Green development will be the first township in Johor to offer high-speed broadband, affordable housing and with an estimated GDV of RM178 million
Bird’s eye view of Taman Seri Albion in Pasir Gudang, This mixed use development will feature affordable homes, high speed broadband, green designs and business parks. Photo: Courtesy of UMLand.
By Khalil Adis
Iskandar Malaysia’s Flagship ‘D’ zone in Pasir Gudang received an added boost that will create around 12,000 jobs with 865 units of affordable housing to be built by 2018 within United Malayan Land Bhd’s (UMLand) new green mixed use development said the Chief Minister of Johor Dato’ Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
“The township will change the investment landscape here. It is a step in the right direction considering it is a mixed use development with affordable housing for Johoreans,” he said.
He was speaking at the ground breaking ceremony of Taman Seri Albion, the developer’s third township in Iskandar Malaysia and its fourth in Malaysia.
Measuring 347 acre, the township will be developed by Tentu Teguh Sdn Bhd (TTSB), a wholly-own subsidiary of UMLand.
Its first phase project is a business park that will comprise 89 units of terrace, cluster and semi-detached factories with a built up size from 3,276 sq ft to 14,532 sq ft.
UMLand said its estimated pricing will start from around RM300 per sq ft with an estimated gross development value (GDV) of RM 178 million.
“We expect the development will generate an investment of RM3.5 billion which will indirectly create an estimated 12,100 work opportunity. It will be able to motivate the development of macro and micro economy in ‘Flagship D’ of Iskandar Malaysia that relates to air, water and land transportation hub for Iskandar Malaysia and also Singapore,” said Charlie Chia, chief executive officer for UMLand Group.
Taman Seri Albion will also be the first township in Johor that will be equipped with high-speed broadband with an ultra speed connection that can be upgraded to 1GB.
Chief Minister of Johor Dato’ Mohamed Khaled Nordin was the guest-of-honour at the groundbreaking ceremony. Photo: Courtesy of UMLand.
Business park strategic locations targets Malaysian and Singaporean SMEs
Its first phase development, called Dover Business Park, will sit on 50.16 acres of freehold land.
The business park is situated in a strategic location along the Senai-Desaru Expressway and enjoys easy connectivity via the Coastal Highway and Kong Kong Road, making it within easy reach to Tanjong Langsat and Pasir Gudang Port.
The area is also directly connected to Senai International Airport and a few minutes away from Pasir Gudang Industrial Park which UMLand said will enjoy a ready catchment of 100,000.
“Our target market will be Malaysian and Singaporean small manufacturing enterprise (SMEs) including food and beverage production, garment manufacturer, printing and packaging industries, electronics, storage and warehousing, services, information technology, machinery spare parts, carpentry and furniture production and automotive workshops,” said Chia.
UMLand also unveiled that the development will be kept green and sustainable.
“With the development of Green Field Area in this Cahaya Baru Felda, we will ensure that Taman Seri Albion will be a bright township with lush surrounding. Stimulating recreation parks and landscape will be the main priority in the development of Seri Albion,” said Chia.
Entrance of Taman Seri Albion. Photo: Courtesy of UMLand.
Johoreans stand to benefit from job creation, business opportunities, high speed broadband and affordable homes
At the groundbreaking ceremony, the Chief Minister applauded the project saying it will add to 37,000 affordable housing that will be coming on-stream by 2018 in Johor.
He also noted that this project is different from the federal-launched PR1MA housing project as the highest quantum price here will be capped at RM150, 000.
“This will benefit workers in the industries and will be part of a comprehensive green and sustainable development for affordable housing,” he said.
Dato’ Mohamed Khaled Nordin also said that this development is in line with the state government’s vision to see Johoreans thrive in businesses as a result of the economic spillover from this project as well as from the oil and gas industries in Penggerang.
Apart from the eco-friendly features, he also said Johoreans stand to benefit from the development’s high-speed internet connection.
“I applaud UMLand for developing high speed broadband in this township development. This is the first such township with high-speed broadband connection in this area,” he said.
A Memorandum of Understanding was sealed between Tentu Teguh Sdn Bhd and Fiber at Home City Networks Sdn Bhd, Photo: Courtesy of UMLand.
Home ownership comes first
The Chief Minister also took the opportunity to remind Johoreans to acquire a home first rather than buying a car – a norm for Malaysians, particularly fresh graduates.
“It is important that we build homes with plans for public transport that will look at the long-term connectivity and mobility for Johoreans. With this, I urge Johoreans to take public transport as home ownership is more important,” he said.
Iskandar Malaysia was mooted in 2005 by former Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and is the most successful economic corridor under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.
As of the second quarter of 2014, it has attracted RM9.72 billion in new investments, bringing the total cumulative committed investment secured to RM146.20 billion from 2006 until 30 June 2014.
Of this, RM 50.54 billion (or 35 per cent) is in its manufacturing sector.
I write | Khalil Adis 