K-Boulevard Serviced Condominium

Puchong Batu 13 ½, Puchong, Selangor. From RM215,998 - RM443,308

Casa Tropika Puchong

After gaining the recognition from Malaysian Book of Records in 2007 for developing Chow Kit’s largest wholesale plaza called Plaza GM, TSI Group Malaysia is now developing the largest wholesale city in Malaysia and Asean. “Build on 5ha of commercial land in Bandar Botanic, the project is divided into four phases and when completed will boast more than 1.5 million sq ft of total built up,” he tells StarBizWeek recently.

The company, he says, bought the land about 13 months ago and since then has started to develop the first phase of the project. It will launch the second phase by the middle of next year. “The location is strategic as it is accessible from major highways and thoroughfares including air and sea. We are not just targeting the local business people but also those from all around this region including India and Pakistan,” he says.

He adds that the company has sent a team to study various marketing strategies on the wholesale business in Thailand, Indonesia, Dubai and China. “We have also sent our marketing team to market and promote this project to the Asean region,” he says. Lim says GM Klang Wholesale City will contribute positively to the country’s economic development, providing micro and macro economic opportunities for all.

“It will also improve and strengthen regional ties, inter-relations and international trade, enhancing business to business tourism and also stimulate more retail/trading for business people,” he says, adding that the city will eventually provide more than 8,000 job opportunities. “Another thing on this project, we want to help the young graduates such as interested bumiputra entrepreneurs to set up their business here. We will offer them a competitive rate to start their business,” he says.

When ask how will GM Klang Wholesale City with the upcoming wholesale city called Kenanga Wholesale City in Kuala Lumpur, Lim says the latter focuses more on garments and fashion products while the former offers a more diverse product range. “Our plan is to also emphasise on other products such as timepiece, spectacles, souvenir, electrical and electronics goods, IT related products, hand phone, hardware and many more,” he says.

For the record, a new 22-storey Kenanga Wholesale City is currently being developed at Jalan Kenanga, off Jalan Loke Yew.

Scheduled for completion by end 2010, the project sits on a 1.28ha site and has a GDV of RM800mil. He says phase 1 of GM Klang Wholesale City will offer 259 units of wholesale shops with sizes ranging from 290 sq ft to 582 sq ft. All units are for lease purposes. TSI Group plans to keep most units at phase 2, 3, and 4 as it wants to develop six distinctive pavilions for the purpose of segmenting and categorising the products for the convenience of retailers and traders when sourcing for their goods, Lim says. He adds that GM Klang Wholesale City will be fully air-conditioned. It will have three dedicated loading and unloading areas for fast and easy transit of goods.“Since the complex will eventually have more than 3,000 car parking bays, we will deploy security guards to facilitate the traffic in the area,” he says.

TSI Group is also focusing on another project in Kepong called First Residence. Comprising two levels of shops and 474 units of condominium in two towers, scheduled for completion by the middle of 2011. “For upcoming development, we plan to launch a mixed residential development in Puchong comprising 520 units of condominium and 12 units of conventional shops by early next year. The project is estimated at RM130mil in GDV,” he says.

Source: The Star

Zen Residence @ Asplenium Condominium

Sentral City Development Group recently launched its maiden condominium project Zen Residence in the highly evolving township of Puchong. Since its soft launch in mid-November last year, support from purchasers has been overwhelming despite the current economic slowdown.

Many have seized the opportunity to invest in this landmark property in a prime location of Klang Valley. Zen Residence has won much praise for its distinctive building design and product innovation; some have labelled it ambitious while others have hailed it inspiring.

Prime location

Zen Residence’s location, which is within the ‘growth centre’ of the fast developing Bandar Puteri and Puchong commercial centre, is a key factor and major driving force for the project’s exceptional take up rate. IOI Mall, IOI Boulevard, Setia Walk and Puteri Financial Centre are all mere minutes away.

Affordable entry cost, zero financial burden

The popularity of Zen Residence is due in part to its innovative financing package. Purchasers can own a piece of the property with a minimal RM8,000 only and enjoy zero financial burden during the construction period, as the developer is funding all interest payments until handover. Almost 100 per cent loan packages with low interest rates are available by end financiers. Other goodies thrown in to the purchasers are two free covered car parks, high quality floor and wall tiles, built-in kitchen cabinets with solid surface counter tops, tempered glass shower screens for all bathrooms, centralised water heaters for bathrooms, branded air-conditioners with ionizers for the living room and bedrooms, and a home alarm system.

Zen living concept

Zen defines the concept of living lifestyle, which embraces nature, peace, purity and tranquillity. At Zen Residence, minimalist architecture and landscaping with serene water elements have been incorporated to accentuate the Zen living concept. It strives to inspire the mind and brings into physical presence the sense of refuge, safety, sanctuary and well-being.

Tallest condominium building in Puchong

The architecture of Zen Residence is an expression of minimalism in the form of two identical gleaming white towers. The architecture seeks to project simplicity and structural clarity, while the incorporation of large glass panels and a series of cantilevered structures in its façade lend the building a feel of transparency and lightness.

The use of predominantly white and grey shades heightens the architectural concept of purity and unpretentiousness, which is the very essence of Zen. Each of the 21-storey twin tower features an oversized roof structure soaring high over the building to impart the notion of ‘floating’ crowns, thus glorifying the building’s status as the tallest residential towers in central Puchong.

Quadrant security

Zen Residence aims to provide a safe haven and refuge from the chaotic and unruly world outside. The building control incorporates a multi-tier security system, which utilises CCTV, card access and guard tour at all the six access points via the guarded entrance/exit, multi-level car park, lift lobby, lifts, quadrant access and main doors of condominium units.

This system deserves special mention as it is another first for condominium design. All units are clustered into groups of four with each group sharing a common access door. To reach an individual unit’s main door, a resident who lives within the quadrant must first access through a common secured door with CCTV and card access, providing an additional level of private security.

Low density

Zen Residence comprises 286 units on a 4.1 acre site. In the effort to preserve more green space at the ground level, only two towers with 21 floors were conceived. There are only two quadrants or eight units per floor, accessible by means of three high-speed lifts equipped with CCTV and card access system that take residents only to their respective floor.

Spacious unit with lanai

Zen Residence is available in various unit sizes ranging from 1,178 to 1,493 sqf with three or four bedrooms each. Instead of offering a standard condominium unit, the developer set out to impress by providing an extra large living hall that measures 12 to 14 ft in width. The living hall opens to an enormous lanai purposefully designed to enable resident to carry out landscaping or add a water feature. The idea that they will be able to enjoy nature despite living high up is definitely reflective of the Zen living concept.

The most impressive innovation from the architect is, however, the enormous master bathroom with a glassed external wall. The overall effect is a light-filled and airy bathroom interior as opposed to the conventional gloomy, wet and musty bathroom in most other apartments or condominiums. By making some of the units cantilever over the edge of the building, the architect has managed to turn its bathrooms open to the sky and admit rain into the interior. This so-called ‘sky shower’ is an unusual creation and surely a first in condominium design.

Clubhouse facilities and Zen-inspired hot springs

The 12,000 sqf clubhouse at Zen Residence houses two squash courts and a cantilever gym on the first floor. A café is provided on the ground floor with an extended dining deck, practically hanging over a huge free-form swimming pool.

To provide further impetus to an exclusive Zen experience, the developer is presenting two Japanese Zen-inspired hot springs for the enjoyment of residents. These hot springs are housed in a separate single storey Japanese style building set amidst a Japanese rock and bamboo garden. Though not mineral-rich pools, they nevertheless bestow the atmosphere the soothing affects of real hot springs.

To find out more about Zen Residence, please visit www.zenresidence.com or www.sentralcity.com.my. You could also call (603) 8061 1238 to make an appointment for a visit to the sales office and show unit.

7 Temples Awaiting Land Titles To Relocate

Awtar Singh, special assistant to Seri Serdang assemblyman Datuk Dr Mohd Satim Diman, highlighted the plight of the Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist temples recently.

He pointed out that these temples had already settled the planning issues with the local council, and were waiting for the state government and Land Office to issue them the land titles.

The temples are Persatuan Penganut Devi Arulmigu Sri Nagakali Jai Munis­warar in Puchong Hartamas, Kuil Aum Sri Maha Aathi Nageswary Amman in Puchong Gateway, Persatuan Pengu­rusan Kuil Maha Mariamman in Taman Perindustrian Pusat Bandar Puchong, Kuil Naga Nagawasrya Amman in Taman Puchong Intan, Kuil Aaudayar Muniswarar Alayam in Bandar Puteri Puchong, Persatuan Penganut Agama Sikh in Batu 14 Puchong and Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha in Bandar Puteri Puchong.

“These temples have been given land to relocate and some have already had the structures put up by the deve­lopers.
“The land has been endorsed in the One-Stop Centre in the Subang Jaya Municipal Council and the district officer was supposed to submit papers to the state government for approval.

“Once approved, the temples will have to submit applications for the land titles.

“But the district officer hasn’t done his part yet,” Awtar said.

He said he has spoken to Selangor health, plantation workers and caring government committee chairman Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, who is also in the three-man committee on non-Muslim religious affairs, about three months ago but no action had been taken so far.

“I urge him to call for a meeting at the Land Office to hear the problems of these temples. The Land Office can get the paper work done immediately to send to the Selangor exco for approval,” he said.

Source: The Star

A Maiden Effort

Olympia College Kuala Lumpur has taken the step to offer assistance to school-going students.

Starting July 9 till Nov 5, 20 selected schools in the Klang Valley will benefit from Olympia College’s sponsorship of 10,000 copies of The Star and the NiE and F4F5 pullouts.

This is the first time the college is involved in The Star sponsorship scheme.

Raffles Education Group chairman Tan Sri Dr Yahaya Ibrahim said the sponsorship was in line with the college’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme to improve education in the country.

“Through NiE, students are more exposed to current affairs. The general knowledge gained is important and beneficial,” he said at the sponsorship presentation held at the college recently.

“Our initiative is aimed at cultivating in students a habit of reading newspapers as well.

“This can be achieved through the regular use of the pullouts in schools.

“When students familiarise themselves with the pullouts, they will almost automatically read the newspaper,’’ said Dr Yahaya.

He added that once students made this a habit, their level of English would improve too.

Dr Yahaya said that Olympia College, a member of the Raffles Education Group, would continue to play a part in helping to develop future leaders.

Executive director, Kevin Pereira, described the NiE and F4F5 pullouts as “reference materials that make for quality reading.”

Also present at the mock cheque presentation were teachers and students from some of the schools that would benefit, namely SMK Puchong Utama 1, SMK Puchong Batu 14, SMK Dato Onn, SMK Vivekananda, SMK Bangsar and SMK Puteri Titiwangsa.

Meanwhile, MOX Gases Sdn Bhd, better known as Malaysian Oxygen, sponsored RM10,000 worth of F4F5 to six schools in July.

The schools were SMK Sek 24 (2), Shah Alam, SMK Sri Utama, SMK Tinggi Klang, SMK St Xavier, SMK Sungai Ara and SMJK Chung Ling.

For details on how companies can sponsor copies of The Star to be distributed to schools, call Alvin Liew (019-2100 319) or Nur Afzan (019-3413 343) at Star Publications (M) Bhd’s corporate sponsorship unit.

Source: The Star