
o o er n fic n ne wor ing opportunities through regular meet ups of its
r c n . h e er on y enefi ed y o n n
some of these meet-ups, and had the privilege to
know other property investors with over RM100mil
in their portfolio. They can often offer you a different
perspective, great advises and cautions, all speaking from real experience. Sometimes, there are
bulk purchases organized the members of these
forums. PropertyWTF.com.my for example, has organized three bulk purchases for its members this
year, at no cost due, thanks to its strong association
with various developers.
m we nown che
e nd o e ree e .
After all, if you can get a better product for free,
why pay?
edefin n
d on
y
2012
41
WIN!
An afternoon tea with
author Faizul Ridzuan
+ 14 autographed
copies of his bestseller.
RM2,000 seed capital!
23 properties in 5 years!
HOW
did he
DO IT?
We’re giving you the chance to
spend an afternoon with Faizul
where you can ask him yourself how.
That’s not all, we’re giving out 14
autographed copies of his bestseller
30?’ and the
‘WTF? 23 Properties by 30?
ch nce o
e r n omefinder.
1
2
3
4
TO WIN
Like our Facebook page at www.fb.com/HomefinderMalaysia
Look for the photo in our “CONTEST” photo album.
Share our Homefinder cover on your wall with this comment:
“Redefining Life & Living with Homefinder!”
Tag at least 5 (Five) friends and you’re all set to win
Closing date is on Tuesday, the 31st of July!
J-08-02, Solaris Mont Kiara, No. 2, Jalan Solaris, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 603 – 6201 8337/9337 Fax: 603 – 6201 6337 Email: ree homefinder.com.my
The Affordable Life Property
The
Affordable
wning
a home is pivotal to
most families. It is a necessity for shelter
and comfort, and sometimes considered as
he defin on or er on
cce . he yn oe h
yo r home yo r
e
e
nd r h y o –
y he n e mo
expensive investment one will commit to.
owe er m n he dec on o y ho e
h
ecome more d fic de
e m ch ower
n ere r e com red o o 30 ye r
o.
he e or
n e c
on o ho e r ce n recen me h re y c ed r c
no on y
mon ho e w h n he re e
e nd ry
now o ho o c o d c
on or he erage Joe at the coffee shop, often lamenting at
he ne r m o
y o e er own n one.
By Emilio Vergara & Lawrence Julius
edefin n
d on
y
2012
43
Property The Affordable Life
WHY IS AFFORDABILITY
EVEN AN ISSUE?
The common notion for the regular employee is that “I can never earn enough,
fast enough to buy a house. And even if
I do take a maximum loan, I will be left
with nothing after my commitment to
the bank ever month.”
Could this then be a case of house prices
versus income per capita? According to
Dato’ Lim Hock San, Managing Director of LBS Bina
Group
Berhad
her
e
ch
m ro n
(LBS), affordability
c r n or on nd is linked to the level
income and cost
n r r c re o need o e of
of living, and has
ddre ed n he on r n. to be interpreted in
– Dato’ Lim Hock San the context of each
particular country.
“Property prices in
Singapore are higher than Malaysia, but
level of wages are also higher there,” he
says. However, he points out that Malaysia actually has one of the lowest house
price to income ratio and one of the
highest loan affordability index in the region (See attached charts).
So how is this still an issue? If comparisons
by countries do not answer the question,
let’s put this into a historic scenario. In a
study by Associate Professor Dr Aminah
Md Yusof from Universiti Teknonogi Ma-
laysia (UTM), she gave a typical example
of a terrace house in Cheras that went for
RM88,000 in 1986 and surprisingly is
fetching close to RM250,000 in 2008. That
is an increase of 184%. On the other hand, a
fresh graduate who started working in 1985
would be paid a salary of about RM1,500 a
month. Today, 25 years later, a fresh graduate starts at around RM2,500 a month, a
rise of only 66%, paling in comparison to
the increase in house prices.
Of course this example is only a representation of the younger generation who has
just begun their career, but it could very
well be related to the regular man-onthe-street, an employee earning an honest
mid-income as well.
It is probably also wise to look at other
calculated factors apart from the financial
aspect. “When you talk about affordability,
you must also look at the population and
its housing supply,” says Datuk Ng Seing
Liong, Senior Partner of S.L.Ng and Associates and Immediate Past President of
the Real Estate and Housing Developers’
Association (REHDA), suggesting that it
is a matter of supply and demand.
The country’s population now stands at
about 28 million with an average growth
of 2% a year, while the existing stock of
o rce
m eo.com
House Price To Income Ratio 2012
44
y
2012
edefin n
d on
o rce
m eo.com
Loan Affordability Index
residential homes is about 4.5 million with 584,546 of incoming supply based on the Property Stock Report 2011 by
the National Property Information Centre.
“Looking at the numbers and averaging five to six people per
household, there is already equilibrium between the population and housing supply. There should not be any more pressure on the house prices,” adds Datuk Ng.
Dato’ Lim Hock San,
Managing Director
of LBS Bina
ro
erh d
According to him, escalation of house prices is due to the people who are “chasing” into a certain location all because of hype.
And because of this, there’s nothing to stop the developers from
increasing prices since there will still be demand.
To be fair to developers, it is not at all about reaping an obscene profit because of the crazy demand. Dato’ Lim likens
that developers are still putting a premium price tag because of, firstly, land scarcity. Properties in prime locations will continue to command high prices due to the
cost of land. Secondly, he equates rising property prices
to the upsurge in construction costs.
“The increasing cost of the building materials drives developers to increase the profit margin which in turn directly
increase the property’s selling price,” says Dato’ Lim.
But how do we actually know if a house is worth paying for? Aside, of course, from comparing prices of
other units within the location, one has to look at
the rental yield. “If a house has no yield, it has no
value. For example, a million-ringgit property
has to have at least be rented out at RM5,000.
If it is lower than that, then the property should
not be valued at a million ringgit. So naturally,
a good yield of 6% should be achieved,” expressed Datuk Ng.
edefin
edefin nn
dd on
on
yy
2012
2012
45
Another aspect to take into consideration
is the effects of urbanization. Malaysia has
gone through several economic transformations since its independence. By the
turn of the millennium however, Malaysia’s
economic growth has brought an influx of
people from rural towns to the city seeking
opportunities and a better life, particularly
into Kuala Lumpur.
he o ernmen ho d
e re on e or ow
co ho n .
– Datuk Ng Seing Liong
“When too many people
wanted to work in KL, particularly young graduates, the demand for property within the
city grew considerably,” states
Dato’ Dr Kamarul Rashdan
e n on
en or r ner o . .
nd
oc e nd
Immediate Past President
o he e
e nd
o n e e o er
oc on
Haji Salleh, Managing Director of Syarikat
Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB).
In spite of this, Dato’ Kamarul says that
this increase in demand did not stem from
the buying intentions of these fresh graduates but rather from speculative buyers who
saw the opportunity in renting out to this
new workforce.
Sharing a similar sentiment, Michael Geh,
Senior Partner of Raine & Horne Malaysia says that the Malaysian property market has been subjected to the pressures of
‘free enterprise and free market’. “Properties
that are priced between RM150,000 and
RM300,000 have become commodities
for investors and speculators to make a fast
buck from,” he states adding that because
of these people approaching developers to
buy in bulk, genuine home buyers are left
on the sidelines only to finally buy it at an
inflated price.
THE TRUE VALUE
OF PROPERTY
When a developer puts a value on a property, do you just take the price to determine its overall value? Affordability can
mean the price tag, but some may be willing to spend a bit more in exchange for
non-monetary features.
Putting a value to a property isn’t as easy
as one might think. The notion that prices
in the Klang Valley are expensive is absolutely understandable, but is it relatively?
The truth is, there is a fine line between affordable and expensive. According to Datuk Ng, affordable medium-cost properties
may apply to those that are priced below
RM500,000, and most would term it as
such. However some have also argued that
this ceiling does not apply anymore, especially with the current mortgage loan regulations where loans are now given out based
on nett income rather than gross income.
According to the National House Buyers
Association, they put the affordable range
between RM150,000 to RM300,000.
Let’s take into consideration the external
factors that may or may not determine a value of a property. First there is price, if a 600
sq ft SOHO is priced about RM200,000,
would it be deemed affordable? Although
the built area is reduced, it does however
46
y
2012
edefin n
d on
fall under the RM500,000 roof commonly
referred to as the affordable line. A question can also be issued when talking about
a 2,100 sq ft semi-detached for example,
presenting more spacious quarters, priced
at RM650,000. In terms of price per sq ft,
both examples actually fall somewhere in
the region of RM300 psf, so does affordable mean staying below the mark or adding more value to money?
But price isn’t the only variable one must
take into consideration when trying to
determine value. The second should and
always be “location, location, location”, as
the popular saying goes. A RM200,000
apartment in Ampang for example, would
of course differ from one of the same price
located in Kota Damansara. When mentioning location, proximity to the city
center, availability of public amenities like
schools, as well as accessibility via road and
rail should also be put into consideration.
“All you need to do is take a drive and look
around,” says Datuk Ng. He tells that areas such as Klang, Semenyih, Selayang and
Petaling Jaya still reserves affordable properties within their borders, the hard part
is looking for it. Although Datuk Ng is
referring to the sub-sale market, he makes
a very clear point. Older properties when
chosen carefully, renovated and done up
nicely could reap good yields in terms of
investment. This also means buyers have a
chance to secure their home.
“The older areas will boom again,” says
Datuk Ng, adding that once the prices
soar too high above the
mark, people will start
looking for properties
in older areas.
It is undeniable that affordable properties do
exist in the secondary
e e o er ho d re r n rom
e n
rec o
ord e ho n n
o n e or
c
nd h h ne wor h nd d
who
re m y w n o rofi
0 000 nd
100 000 rom he e n .
– Michael Geh
Then there is lifestyle, a point some may
consider secondary but actually plays a
key role in determining one’s acceptance
of the price being offered. That being said,
a single working professional’s preference
may not be a married couple’s cup-oftea, and vice versa. Would you consider a
property worth RM500,000 to be more
expensive than one worth RM400,000 if
it offers better neighbors, better amenities,
and better recreation outlets?
WHERE TO BUY?
Judging on the relative value of properties, including external factors like accessibility, amenities and even the likability
factor, there are still options in the market
believe it or not. According to Datuk Ng,
there are still plenty of affordable properties available for people, especially in the
outskirts of the Klang Valley. He himself
recommends the secondary market.
market. Does that apply for new offerings?
In actual fact, there is
still hope. Some developers have caught
on and are developing
more affordable properties to suit the market’s demands. One
them is LBS Bina Group Bhd, who are
offering their Town Villa town-houses in
Taman Tasik Puchong from RM185,000
after Bumiputera discount, for units builtup to 1,075 sq ft – that’s RM175 psf. Few
more examples from them include Pearl
Villa in Bandar Saujana Putra starting at
RM254,000 and built-up to 1,185 sq ft,
and another The Lake Residence in Puchong sells from RM278,000 for a units
ranging up to 1,421 sq ft.
Michael Geh,
Senior Partner of
Raine & Horne Malaysia
Although it is not an easy task, finding
new properties worthy of your money
and that falls under the affordable threshold is a possible feat nonetheless. Mayland
edefin n
d on
y
2012
47
Valiant Sdn Bhd is an exemplar developer.
Their waterfront development Dorsett
Place in Subang, worth RM328,000 onwards for SOHO units built-up from 410
sq ft falls under the affordable mark.
However, if you are looking for value-formoney and may look pass the threshold,
developers with a reputation such as the
Berjaya Group could also provide. For example, Berjaya’s KM1 West condo development in Bukit Jalil offers a good location,
amenities and lifestyle pluses. A unit there
starts from RM718,880 for a 1,335 sq ft to
1,508 sq ft unit. Although it breaches the
threshold, in price per sq ft it would still be
considered as affordable – hence value.
Whatever developers may offer, the ultimate goal of a buyer is to see prices go down
A BUYER’S CHECKLIST
to Relative Property Value
For every YES, add
RM5,000 to the limit.
For every NO, minus RM5,000.
The end value should roughly be the property’s
relative value.
YES
Public transport
y o cce
con der r fic
c or
Commercial center/entertainment factor
Complete amenities (schools, place of
wor h e c
Individual-preferred location
Furnished
Reputable developer/good unit condition
Satisfactory facilities
Good neighbors
Rental potential 6% minimum
Acceptable maintenance fee
Adequate car park space
48
y
2012
edefin n
d on
HOW TO MAKE IT
AFFORDABLE?
According to Dato’ Kamarul, SPNB – a
wholly owned subsidiary of the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MOf Inc)
– aims to develop 10,000 units of lowcost homes worth RM650 million in
total under the Rumah Mesra Rakyat
(RMR) initiative. Each of these singlestory bungalows built-up ranges from
700 sq ft to 866 sq ft and will cost about
RM65,000 each. The government subsidizes RM20,000 for each, amounting to
a monthly repayment fee of only RM150
for eligible buyers. The implementation
and execution of these schemes are pivotal, the need for basic shelter should always be provided.
“It is the obligation of the government
to provide the basic needs of the people,”
says Dato’ Kamarul referring to low-cost
developments.
Set your price limit.
FACTOR
for a change. It is correct that income levels
have not shot-up in tandem with property
prices and other goods, but if the efforts
are put in, the repairs can start.
NO
Apart from the RMR initiative carried
out by SPNB, the 1Malaysia People’s
Housing Programme or Projek Perumahan Rakyat 1Malaysia (PR1MA) which
offers homes priced from RM150,000
to RM300,000, addresses the woes of
the middle-income. That said, are there
enough to cater to the ever increasing
demand from the group? Other government initiatives like My First Home
Scheme (MFHS) were also implemented,
helping first-time buyers with a 100%
loan. While a noble move, it only serves
as a loan scheme, and house prices will
still continue rising in spite.
While a lot of focus by the government has
been channeled towards building affordable homes and curbing speculation on the
buyers’ side, Dato’ Kamarul believes it is
now time to concentrate on the developers, saying, “Developers should be committed to work together. If the land is overpriced for example, then they should form
a pact not to buy it.” He goes on to suggest
that the government should consider more
stringent tax on land acquisitions.
Dato’ Kamarul also suggests developers
to adopt IBS (Industrialized Building
System) as a way to cut costs and bring
prices down. IBS refers to the complete
assembly of construction, where components are manufactured beforehand
at factories, transported then assembled.
“IBS works in a way that when building
in mass, costs will come down significantly,” he says, believing that with commitment from the developers, price hikes
can be avoided.
In view of this, Michael also implies that
developers must be the main line of defense against the skyrocketing prices.
“Many responsible developers and their
CSR statements promise to uphold a certain responsibility to the community, to
‘build sustainable communities’, to ‘respect human rights, equality and fairness’
and so on. This is as good a time as any
to ask developers to live up to their CSR
statements,” he says.
The idea behind this is that developers
should start providing quality homes to genuine homebuyers rather than benefiting investors and speculators. Developers should
refrain from bulk selling, and there should
be a fair sales process. The saying “get in line
and wait your turn” should be practiced by
developers towards their buyers.
ly and monitor its volatility so as to not
suffer the same fate as the US few years
ago. At the moment, ours is still one that
is manageable, and there are still loads of
affordable properties out there, if we look
hard enough.
Efforts by the government are indeed leading the battle against more price hikes,
and it is precisely the government’s job to
keep the country’s property
scene sustainable. But more
wo d c e or e home
than that, it should also be a
ord e
ed on
combined effort and agreement from all entities inhe n m er or m or y o
cluding the developers, buyo en
rch er w h n
ers, investors and real estate
agents. It is a common goal that location who can afford
we are all trying to achieve,
h
r c r home.
not letting the market spiral
out of control. And if it is – Dato’ Dr Kamarul Rashdan
true that many hands make Haji Salleh
light work, so be it.
o r m r
hd n
eh
Managing Director
o y r
er m h n
e r erh d
So far, the efforts discussed have been
about developers and new properties, but
what about properties in the secondary
market? Prices here are not getting any
cheaper, in fact, it is rather the reverse. According to Dato’ Kamarul, sellers of subsale properties are just trying their luck
and hiking up prices just because they
can. This is where the estate agents
come in; it is their job to advise buyers on the right selling price to set.
A BRIGHTER
FUTURE?
Affordability of properties is a
very real issue globally. Despite, having one of the lowest property prices in the
region, we, Malaysians
still have to scrutinize
this matter thorough-
edefin n
d on
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2012
49
Lifestyle Faizul Ridzuan
50
y
2012
edefin n
d on
Faizul Ridzuan Lifestyle
FAIZUL
Journeying To 23 by 30
RIDZUAN
n er ew y Lawrence Julius
We’ve read his book, heard his talks and seen him on his motorcycle.
His book went on to become a bestseller in MPH, Kinokuniya and
Borders, racing head-to-head against a memoir release of a former
Prime Minister of ours. Now, we get a chance to delve deeper into the
mind of the man behind “WTF? 23 Properties by 30” and gather some
insights on how an average man found his inspiration in property –
and made it work for him. Faizul Ridzuan himself shares his thoughts
and experiences and how sleepless nights finally paid off.
Hi Faizul, it’s a pleasure to have
you as a feature in this edition
of Homefinder. First of all, how
did you get involved in property
investments? And what were you
doing prior to this?
e
re m ne
e w y een n
em oyee e er nce r d ed
m one od y.
e
he one who
r ed my n ere n ro er y w
my e ec rer n n er y. m
com er c ence r d e nd
he
r d e n n er y
y
c hen
were re red o
e one ern
e
co r e rom d eren c y. oo
h co r e c ed er on
n nce
nd w
h y ec re he e
n
h m d. hro ho
he
eme er he e on enco r n her
den o y ro er e
hey m de
ood n e men . ne d y
den
ed her how m ny ro er e he
h
o h o d e nd her re y w
c nd d 20 ome h n
he m de more
money rom re e
e h n her n ne o
fi e o . w 21 hen nd h
er y
ew my m nd. new c hen h
needed o y
ro er y
oon
co d ord .
Surely you’ve had your share of
ups and downs in property, which
were the ones that stuck with you?
And how has property investing
edefin n
changed your life and your family’s?
ne o he e momen or me w
m n
120 000 wor h o c e n rofi
n 1 mon h w ho
n
n e cen .
ch e ed h
y y n n nw n ed
ro er y h
cn
ceme ery nd
we or en on. he de
o h re
d c ed n my oo .
here were m ny down de
he one
h
nnoyed me he mo
re de e o er
r c ce when come o m n
oc on . here were me when w
orced now n nd n now n y o y
m o de
e my re erence
n
yn
m o .
r
e concerned no h n h
ch n ed m ch e ce h
h e e
me or my e
m n n ro er e
e me.
ey h
een com
nn .
o o her ch n e.
r de my mo or e
0 o he me nd
re e o y
ny h n
o e
200 or c o h n n e
re y ood
e or money. re e
o y norm
r ce or ny em nd
r n e cr y.
h
Your book “WTF? 23 Properties
by 30” obviously tells of your
successes in investments, what’s
your secret?
o ecre c
y nd hone y don
con der my e
cce
ye .
ory o
n er e y who ry n
d on
y
2012
51
Lifestyle Faizul Ridzuan
“One of the best
moments for me
was making
RM120,000
worth of
clean profit
in 18 months
without using a
single cent.”
h
e
n wh e er m ed re o rce
he h cre
e y.
Your book became an overnight
success and is listed as a bestseller.
What was your reaction to this or
were you already expecting a hit?
o e hone
w worr ed c h
no one wo d e y n my oo . he
ory
ed
ro ch w
n e
o er n nd ome h n com e e y new
o he m r e o w n
re
nyone
wo d w n o re d my ory. he oo
ec me
e
e er n
no n y
order n e
h n 2 mon h
w
re y e
n
r r e. rece ed o o
o
e eed c
my oo
ce oo
e nd em . h re y m de me
ee h he 2 ye r
oo o wr e w
wor h he e or . m
h
y o e
e
o n re nd ed c e eo e on ro er y
n e n .
What made you decide to write
“WTF? 23 Properties by 30”?
e een c e y d n ro er y
n e or o er on ne n erne or m
n he
ew ye r nd mo o ho e
who enefi ed rom my d ce nd m de
decen money recommended h
wr e
oo nd h re my echn e .
e
h w
he c
y .
m o h e e e er h one h
o
c e y e rch o ncre e he r
e
ncome nd no e oo de enden on he r
n ne o fi e o . oo
re o w y o
ncre e one
e ncome ro ded
e .
or he ro er y nd ry
e more
e ec e n n e n od y. r ce h
one
e
r
nd eo e need o
e o more
y o den y ood de
od y
here re en y o o er r ced
ro er e n he m r e .
Any plans for a follow-up to
“WTF? 23 Properties by 30”?
o
n or h ye . he oo
re y
wo mon h o d nd
d y need
re
er wo ye r o ee e n h .
He lets off a smile, of satisfaction one
might guess, but certainly one of relief as
well, I bet.
For those who have not picked up
a copy of your book, can you give
them a preview of what to expect
inside?
re
e er ye here re ome re
e mon
rom ho e who h e o
my oo .
Bernard Chin :
h
no yo r ro er y n e men 101
more o n n r on re d on how
y ne door
ry m n m n ed
o
d m
m on n
ro er y
or o o w h
e money n n y c
m nd nd e ce on o ch n find n
ro er y em . er e o re n orce h
n ne o fi er c n
dm
e
e
ncome hro h d c ne c e r o
nd
de erm n on.
he oo
e he
hor
n
mn
no re en o
nd
ro ch e y
o h e nner nd e oned n e or
e.
ro de ome
e n h
on
ho h roce
eh nd h
d
o ch
r mewor nd o
ed
on . . . . .
Raja Noor Izzudin :
h
oo
ory o
en
on yo n
y n med
d
n o rney n
c r n 23 ro er e e ore 30 ye r
o d.
n
m e n
e he
hor
re er ed h yo don need o h e
fi e fi re
ry o m
do en o
ro er e
yo h e o do
o
y
cre
e fin nc n ee wh o her
c n ee e r
y o ho n o
2012
edefin n
o r hn
d
n
o e
oo
1
2
hone
3
4
d mn
o
nd down o e r h
re y n r n . oc
oy
m e
ood oc y
r n o
w h r
y no h n
nny
or he mo n
o w dom he h re
Splendid reviews Faizul, a
certainly good read. Finally, are
there any people out there that
you’d like to acknowledge and
thank in helping you on this path?
co r e ec
h n
o he r o
on ne
ed con r
or n r o
ro er y or m h
e e y h red
he r now ed e nd n orm on. h
owed y
e me o e rn w ho
he need o
y n h e mo n o o n
ro er y em n r nd ro
. n he
on ne wor d e eryone
e cher
hey re o he
den .
no e
h n
o my
m y h
or ed me
he w y
de
e my cr y n c .
ery n h
mee
h
r y een
e
re ch n w h yo
re
n r on. e w h yo
he e
n yo r com n ende or nd w e
oo n orw rd o he r n more or e
rom yo n he
re. h n yo
and find out how you can stand a chance to
WIN Faizul’s book
ne
.
h e
ood
d y o nd n end o ee . con n e
o n e n ro er e when he r h de
come on . n he me n me m do n
my r n con r
n
c nd h r n
my now ed e
co mn n n on ne
ro er y or m c ed ro er yw .com.my.
y
Sreenivas Naidu :
Join Homefinder on Facebook
So what is next for Faizul Ridzuan?
Where do you see yourself and the
property industry heading?
52
h
ncre e one c h ow em r ce
m
e nd
e o ne wor w h e
m nded n e or .
r mewor
n
m or n cr er n de erm n n he de
ro er y e her c h ow or
n . or
30 h
oo
c ed w h r ce e
r e e
“WTF? 23 Properties by 30”.
d on
lifestyle
“
”
PEOPLE USUALLY ARE
THE HAPPIEST AT HOME.
– WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
INSIDE
c
c
c
c
c
c
c
c
c
The Last Lecture
Staying Married for Life
Be Your Teen’s Role Model
10 Fun Things to do with Your Family
I’d Listen To That
DEVIALET D-Premier
Have a Good Night
Carven Ong
Lifestyle The Last Lecture
The Last
Lecture
...AND THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE.
By Emilio Vergara
hen the word education pops up,
what usually comes
to mind are numbers,
textbooks, and exams.
It is drilled in us this way
that we can hardly see
any other way of learning.
But what about life itself?
Who do we learn about that
from?
In my
fin ye r o
de h d o
e
a module called Crisis Management. While
it may be just another subject I have to go
through to gain the papers that will lead me to
a good paying job and so on, my lecturer surely
made it more than just managing crises.
In retrospect, I have to say the lessons learnt
that day was not about the usual technicalities
of solving crises but lessons of life itself. And if
you’re thinking about inspirational quotes and
motivating speeches alone, you gotta think
bigger my friend. Try breaking legit arrows with
just your neck while its sharp tip is prodding
your throat.
Even though I have had experience in corporate training and team building methods and
activities, his methods were just overboard in
my eyes. It was about pushing his students
to the limits coming out stronger. My lessons
were unlike any other I have learnt before in
neither school nor tertiary education, being put
in pressure cooker moments more often than
not, and simulating real life moments.
Years down the road, I seek out my lecturer
once again to truly understand the lessons
that he passed on to us through his eccentric
methods of teaching.
Exams and notes we did back in school may not
be necessarily wrong or useless. But because
learners can be categorized three groups: visual, auditory and kinesthetic, the third kind of
learner is usually left out. This learner learns
best with a hands-on approach. Everyone has
a combination of these three learning styles
but with a dominant preference, and believe it
or not, a majority of us are born as kinesthetic
learning dominant.
54
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edefin n
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Confucius once said “What I hear I forget, what
I see I remember, what I do I understand.” Understanding this truth, my lecturer was one
who knew it was important to deliver his lessons to these three different learners. Only
then, he believed that we will be empowered
to continue learning on our own.
In a nutshell, it is most important to teach studen n w y h w e enefic
o he
dents’ growth and not in ways to show that the
teacher is knowledgeable.
remem er my ec rer fin c
he
hed
the cover of the acclaimed bestseller by Randy
Pausch, The Last Lecture signifying his own
last lecture. In a way, his own lecture was inspired by Pausch’s but instead of sharing life
experiences and principles of living, he chose
to share ways of facing life challenges. It’s all
about staying motivated, working with people
of other personalities, overcoming self imposed limitations and fears, and most importantly, having and showing gratitude especially
to our parents. This was not about giving a man
fi h
e ch n he m n o fi h.
It was in this last lecture that he went out of
the way, making a few of us conquer our fears
in life by breaking real arrows just using our
throats; and it was an empowering moment
indeed. Although, slightly different from the
author’s context, he lives by the same guiding
principle, “to truly live life to our fullest potential
as an authentic and powerful individual within
the context of love and joy, and to empower
others to do the same.” And rightly so, an avid
sky diver, bungee jumper, rock climber and so
on, he does push life to the edge.
While we all go through our daily lives earning a
living, we are more often blinded on the goal of
life itself. Our global education system teaches
us the technical aspects of life – how to calculate, write and measure – which is useful in
our daily activities. But when we are hit by a life
tsunami, be it at work or at home, it is the lessons on life that helps us stay strong through
these troubled moments.
Learning never stops. It goes on throughout
our whole life. So learn about life along the way
and live life to the fullest.
TOP
3
LIFE LESSONS
1
2
3
Tough times
never last,
tough people do.
When a student
is ready to learn,
teachers will be
everywhere.
“Courage was not
the absence of fear,
but the triumph over
it. The brave man is
not he who does
not feel afraid, but
he who conquers
that fear.”
– Nelson Mandela
I’d Read This Lifestyle
I’D READ THIS
Sometimes we need little something to give us that tiny bit of inspiration, at times just
for guidance. So for your reading pleasure, this edition, Focus On The Family presents
two books recommendation as brain food. Though a beautiful thing, staying married
can be a challenge for many, “The Five Love Languages” can help with that. Another
book recommendation tells us how “Every Child Can Succeed”.
The Five Love
Languages
GARY CHAPMAN RM39.90 • 204 pages
W
hat happens to love after marriage? How does
love stay alive in marriages? These were some
of the questions asked of
Dr Gary Chapman by a thrice-divorced
m nd rn
ne
h o er he n ed
States.
Pick up any popular magazine. Chances
re h yo w
e
e o find n r c e
on ways to romance your spouse. Browse
through material in a bookstore and you
w find e
on e
e n he
market on how to keep a marriage strong
and healthy. Workshops and seminars on
improving marital relationships are eagerly
attended.
Dr Chapman, a marriage counselor with
over 20 years of experience, says the desire for romantic love in marriage is deeply
rooted in our psychological makeup. But
despite all the books, magazines and practical help available, why do so few couples
eem find
o d fic
o ee o e
e
after the wedding? He offers an answer
to some of these questions in his book,
“The Five Love Languages: How to Express
Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate”.
He says people speak different love languages. Your emotional love language and
the language of your spouse may be as
different as Chinese is from English. Each
of us perceive and “speak” love in different ways.
If you express love in a way your spouse
doesn’t understand, he or she won’t realize that you’ve expressed love at all. He
may not see that the gourmet meal you’ve
slaved over the whole afternoon as an act
of love. Also, washing the dishes may in-
dicate your love to her more than if you
had spent half your salary on a piece of
jewelry.
Dr Chapman suggests that there are bac y fi e emo on o e n
e fi e
ways that people speak and understand
emo on
o e
word o
firm on
quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service
and physical touch.
n h
oo he c e r y
r e he fi e
love languages by taking us through the
lives of several married couples. Some
o h h m n h co n e n o fice wh e
others met him as he traveled around the
n ed
e .
ny o
w
e
e o
identify with these stories.
Another interesting idea proposed was
that each of us has a love tank just like
he c r h
e ro n . r h m n fir
heard the metaphor from Dr Ross Campbell, a psychiatrist who specializes in the
treatment of children and adolescents. Dr
Campbell said that there was an “emotional tank” inside each child waiting to be
fi ed w h o e.
When a child felt loved, he would develop
normally but when the tank was empty,
the child would misbehave. Dr Chapman
suggests adults also have love tanks and
we need o en re h we con n
y fi
up our spouse’s love tanks.
n order o fi he o e n we h e o
recognize and learn to speak our spouse’s
primary love language. First, we need to
identify our own primary love language. A
chapter in the book has been devoted to
help us discover our own love language
and how to communicate it to our spouse.
Dr Chapman makes practical suggestions
on how o e c n he
up their “love tanks”.
e ch o her o fi
Dr Chapman says he wrote the book
“not to those who are studying marriage but to those who are married, to
those who have experienced the ‘in love’
euphoria, who entered marriage with
lofty dreams of making each other supremely happy but in the reality of dayto-day life are in danger of losing that
dream entirely...”
He hopes that those couples will not only
rediscover their dream but will see the
path to making their dreams come true.
Although the book is aimed at helping
co e re nd e he me o o e n he r
marriage, Dr Chapman has included a
chapter on applying the love languages
to children.
By recognizing our children’s primary love
language, he says, we can keep their love
tanks full and enhance the emotional climate of the family. He dreams of a day
when ch dren c n row
n home fi ed
with love and security, where children’s
developing energies can be channeled to
learning and serving rather than seeking
the love they did not receive at home.”
This is an indispensable book for those
already married and will certainly be benefic
or ho e n end n o e m rr ed.
Another review on page 62
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55
Lifestyle Staying Married for Life
Staying I
Married
for Life
kissed my husband John
goodbye, waved as I
backed down the driveway and drove off for
a weekend public speaking
engagement. His last words
rolled across my mind.
“Be safe and have fun. I realize
when you come home you’ll
be a new person. I’m looking
forward to the changes I’ll see.”
by Karen O’Connor
I can say today, as my mother
often said about her marriage
to my father, “We’re not out
of the woods yet, but we’re on
our way, and most important,
we’re still together.”
56
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We had talked the night before
about not taking each other
for granted – in other words,
assuming we knew all there
was to know about one another – and about the importance
of supporting each other as
individuals with ideas, dreams
and goals of our own.
Yes, we are a married couple
but we are also individuals – a
man and a woman who have
talents and gifts of our own.
Changes and challenges were
inevitable and we wanted to
accept rather than resist them.
We committed to working on
our relationship so we would
not grow complacent.
I can say today, as my mother
often said about her marriage
to my father, “We’re not out
of the woods yet, but we’re on
our way, and most important,
we’re still together.” She and
my dad had walked side by
side and climbed over a few
boulders, as well, for more
than 60 years.
The following suggestions for
staying married for life (and
happily so) are based on observations, conversations and
trial and error in my mar-
Staying Married for Life Lifestyle
riage. They work – thanks to my parents’ example, the advice of people I
admire and the counsel of an older
married couple, Robert and Grace,
who befriended my husband and me
many years ago.
Perhaps they will work for you too;
practice it and then experience the
rewards and results in your marriage.
BE AVAILABLE
Being “there” for your spouse is what
being married is really about. It takes
time to get to know another person.
If you’re not available, it can’t happen. Our friends Tom and Jenny go
out for dinner every Friday night
and they have done so for more than
30 years. When their children were
young, they had their parents over to
watch the kids. Nothing but a serious
illness keeps them from this weekly
date where they focus on one another
in a relaxed setting.
Peter awakens his wife Christine each
morning with a cup of her favorite
tea. The two then sit in bed together
and talk over their plans for the day.
Carol and Alan work together in real
estate—a business with unpredictable hours and lots of driving. One
works in the field, the other in the office. “Believe it or not we rarely see
each other during the day so we’ve
made a point of having lunch together,” said Carol. “Nothing gets in the
way of that one hour when we can
talk, plan, laugh and debrief.”
And Mary and David bought a karaoke machine when they spend their
time together each night before going to bed. “The couple that sings
together stays together,” Mary joked.
For where your treasure is, there your
heart will be also.
BE ATTENTIVE
Have you ever walked up to someone
at an event, and as you begin talk-
ing, he or she nods and makes polite sounds, but is clearly elsewhere
in spirit? He scans the crowd while
he’s standing with you. Or she peeks
around your shoulder as if to say, “I
wonder who else is here.” It’s chilling to be on the receiving end of such
treatment. It’s bad enough when it occurs at a social or business gathering,
but it can be devastating in a marriage.
To be attentive, one must pay attention! Look your spouse in the eye.
Listen for your mate’s heart, not just
for his or her words. This is an area
of challenge for almost everyone. We
lead such busy lives that many of us
have made a habit of doing more
than one thing at the same time. We
make phone calls while driving, cook
with one hand and scribble a list with
the other, cut a child’s hair as we help
our mate with the monthly finances.
Later we wonder where the years went
and why we don’t feel as connected to
our husband or wife as we hoped we
would. We long for another hug. We
wish we could laugh and play more.
We notice a growing distance between us. If this is true for you, take
heart. It’s not too late. Regardless of
how long you’ve been married, you
can learn from those mistakes. Each
of us can choose today to start paying
attention to the person we promised
to love and cherish for a lifetime.
BE AWARE
A friend of mine had a successful
restaurant business for 20 years. He
credited it to his weekly round-table
meetings with his employees. “He
knew his people would not be effective if they were carrying around
emotional baggage,” said his wife,
Anne. Each Monday morning Frank
invited them to share anything that
might interfere with them doing
their job. “At the end of the meeting
you could feel the change in the air,”
she said. “Employees felt closer to
one another because they knew they
weren’t alone. Other people cared.”
This custom inspired me. I started
practicing it with my husband. Instead of assuming I know what’s
going on with him when I suspect
something is upsetting him, I’d ask
if he’d like to talk and if so, I try to
listen and empathize rather than rush
in with a pat answer.
BE APPRECIATIVE
“Thank you.”
Two words spouses don’t
hear often enough – from
one another:
“Thank you for being
my love.”
“Thank you for working
so hard for our family.”
“Thank you for supporting me.”
“Thank you for being you.”
Gratitude is not an option. Give
thanks in all circumstances.
The more we express our appreciation toward our mates, the freer we
become of negative thoughts and
emotions toward one another. Resentment and judgment cannot exist
in the same space with appreciation.
“Gratitude is the rosemary of the
heart,” wrote 19th century writer
Minna Antrim.
How little it would take to sprinkle
rosemary into the lives of our spouses. A simple ‘thank you’ every single
day would do it!
As we become available, attentive,
aware, and appreciative toward our
marriage partners, we are building a
relationship that will last a lifetime –
and happily so.
This article was extracted by Focus on
the Family Malaysia with permission.
To find out more about Focus on the Family Malaysia, please visit or contact us.
+603-7954 7920 • focus@family.org.my • www.family.org.my • Facebook [focusonthefamilymalaysia] • Twitter [familiesMY]
Focus on the Family 90-second commentaries is aired over TRAXX FM at 7.30 a.m. Monday to Friday
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57
Lifestyle Be Your Teen’s Role Model
Teen’s
Role
Be Your
Model
How parents can be
good role models
By Michael Ross
WHAT IS A
ROLE MODEL?
When we say someone serves as a
role model, we mean the individual is
someone others admire or try to emulate.
For teenagers this often means the person
is someone they want to be like – whether
it’s because of the person’s lifestyle, athletic
prowess or the attitudes the person shows.
Some of those role models are celebrities
out of your teen’s reach (athletes and
movie stars), while others are in his or her
own circle of influence (teachers and other
parents). What do those people have that
make them attractive to your teen?
58
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Be Your Teen’s Role Model Lifestyle
WHAT TEENS CRAVE
Why do teens look up to the other adults in their lives? Whether
or not we like it, parents are sometimes considered the enemy.
Teenagers might see their moms and dads as judgmental and
unconcerned about their lives. Two qualities, therefore, are crucial to
being a role model.
1. A role model is understanding, not condescending.
When 13-year-old Jenny seemed especially upset about a boy
not liking her at school, her father said, “That’s nothing to worry
about. You’re too young to even think about boys.” When the dad
spoke those words, he was telling Jenny that her concerns were
not important. Yet it was serious in her 13-year-old world. Role
models try to connect with a teen to understand what he or she is
going through. They do so without belittling the teen’s problems
or downplaying the triumphs.
2. A role model is a friend but also a leader. We
often think that to be a role model to our teenager
we must know the name of every new movie
or be able to use teenage slang. That’s not
necessarily true.
While most role models understand the teen’s life
and are friendly, they also take on a leadership role
with them. Role models provide answers, insight or
suggestions about the teen’s struggles – oftentimes from
their own experiences.
HOW PARENTS CAN BE GOOD ROLE MODELS
• Be available. Let your
teenager know your door
is always open. While your
son or daughter may not
beat down your door
every time he or she has
a question, your teen
is more likely to do so
when you have left that
door open.
giving a long string of
advice. Listen to your teen
first, then ask follow-up
questions. Don’t jump in
with advice (even when
you clearly see what
should be done). Instead,
proceed slowly asking your
teen what he or she thinks
should be done.
Say phrases such as “I’m
always here for you” or “I’d
love to hear about your
day.” Don’t apply pressure,
but let your teen know you
are there for him or her.
• Listen to your teen. Being
available to your teenager
does not mean listening
with one ear and then
Being a role model to your teenager may seem like an impossible
undertaking. But realize that your young person needs someone just
like you — someone who loves him or her and who can point in the
right direction.
This article was extracted by Focus on the Family Malaysia with permission.
+603-7954 7920 • focus@family.org.my • www.family.org.my
• Facebook [focusonthefamilymalaysia] • Twitter [familiesMY]
Focus on the Family 90-second commentaries is aired over TRAXX FM at
7.30 a.m. Monday to Friday
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d on
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2012
59
10 FAMILY
Lifestyle 10 Fun Things To Do With Your Family
FUN
Have a blast with
your family by trying
these fun ideas!
THINGS TO DO
WITH YOUR
By Lisa Toner
1
Go on a family scavenger hunt with a list of
hn
o do or find. erh
w
ro nd yo r
ne h orhood oo n or
rre ome h n
r e or he n m er 7. r yo c n c
r h y h o omeone or o ch
o
n.
2
oo hro h o d
m y ho o nd
listen to stories
of when Dad
and Mom were
row n
.
4
60
y
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edefin n
d on
m
n de
y yo r ee n
ro nd c m fire m de
o
h h
nd red nd
ye ow
e
er. oo
s’mores in the microwave and
n c m fire on .
3
d m er ece
out of marshmallows
nd oo h c .
10 Fun Things To Do With Your Family Lifestyle
6
5
h n
e ho o o
e ch cree y cr w y
yo
find nd m e
oo .
9
7
r e o he ne re
r or nd
w ch he
ne
e o nd nd.
erw rd m e
er r ne
nd h e
y n con e .
re re
n
m y ed ce cre m
nd e. e re o e e ch m y
mem er
or e o n .
Design an obstacle
course using
everyday items
ch
wn ch r
r n er or
oo . emem er o
o w ch me e ch
family member to see
who
he
e
r en room.
n
h h
c
h on n o en w .
e h dow n m
n
yo r rm nd h nd .
10
Eat dinner by candlelight
nd en o yo r
or e m
8
c.
This article was extracted by Focus on the Family Malaysia with permission.
+603-7954 7920 • focus@family.org.my • www.family.org.my • Facebook [focusonthefamilymalaysia] • Twitter [familiesMY]
Focus on the Family 90-second commentaries is aired over TRAXX FM at 7.30 a.m. Monday to Friday
edefin n
d on
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2012
61
Lifestyle I’d Read This
Every Child
Can Succeed
CYNTHIA ULRICH TOBIAS
RM32.90 • 164 pages
A
ll parents want their children
to succeed – according to their
own defin on o
cce
–
which would usually mean academic success and being “successful” in life which would mean having a
re ec
e o nd do n we fin nc y.
wh
he ch d doe n fi n o he
parents’ idea of “success” – he is not interested in school, he is restless, disruptive in
class, doesn’t do his homework, fails his
tests. Does it mean he is doomed to be
a failure?
o ccord n o
hor yn h
r ch obias, if you (parents, teachers) make the
most of the child’s learning style. In this
very informative book, the author postulates that each child is an individual with
his own unique style of learning. Once
parents or teachers are aware of a child’s
learning style (ie. how he receives, processes and responds to information) and
incorporate it into their teaching / discipline methods, the child will be happy to
learn and he can succeed in a given task.
The blurb on the jacket of the book says
“By working within their child’s unique
learning styles, parents can remove a lot
of frustration at home and at school and
help their kids achieve greater self-esteem
and success.”
Early in the book, the author explains what
these learning styles are and the dominant
characteristics under each of these styles.
She has summarised the various learning
styles as : Auditory
The chapter on “What’s the big deal about
School?” reminds parents that traditional
c
room
n e
e y em o me surement and evaluation and established
method of instruction (especially the “talk
and chalk” method found in Malaysian
c
room don fi e ery
den .
ch d
h n d fic e n choo he
hor ch en e
ren o find o why
– does the child really lack basic skills or
ec
e he doe n fi n o
nd rd
mould? In this chapter, the author lists
out what is hardest for each type of learner in school and gives suggestions on
how to help. For example, for the visual
learner, listening to a lecture without visual aids is hard. To help him, the parent
can help the child develop coping strategies such as drawing a picture or diagram
of what the teach is talking about. A useful chapter for all parents and teachers
with children who seemingly “don’t pay
attention in class.”
: Auditory learners need to talk through their thought
process.
: Visual learners need to see information.
: Kinethestic learners need to move around.
n y c e rner oc e y on ec fic c .
: Global learners are better at grasping the overall picture
rather than the details.
: The dominant characteristic of concrete sequential
learners are that they are hardworking, conventional,
practical, stable.
: Such learners are analytic, objective, logical, systematic.
: Abstract Random learners are sensitive, imaginative,
e e on neo .
: Such learners are curious, adventurous, creative, intuitive.
Visual
Kinethestic
n y c
Global
Concrete Sequential
Abstract Sequential
Abstract Random
Concrete Random
62
nder nd n where he ch d fi
no
the above Learning Styles (or a combination of the styles) will help the parent to
devise strategies to better motivate or
discipline the child. It may take a while to
fully grasp each of these Learning Styles
but the author has provided lots of examples to illustrate what she means. She
also provides strategies on how to motivate or discipline within the frame work
of a child’s learning style. Lest the readers are still confused, the Appendix at the
back of the book will help them launch
a “Plan of Action” and work out an indid
rofi e o he r ch d.
y
2012
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An enlightening chapter entitled “They
n
e
en on efic
order)” gives hope and encouragement to
parents of children who appear to suffer
from lack of attention and concentration.
Such children are restless and disruptive
and appear unable to learn anything as
they cannot or will not sit still or pay attention. The author reiterates that every
child has gifts or abilities and we just have
o find how o r n o
he e n e ch
ch d e en he he doe no fi n o he
traditional mould. She says “There are
many methods of transportation for getting our children to the same destination.”
Parents have the responsibility to know
their own child so that they don’t allow
their child to be labeled or dismissed simy ec
e he he doe n fi n o he r ditional education system.
“Every Child Can Succeed” is indeed an
invaluable resource for parents and teachers. There are practical, proven techniques written in an easy-to-read style and
format which will help parents help their
children accomplish goals in their own
unique ways. As a resource material, this
book can help you to : -
den y yo r ch d e rn n
strengths
o e yo r ch d eyond
excuses
e e ec e d c ne
techniques
o
e yo r ch d o cceed
omm n c e more e ec e y
with your child’s teachers
oo yo r ch d e e eem
r n o he e n yo r ch d
This book is recommended for parents,
teachers, counselors and youth workers.
It will help them understand how each
person is an individual, right down to his/
her Learning Style. Once the various types
of Learning Styles are grasped, the reader
will enjoy applying them to himself and to
his children and thereby be in a position
to help and guide his children to become
successful adults.
I’d Listen To That Lifestyle
I’D LISTEN
TO THAT
Back from a long day at work? Sometimes we just need a break at home, but it can be a bit
difficult when our mind is still clouded and we’re preparing for another busy day tomorrow. When
a relaxing mood is needed on the immediate, or you just need to free up your mind and spend
some quality time with your family, there’s always a tune for everything. Perhaps a pretty voice
and some smooth music is exactly what you need to cool down the engines.
Absolute Voices
Absolute Acoustic
Music & Wine
Rock Corner Malaysia
Listen while kicking back on your reclining chair or sofa
Listen in the car
Listen when in a romantic setting and
fine w ne w h n re ch
by Various Artists
The album Absolute Voices, an exclusive by Rock Corner Malaysia and
marketed by S2S, is a two-disc compilation of 20 various songbirds that
include Renee Olstead, Joanna Wang,
Ann Sally, Nina Vidal, Zita Zalai and
Zsa Zsa Padilla singing their own Jazzy
renditions of classic tunes such as “A
Love That Will Last”, “True”, “I Wish
You Love”, “Close To You” and “The
Way You Look Tonight”. Expect soulful voicing backed up by cool instrumentals and tones. Like what the title
suggests, it’s all about the appreciation the various and unique voices on
he d c rom he de h fi ed o ce
of Zsa Zsa Padilla to the silky-smooth
voice of Joanna Wang, Absolute Voices is one to enjoy while on a Sunday
drive, or home camp-in.
by M.Y.M.P
M.Y.M.P (Make Your Momma Proud)
is an acoustic act that hails from the
Philippines. The two-disc album features the vocals of Juris Fernandez
and guitar strums of Chin Alcantara as
they take us on a soulful ride across
decades, with 24 numbers that include covers of chart-topping hits and
classics of old and recent, like Cyndi
Lauper and Phil Collin’s “True Colors”
as well as original tracks from the duo.
24 light and easy songs presented
through the M.Y.M.P style and interre on.
fir
r c
ec y
for you” opens and Juris’s silky voice
come on, you know you’ll be in for a
pleasant journey.
by Various Artists
Six compact discs worth of compilations, this exclusive title from Rock Corner
he er ec m ch or fine w ne
and-dine. With 78 tracks to choose,
how would you know which to select?
Well, each disc is thoughtfully labeled
according to wine selection and music
genre. Let’s say red wine is the order of
the night then pop in Disc One, “Match
Heavy Red with Straight-ahead Jazz”,
it’s straightforward and easy to understand. The other discs are labeled in the
same manner, from “Match Crispy White
with Adult Alternative” to “Match Champagne & Sparkling with Chillout”. The
little booklet inside is also quite handy,
explaining each category and identifying the wines associated to them.
Wine and music is a splendid marriage
indeed. With a wide selection of tracks
and artists like Norah Jones, Kings of
Convenience, Louis Armstrong, Boney
James, Cliff Richard, Sixpence None The
Richer and even Radiohead, it makes for
the perfect soundtrack to any evening.
If you like our recommendations, or have some of your own,
do write to editor homefinder com my or drop us a line on our Facebook or Twitter,
and share your thoughts and favorite down-time tune for others to discover.
edefin n
d on
y
2012
63
Lifestyle DEVIALET D-Premier
DEVIALET
D-Premier
The innovative approach in
h fide y d o m fic on
w h n e he c r.
bridge these two divide, and change
the way we perceive the traditional
“performance versus aesthetics” issue.
THIS IS
AN AMPLIFIER
UNLIKE ANY OTHER.
Generally, most of us music-lovers
who enjoy our domestic hi-fi systems
will fall into one of two categories;
namely, those who place optimal music performance above all else or those
who would gladly compromise performance with a good dose of lifestyle
design in their music hardware.
The focus of this article, the DEVIALET D-Premier, is a French-made
“state-of-the-art” audiophile integrated amplifier that will most likely
64
y
2012
edefin n
One’s first glace upon this slim, sleek
and highly-polished amplifier will
bring on a sense of awe and an instant realization that the crucial “wifefactor” prerequisite for the purchase
decision of conventional, bulky and
industrial-looking domestic hi-fi components will no longer apply. Here, we
have a product with gorgeous, elegant
looks that appeal to both the sexes,
and performance that will satisfy even
the hard-core audiophile. Its 6.9kg
chassis is a one-piece alloy casting of
d on
32mm thickness, highly-polished
with a minimalistic fascia that has
only a solitary power button and a
discrete circular liquid-crystal display
for volume and input indication. All
forms of control for the unit is via the
three buttons and a smooth-weighted volume flywheel on the separate
RF remote device (as opposed to the
typical IR remote of most electronic
products) of which the looks, echo
a similar design aesthetics and builtquality. Closely resembling a large laptop, its 400mm (W) x 400mm (D) x
44.5mm (H) dimensions allow it to
be laid flat on a table-top or mounted
vertically on the wall, whilst the lcd
DEVIALET D-Premier Lifestyle
automatically changes its orientation
according to the said placement. Disengaging the chrome top fit-cover at
the rear of the chassis will expose an
unusually comprehensive mix of audio connections ranging from digital
(coaxial, optical S/PDIF and balanced AES/EBU), analogue line-level,
HDMI v1.3 (2-channels from HD
formats, Blu-ray/DVD, SACD &
HD-TV) and MM/MC phono (vinyl
source). This flexibility is extended to
the proprietary-designed Digital/Analogue converter incorporated into the
unit that enables direct connectivity
of any digital sources, from a cd transport/player to a computer or equivalent (optimized for high-resolution
music downloads). In an essence, this
amplifier is not only compatible with
legacy music sources like the turntable, but is also applicable to all current
and future digital music sources like
the digital music streamer. There is
even an optional PC/Mac application
to provide complete customization of
the amplifier’s digital and analogue
input/output connectivity, as well as
its output power setting from 160w
to 240w (with the default setting at
165w/8ohms).
Indeed, the D-Premier is quite possibly
the most handsome and versatile hi-fi
amplifier that I have ever encountered.
AND IT HAS AN
AWESOME VOICE
THAT IS SIMPLY
INSPIRATIONAL.
Now that we are already enamored by
the physical appearance of this amplifier, there is but one crucial question.
How does it sound like?
The answer lies quite literally in its
“core”, where the patented ADH
Core (Analogue/Digital Hybrid) amplification technology combines two
pure class-A analogue amplifiers (for
accuracy and musicality) with eight
other digital amplifiers (for highpower efficiency) to produce the lowest signal distortion, intermodulation
and output impedance, with the best
signal-to-noise ratio. All these translate into a musical presentation that
is always true to the music recordings
and reveals the music in all its complexities and nuances. Listening to the
D-Premier will surely conjure audiophile aspiration of good transparency,
dynamics, transient, imaging and
soundstage.
An excerpt from the review by Paul
Miller in www.hifinews.co.uk below,
aptly describes the performance of this
amplifier;
“Imagine you are sitting in a concert
hall. The orchestra finishes its warmup and sound of individual strings and
winds drift away to the vaults of the
venue. The audience’s coughs, splutters and rustling of program notes diminish to a respectful hush. The lights
dim and you close your eyes. Silence.
For a long moment the audience holds
its collective breath for there is no leadin groove, no tape noise or hiss of elec-
edefin n
tronics to announce the first notes of
this overture. Then it comes. The striking crash of cymbals and deep resonant
wave of tympani strike your body. Eyes
now wide open, heart roused from its
lazy rhythm. You know you are witnessing a visceral, live performance.
No hi-fi comes close, you think, no hifi can realize this spontaneous dynamic
range, this vivid color and expression
of real instruments throbbing before
your eyes and ears.”
And yet, the D-Premier comes astonishingly close when fed from 24-bit
Studio Master-quality digital music
files. Certainly, I would have the exact
same sentiments and perhaps, even be
bold enough to call it “the most honest hi-fi amplifier” that I have the pleasure of hearing.
Hear! Hear! Music-lovers rejoice!
Reviewed by Bill Cheong
For queries and audition,
please contact Adrian Wong of
AUDIO IMAGE at +6016-600 1218
d on
y
2012
65
Lifestyle Have a Good Night
Have a
Good
Night
Comfortably sleeping your
way to a healthier you
By Emilio Vergara
66
y
2012
edefin n
d on
S
leep is a vital part of life. It is when our
body recharges itself, getting it ready for
he d y he d. ore
n fic n y we
spend at least a third of our lives sleeping. The problem with most of us is that
we usually take for granted the need for good sleep.
Let’s be honest, the bed is probably the furniture
you pay least attention to when you are furnishing your new home. As long as it promises comfort
on its packaging and for the right price, it is good
enough. But how sure are you that that exact mattress suits your body? Not only your weight and
height, but your sleep position, posture, and the
surface area all play very important roles in ensuring you get a good night’s sleep.
In Malaysia, the awareness of getting a good mattress that suits you is just not at an adequate level
yet. Case for example, you walk into a regular furniture shop and look for bed that suit your price
rather than your body. The salesperson who is
probably just a part-time worker probably knows
nothing about the technology put into the product he is trying to sell nor does he know if it will
give you a comfortable slumber. And even if you do
e or com or yo
y
re y
on he
bed rather than lie on it for a few minutes because
that’s the decent thing to do in public.
What you may not know is that when you sit, you
are squeezing 70 percent of your body weight just
on the surface area of your bottom. That is not
equal to when you are in your usual sleeping position and spread your body weight out evenly. A
bed will probably feel too soft for you when you sit
down. Another misconstrued fact is that the harder
the mattress means it is better for your back or posre. he r h firmne doe no e
o h rdness for beds.
Have a Good Night Lifestyle
So now you know how to test a mattress
before buying, and that harder ones are
not necessarily better for your back. But
that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Offering professional advice and tailoring mattresses to suit your body, Bolster
& Bedd – a “Designer Mattress Brand” –
can help us understand our sleeping better. While a relatively young brand in the
market, Bolster & Bedd have spent plenty
of hours, involving experienced designers
from Australia and Malaysia, researching
and prototyping their range before they
even began.
Sleeping is a science of its own and it is
important to understand your own sleep,
which a lot of us just do not. So for Bolster
& Bedd, it is paramount that they are able
to see if your sleep posture is right the moment you lie on a mattress. Whether you
sleep on your back, side or belly, you’ll need
that perfect mattress to suit your body.
“For us, knowledge in
our products and how
well it gels with people
is key. We don’t just sell
beds, we sell you sleep,”
– James Lim co-founder
of Bolster & Bedd.
Then there is quality. Sleepers should think
about the conditioning of the mattresses
when buying, one you can personally see
and feel. Remember it’s not just about one
good thing that makes a bed, but a combination of all, including the springs, the
foam, the fabric and other more meticulous details.
Left:
Just an extra turn in each of these
pocket springs will make the difference
between a good sleep and a bad one.
d n o n ern on
ec fic on
oster & Bedd scour the world for each and
every component and chooses only the
best for perfect composition. So detailed
is bed technology today that even an extra
twist on each of the pocket springs make
a difference to the mattresses. And while
occ on
n
recommended or
con en on m re e o re n
firmness and shape, mattresses from Bolster
& Bedd for example, has the technology
inside that makes the foam extra durable
– e m n n he need o .
To James Lim, co-founder of Bolster & Bedd,
sleep is not all just about tangible comfort
of the bed. He reckons the remaining 30%
of a good sleep come from the psychological aspect. This includes ambience, the
temperature, your body’s biological clock,
the time of day and a whole lot of other
elements. Have you ever tried sleeping in a
bright lit room on a Sunday afternoon with
he o nd o
n r fic
o
de
the window? Compare that to a dim 5-star
hotel room and you’ll understand.
Don’t take sleep for granted anymore.
While it may be the time where your subconscious mind takes over, it is still a very
important part of our lives. Get the right
bed, have a good forty winks, and you will
find yo r e
n
m ch he h er e.
Left:
Seamless edges give you a larger
surface area allowing for comfortable
movements during sleep.
If you’d like to learn more
on sleeping better,
visit www.bolsterbedd.com or
call +603-6150 4488 at Sunway Giza or
+603-7873 9488 at SS2, PJ.
edefin n
d on
y
2012
67
Lifestyle Passion for Fashion
r en n
Recognized as one of
“Asia’s Top Fashion
Designer of the Year”
in 2009 by Fashion
Asia, his experience
in the industry spans
across two decades.
Carven Ong shares
how he started off
as a lecturer to
what he is today.
PASSION
FOR
FASHION
n er ew y Emilio Vergara
68
y
2012
edefin n
d on
When and how did you
begin this passion for
fashion?
nce w
o
o r or fi e
ye r o d h e o ed dr w n .
hene er here w
er nd
enc y n ro nd wo d r
. y m m no ced h
nd oon
dr w n ec me my ho y.
he me me d r n my
choo n d y
w ched on
m ny
h on how
e y
e n
y
concer
and so on, and I was fascinated
how he e eo e on
co d c rry hem e e o we
w h ho e n ce o fi . w
n n r on or me o e
de ner one d y nd de n he
o fi or hem.
m
o he yo n e o o r
n
nd c n he 0
when w
row n
my hree
er were w y ee n
w h he
h on rend ome me
cre n he r own dre e .
onded ery we w h my
er how n hem my own
de n e che nd e n he r
eed c . o rom here new
wo d m e c reer o o
h on.
What is the signature style of
Carven Ong?
em n ne
c nd
om or
e.
no on y mode
who re
e o c rry hem e e
we . w n mo
d e e en
hey h e d eren y e o
ody h e o oo ood. nd
de ner m
now wh
hem e he r ho e e
he c n or co or. em n ne
Passion for Fashion Lifestyle
CARVEN’S TIPS ON CHOOSING
THE RIGHT GOWN
1
2
3
Know what you want
Do your research. Look through magazines, the internet and more and
decide what style you like. See whether it would go well with your
theme and how you would want to present yourself.
Choose the right designer
Get professional advice. See what suits your body and what does not.
Work with the designer, but make sure you like your final decision.
Try Try Try
Try on the gown to see if it looks good on you. You must feel
comfortable in your gown as well.
ec
e mo women re er
ome h n wh ch or r y he r em n ne
de ome h n h
ow n nd
c
y.
he me me m
e
com or
e or hem. oo e or e
co d ome me e oo com c ed
or he norm wom n nd hey w
oo o o
ce.
How do you usually work with
your clients?
or mo
eo e who come n hey
y h e done ome re e rch
on cer n y e hey e nd h e
decided on who they want as their
de ner. o when hey come n
y h e con
on w h
hem no o m ch on he echn c
ec ye
o e o now he r
er on y wh heme wo d he r
occ on e nd how he wo d e
o re en her e on h d y whe her
it is classic, sexy, Hollywood style, or
ome h n e e.
hen we o n o he echn c
r
where wo d ro o e
ho e e
h wo d
her ody h e he
c n he co or nd
o he m er .
hen hey h e o ry he own n
hey find c n h
hem.
h
roce
o n o or n y
or me o ed c e he c en on he
m ny d eren c
nd wh wo d
hem e
ec
e mo o hem
h e ne er worn
own nd wo d
no now.
Other than your famed wedding
gowns, do you design other kind
of outfits?
her h n he co
re r n e
o
h
e
r y dre e c
re
nd o fice we r. he e
are ready-to-wear ones found in
de r men
ore .
more
o m
rod c on.
or
rd
own nd e en n
own
more d rec w h
he de ner. o h
where
more de ed choo n
wh wor
nd wh
doe n or he c en .
Surely you’ve worked with
a bunch of notable people,
can you name some?
o o he eo e h e
wor ed w h re
y
nd
or d con e n
nd w nner . here re
o
ome oc
nd re on
r
and a few local royalties and
d n r e . ho h c nno
men on e eryone ome
e m e re e
rh
rr
r
e nd hee oo
Wincci, Deborah Henry, and
m er h . h n
mo
0
o he eo e e dre ed re
re y r w h
e.
Throughout your amazing
21-year career, what is
the one most memorable
moment for you?
w
re y nny one c
y
ened o
e en ye r
o.
w
c
y n w rd rece ed
c n my home own
n . hey
w rded he o 10 mo
rom n
er on
e rom
n nd w
one o hem. remem er on h
me
d y w
o ed o e n
n
h
edefin n
d on
y
2012
69
Lifestyle Passion for Fashion
en n
own w h
w
o
ended
o
n
ery h n
h d me
er on
o ch.
he
how n
wh ch
m. h d o r h
he w y
n me or he w rd
m.
w
o
mn e
re y
o h e ch n e o c o he .
Why did you decide to start the
Carven Academy of Fashion in the
first place?
w
ome h n h h
ened
y . y fir o n
w
c
y
h on ec rer.
he me me w
o de ner nd c er or no her
com ny. y r end oon o nd o
w
o ec rer nd hey w n ed me
o e ch hem de n n er on y.
o
rew rom one
den o hree
o en
den . hen more nd more
eo e
ed me why no o en my
own c demy where hey c n e rn
o her h n
rom me
we
ch
cr n
ew n nd c n . h
h
ened when w on y 21 ye r
o d w ho
h n n whe her wo d
c
y wor
h n
y wor ed
nd
rew
e we .
Finally, this being Homefinder,
I have to ask , how would you
define a home?
o me he word home c o e y re ed
o
h on. n
h on de n
o
choo n he r h de n he r h
co or nd o co r e he m er .
h
home yo
o choo e how o m e
yo r own w h he de n o he ho e
he co or cheme nd wh m er
yo w n o e e
e m r e or
wood. nd
e
h on rend
home
o h e rend o o ow.
ewer condom n m or ho e
w y
h e new nd d eren de n.
h on
ro nd
rom dre e
o o r home e en o r h nd hone
co er
h on
emen . e
need o ee he e y o .
To learn more on how you can find the perfect gown for yourself,
call Carven Ong Couture and Wedding Specialist at 603-2162 8232 or visit www.carvenong.com.my
70
y
2012
edefin n
d on
Lifestyle The Malaysian Garden
The
Malaysian
GARDEN
Our very own
By Emilio Vergara
W
henever relatives or friends from foreign
lands come to visit, it is always a joy for me
to include a courtesy tour of our country for
them, whether in the city or the countryside, pausing
only to let them try some of Malaysia’s most delicious and unique delicacies and to share with them
obscure facts of our cultures, not known by many.
72
y
2012
edefin n
d on
Grab a book and relax in your own Malaysian Garden.
I guess it is in every one of us to take pride in
where we come from and be able to tell stories of just about any product resulting from the
cultural mishmash in our country, something
that symbolizes our identity as Malaysians – the
durian, the twin towers, nasi lemak, yee sang
(though Singaporeans claim it to be theirs).
So when Desmond Ho and his team at Terra
Garden created the Neo Nusantara concept of
gardens, he knew it would be something that
belonged to Malaysians, not just the garden itself but the story behind it.
The Malaysian Garden Lifestyle
TheEssence
5 Senses
of the
Malaysian Garden
1
2
3
4
5
SIGHT
A garden must be pleasing to
the eyes. With a focal point
and beautiful layout, a garden
becomes inviting and entices
you to enter and experience it
TOUCH
Once you enter, the garden
must reward you with comfort.
It should allow you to sit and
stay to enjoy the surroundings,
or even take a nap with
cushions on the floor.
SOUND
SMELL
TASTE
Once you’re comfortable, the
garden must produce soothing
sounds to lull you to rest.
Such sounds are created from
the bubbling water feature,
which will also attract other
sounds of nature, such as
birds chirping or crickets.
Harness the pleasure of Mother Nature with your family.
Sometimes also known as The Malaysian Garden,
Neo Nusantara literally translates to “New Malay Archipelago”. Our multi-racial culture and tradition is a
result from the blending of many others within the
region, taking shape and evolving throughout hundreds of years. The Malaysian Garden concept embraces this cultural concoction in its range of garden
designs and wooden furniture, making each of these
components not only versatile in use, unique, and
highly resistant to the Malaysian tropical climate, but
also one that has its own tale and legend to tell.
More than just a garden concept of beauty and grandeur, it aims to harness pleasure from Mother Nature
her e hro h yo r fi e en e – he ery
nce
of Neo Nusantara. Imagine having your breakfast in
the garden, you calm yourself with sight of plants and
greeneries, listen to the chirping of birds, enjoy
he end o rom rom he ower nd yo r
coffee, savor your favorite French pastries as
you feel the morning breeze oozing through the
leaves. The Malaysian Garden prides
itself as creating
Even a small space
such as a balcony can
be made into one for
unwinding with friends.
Then, the breeze will carry the
delightful scent of fragrant
plants is very important –
ideally located beside the
seating areas.
Finally, imagine having a cup
of coffee or tea in this outdoor
setting, gazing at the stars or
the full moon, or rejuvenating
your soul watching the sun
rise. This is what outdoor
living is all about.
edefin n
d on
y
2012
73
Lifestyle The Malaysian Garden
A LOCAL FLAVOR
Components that make up the Malaysian Garden
draw inspiration from the culture and tradition of
our beloved native soil as well as from the flora of
the land. Here are some of the components that
is more than just an ornament, but one that tells
a story.
Incorporate a hammock and have a swaying slumber out in your garden.
KEKISI
This unique lattice design is inspired
by the Kain Pelikat or Malaysian
sarong pattern. The sarong can
be considered a staple of a truly
Malaysian lifestyle as one can find
men of all races using it even today.
PANGKIN
This “Malaysian” bench is a raised
timber platform commonly used by
the paddy farmers as a resting place
under the shade of trees. It is still used
in rural villages across the country.
KUDA-KUDA
Another bench with a Malaysian
interpretation, the kuda-kuda is truly
unique. It serves a multipurpose role
as a bench, a divider, a shelf or simply
as an ornament.
DAYANG BUNTING
The Malaysian Garden is distinctive
and easily recognizable from this water
feature component. This terra cotta pot
is adorn with intricate floral carvings,
based on Malaysian art. It can also be
used as a garden lamp.
PUCUK REBUNG
A nature-inspired design of the
Malaysian Garden, it is inspired by
the humble bamboo shoot. The Pucuk
Rebung is used both as a garden lamp
and a water feature.
74
y
2012
edefin n
d on
an outdoor living area, extending the indoors of your home into
the garden.
Now when you have a visitor to
your home, instead of just showing off your exotic plants or how
well-kept your garden is, you can
invite them for tea outside as you
both comfortably sit on the Kudakuda, a unique garden bench that
is still traditionally used in small
villages for many purposes. And
because each and every component has a history behind it, you
can proudly tell an interesting
story on the very furniture you are
sitting on.
“My dream is to eventually make
the Malaysian Garden one that
belongs to all Malaysians, not just
Terra Garden alone, something
that can be easily recognized with
the Malaysian identity. It is like
when yo
o o
n yo c n
den y
ne e rden n ny
home instantly with its koi ponds
and rocks. The same goes for a
Balinese Garden with its Hindu
inspired carvings,” says Desmond
who created this concept back in
ye r 2000.
The truth is, the Malaysian Garden has not only been wellreceived within the country but
from all over the world. Began by
exporting prefabricated designs
to Switzerland, Ireland and Ausr
c n 200 o 2006 err
Garden now receives orders from
as far as Mexico. And because it
is such a versatile garden concept that requires no hacking or
digging, it can even be incorporated into foreign lifestyles. So
instead of a traditional low-rise
Pangkin, which is a raised timber
platform resembling an oversized deckchair, elements of the
Malaysian Garden are now given
a new interpretation in a wooden
hut with high bar stools for the
summer months in Europe.
Winning numerous prestigious
awards and having been part of
international exhibitions from
across the globe, the Malaysian
Garden is an excellent creation
of an outdoor room that marries
culture, nature, and the human
senses. It is something that reec o r ery den y
ysians and something that we can
truly be proud of.
inspired bar-hut in the
United Kingdom.
AUGUST 2012 BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION / PROFESSIONAL EXECUTIVE
SEMINARS AT JW MARRIOTT HOTEL, KUALA LUMPUR
WWW.ASIAPACIFICEVENTS.COM
Audit and Effective Financial Management and Control
of Real Estate Projects
Effective and Efficient Debt Collection:
The Law, Practice and Procedure
No. D1
Date: 2 & 3 August 2012
Speaker: Mr. Gursharan Singh, C.M.I.I.A.
No. D4
Date: 10 August 2012
Speaker: Mr. Alex Chang Huey Wah, Advocate & Solicitor, LLB
(Hons) Lond QMC, CLP
- Buka Puasa Voucher* at Hotel for Muslim participants. * Valid for Ramadhan month
FIDIC Design-Build and Turnkey Contracts: Preparation,
Nature, Rights, Obligations and Duties of Clients /
Contractors / Construction Professionals and
Contracts Administration
Basic Contract Law and Drafting Contracts for
Commercial Transactions for Non-Legal Managers
and Executives
No. D5
Speaker: Mr. Teng Kam Wah, LLB (Hons), LLM (London),
BSc (Hons) (Malaya), CLP, FCIArb
No. D2
Speaker: Ir. Harbans Singh K.S., B.E. (Mech) S’pore,
LLB (Hons) London, CLP, DipICArb, P.E., C. Eng., MIEM,
MIMechE, MIHEEM, MASHRAE, MCIArb, MMIArb
Laws and Regulations Governing Buying and Selling
Properties in Malaysia: Practice and Procedures
Effective Management for Properties and Facilities
(In Regard to Building Management)
No. D3
Speaker: Mr. Mike Pong Yeang Yong, M.Sc. (Facilities Management) UK, Certified Trainer by PSMB
No. D6
Speaker: Ms. Esther Ong, Advocate & Solicitor, LL.B (Hons)
Uni. of London & CLP (Hons)
REG IS TRA TION FORM
Pl e a s e
tic k
S e m in a r
D1
D2
D3
D4
D5
D6
SBL Claimable Subject to HRDF Approval
Ea r l y B i r d s ( p e r p e r s o n )
RM1600.00
RM1600.00
RM1600.00
RM888.00
RM888.00
RM888.00
Registration
and
Payment by
19 July 2012
G r o u p Fe e ( p e r p e r s o n )
- two or more from same organization
Re g u l a r Fe e ( p e r p e r s o n )
RM1700.00
RM1700.00
RM1700.00
RM950.00
RM950.00
RM950.00
RM1800.00
RM1800.00
RM1800.00
RM1000.00
RM1000.00
RM1000.00
The above fees includes of lunch / tea breaks / seminar materials and certificate
- Fo r B u i l d i n g &
- For Customised In-House Training, Please Call: 03-2162 6828
Co n s t r u c t i o n B o o k s , Pl e a s e Vi s i t : w w w . a p m p . c o m . m y
Crossed Cheque / Bank Draft payable to A S IA PA CIFIC D IL IG ENCE S D N B H D
Mailing Address: B-2-9A, Megan Avenue II, 12, Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, 50450 Kuala Lumpur
Contact Person: Ms. Chin / Ms. Erna Te l : 03-2162 6828 Fa x : 03-2162 7828 / 03-2163 7828
E-Mail: apd@po.jaring.my Website: www.asiapacificevents.com
1. Full Name: Dr./Mr./Ms. …………………………….……………………..…
Position: ……….……………………………………………………………..
3. Full Name: Dr./Mr./Ms. …………………………….……………………..…
Position: ……….……………………………………………………………..
2. Full Name: Dr./Mr./Ms. ……………………….….…………..…..……….……………...……
Position: …………………………………………………………………………………………
4. Full Name: Dr./Mr./Ms. ……………………….….…………..…..………....…………………
Position: …………………………………………………………………………………………
Company: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………........................……………………………………
Address: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….......................…………………………………………..…………
Tel: ……………...….….....…. Fax: ………..…..…....…...………. Email: ……….....…..................................….......….......... Contact Person: ………....…....................…
(416483-P)
A p p r o v e d Tr a i n i n g Pr o v i d e r B y :
Pe m b a n g u n a n S u m b e r M a n u s i a B e r h a d
Guide Real Estate Directory
BANK NEGARA MALAYSIA
FIRE PREVENTION COUNCIL
MALAYSIA (FIPCOM)
Jalan Dato’ Onn,
50929 Kuala Lumpur.
T +603 2698 8044
F +603 2691 2990
E nm e e n
nm. o .my
www. nm. o .my
Level 4, Block B North,
Damansara Town Centre,
50644 Kuala Lumpur.
T +6019 261 9657
F +603 2092 5063
E n o fi com.or .my
www.fi com.or .my
en r
n o
y
BUILDING MANAGEMENT
ASSOCIATION OF
MALAYSIA (BMAM)
n
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
DEVELOPMENT BOARD (CIDB)
em
n
n
y
n n nd
n
7 r nd e on
72
n h n
53000 Kuala Lumpur.
T +603 2617 0200
F +603 2617 0220
E c d c d . o .my
www.c d . o .my
r
17 h oor
e e n
Jalan Tun Razak,
50400, Kuala Lumpur.
T +603 4041 8522
F +603 4041 4502
www.klmcc.com
on
on
e
y
y
ner
Suite 5-3, 5th Floor, Block 3B,
Plaza Sentral, Jalan Stesen Sentral 5,
50470 Kuala Lumpur.
T +603 2260 6777
F +603 2260 7999
E n re
rd .com.my
www.
nd rm y .com.my
y
e
n
c
or
e
r men
y
JABATAN PENILAIAN DAN
PERKHIDMATAN HARTA (JPPH)
on nd ro er y
Services Department
Aras 9, Perbendaharaan 2,
7 Persiaran Perdana, Presint 2,
62 2
r y .
T +603 8886 9000
F +603 8886 9001
www. h. o .my
e
e 12 10
Wisma Sunrise,
Plaza Mont Kiara,
2 Jalan Kiara, Mont Kiara,
T +603 6203 5090 / 5091
F +603 6203 4090
E fi c m y
fi c .com.my
www.fi c .com.my
76
MALAYSIA GREEN BUILDING
CONFEDERATION
ISKANDAR REGIONAL
DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (IRDA)
e
n er
Jalan Sultan Salahuddin,
50582 Kuala Lumpur.
T +603 2691 9011
F +603 2698 8187
e 12 12
Plaza Mont’ Kiara,
2 Jalan Kiara, Mont’ Kiara,
T +603 6203 9728 / 29
F +603 6203 9727
E n o fi c
c fic.com
www.fi c
c fic.com
n ern
eder
e o n er or e
JABATAN KERJA RAYA
MALAYSIA (JKR)
FIABCI ASIA PACIFIC
FIABCI MALAYSIA
n n
2012
JABATAN PERANCANGAN
BANDAR DAN DESA
SEMENANJUNG MALAYSIA
Jalan Cenderasari,
50646 Kuala Lumpur.
T +603 2698 9211
F +603 2692 9994
E we m er own n. o .my
www. own n. o .my
edefin n
d on
er
oc
rce
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
6266
r y .
T +603 8883 6200
F +603 8889 3712
E we m er e h . o .my
www. e h . o .my
6
n n
50480 Kuala Lumpur
T +603 2691 5607
F +603 2694 6434
E dm0
re my .com
www. dm.or .my
The Kuala Lumpur
Chamber of Commerce
c fic
n ry o ner y
reen echno o y nd
INSTITUT PENILAIAN
NEGARA (INSPEN)
y
o ernmen
KEMENTERIAN TENAGA, TEKNOLOGI
HIJAU DAN AIR (KETTHA)
y
INSTITUT PEREKABENTUK
DALAMAN MALAYSIA (IPDM)
DEWAN PERNIAGAAN MELAYU
MALAYSIA KUALA LUMPUR (DPPM)
e
n er
Wisma IBI, 5 Jalan Semantan,
m n r e h
50490 Kuala Lumpur.
T +603 2095 6833
F +603 2095 2322
E
m
m.or .my
www. m.or .my
er r n n
n
3000
n
e n or.
T +603 8925 9377 / 8925 9358
E we m er n en. o .my
www. n en. o .my
n ry o ome
r
e e 1 7 od m
15 Persiaran Perdana, Precint 2,
62 0
r y .
T +603 8880 1000
F +603 8880 1200
www. m . o .my
on
on
eo
nd
n ry o o n nd oc
Aras 1-38, No.51,
Persiaran Perdana, Presint 4,
62100
r y .
T +603 8891 5000
F +603 8891 3182
www.
. o .my
National Institute of Valuation
en e
DEPARTMENT OF
IMMIGRATION MALAYSIA
n ern
eder
n ry o o n
Local Government
INSTITUT BANK-BANK
MALAYSIA (IBBM)
2-3-37, Third Floor,
Wisma Rampai, Jalan 34/26,
Taman Sri Rampai, Setapak,
53300 Kuala Lumpur.
T +603 4149 1719 / 1082
F +603 4143 4739
E en 1 y hoo.com
em
em n
KEMENTERIAN PERUMAHAN
DAN KERAJAAN TEMPATAN
6
n n
50480 Kuala Lumpur.
T +603 2698 8235
F +603 2698 8236
E n o m c.or .my
www.m c.or .my
MALAYSIA MY SECOND HOME
CENTRE (MM2H)
n ry o o r m
y
Level 10, No.2, Tower 1,
Jalan P5/6, Presint 5
62200
r y .
T +603 8891 7000/7427/7434
F +603 8891 7415
E n o mm2h. o .my
www.mm2h. o .my
MALAYSIA PROPERTY INCORPORATED
(MPI)
Unit 6-03A, Level 6,
Menara UAC, 12 Jalan PJU 7/5,
Mutiara Damansara,
7 00 e n
y
e n or.
T +603 7724 1878
F +603 7724 1877
E no m y
ro er y nc.com
www.m y
ro er y nc.com
MALAYSIAN ASSOCIATED
INDIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
AND INDUSTRY (MAICC)
e n en e 11
Block B, 9th Floor, Unit 1,12,
n
w n en
50450 Kuala Lumpur.
T +603 2171 2616
F +603 2171 1195
E n o m cc .or .my
www.m cc .or .my
MALAYSIAN INSTITUTE OF
ESTATE AGENTS (MIEA)
Unit C-27-05, Three 2 Square,
2
n 1 1 6300 e n
y
e n or.
T +603 7960 2577
F +603 7960 3757
E ecre r
m e .com.my
www.m e .com.my
MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION
MALAYSIA (MBAM)
21 1
oor
n 2 10
Desa Business Park, Taman Desa,
n
n
m
58100 Kuala Lumpur.
T +603 7984 8636
F +603 7982 6811
E m m01 m m.or .my
www.m m.or .my
Real Estate Directory Guide
MINISTRY OF TOURISM MALAYSIA
emen er n e ncon
n
y
NATIONAL HOUSE BUYERS
ASSOCIATION
PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
AND DELIVERY UNIT (PEMANDU)
e e 3 oc m r erd n
r
dn
Federal Government Administrative Centre
62 02
r y .
F +603 8888 7107
E em nd
o .my
www. em nd . o .my
oc
on
oc
on
No.26, Jalan 3/3c, Sri Utara Batu Caves,
68100 Batu Caves,
e n or.
T +603 6250 5066
F +603 6250 4066
www. mm.or .my
PERSATUAN PENGURUSAN
KOMPLEKS MALAYSIA (PPKM)
nd
y
n
oc on or ho n
h r e om e
n emen
A113, 1st Floor, Block A,
1 Jalan SS 20/27, Damasara Intan,
7 00 e n
y
e n or.
T +603 7727 6202 / 6232
F +603 7727 6203
E
m h m.ne .my
www.
m.or .my
PERSATUAN PENILAI,
PENGURUS HARTA, EJEN HARTA
& PERUNDING HARTA
SWASTA MALAYSIA (PEPS)
Association of Valuers,
ro er y
n er
e en
nd ro er y on
n n he
r
e ec or
y
2nd oor
n n n r
r
No 64-66, Jalan 52/4,
6200 e n
y
e n or.
T +603 7960 1318
F +603 7960 1518
E ecre r
e .or .my
www. e .or .my
rch ec
THE INSTITUTION OF
SURVEYORS, MALAYSIA (ISM)
3rd oor
n n n r
r
64-66, Jalan 52/4,
6200 e n
y
e n or.
T +603 7954 8358 / 7955 1773 / 7956 9728
F +603 7955 0253
E ecre r
m.or .my
www. m.or .my
THE MALAYSIAN ASSOCIATION
OF HOTELS (MAH)
m
n n
en m
88873, Kota Kinabalu,
Sabah.
T +6088 450650
F +6088 450699
www. dc. o .my
er
n oe
y
C5-2, Wisma MAH,
n m n
m 11
ne m n
en e
6 000 m n .
T +603 4251 8477
F +603 4252 8477
E n o ho e .or .my
www.ho e .or .my
n
SABAH HOUSING AND
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS
ASSOCIATION (SHAREDA)
PERSATUAN KONTRAKTOR
MELAYU MALAYSIA (PKMM)
y on r c or
eo
y
50G-3, 50H-3, 50I-3 Kelana Mall,
n
61
e n
y
7301 e n
y
e n or.
T +603 7803 2978
F +603 7805 1206 / 7803 5285
E secretariat@rehda.com
www.rehda.com
o 1
o.
2
om e
Batu 3, Jalan Ipoh,
51200 Kuala Lumpur.
T +603 6257 8045 / 7944
F +603 6257 4944
E dm n
m.or .my
www. m.or .my
n
Level 69, Tower 2,
w n ower
m r y en re
50088 Kuala Lumpur.
T +603 2035 0021 / 22
F +603 2035 0020
E ecre r
ecerdc.com.my
www.ecerdc.com.my
n n
SABAH DEVELOPMENT
CORRIDOR (SDC)
PERSATUAN KONTRAKTOR INDIA
MALAYSIA (PKIM)
y
6
n n
50480 Kuala Lumpur,
T +603 2693 4182
F +603 2692 8782
E no
m.or .my
www. m.or .my
REAL ESTATE AND HOUSING
DEVELOPERS’ ASSOCIATION
(REHDA) MALAYSIA
31 Level 3, Jalan Barat,
Off Jalan Imbi, 55100, Kuala Lumpur.
T +603 2142 2225 / +6012 3345 676
F +603 2260 1803
E n o h .or .my
www.h .or .my
n nd n on r c or
THE EAST COAST ECONOMIC
REGION (ECERDC)
y
No.2, Tower 1, Jalan P5/6,
rec n
62200
r y .
T +603 8891 7000
F +603 8891 7100
E n o mo o r. o .my
www.mo o r. o .my
y
y
PERTUBUHAN AKITEK
MALAYSIA (PAM)
THE NORTHERN CORRIDOR
ECONOMIC REGION (NCER)
o 13
3rd oor e er y
Jalan Bundusan,
88300 Kota Kinabalu,
Sabah.
T +6088 720 848 / 722 849
F +6088 720 843
E secretariat@shareda.com
www.shareda.com
No. 4, Jalan Residensi,
10 0
n n
T +604 7329 881
F +604 7342 881
www.ncer.com.my
SARAWAK CORRIDOR OF
RENEWABLE ENERGY (SCORE)
No. 13, 15 & 17,
Leboh Pasar Besar,
50050 Kuala Lumpur.
T +603 2031 3003
F +603 2026 1313
E co nc m y n r.or .my
www.m y n r.or .my
6h 7h
h oor
m
3 02 ch n
Sarawak.
T +6082 49276 / 85
F +6082 449481/442536
E we m er
. r w . o .my
www.
. r w . o .my
THE MALAYSIAN BAR COUNCIL
d n
y
m n
y
TRIBUNAL FOR
HOMEBUYERS CLAIMS
n ry o o n nd
Local Government
e e 2 o
o h
Damansara Town Center,
50782 Kuala Lumpur.
T +603 2092 4488 / 2099 8405 / 2099 8402
F +603 2093 4776 / 2095 9309
E r n
. o .my
ehome.
. o .my
SARAWAK HOUSING AND
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS
ASSOCIATION (SHEDA)
Sub-lot 42, 2nd Floor,
n
on ommerc
en re
Jalan Setia Raja,
33 0 ch n
Sarawak.
T +6082 366 334 / 434 / 960
F +6082 365 001
E ecre r
hed .or .my
www. hed .or .my
UNIT PERANCANG EKONOMI
conom c
nn n
n
Blok B5, Kompleks Jabatan Perdana Menteri,
Pusat Pentadbiran Persekutuan,
62 02
r y .
T +603 8872 3333
F +603 8888 3755
Ee
e . o .my
www.e . o .my
THE CHINESE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
OF KUALA LUMPUR AND
SELANGOR (KLSCCCI)
7th Floor, Wisma Chinese Chamber,
2
n m n
T +603 4253 2135
F +603 4253 2524
E n ry ch ne ech m er.or .my
www.ch ne ech m er.or .my
edefin n
d on
y
2012
77
Guide MM2H
MALAYSIA
My Second Home
MM2H BENEFITS
1. All MM2H participants are entitled to purchase
one duty-free car and must be locally assembled.
Valid for one year upon the date of endorsement
of the MM2H stickers. The second car onwards
will be at the current market rate.
2. MM2H participants can buy more than one unit
of property but each must be valued above
RM500,000.
3. MM2H participants are given an I-Card by the
Malaysian government for their convenience
when traveling around Malaysia.
4. MM2H participants wishing to withdraw their money
from the Fixed Deposit accounts can do so after one
year for the purpose of buying properties, children’s
education and medical expenses.
5. A special counter is allocated for MM2H
participants in KLIA.
fied
2
r c n
ed 0 nd o e
6.
are allowed to work in selected industries for not
more than 20 hours per week.
7. MM2H participants are allowed to invest and
actively participate in business, subject to existing
government’s policies, regulations and guidelines.
8. All MM2H participants will now enjoy a 10-year
Social Visit Pass, subject to the validity of their
passports.
9. Employment Pass holders wishing to participate
in the MM2H program are exempted from the
“cooling off period” on the condition that their
application to participate in the program is
submitted three months prior to the expiry of
their Employment Pass.
10. MM2H participants can bring their unmarried
children as dependents under the program
provided they are aged 21 and below. They can
also bring their stepchildren, disabled children
and parents as dependents under the program.
IMPROVEMENTS ON MM2H
(AS OF 13 FEBRUARY 2009)
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
REQUIREMENTS FOR OPENING
OF FIXED DEPOSIT ACCOUNT
a.
b.
c.
d.
1.
fied
2
r c n
ed 0 nd o e
with specialized skills and expertise that are
required in the critical sectors of the economy
are allowed to work on a part time basis. The
approval to work part time is subject to the
following conditions:
a. The application is approved by the MM2H
Special Committee.
b. The work contract needs to state that MM2H
participants are working on a part time basis with
work schedule attached.
c. Total number of work hours a week does not
exceed 20 hours.
2. MM2H participants are allowed to invest and
actively participate in business, subject to existing
government policies, regulations and guidelines
which are in force for the relevant sectors.
3. Foreign spouses of Malaysian nationals are
eligible to apply for MM2H, subject to the
terms and conditions of the MM2H program.
Alternatively, they have the option to apply for the
Spouse Program.
The 10-year Social Visit Pass is extended to
all Silver Hair and MM2H participants who
were re o y
ro ed nder he fi e ye r
Social Visit Pass, subject to the validity of their
passports.
Employment Pass holders who wish to participate
in the MM2H program are exempted from the
“cooling off period” on the condition that their
application to participate in MM2H program is
submitted three months before the expiry of the
Employment Pass.
ID Cards will be issued to MM2H participants with
permanent address in Malaysia. This is validated
by submitting the Sale and Purchase Agreement
or Tenancy Agreement in Malaysia.
Age limit of unmarried dependent children
is raised from 18 years old to 21 years old. A
declaration stating that the child is unmarried and
all expenses during the stay in Malaysia will be
borne by the principal participant of the MM2H
program is required.
“Dependents” include unmarried children aged
21 years and below, step-children, disabled
children and parents.
As of 1 January 2010, MM2H participants are
subject to 5% Real Property Gain Tax (RPGT) if
he r ro er e re d o ed w h n he fi e ye r
time frame.
Aged 50 and above
Minimum deposit, RM150,000.
Minimum lock-in period, ONE year.
Auto renewal is recommended.
Request for TWO receipts upon application:
i. For the sum of RM50,000.
ii. For the sum of RM100,000.
n o fic e er rom he n
er cce
opening of the account.
Aged 50 and below
a. Minimum deposit, RM300,000.
b. Minimum lock-in period, ONE year.
Auto renewal is recommended.
c. Request for FOUR receipts upon application:
i. TWO receipts for the sum of RM100,000.
ii. TWO receipts for the sum of RM50,000.
er
d. n o fic e er rom he n
successful opening of the account.
MM2H AGENTS’ FEES
(AS APPROVED BY
THE MINISTRY OF
TOURISM MALAYSIA)
Stage 1: Application Process,
RM7,000 (maximum)
ro de d ce nd con
on o he
applicants on the latest rules and regulations.
re r on o re red doc men or
4 MOST IMPORTANT
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Aged 50 and above
1. Proof of monthly income (off-shore) of not less than
RM10,000.
2. Latest three months personal bank statement with
the current closing balance of above RM350,000.
To show a Letter of Good Conduct.
cco n n ny oc
n
3. o o en fi ed de o
4. for the sum of RM150,000 after approval.
Aged 50 and below
1. Proof of monthly income (off-shore) of not less
than RM10,000.
2. Latest three months personal bank statement with
the current closing balance of above RM500,000.
3. To show a Letter of Good Conduct.
4. o o en fi ed de o
cco n n ny oc
n
for the sum of RM300,000 after approval.
application and submission purposes to the
Immigration Department and Ministry of Tourism.
n n o er on
ond w h
c n on
behalf of the Malaysian Government to guarantee
good conduct of the participants throughout their
stay in Malaysia.
o ow
on
c on.
Stage 2: Assisting Participants to Relocate
to Malaysia, RM3,000 (maximum)
rr n e or r n or on nd ccommod on
for participants upon their arrival in Malaysia.
r c n o o en fi ed de o
accounts and arrange for insurance policies and
medical reports (if required).
rn
r c n o he mm r on
Department to pay Visa fees.
Total fee, RM10,000 per participant
(maximum).
Additional Services available
– Prices are negotiable with Agents
en or rch e ro er e .
c on or
m or ed c r .
c on or ho em d .
c on or c r
e em on.
rr n emen o r n he r e on n
rom
overseas.
e
r on or
den
e or choo or
colleges (for applicant’s children).
c on o w hdr w rom fi ed de o
accounts after a period of one year.
e
r on or hone ne or e ec r c y or
water
supply for participants’ properties.
on
on on r e
c
e
e or on
purchasing of properties.
ny o her dd on er ce
on re e or
proposed by the companies.
Home Finder, Official Magazine of the Malaysia My Second Home Agents’ Association Malaysia My Second Home Agents Association
can be reached at +603-90571070, email mm2haa@gmail.com, fax +603-90570943.
Its office is located at 9-1A, Jalan 10/125D, Desa Petaling, 57100 Kuala Lumpur.
78
y
2012
edefin n
d on
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Effective Issue: ............................................................................................
Signature: ....................................................................................................
cr on ode
fice e .................................................................
Please note that forms without signature and which are incomplete will not be
processed.
* Prices stated are inclusive of postal charges
You
found
your
HOME.
J-08-02, Solaris Mont Kiara, No. 2, Jalan Solaris, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 603 – 6201 8337/9337 Fax: 603 – 6201 6337 www.homefinder.com.my
Now
find
its
HEART.
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property - HomeFinder.com.my

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