News by THE EDGE MALAYSIA

It is incredible how an attempt to improve the Malaysian public housing model, which is totally outdated and no longer feasible, could be viewed in a negative light.

If we do not innovate and try new ideas, we can never make progress.

he excesses of the past decade, the borrowing binge fuelled by ultra-low interest rates and liquidity, are coming back to bite us, no doubt.

In reality, it is not just gloom and doom. There are office and retail centres that continue to enjoy high occupancies and this could be attributed to reasons such as their respective unique offerings like a strategic location, easy connectivity and profile of tenants. Last but certainly not least, providing a safe conducive working or shopping environment matters ant his is something that can only be achieved with top-in-class maintenance of the spaces.

Developer KSK Land Sdn Bhd has denied talk that its 8 Conlay project, a RM5.4 billion mixed-use development featuring the world’s tallest “twisted” twin tower residence in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, is facing financial difficulties.

Short-term rentals and homestays have their costs and consequences, as well as bouquets and brickbats. A discussion on whether a ban is the right way forward typically ends up with an emotionally charged “yea” or “nay”, depending on one’s personal interest and experience, good or bad.

Occupying a 5.28-acre freehold parcel, Jernih Residence will offer 1,605 serviced apartment units in two blocks and 41 retail units on Levels 1 and 2. The residential units will come in four sizes — ranging from 550 to 850 sq ft — and are priced from RM270,000, or an average of RM500 psf. Most units, except some 850 sq ft units, will have one parking bay each.

In an April 8 note, Hong Leong Investment Bank Research analyst Tan Kai Shuen says much of the property sector dynamics had changed compared with the previous year, owing to the pickup in sales and construction activity following the easing of lockdown restrictions, ending of the Home Ownership Campaign (HOC) last December, rising cost of living and lower household income, inflationary pressures on commodities and building materials cost, border reopening in April, anticipated rate hike and return of capital inflow from foreign investors.

What does all this mean for those who have bought properties that are now being built?

Will they get a property that has been build according to the specifications spelt out in the sales and purchase agreement? Would all the building processes be executed the way they should be?

A day after the tragedy, the UK government announced that a public inquiry into the incident would be held. Phase One of the inquiry, released in October 2019, reportedly found “systemic failures” in the London Fire Brigade’s response. Phase Two, now ongoing, examines in-depth, among others, the building’s refurbishment and external cladding, testing and certification of products and fire risk assessments.