Investment gurus Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump once remarked on their love for investing in property. This can be said to be true of Asia Pacific investors as well, according to The Wealth Report 2010 published by Knight Frank and Citi Private Bank recently. “People love hard assets,” the report quoted Citi Private Bank Asia Pacific head of real estate investments Quek Kwang Meng.

If you take a drive to Kemensah, a stone’s throw away from the National Zoo in Kuala Lumpur, you will notice a number of on-going projects there. The area is attractive for its lush greenery and impressive hills, its proximity to the Kuala Lumpur city centre, and several major expressways that ensure convenience and connectivity.

Since the launch of Bandar Nusajaya in 2006, UEM Land Holdings Bhd’s focus has been on developing the flagship zone of Iskandar Malaysia in Johor. Many joint-venture deals have been sealed with local and foreign partners to build developments and amenities in the 23,875-acre township.

Mention Waz Lian Group and you are likely to get blank stares. That’s not surprising as the company has deliberately kept a low profile although its property arm has been active in the industry for over a decade.

The term “solar energy” is not new to us — electricity is generated from the sun’s rays, directly via photovoltaics (PV) or indirectly through concentrating solar power.  The latter uses the sun’s energy to boil water, which is then used to provide power. But let’s be honest, most of us wouldn’t know a PV cell or a solar cell if it hit us in the face.

The segment of the property market in Singapore that seems to be immune to the government measures announced on Feb 19 relating to stamp duties and loan-to-value (LTV) limit appears to be landed housing, which was the best-performing residential sector last year.

KUALA LUMPUR: Amtek Holdings Bhd has disposed of its unit Amtek Realty Sdn Bhd for RM4.6 million.

In a filing to Bursa Malaysia on April 2, the company said the entire equity in Amtek Realty, comprising five million shares of RM1 each, was sold to Commerce Dot Com Sdn Bhd on the same day.

PETALING JAYA: Global direct commercial real estate investment volumes are anticipated to increase between 30% and 40% this year, said financial and professional services firm, Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL).

KUALA LUMPUR: The Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) is urging the government to regulate the number of contractors as a means of qualifying parties who are tendering.

KUALA LUMPUR: Ahmad Zaki Resources Bhd has been awarded a construction project worth RM59.99 million.

In a filing to Bursa Malaysia on April 2, it said its unit Ahmad Zaki Sdn Bhd had on April 1, received the letter of award from Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd for the construction of waterfront shopoffices and external works on plot 8C1 in Putrajaya.