D
AILY
commuting to
the workplace in the
Malaysian capital had
limited takers 30 years
ago, despite lesser cars and
lower traffic congestion. It was
simpler then, withmuch lesser
cars on the road.
It was also a
choice versus necessity
equation
. Back then, people
had the luxury of choosing to
live an hour away from their
workplace. Today, as property
prices escalate, so too have the
numbers of people residing in
the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.
Assuredly, there are other
reasons for Klang Valley
citizens to prefer the suburbs
of Kuala Lumpur, and these
include bigger space, better
affordability, greener
environment, landed property
and less pollution i.e. air
and noise.
According to REHDA
Institute’s Property Industry
Survey (based on the second
half of 2012), majority of the
top five hotspots for
residential propertywere
located in the outskirts of
Kuala Lumpur. Despite the
challenges of traffic
congestion and poor public
transportion, the incremental
demand reflects that people
are willing to bear these
inconveniences for better
affordability and improved
quality of life.
IMPROVED RESIDENTIAL
PLANNING
The layout on the blueprint
does not set the precedence
for good residential planning.
Responsible property
developers advocate self-
sufficient environments for
residents by ensuring
amenities such as medical
centres, shoppingmalls and
schools are within decent
proximity. It is these small yet
significant details in addition
to affordability, that is making
it easy for aspiring home-
owner to invest in property on
the outskirts of Malaysia’s
largest urban agglomeration.
One resident of a gated and
guarded community in Bandar
Botanic in Klang, who
commutes daily to KL shares
his view. “Affordabilitywas
definitely amajor factor inmy
decision.
It was amatter of whether
I could get the same type of
propertywith all the works.
After all, I have one of the
largest shoppingmalls in the
Klang Valley 5-minutes away,
many cafes, schools, a hospital,
all within 10-15 minutes.”
Similarly, there aremanywho
travel into the city fromShah
Alam, Cheras and as far as
Seremban on a daily basis.
LTS Properties (M) Sdn Bhd
focusses on developing
propertymainly in the ‘near’
outskirts like Seremban and
Cheras. ItsManaging Director
C.A. Lau states: “These areas
are regarded as second tier
developments and provide
many avenues for growth.
Land here is alsomore
affordable as opposed to the
first tier in the Klang Valley.
We have amixed development
project in Taman Kemuning
and a fewother housing
projects in Taman Tuanku
Ja’afar. All inwe havemore
than 500 acres of landwithin
Seremban slated for mixed
development.” Lau also adds
that both the abovementioned
developments are located in
the satellite township of
Senawang inNegri Sembilan
(about 7km fromSeremban
town). Senawang is accessible
via twomajor highways,
LEKAS and PLUS, as well as
by the KTMpublic rail
transport which stops at
Senawang and Sungai Gadut
stations. Proximity to
transport and amenities such
as major banks, hospitals,
retail centres and schools,
make for self-contained
neighbourhoods, which are
attracting aspiring home
buyers to suburban areas.
BETTER CONNECTIVITY
Malaysia is considered to have
one of the best expressway
networks in Southeast Asia.
Within Klang Valley and Kuala
Lumpur, there aremore than 15
expressways, highways
besides more in the pipeline.
Accessibility via road is not a
problem. Efficient public
transport was one of themajor
challenges in linking KLwith
Greater Klang Valleywhen
plans for the plans for the GKL
(Greater Kuala Lumpur)
agglomerationwas announced
under the Economic
Transformation Programme in
2010. TheMass Rapid Transit
(MRT) was thus approved at
the end of 2010with the first
line fromSungai Buloh to
Kajang currently under
construction. It will constitute
the backbone for GKL region
with onward connections to
the existing Light Rail Transit
(LRT), Monorail, KTM
Komuter, KLIAExpress and
KLIATransit systems. The
final route for the second and
third line is still in planning
stages. The intention is to
ensure that at least 50%of all
travel withinGKLwill be
facilitated by public transport.
GKL URBAN
AGGLOMERATION
TheGKL larger agglomeration
is targeted for completion by
2020, andwill be geared to
facilitate economic growth in
the
captial
region. While in
2010, GKL housed
around 6million
people, by 2020, it is
expected to touch 10
million. Plans
envisage for GKL
under the Economic
Transformation
Programme (ETP) can be
identified under the nine
Entry Point Projects.
Property developers like
Tropicana Corp, Mah Sing
and SP Setia are also joining
the bandwagon. This
reflects the tip of the
iceberg, indicatingwhat the
GKL transformationwill
look like in the next decade.
‘LIVEABLE’ CITIES
What makes a city livable is
subjective. According to the
Economist Intelligence
Unit’s global livability index,
GKL ranked 79th out of
130 cities around the world.
There is an obvious need for
improving several livability
factors including security,
healthcare, education, culture
and the environment. Of these,
the ETP has identified nine
Entry Point Projects (Refer
ETP side box). When the
execution is completed, it will
facilitate and accelerate
economic growth for the
national captial region besides
improving connectivity and
quality of living in the GKL
agglomeration.
ON
FRIDAY
JULY 19, 2013
Suburban appeal
WHAT MAKES A CITY LIVABLE?
The ranking for the ‘Most Livable Cities’ usually measures
standard of living opposed to quality of life. According to
International Making Cities Livable website, the evidence is
now mounting that the way we shape our cities profoundly
affects our quality of life – our physical and mental health, our
opportunities for having friends and neighbours, and even
how likely we are to find and hold on to relevant jobs. Here
are some facets which can increase livability:
a) Regulate how much incidental exercise is possible through
walking and biking
b) Buildings and streets contribute to reducing crime when
buildings support eyes on the street, while shops and
services put a functioning community in control of their
neighbourhood realm
c) Pattern, complexity and harmony in the built environment
can stimulate curiosity, discovery and a sense that the
world is meaningful
d) Beauty in nature, architecture and public places can lift
spirits, raise endorphin levels besides improving physical
>Livingon theoutskirts of the national capital is now
away of life formany. Itwill onlyget betterwith
theplans underway forGreater Kuala Lumpur
Mah Sing is providing you an opportunity to
own a charming piece of Penang at The Loft at
Southbay City. The luxurious residential
development located at BatuMaungwill stand
out with its stately two towers 30-storeys high.
With only 78 units of three suite design-types
per floor, The Loft will be ideal for those with a
penchant for an exclusive lifestyle. From limited
units with private gardens measuring between
2,056 and3,283 sq ft, to regular designs ranging
from 1,378 to 1,680 sq ft, each residential unit
comes with a breathtaking ocean view and
mesmerising landscape.
Highceilingsandlargewindows,plusaskylounge
and sky gym contribute to some of the vital
reasonswhy somewouldcall this address ‘home’.
Arresting
development
people, by 2020, it
GKL VS GKV
Greater Kuala Lumpur is a
relatively new concept
compared to the more
prevalent term ‘Greater
Klang Valley’. This highly
integrated GKL concept was
initially espoused by Prime
Minister Najib Razak. It
defined the national capital
region which would
accelerate potential
economic growth. This was
also announced in the ETP in
2010. Geographically
defined as an area covering
10 municipalities
surrounding Kuala Lumpur,
each governed by local
authorities – Kuala Lumpur
City Hall (DBKL), Perbadanan
Putrajaya, Shah Alam City
Council (MBSA), Petaling
Jaya City Council (MBPJ),
Klang Municipal Council
(MPK), Kajang Municipal
Council (MPKj), Subang Jaya
Municipal Council (MPSJ),
Selayang Municipal Council,
Ampang Jaya Municipal
Council (MPAJ) and Sepang
NINE ENTRY POINT PROJECTS UNDER THE ETP
1) Attracting 100 of the world’s most dynamic firms within
priority sectors
2) Attracting the right mix of internal and external talent
3) Connecting with Singapore via a high speed rail system
4) Building an integrated urban mass rapid transit system
5) Revitalising the Klang River into a heritage and commercial
centre for Greater KL
6) Greening Greater KL/KV to ensure every resident enjoys
sufficient green space
7) Creating iconic places and attractions
8) Creating a comprehensive pedestrian network
9) Developing an efficient ‘solid waste management”
Please email your
queries to us:
propertyqs@
thesundaily.com
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version of this
article, please log
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www.
thesundaily.my
Graph retrieved from
From its impressive architecture and expansive
living spaces, plus its freehold status, The Loft
is also ideally established as amini city of its own
right, to be supported by a wide variety of retail
shops, offices and residential suites, along with
a sea-facing lifestyle mall. Moreover, it couldn’t
have been better located, within 1km
from the Second Penang Bridge (which is
expected to be completed by Sept 2013),
7km to the Penang Airport, 9km from the
Penang Bridge, and a mere 15km away from
mainland Georgetown.
Take pleasure in waking up to the sights and
sounds of nature’s beauty at The Loft,
Southbay City where you can bask in the
beauty and old charmof Penang, in all its glory.
For more information on this residential
development expected to be completed
by the fourth quarter of 2017, visit
ADVERTORIAL
Residence Hill housing development by LTS Properties.
CUT AND KEEP
INSIGHTS
