PDC to handle housing fund

THE state government’s fund for affordable housing will be managed and implemented by the Penang Development Corpo- ration (PDC).

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the PDC would ensure that the RM500mil was used to build affordable units for the lower income group in the state.

“This is the largest amount ever allocated by any state government in the country for this purpose.

“It was decided during the state exco meeting today that the fund would be handled by the PDC, which is part of the state government,” he said.

Lim, who is PDC chairman, said the fund was from the Bayan Mu-tiara privatisation project conducted via an open tender.

He added that the state government had rejected the previous administration’s plan to move the administration centre from Komtar to Bayan Mutiara when it took over in 2008.

“Building a new administrative centre would have caused between RM600mil and RM800mil.

“We wanted to use the money for social projects that can benefit the people — like affordable housing,” he said during the PDC Chinese New Year open house in George Town yesterday.

Lim said a total of 11,596 affor-dable homes costing between RM42,000 and RM72,500 had so far been approved by the state government.

After the event, some 20 state Pemuda Pakatan Rakyat members presented Lim with an invitation to a debate.

An official invitation was also sent to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop’s service centre in Tasek Gelugor.

Organised by the group, the debate titled ‘Abolishing expressway toll would bankrupt the country’ is scheduled for Feb 29 at the Seberang Prai Municipal Council hall in Sungai Dua, Tasek Gelugor.

State DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy) secretary Ng Wei Aik, who is also Komtar assemblyman and the chief minister’s political secretary, said Lim would accept the invitation.

“Pemuda is organising this debate between the two leaders so that the rakyat can hear for themselves the arguments for and against the abolishing of expressway toll fares for concessionaires that have made huge profits.

“We have given Nor Mohamed a week to respond to the challenge and hope that he will accept it,” he said. - The Star

槟政府挪5亿设基金 建廉价平民屋惠民

（槟岛西南区1日讯）槟州首长林冠英宣布，槟州发展机构将成为价值5亿令吉“有素质平民屋基金”的执行单位，以在槟威两地兴建人民可承担的平民屋。
他说，他们是在今早的行政会议通过，由槟州发展机构作为执行单位。这笔总值5亿令吉的兴建平民屋基金，是全马各州当中，数额最高的可承担房屋基金。
这笔5亿令吉基金是透过公开招标，以私营化峇央珍珠（Bayan Mutiara）而取得。槟州政府去年以10亿7000万令吉出售峇央珍珠约102英亩的黄金地，而槟其中5亿令吉用来成立“有素质平民屋基金”，以在槟威两地兴建人民可负担得起的房屋，让人民受惠。
也是槟州发展机构主席的林冠英周三下午主持该机构新春团拜致词时，这么表示。
他说，在前朝政府执政期间建议耗资6亿至8亿令吉的人民纳税钱，将现有的光大行政中心迁往峇央珍珠，但是，民联政府执政后，拒绝了这项建议，并以不需要花费巨额的私营化取而代之。
“这样一来，州政府还能增加财务资源，以推行各项如兴建可承担平民屋的社会计划，一举多得，属于3赢，这包括发展商、州政府和人民。”
他不忘抨击前朝政府当初计划将光大行政中心迁往峇央珍珠的概念是荒谬的，而且是在浪费人民的钱。
槟首长反驳传言 执政以来已建逾万廉价屋
林冠英说，以民为本的民联槟州政府，自从2008年执政以来，已批准了1万1596间廉价及中廉价屋，而不是如一些人所指控般从未兴建任何可承担房屋。获批准的廉价屋为价格4万2000令吉，而中廉价屋则是7万2500令吉。
过去约4年，州政府建的廉价屋有1194个单位、中廉价屋2227单位、私人界建廉价屋有2612单位及中廉价屋5563单位，总共1万1596个单位。
他说，槟州发展机构隶属州政府，所以过去由该机构在槟威两地建的中廉价屋当然也是等同州政府在兴建。
他希望批评州政府没有兴建平民组屋者能事先做好准备，不要胡乱指责，误导人民。
林冠英鼓励槟发展机构 推动发展照顾全民
林冠英鼓励槟州发展机构同人继续做得更好，配合州政府的良策，积极推动经济发展计划，确保依人民权益为依归的计划让全民受惠。
他希望槟州发展机构的政策附合4大经济效益，包括钱收钱即和私人界保持精明合作、钱赚钱即通过公开招标减少支本、钱生钱即创意的概念和钱省钱，最重要就是不要“吃”钱，就能和人民分享。
与会者有槟州发展机构总经理拿督罗斯里、副总经理拿督阿都拉欣、光大区州议员黄伟益及峇眼达南区州议员丹纳。- 光华

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Aye to new housing loans

KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed new housing loan scheme for those in the low and middle income group here can keep the city “thriving, vibrant and youthful,” said the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (Rehda).

Its president Datuk Seri Michael Yam said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and the Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Ministry should be complimented for proposing the scheme.

However, he stressed that the scheme’s terms and conditions would have to be well drafted if the proposal was to be a success.

Factors such as geographic boundaries and income limits would also have to be properly defined, Yam said.

“Another thing that should be considered is risk management.

“This scheme will be very attractive to people who are otherwise unable to obtain bank loans due to the lack of steady income or personal reasons. We have to be able to properly deal with these high credit risks.”

Najib had announced on Saturday a special funding scheme to help low and middle income families own homes in the city.

The scheme, which comes into effect on March 1, will cover units built under the National Economic Action Council’s People Housing Programme as well as City Hall’s public housing programme.

“In Kuala Lumpur, many young people are now moving to other places because of high costs of living, and transportation issues. This scheme can attract people from elsewhere to live and work in the capital, and retain those already living here,” said Yam.

Many young Malaysians have expressed positive views about the proposed scheme.

“It can improve living standards for those in the city,” said university student Asyraf Syahir, 20.

“I hope the scheme’s terms will be favourable because houses in Kuala Lumpur are expensive. I would like to own a house here some- day,” said IT specialist Christine Leong, 24.

Marketing executive Lee Kim Kong, 25, said although the initiative was good, more holistic solutions were needed to address rising house prices. - The Star

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BSG Property to replicate Precinct 10's success in Malacca

GEORGE TOWN: Boon Siew Group's property arm BSG Property, is looking at replicating its new commercial property development project Precinct 10 in Penang down south at its Melaka Straits City project.

BSG Property's business development manager Koay Wei Loong said the proposed street mall comprising food and beverage offerings in Malacca is likely to be ready by the end of 2013 and the company has earmarked some RM40 million.

"The positive response we have received from tenants of Precinct 10 and customers since we opened in Penang has been encouraging and we see no reason why the same model cannot be successful in Malacca," he told Business Times.

Precinct 10 is located at Tanjung Tokong on Penang island and consists of 2-storey shop offices and F and B outlets.

Since its soft opening last month, the project has seen the entry of Burger King, Chez Weng, Winter Warmers, Old Town White Coffee, Sushi Zento and HSBC Bank as tenants.

"We are looking at potentially bringing in one more financial institution, an Italian food-dominated wine house, and a Chinese restaurant chain here," added Koay.

"With the surface parking offered to customers at Precinct 10, our plan is to enable the medium to upscale eateries transform this location into a Penang version of Bangsar in Kuala Lumpur."

Precinct 10 sits on a 1.7ha area and boasts a net lettable area of 47,000 sq ft.

BSG Property invested RM16 million in the project. - Business Times

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Housing fund from March 1

KUALA LUMPUR: A special funding scheme will be available from March 1 to help those who are keen on the National Economic Action Council's People Housing Programme as well as Kuala Lumpur City Hall's public housing.

“Through the scheme, problems in obtaining loans can be overcome. This will help the low and medium-income families to own a house,”Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

“I'm confident that the scheme will be able to assist prospective buyers and resolve numerous problems in obtaining loans,” the Prime Minister said when launching the 2012 Federal Territories' Day at Dataran Merdeka here yesterday.

Present were Najib's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin.

Najib said the scheme would be managed by Syarikat Perumahan Wilayah Persekutuan, set up under Yayasan Wilayah Persekutuan, with funds from the Employees' Provident Fund.

Najib also spoke about the Federal Territories as a reflection of Malaysia's future and a showcase of a holistic and responsible development planning.

He said the Government was striving to transform Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley so that it would be among the world's 20 most livable cities by 2020.

“Several mega projects are on-going under the Greater KL/Klang Valley initiative, including the My Rapid Transit, River of Life, iconic places, pedestrian walkway, Greener KL as well as the sewerage and solid waste management projects.”

The allocation for these projects this year is about RM1.49bil.

Livable city: The launch of the Federal Territory celebration day at Dataran Merdeka yesterday. (Inset) Najib enjoying a walk at the KLCC-Bukit Bintang pedestrian walkway. — AHMAD IZZRAFIQ ALIAS / The Star

For Labuan, he said, the Government had set its development target based on three key elements, namely as an oil and gas trading centre, an international business and financial centre, and as a tourism destination.

As for Putrajaya, he said it would be a smart and green city.

“I'm very proud of Putrajaya because it is not only popular as an administrative centre but also known throughout the world as a tourism destination.” - Bernama

2012 outlook remains strong

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 17): Any fall in transaction numbers or prices within the local property market is merely a technical correction and does not translate to a bearish property market, according to the National Property Information Centre (NAPIC) director Dr Zailan Isa.

"Our country has a lot of different cultures and trends," she said. "The behaviour of the industry varies. We have to take into account the season of spending and the celebrations. So, any drop in property transactions is normal and is merely a technical correction. But it doesn't mean the property market is bad."

Zailan added that because of this, NAPIC monitors both the half year trends and the full year trends to truly understand the market. However, she said the property market is still moving strongly.

Giving an overview of the Malaysian Economy and the Malaysian Property Market at the fifth Malaysian Property Summit on Tuesday, Zailan stressed that in 2011, the volume of transactions has reached 400,000 translating into RM101 billion worth of properties.

The Malaysian economy in 2012 is expected to grow by 3.8% to 5% with the government's Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) boosting the local property scene.

She added that the overall property market activities sustained by higher housing starts and building plan approvals signify confidence among developers and investors.

Vacant space in the retail and office sectors will be taken up by the market as private investments are spurred by the ETP, she said and expects the ETP within the Greater KL Plan will continue to give positive impacts on the property development within the coming two to three years.

Zailan remains bullish on the market as she expects the banking industry to continue supporting the market with ample funding. - The Edge Property

Ministry targets 38,000 people's housing project units under 10th plan

ALOR SETAR (Jan 25): The Housing and Local Government Ministry is to build 38,000 units of houses under the People's Housing Project under the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011-2015), Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung said on Wednesday.

He said many of the houses are under construction and they are being built in Sabah, Selangor, Pahang and Kelantan.

"We also had an application from Kedah but the request could not be met because no land is available. If the state government provides the land, we will build the houses there," he told reporters after the presentation of 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) vouchers, here.

Chor said the completed houses would be handed over to the local authorities or the state government to manage the sale and rental.

He said the value of each house is between RM100,000 and RM130,000.

"The sale price is only RM35,000 and the rental RM124 a month," he said. — Bernama

Buyers of abandoned housing projects lodge report with MACC

PUTRAJAYA (Jan 25): Fifty of the more than 1,200 buyers of abandoned housing projects in Pulau Indah, Port Klang, Selangor on Wednesday filed a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) here for alleged corruption. However, only two were allowed to enter the office to lodge reports on behalf of the other victims. Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) activist Abdul Karim Said, 57, said they came to the MACC office today to help the buyers make the report. "We hope the MACC can investigate this matter so that those involved will get justice," he said. A buyer, Salmah Bakri, 38, said the MACC and Selangor government must take action as the projects were left abandoned for almost 10 years. She added that her husband had paid installments from 2002 until 2005, but the project had yet to take off. — Bernama

 

Gurney Paragon set to welcome RM35m F&B investments Read more: Gurney Paragon set to welcome RM35m F&B investments

GEORGE TOWN: Penang is set to welcome investments totalling RM35 million this year from food and beverage operators into phase one of the Gurney Paragon development on Gurney Drive.

The project's developer, Hunza Properties Bhd (HPB), has already seen the entry of nine tenants into Phase 1B of its multi-billion ringgit waterfront development with capital investments in excess of RM10 million.

"We are working hard to continue bringing in established names which have yet to set up a presence in Penang to open their businesses in Gurney Paragon," HPB executive chairman Datuk Khor Teng Tong told Business Times yesterday.

Phase 1B of the project comprises some 100,000 sq ft of lettable space, and its developers are touting the entire Gurney Paragon project as the only one in the country for now which integrates a restored heritage building amidst modern residential, retail and commercial spaces.
The company last night officially opened its "St Jo's@Gurney Paragon" building, which is the restored heritage building built in 1918.

The building is flanked by two towers which house 220 high-end dwellings, along with eateries on its first three levels.

St Jo's, which was formerly known as St Joseph's Novitiate, was initially started by the De La Salle Brothers to train young Catholic men to enter the religious order.

The colonial building, which was restored by HPB for RM10 million, was also once the site for Uplands School now known as the International School of Penang.

The restoration works include retaining the building's teakwood floors, roof trusses, window frames, stairways and clay tiles.

Khor said the current tenants surrounding St Jo's are Goku Roku Ramen, Pacific Coffee Co, T.G.I.Friday's, Brussels Beer Cafe, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, and Meet Fresh.

The tenants who will open soon for business, he added, are Italiannies (serving Italian cuisine), Wong Kok Char Chan Teng (Hong Kong's foods and treats eatery), Share Tea (Taiwanese bubble tea beverage) and Petite Millie (casual French cuisine).

Khor said HPB is expecting at least 30 per cent of its new tenants to be first-time investors in Penang where a lifestyle mall - the Gurney Paragon Mall - is due to be completed by the end of this year. - Business Times

Rising confidence in property mart: Napic

KUALA LUMPUR: Higher housing starts and building plan approvals last year signify confidence of developers and investors in the development activity, said National Property Information Centre (Napic) director Dr Zailan Mohd Isa.

Some 400,000 transactions valued more than RM100 million were undertaken during the first three quarters of last year.

Zailan said the second quarter of 2011 was the most active period during the period with more than 115,000 transactions recorded.

Housing starts, a key economic indicator, refer to the number of residential building construction projects begun during a particular period.

Speaking at the 5th Malaysian Property Summit 2012, Zailan said residential property sub-sector expanded significantly by 23.2 per cent after recording a 8.8 per cent growth for similar period in 2010.
At a media briefing, summit chairman and real estate agency CH Williams Talhar and Wong (WTW) managing director Foo Gee Jen does not expect prices to soften within KL although the external uncertainties may have led property buyers to be more cautious.

Choy Yue Kwong, who is president of the Association of Valuers, Property Managers, Estate Agents and Property Consultants in the Private Sector (PEPs) said past crises have shown that although property prices may drop in cities like Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya for a short period, prices also pick up as fast.

Zailan expects the vacant space in the retail and office sectors to be absorbed as more space taken up from the market as private investment spurred by the Economic Transformation Programme takes place.

He described the outlook for the 2012 property market as bright with strong demand as developers and investors capitalise on the government's incentives.

Demand for development land will also increase from the spillover effect of projects such as highways such as Ampang-Cheras-Pandan Elevated Highway, Guthrie-Daman-sara Expressway, Damansara-Petaling Jaya Highway, Pantai Barat-Banting-Taiping Highway, Sungai Dua-Juru Highway and Paroi-Senawang Highway. - Business Times

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Volatile year for real estate investment trusts

PETALING JAYA: Headwinds from the gloomy global economic and financial fronts, particularly in the United States and the eurozone, will pose challenges to the performance of the local real estate investment trusts (M-REITs) this year.

According to Malaysian REIT Managers Association chairman Stewart Labrooy, the M-REIT sector will face slower growth and competition for tenants as an oversupply situation emerges in the office market leading to lower rental yields.

“It is going to be a volatile year ahead with the eurozone uncertainty coupled with low growth in the European and US markets. These markets are very important to growth in Asia and the impact would be felt in all export-led countries. Capital market activity will remain muted worldwide in 2012,” Labrooy told StarBiz.

In Kuala Lumpur, property prices are expected to remain flat for 2012 with some weaknesses in the high-end residential and office markets.

The recent listing of the Pavilion REIT has improved the liquidity of the domestic market

In the office sector, the seven million sq ft of new office space scheduled for completion this year would result in softening in rental and occupancy.

Despite the gloomy outlook, Labrooy said the Malaysian capital markets were expected to remain healthy this year with a significant number of deals notably the listing of Felda's assets in the first half of 2012.

“We are fully aware of the issues involved as some of the M-REITs have been through the 2008 global financial crisis and are taking a pro-active stand to retain their tenants through this period and manage their gearing leverage conservatively.

“Most M-REITs have strong tenant covenants and long leases to counter cyclical financial events. They also practise very conservative valuations so we don't see any downward pressure on them in 2012 and beyond.

In addition, the average gearing of most M-REITs are in the range of 20% to 40%, precluding any event of a default on their loan covenants,” he said.

Labrooy said a silver lining from the uncertainty and volatility of the global markets was that investors and fund managers had started shifting to dividend stocks with strong asset backing and renewed their interest in M-REITs as defensive stocks in uncertain times.

“I believe that we will continue to see a strong subscription in the M-REIT sector this year bearing in mind that the sector performed fairly well to outperform the KLCI in 2011,” he added.

He said the local market still faced liquidity problem as the size of M-REITs was still small by international standards with only five having market capitalisation of over RM1bil. This has contributed to the weak participation among retail investors.

Although the combined market capitalisation of M-REITs has climbed to over RM15bil, its market capitalisation is still way behind that of Singapore which has US$27bil in market capitalisation.

Labrooy, who is also the chief executive officer of Axis REIT Managers Bhd, said the recent listing of Sunway, CapitaMalls Malaysia Trust and Pavilion REITs had improved the liquidity of the domestic market.

Labrooy also said there was an absence of listing of foreign assets as REITs on the local bourse, adding that those who wanted to go for listing had opted to do so in Singapore due to its much higher liquidity and better tax structure. The local regulatory and tax framework must be improved to be on par with Singapore, and a comparable tax code would assist in getting greater retail participation.

On whether there was a scope for other types of REITs to come into the market, Labrooy said: “Malaysia probably has one of the most diversified REIT offerings in Asia. We are currently offering hospitals, plantations, office, retail, education, hospitality, industrial and diversified REITs.

“In addition three are syariah-compliant to cater to the Islamic investors.

“The sectors that will see growth are in industrial, medium cost housing, healthcare, education and tourism. These growth areas are in the Iskandar Malaysia in Johor, Greater Kuala Lumpur and Penang.”

Al-Hadharah Boustead REIT chairman Tan Sri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin concurred that the prospects for the REIT market has not been fully tapped in terms of awareness among potential investors.

He said M-REITs were viewed as a safer investment compared with other REITs in the region. This was due to the domestic-centric focus of their property investments, lower refinancing risks and relatively lower foreign shareholding.

“Malaysia is in a strong position for greater growth and has the potential to lead the REITs market in Asia given its good track record and stable market conditions in Malaysia.

“Generally, potential investors are not well informed about REITs. We believe the level of awareness can be increased nationwide as knowledge plays an important role,” he said.

Lodin pointed out.

On the types of M-REITs, he said: “It would be good if the market

could diversify to different types of REITs. Malaysia has a lot of

property related assets with the potential of being “REITed”. The

only factor at play right now is time. Once the conditions are

favourable, industry specialists should develop these assets into

REITs.” - The Star

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A magnet for shoppers

1ST Avenue, one of Penang’s newest malls, has proven to be a popular shopping destination.

The nine-storey mall, which boasts of high fashion and big brands, has been attracting a steady increase of shoppers since its soft opening in November 2010.

Its shopper traffic count has increased from 520,000 people in December 2010 to 770,000 people last month, said Victoria Shigehira Sharpe who is the chief executive officer of Pramerica Real Estate Investors (Asia) Pte Ltd.

The mall, located in the heart of George Town, is a joint venture project between the Belleview Group, The Lion Group and Asian Retail Market II Limited which is a subsidiary of Pramerica.

“While we are already impressed with these numbers, we are confident they will rise even higher as we work towards more innovative advertising and promotion activities as well as loyalty programmes for our shoppers,” Sharpe said at the official opening of the mall yesterday.

Shopping boost: 1st Avenue is strategically located in the heart of George Town.

The opening was a grand affair. Lion dances and drums welcomed guests through the main entrance of the mall facing Magazine Road while the ground floor concourse was decked in the mall’s official colours of blue and green.

Belleview Group managing director Datuk Sonny Ho said they had put in extra efforts to bring in brands which had not arrived in Penang before to make 1st Avenue different from other shopping malls in the state.

“Among them are Coach, M Stores, Cotton On, Payless Shoesource and the first Hush Puppies flagship store in the state,” Ho said in his speech at the opening ceremony which was officiated by Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

He said tenancy rate of the mall now stood at almost 90%, with three strong anchor tenants — departmental store chain Parkson, retail giant Carrefour and TGV Cinemas.

“TGV has introduced its very interesting ‘cinema with bean bags’ called the Beanieplex to Malaysia, having its debut in 1st Avenue,” Ho said.

Ho, Sharpe, Lim and The Lion Group executive director Lionel Cheng took a short tour of the mall after the opening ceremony.

The mall is already decked with brilliant Chinese New Year decorations, including five enormous red lanterns that stand as the centrepiece.

Guests were then treated to a scrumptious lunch on the eighth floor that included some of the island’s most famous street food such as mee goreng from Bangkok Lane, Teochew cendol from Penang Road and curry puffs from the Pulau Tikus market.

Ho told reporters later that the mall’s tenancy rate was expected to reach close to 100% by the middle of the year.

“We will be welcoming a theme restaurant to occupy this empty area on the eighth floor while a well-known European household store will take up 5,000sq ft (465sq m) opposite the Carrefour supermarket,” Ho said. - The Star

China eases property restrictions This is to prevent market collapse

SHANGHAI: China will probably ease property curbs as early as the middle of the year to prevent a collapse of the housing market as the measures may boost supply to the highest in a decade, according toUBS AG.

“The gap between supply and demand will reach the peak, and the supply will be 1.5 times or even 1.6 times demand, and it will be a disaster for developers,” Chen Li, head of China equity strategy at UBS, said in a Bloomberg Television interview.

“Their cash flow will be exhausted to zero by the end of this year if they cannot get any financing. No one can afford that.”

China’s home prices fell for a fourth month in December after the government reiterated plans to maintain curbs that include higher downpayment and mortgage requirements, according to SouFun Holdings Ltd.

Housing values dropped in 60 out of 100 cities tracked by the nation’s biggest real-estate website owner, including the 10 largest cities such as Shanghai and Beijing.

The government said last month at an annual economic planning meeting that it won’t back away from real-estate industry curbs this year that are damping home sales and pulling down prices.

The nation’s financial centre of Shanghai and some other Chinese cities have also said they would continue to impose the home purchase restrictions this year.

“If you assume the property policy keeps stable in the coming year, that means by the end of the year the inventory of property will reach a new peak, around 10 years or even 20 years,” Chen said.

The government has said it would continue to increase the supply of social housing.

It plans to start the construction of seven million homes this year, compared with 10 million in 2011. The completion would at least keep pace with last year’s five million units, People’s Daily reported earlier this year.

A gauge tracking property shares on the Shanghai stock exchange climbed 0.9% compared with the 0.5% gain in the benchmark measure. – Bloomberg

Belleview pushes ahead with projects

GEORGE TOWN: Despite predictions of a slow year for the property sector, Belleview Group is pushing ahead with plans to launch over RM420mil in residential projects.

Managing director Datuk Sonny Ho said two projects in Penang and one in Kedah would be launched this year.

Moulmein Rise, a RM200mil condominium project sited on a carpark next to the Pulau Tikus market, and W Residence, an eight-bungalow development project in Western Road valued at over RM70mil, would break ground on Penang island mid this year, he said.

“In Kedah, we are launching Alor Setar's first condominium project, called Amansuri Residences,” Ho said after the launch of 1st Avenue mall in George Town.

He said Amansuri Residences, which would be launched in two weeks, had a gross development value of RM150mil.

and was expected to be completed in mid-2014. - The Star

Property sector can be catalyst to high-income nation goal - Chor

PETALING JAYA (Jan 9): The local property sector can be the catalyst to propel Malaysia into a high-income nation by 2020, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung said.
He said the Malaysian property segment and the Industry players despite experiencing major transformations in recent years due to the gloomy economic climate in the United States and Europe, did not lose its "charm" among regional property buyers.
"Initiatives like the Greater KL Plan will not only reposition our Kuala Lumpur capital city as a world-class city, but also bring significant spillover effects to the country's economy.
"At the same time, the housing and property segment, being one of the country's key economic contributors, should respond positively towards sustainability and environment-friendly," he said when presenting keys to owners of the Zest Point mixed residential housing scheme developed by Trinity Group Sdn Bhd.
Chor said green technology builders have a competitive advantage over traditional developers.
"I am confident this advantage will continue for a long time as the norm now is green technology like energy-efficient buildings and water conservation facilities. Developers already involved in the green building market are ahead of the
masses," he added.-- Bernama

隐于乔治市的迷你联合国 Kampong Deli被遗弃的宝地

（槟城9日讯）槟城光大的槟榔律有一个小巷口，在久远时代它只许摩托车铁马驶入，如今限制车子驶入的两条石柱已拆除“让路”，而从这个小巷进入，却是城市里另一个景色，并有一个甘榜名，称为甘光日里(Kampong Deli)，被誉为“城市内甘榜”。
甘光日里在槟榔律的入口原是沙石路，一进入后，即展现多栋老建筑，这些老建筑都是老字号的建筑，年代久远，其建筑外貌符合现多人对古迹建筑的定义，看在外国人眼里都是宝。这些建筑多数在后期成为七十二房客栖居盘踞地，在屋租统制法令废除后，租户面对树倒猢狲散命运，如今产业更被财团大手笔收购，多栋建筑更是人去楼空，等着新生。
甘光日里一度在20多年前因为“莲荣暖炉”而驰名，在小巷门牌16及18号的苏旅游社也是槟城人所熟悉，甘光日里内的4栋老建筑原是七十二房屋建筑，其中小巷进入左手边的1号更是热闹非常，如今租户也已散了。
其下的3号建筑同样已搬空，21号建筑也从连荣暖炉的老字号，换成吉祥招牌，该马来式建筑同样是七十二房客所在地，如今楼下成为吉祥暖炉厨房，楼上建筑成为仓库用途，而建筑面对年久失修残破情况，至于19号这栋别致的马来浮脚楼式建筑也同样人去楼空。
多元种族融合的小天地
据了解，甘榜日里地主据称原是锡克人，所以路名与锡克有关，尽管如此，它却是一个多元种族融合一处的小天地，更被指是一个迷你联合国；其中现已成为“阿明修车间”的原是一栋马来浮脚建筑物，为印度人所占据，可是多年前的火患成为废墟，后更拆除成为车厂。
林锦顺：曾经风光　黄连荣暖炉无人不晓
光大前州议员拿督林锦顺向本报记者指出，甘光日里少人熟知，即使在他作议员时，也必须以“格成茶室”旁边小路进入来指路。
他表示，很多人会怀疑乔治市哪还会有甘榜，实际上从格成一进入至姓王公司后（Macalister Lane）的约200公尺即是甘榜的范围。他说，甘光日里原是一个很热闹的城市甘榜，住满居民，其中多栋建筑更是七十二房客，里面以贫民为多，来自各行各业。
由于其出口即是市区，所以很多人住了不想搬，其中居民以小贩为多。甘光日里在20年前巷内的黄连荣暖炉无人不晓，相信是当时槟城最大的暖炉供应商，逢新春即供应约300个暖炉，甚至出现供不应求的情况，连荣当时即以价廉物美赢得口碑，受到当时神坛组织甚至咖啡店的青睐，可是在人口迁移后，再加上交通不便，造成连荣生意也大不如前，后期交予吉祥接手。
他表示，甘光日里入口的格成也有逾百年历史，其冰琪淋更是远近驰名，而苏州旅社相信也有60多年历史。据了解，格成是董成忠与另一名伙伴成立，传至其子董炳源（62岁），如今除了经营茶室及冰淇琳，更在甘光日里的槟榔律入口开摊炒粿条，生意不俗。
居民回忆孩子天堂　曾经不夜天经没落
出世槟榔律374号的居民叶首意(53岁)说，记得甘光日里在其小时候是孩子嬉戏天堂，后方都是人声叫嚷的不夜天般，可是如今却已听不到孩童嬉戏声浪。
他记得那时小巷还有两根石柱档路，车子都不能驶入甘榜内，如今柱子也已被拆，路面成为泊油路，车子也可驶入。他指出，入口原钉有一面Kampong Deli的路牌，唯却已下落不明，只有姓王公司后入口的墙面上还有另一面的路牌。
他表示，其中在数年前发生火灾的建筑更是栖息了逾10间的家庭，而居民清一色是印裔。据他指出，目前甘光日里已面对财团进入收购，据称槟榔律的中央大酒店即成为主要收购家，苏州旅社一排4间洗石子原料建筑已成为对方囊中物。
租户搬迁人去楼空　历史老建筑等候新生
甘光日里的老建筑等新生。在甘光日里有多栋建筑等候新生，其中19号为一栋马来浮脚建筑，其信箱更是以一个饼干珍制成，连林锦顺前州议员也认为它是甘光日里的宝。然而该建筑却是门院深锁，少了人烟，怀疑原有租户也已搬迁，其未来发展用途还不得知。林锦顺即表示，在甘光日里有不少的老房子看在外国人眼中都是宝，而这些建筑却面对失修情况，极为可惜；再来他对该些建筑从原有的热闹繁华，如今却面对人过楼空，已少了过往的热闹气象感到无限唏嘘。- 光华

相关照片

■ 被外国人当成宝的该栋马来浮脚楼建筑，保养尚好，唯少了人烟。

■ 甘光日里的建筑造型依然亮丽。

■ 七十二房客的格间已拆除，成为吉祥暖炉的储藏室。

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11年来屋价指数大幅增长 今年产业升幅将放缓

（槟城8日讯）大马屋价指数过去11年来大幅增长50%，其中槟岛排屋涨幅接近130%，屋价指数更从2000年的100点，到了2011年第2季已经上升到228.8点，价格为平均价为60万3797令吉。
屋价飞涨，特别是过去3到5年增长幅度惊人，让人都看得瞠目结舌。由于新一年欧洲、美国等国际经济局势存在令人担忧的不稳定因素，回过头来看，产业超乎想像的狂涨现像，开始有人提出忧虑。
对于人们普遍关心的产业是否会有泡沫的担忧，大马管理与科技大学（UMTECH）研究院院长谢桂元教授和马来西亚房地产发展商会槟州分会会长拿督陈福星都不感到悲观。他们认为，2012年槟州及大马产业价格如果最坏也只会放缓增幅，不可能会掉头回跌。产业泡沫破裂不出现 谢桂元博士说，无可否认的，我国产业价格在近几年大幅增长后，已经开始来到一个相当高位，在人们开始认为屋价已经高了，很自然的就会开始谨慎。
他说，产业市场难免会有投资和投机的现象，当人们认为价格已经高了的时候，投机活动就会减少。
不过，现阶段还不致于会出现回跌现象，因此如果有人想要在新一年等候产业泡沫破裂，屋价回跌很大可能会失望。
悲观展望来自国际
他认为，人们对新一年展望的悲观情绪主要来自对国际经济局势的不乐观。
欧洲经济危机短期内不会复元，可能需要到明年后半期信心才能建立。
对比欧洲和美国的情况，谢桂元认为，欧洲要比美国复杂很多，美国再怎么复杂也只是在一个国家里面，而且美国的经济问题也并不是最近才出现。
他认为，在谈到国际经济局势时，中国也是一个不能忽视的关鍵，可以起到平衡及欧美寻求财援的来源。基于这个考量，整个国际形势并不太悲观。
他认为，大马做为一个开放经济体，肯定会受到国际因素的影响，不过经济转型如果可以取得成功，将可以弥补劳工密集外资出走到他国的问题，国内将会出现另一波的景气。
他说，我国国内的大型计划基本上可以支撑经济发展所需的动力，因此新一年也不会有大规模裁员的事情发生。
“从当前的情况来看，我们也看不到大企业会有问题。”
槟各领域发展　影响产业市场
陈福星坦承，槟州近几年产业市场一路走高是之前没有人预期得到的。不过，我们如果反过来看槟州的各领域发展，倒是可以从中找到一些根据。
他说，2010年槟州写下122亿令吉的外国投资额纪录，成为全国最大吸金州，其它方面，医药领域、旅游业发展都看到槟城红红火火的一面。
“过去几个星期，槟城到处都塞车，也说明了槟城做为本区域的焦点地位。”
他认为，现在人们认为屋价已相当高，开始放慢脚步采取观望态度是正常的，预料2012年首季将会比较淡。很多人在这个时候会采取观望姿态，在局势更稳定时才会有动作。
他说，目前槟城的产业虽然也有来自邻近州属及吉隆坡人前来购买，外国人也有一些，不过主要购屋者还是槟城人本身，基于这一点，他相信即使局势出现不稳定，槟城产业也不会突然爆跌。
黄汉伟：关注屋价高涨问题
槟州房屋委员会主席黄汉伟说，州政府非常关注槟州屋价高涨问题，2012年将会加大政府及私人界兴建廉价屋、中廉价及人民可负担房屋，以平衡市场需求。
他透露，除了峇都加湾州政府通过槟州发展机构将会兴建包括廉价、中廉价及可负担房屋之外，西南区及丹绒道光也会有针对一般民众需求的房屋的建造。
他认为，2013年槟城第二大桥通车后，除了将会带动峇都加湾及峇都矛一带的经济起飞外，也会对槟威两地的产业起到平衡做用。
他说，为提高州政府分配廉价及中廉价屋的效率，州政府已经展开申请廉价屋者更新资料的工作。所有在2008年前提呈申请书的人士，受促在3月31日前往土地局、房屋策划局、光大3楼更新他们的资料。
槟岛屋价远超平均指数
财政部产业估价及服务局公布的大马屋价指数显示，该局以2000年做为基础，从屋价指数100点做为标准，来到2011年第2季，槟州所有房屋价格平均指数已经来到160.8，排屋：189.6，高楼房屋：156.0，独立洋房105.7，半独立：123.0。
有关数据中，槟岛屋价远远超过平均指数，以排屋为例，槟州（包括槟岛及威省）的平均指数是189.6，但是如果只计算槟岛，有关指数则高达228.8，也就是说，从2000年的100点做为基点，槟岛排屋在过去11年已经上涨了接近130%。- 光华

Ministry to revive 35 abandoned projects this year

SEREMBAN (Jan 6): The Ministry of Housing and Local Government has targeted to revive 35 abandoned housing projects throughout the country by this year.

Its minister Datuk Seri Chor Chee Heung said the target was the main Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for the ministry this year. "Since 2009 we have revived 84 abandoned housing projects throughout the country. Almost all these projects involved low-cost housing projects because that is our main focus," he told reporters after handing over the keys to house owners at Taman Kerisi, Seremban and Taman Bukit Ara, Kuala Pilah on Thursday.

He said 31 projects had been revived last year while the ministry had taken various measures to curb developers from abandoning their projects.

Chor said the revival of the Taman Kerisi and Taman Bukit Ara projects comprising 126 units in Taman Kerisi and 72 units in the latter involved 177 buyers and cost RM8 million.

Both projects were abandoned for between six and eight years before the government stepped in to revive both the projects. He said the amendments to the Housing Development (Control and Licensing) Act, 1966 was approved by the Parliament recently and meant to ensure the orderly development of the housing industry and protect house buyers.

"The legislations are in place to ensure the success of housing schemes and to minimise abuse and quarrels between developers and buyers. Section 7 (F) of the Act stipulates that developers have to submit half-yearly reports to the ministry on the progress of their projects".

"Legal action may be taken against irresponsible developers who abandon projects without valid reasons. Through the amendments we hope to see responsible developers undertaking housing projects," he said. — Bernama