ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
Under theNorthernCorridor Economic
Region (NCER) programme, the government
has put aside some threemillion ringgit to
help boost six industry sectors in Perlis.
These include: agriculture, tourism,
infrastructure, manufacturing, corporate
services and social development.
Once known as a huge producer of
padi, Perlis is now famous for its Harum
Manismangoes. “In fact, it’s just about the
season now. Thesemangoes are sold for
about RM20 per kg. They are high in demand
and have huge potential as Perlis’ soil is ideal
and the government is all out to promote it,
alongwith other downstream industries like
HarumManis juice, ice-cream, cookies and so
forth,” informs Cheng. Still, the fruit has not
received enough promotion or investment for
it to be at par with theMusang King durian…
at least not yet.
The tourism industry in Perlis is also
undergoing a five-year transformation plan.
Mentri Besar AzlanMan said earlier in the
year that Kuala Perlis is being developed as a
tourist destination. Measures have already
been taken by the state government to help
upgrade facilities and create attractions.
Azlan said that by 2030, the state plans to draw
some RM34.5 billion in investment via its
tourismsector. Some newbusinesses that
have already started generating revenue for
the state include high-speed broadband
networking; an environmental-friendly
rubber factory in
Chuping; additional
residences under the
1Malaysia Housing
Scheme; preparations
for three, four and five-
star hotels inKangar
andArau andmore.
With economic
development on the
rise, one can expect
property development
to flourish. “For now,
people buy homes in
Perlis to live in, rather
than to invest in. If
Perlis. Land is also relatively cheap as
compared to the price inKedah (which can
also be bought for a song). The savings rate
here is high since there is not much
entertainment and hardly any place to spend
one’smoney. People here are also very
conservative and prefer to buy ‘brick’ (a
house) compared to other investments like
the sharemarket etc,” Cheng informs.
Up and coming areas are Jejawi, Pauh,
Ulu Pauh (due toUNIMAP), Chuping and
Mata Ayeh due to its close proximity to
Kangar andArau. “Generally, the towns in
Perlis are small and clustered or centred.
There are no traffic jams here for sure,”
Cheng adds.
P
ERLIS
is the smallest state inMalaysia.
It is situated on the northern edge of
the peninsula, borderingwithThai
provinces of Satun and Songkhla.
Kangar is the capital citywhile the royal town
of Arau is where the residence of the Raja
of Perlis lies.
UNRUFFLED AND RELAXED
Land in Perlis is basically flat. Nevertheless,
there are hills in towns like Chuping and
Ulu Pauh. Perlis is generally a laid back,
sleepy state, occupied by peoplewith
lifestyles that are simple. Main towns are
Kangar, Arau, Padang Besar, Kuala Perlis
and Pauh. Still, unlikemost main towns in
other states, theway things run here is slow
and unhurried.
“There aren’t many hotels or
entertainment outlets in Perlis. There are
also no cinemas. There are, however, plenty
of
warungs
and
kedai kopis
where people
gather to chat way into the night,” shares
REHDA chairman for Kedah and Perlis, Datuk
Rick Cheng. “The current ‘modern’ mall or as
wewould call it here, supermarket, would be
the one and only CMart located inArau,”
Cheng adds. And there are no hypermarkets
like Tesco, Giant or Carrefour throughout
Perlis. “By and large, there really is no place to
spend one’smoney,” Cheng informs, one of
the reasons the director and owner of
Encomas choses to develop property here.
“There is not much competition here in
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CUT AND KEEP
MAY 16, 2014
TropicanaCorporationsignsdealwith leadingChinese
propertydeveloper
PROPERTY
developer Tropicana
Corporation Berhad has announced the sale
of approximately 3.138 acres of prime
freehold land located along Jalan Bukit
Bintang toOffshore Triangle Sdn Bhd for a
total cash consideration of RM448.4million.
Offshore Triangle Sdn Bhd is an alliance
between Tropicana and Agile Property
Holdings Ltd, a leading property developer
in China. Inwhat is the biggest land
transaction in the Greater Kuala Lumpur
to date, between a local and foreign
property developer, Agile Propertywill
acquire 70%equity stake in the joint venture
while Tropicana will earn 30%.
Agile Property is a leading property
developer in China and is principally
engaged in the development of large-scale
comprehensive property projects, with
extensive presence in the businesses of hotel
operations, property investment and
propertymanagement. The group currently
owns a diversified portfolio in over 40 cities
and districts and has a land bankwith a total
GFA of over 40million squaremetres.
Tropicana group executive vice-chairman
Tan Sri Danny Tan Chee Sing said the land
earmarked for mixed commercial
development will provide a new
dimension to KL propertymarket including
“cutting-edge designs and new and
innovative concepts” thanks to their
collaborationwith Agile Property. “The
strategic partnershipwill also elevate
Tropicana’s brand presence and visibility
across regional markets including Hong
Kong, Macau and China.”
The sale and joint venture is part of
Tropicana’s transformation strategy in
unlocking significant value of its landbank
through development as well as forming
strategic alliances to accelerate growth.
you like the laid back, simple lifestyle
that is slow in pace, why not … after all,
Perlis is a safe placewith lowcrime rates
which is a plus point,” states Cheng. For
more information on the property scene in
Perlis, followout column next week.
Picture taken fromwww.aseannewsnetwork.com
progressing
PART 1
Perlis
>Sleepy northern stateon the road
tomodernisation
Kangar town
Picture taken frombuzuediany.blogspot.com
Padang Besar
Picture taken from nurlinidris.blogspot.com
HarumManis mangoes
DID YOU KNOW
• The 17th SUKMA games will be
held in Perlis. The games, which
begin from May 24 to June 4,
involves some 10,673 athletes,
officials and volunteers. All events will
be held in the state’s premises.
• Kolej Universiti Islam Perlis (KUIPs)
recently opened its doors to 80
students. The second intake will be
in June. A total of 80 students will be
homed on its brand new 20-hectare
campus, situated near Kangar.
The seven wonders of Perlis
1)
Chuping sugarcane plantation
–
this 22-hectare plantation received
its name from a limestone quarry
hill. Those interested in learning
how sugar is made from cane should
make it a point to visit.
2)
Timah Tasoh Dam –
nature lovers
will enjoy the sights around this man-
made dam built in 1987 in the town
of Beseri.
3)
Snake and reptile farm –
one of
the biggest breeding and research
centres in Malaysia with more than
20 Malaysian snake species and
other reptiles.
4)
Harum Manis mangoes –
a must-
try which is in season from March
till June.
5)
Kuala Perlis laksa –
made with
rice flour noodles and accompanied
with a range of condiments, poured
over with a spicy fish gravy, this is a
Perlis specialty.
6)
Perlis seafood –
famous especially
in and around the coastal areas
where one can indulge in fresh
seafood while enjoying the
cool seabreeze.
7)
Padang Besar –
the district
acts as a gateway in and out, for
neighbouring areas such as Kangar,
Perlis and Thailand. It is famous
for its open markets selling almost
everything under the sky.
Tan (left) and Agile Property Holdings
Ltd vice-president Chen Lu Lin seal
the deal with a handshake.
