Houses are more than just shelters for most people. Homebuyers now expect so much more, such as a nice façade, a pleasant environment and facilities that can enhance their quality of life. In fact, lifestyle developments are becoming the norm in Malaysia’s highly competitive residential market.

Ewe says he wants City of Dreams to shine like a diamond. – Pic courtesy of Ewein Zenith Sdn Bhd, January 26, 2016.

Ewein Zenith Sdn Bhd deputy chairman Datuk Ewe Swee Kheng is determined to set a new benchmark for lifestyle living with its new residential project in Penang: City of Dreams.

According to Ewe, the 3.67-acre project is part of the 50-acre Wellness City of Dreams development, which will cover part of a 110-acre freehold reclaimed tract in Bandar Tanjong Pinang. The development of the remaining 60 acres has yet to be determined.

Ewe says the parcel was given to Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd (CZBUCG) by the Penang government as compensation-in-kind for the building of the upcoming RM6.3 billion Penang Tunnel, which will include three road bypasses.

City of Dreams, which has a GDV of RM800 million, is the first component of the overall development. The luxury seafront serviced apartment project will comprise two 38-storey towers with 572 seaview units. Their built-ups range from 1,097 to 2,350sqft.

Bandar Tanjong Pinang is an established mid- to high-end residential district with 90% of the developments being homes. It is a self-contained township not too far from the busy Gurney Drive, making it popular with investors and homebuyers, according to Raine & Horne International Zaki + Partners Sdn Bhd senior partner Michael Geh.

“Bandar Tanjong Pinang offers views of the sea and is within walking distance of the retail marina (Straits Quay) and Tesco hypermarket. Property prices in Bandar Tanjong Pinang should remain strong because it is strategically between Gurney and Batu Ferringhi, the shopping and leisure paradise in the north of the peninsula,” he says.

However, he foresees high-rise condominiums facing some competition because there are a few upcoming developments nearby, such as Mont Residence, Skyridge Garden, Mira Residence, Alila 2 and HH Residence, which are priced lower.

“Nevertheless, Bandar Tanjong Pinang condos’ advantage is the location. Property prices will adjust accordingly to new demand and supply,” said Geh.

As the latest development in the area, City of Dreams offers a better view as it sits on the opposite shore of Gurney Drive. Its positioning ensures that all its units face the sea and Gurney Drive. There are only 10 units on each level and each unit has its own lift lobby.

City of Dreams will be connected to the planned Penang Outer Ring Road (PORR), making access to the other parts of the island easy. The RM1 billion PORR is an 18km toll expressway linking Gelugor in the south, near Penang Bridge, to Tanjung Bungah in the north.

All units are expected to have a sea view. – Pic courtesy of Ewein Zenith Sdn Bhd, January 26, 2016.

The façade of City of Dreams, which is inspired by a diamond, is set to change the scene in Bandar Tanjong Pinang.

“I want this project to shine like a diamond in Penang. Just imagine how shiny it will be when the glass façade reflects the sunlight. Also, diamonds are precious, very much like your family and home. This is also my reason for naming the towers after my wife, Elaine, and my daughter, Chloe.”

He added that naming the towers after his family members showed his commitment to his second residential project.

Ewe’s first project was a low-density condominium, The Palazzo, in Pulau Tikus, which was completed and handed over to buyers in 2006. It was developed by Ewein Holdings Sdn Bhd, the property development arm of Ewein Bhd.

Ewein Bhd has embarked on a diversification programme since 2011. The counter was reclassified from the industrial product sector on Bursa Malaysia to the property sector on December 23, 2015.

The project will have direct access to the Penang Outer Ring Road. – Pic courtesy of Ewein Zenith Sdn Bhd, January 26, 2016.

Ewe said currently, the company was focusing on City of Dreams, which had been well received since it was opened for registration at end-2013. “So far, we have received over 1,200 registrations.”

The developer is looking to officially launch the project as planned, in 1Q2016.

“We are targeting local buyers. However, we have received registrations from all over, with the majority from the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia. We are also looking at having 20% foreign buyers. We will hold roadshows in China, Singapore, Indonesia and the Middle East soon,” Ewe said to “City & Country” in an interview at the project’s sales gallery in Penang.

City of Dreams will have more than 50 unique facilities, which are creating a buzz in Penang’s property market. Apart from the standard serviced apartment facilities like a swimming pool or gym, it will boast many special features and amenities such as an eight-tier security system, Rolls-Royce limousine and private yacht charter service, seaview steam and sauna rooms, free WiFi access in the lobby and emergency transport and room.

“I imagined how I wanted my dream home to be and what kind of lifestyle I wanted. This was how I came up with the facilities for the project,” Ewe said.

The ground floor will include a main lobby, reception desk and VIP parking. – Pic courtesy of Ewein Zenith Sdn Bhd, January 26, 2016.“

For example,” he added, pointing to a Rolls-Royce parked outside the sales gallery, “People want to stay in a nice home and drive a nice car, but how many can afford both? And how often do you get to ride in that luxury car? In City of Dreams, we’ll have a Rolls-Royce at your service; all you need to do is book the car via a residents’ facility management mobile app and pay a fee (the rate has yet to be determined).”

The facilities will be on the ground floor and levels 1, 6, 36 and 37 of the towers. On the ground floor, there will be the grand lobby and reception desk, 116 VIP parking bays, an automated car wash system, a driver’s room and an emergency room.

On level 1, there will be a business lounge, meeting rooms and a mail room with mail sensor detector post boxes. The developer is also looking at the possibility of sending mail arrival messages via the residents’ app in the future.

Level 6 will feature indoor and outdoor facilities such as a salon, gym, sauna and steam room, jacuzzi, pre-function gallery for cocktails before a sit-down event at the grand ballroom (sits up to 240 people), swimming pool, barbecue area, karaoke room, private cinema, bowling alley, three-in-one court for tennis, futsal and basketball, and a mini garden for residents who want to grow their own vegetables, for example.

On level 36, there will also be sky lounges, a daybed area and sky terrace. On the next level, there will be a sky library or reading room, dining room with a kitchen for private events, wine room and cigar bar as well as a gallery that presents a brief history and development story of City of Dreams.

To ensure the quality of service and lifestyle as promised, Ewein Zenith will form a management committee with a hotelier to manage the development.

In line with the wellness concept of the Wellness City of Dreams development, there will be more than 20 wellness fittings that can be added to the units before the handover to buyers (at a cost that has yet to be finalised) such as air purifiers, Vitamin C-infused showers, posture supportive flooring or blackout shade.

The apartments are priced from RM1,172psf. According to Ewe, the price is lower than those of the neighbouring projects, some of which are as high as RM1,800psf. The maintenance fee of City of Dreams is only 30 sen psf, compared with 60 sen to 80 sen psf in the nearby projects.

“Every unit will contribute more than RM300 a month if I charge 30 sen psf for maintenance fees. With more than 500 units, I will get at least RM200,000 a month. Did you know that with that amount a month, you can manage a hotel?

“Furthermore, City of Dreams is a green development. We will install a solar power system and a rainwater harvesting system, hence, the maintenance cost will be low,” Ewe said, adding that the project’s design was Gold Green Building Index-compliant.

Other green features include a food waste processing machine and centralised water filter system.

Level 6 is expected to include a swimming pool. – Pic courtesy of Ewein Zenith Sdn Bhd, January 26, 2016.Beside City of Dreams, Ewe will be adding three more residential blocks, which will occupy 4.43 acres. He declined to share details about the project, which is currently referred to as “City of Dreams II”, except to say: “It will be another landmark project with an estimated GDV of RM1 billion. It should have a similar concept as City of Dreams, but will have smaller units... more affordable for the younger generation.”

Last month, Ewein Bhd announced the land acquisition of City of Dreams II from CZBUCG for RM162 million.

Ewe is optimistic about the take-up of City of Dreams II despite the property market slowdown.

“The property market is not doing well now, but that has never been a reason for me to stop launching projects as planned,” he said.

He believes the success of a launch in Penang depends not so much on the market sentiment but on the uniqueness of the project and its quality.

“As a Penangite doing business here, Penang people always spend wisely, especially when it comes to property purchases. Hence, I will not hold back City of Dreams II. Once everything is ready to go, I will announce its launch.”

Fishermen in the south coast of Penang island believe that they will have to fish off the southwest coast of the island in the next few years.

Fishermen in the south coast of Penang island believe that they will have to fish off the southwest coast of the island in the next few years.

Southern Penang Fisherman Association president Arshad Omar said that when work on two artificial islands (provided for under the Penang Transport Master Plan) to be sited in their fishing ground starts, they would have to seek greener pastures.

“If the reclamation project follows through, we will have to fish near the southwest.

“It’s already crowded over there with more than 1,000 fishermen and their daily catch has dwindled over the years.

“Can you imagine if we all move there? It would definitely be a congested sea,” he said during the question-and-answer session held by the master plan’s delivery partner SRS Consortium with fishermen at Kompleks Tabung Haji yesterday.

Penang fishermen protesting to protect their futures.

“Also present were Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, state Local Government, Traffic and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow, state Agriculture, Agro-Based Industry, Rural Development and Health Committee chairman Dr Afif Bahardin, Batu Maung assemblyman Datuk Abdul Malik Abul Kassim and about 400 association members.

Arshad pleaded with the Pakatan bigwigs to seek an alternative to the man-made islands and ‘not make fishermen the victims’.

Ten other fishermen also voiced their misgivings over the man-made islands proposal.

One described monetary compensation in exchange for their livelihood as ‘not a fair exchange’.

Lim urged the association to provide a solid explanation to debunk the study done by SRS Consortium.

KUALA LUMPUR: Tek Seng Holdings Bhd , a Penang-based polyvinyl chloride (PVC) product manufacturer, which is ramping up its solar energy business, expects the segment to drive earnings growth as the world shifts further towards energy efficiency and sustainability.

Penang is tailor-made for solar energy with so many days of brilliant sunshine

Interest in solar products should see rising interest after the Paris Climate Conference last month, as nearly 200 countries have agreed to limit temperature rises by cutting down fossil consumption in power generation.

Tek Seng, which derived most of its earnings from PVC flooring and packaging product business, ventured into the solar energy business when it became clear that the segment would not be able to generate double-digit growth in years to come.

“Earlier, we projected that [the] PVC business may continue to post double-digit growth in the next three years, but given the current market situation, we think it is not realistic anymore,” its executive chairman Loh Kok Beng told The Edge Financial Daily in an interview recently.

But it is not all doom and gloom for the group. Its solar segment has started to gain a stronger foothold and reversed its losses in the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2015 (3QFY15).

“Based on the segment’s track record, we expect the revenue contribution of the solar segment to grow to 60% from 40% currently in the current financial year ending Dec 31, 2016 (FY16), while the PVC segment’s contribution may fall to 40% from 60% presently,” Loh said.

With the strong performance of the solar segment, Loh is optimistic that the group is likely to achieve double-digit growth in revenue in FY15 and FY16.

“The order book for this year and [the] first quarter of 2017 has been filled up,” Loh said, expecting more orders to continue to flow in as China, the world’s second-largest economy, plans to increase solar power capacity to reduce environmental pollution.

“Further, we are not bound to the anti-dumping duties and this could further boost our sales,” he added.

Tek Seng is based in Penang Science Park and dedicated to the research, development, and production of high-quality solar cells, modules, and PV systems.

Tek Seng’s solar cells are sold mainly to Taiwan, China and Eastern Europe. Taiwan and China accounted for 80% of the total sales.

In view of rising demand, Loh said the group had set aside RM200 million in FY16 to boost its production capacity to capture growth of the multibillion business.

According to him, the funds will be utilised for the installation of four additional new production lines, which would boost its total production capacity to 490mw from 210mw currently.

“One of the new lines is expected to start operation by early next month, while the other three, which will be housed in the new plant, will commence operation in phases towards the end of the year,” he said.

Currently, Tek Seng has three solar production lines at its solar energy plant in Penang, which gives it a total manufacturing capacity of 210mw per annum or 70mw per line.

“According to our internal estimation, each of the production line has the potential to generate about RM100 million in revenue per year, should it run at an average utilisation rate of 97%,” Loh added.

Claiming it as the only solar cell maker in the country, Tek Seng is in the midst of constructing its second solar energy plant, which can house approximately 10 new manufacturing lines, bringing its total production capacity to 680mw.

“The construction work is expected to be completed by [the] third quarter of this year,” Loh said.

Penang Science Park map (click to enlarge)

Tek Seng’s solar segment swung back to profitability in 3QFY15 with a profit of RM7.53 million from a loss of RM3.65 million in 2QFY15. It registered revenue of RM55.77 million in 3QFY15, accounting for 56% of the group’s total turnover.

On its PVC business, Loh is hopeful that the segment could maintain its performance in FY16 as production costs come down amid low commodity prices.

“Last year, the segment’s orders declined as much as 20%, mainly impacted by a stronger US dollar against all major currencies. But orders normalised after we slashed our prices by about 10%,” he said.

“Our products are mainly exported to emerging countries, such as Indonesia, [the] Middle East and Africa, and a strong [US] dollar will erode our clients’ purchasing power,” he explained.

Although currency volatility has hurt the company’s performance, it has no plan to hedge itself.

Instead, Loh said the group plans to offer various options, for example, a client can choose to pay according to the exchange rate on the invoice date or goods delivery date, whichever deemed best for them.

“We are also considering to bill our clients in other currencies that would benefit them,” he added.

Tek Seng posted a net profit of RM5.04 million in 3QFY15, a 183% jump from RM1.78 million in 3QFY14, while revenue surged 63.5% to RM99.33 million from RM60.75 million.

Shares in Tek Seng hit their all-time high of RM1.25 on Jan 11, and have been hovering between RM1.13 and RM1.21 after coming off the peak.

Loh’s family is the single largest shareholder of Tek Seng, with a collective shareholding of 57.15%.

GREED and low awareness are among the reasons people fall victim to commercial crimes.

DCP Thaiveegan speaking to the public during the launch of the commercial crime awareness campaign at Queensbay Mall. With him is Balik Pulau OCPD Supt Lai Fah Hin.

Penang deputy police chief Deputy Comm Datuk A. Thaiveegan said most victims do not deal with scam syndicate members face to face.

“The most popular way is through the Internet.

“Some of the popular commercial crimes are parcel scam, love scam, spoofing, phishing and scratch-and-win contests,” he told a press conference during the launch of a commercial crime awareness campaign at Queensbay Mall in Penang on Tuesday.

DCP Thaiveegan added that most victims were “blinded” by the large amounts of money offered in the scams and didn’t think twice.

He also said commercial crime cases in Penang recorded a 13.3% increase last year compared to 2014.

He said a total of 19,553 cases were reported in 2015 compared with 16,960 cases in 2014.

“The 13.3% increase is equivalent to 2,593 cases,” he added.

DCP Thaiveegan said police would continue their efforts to educate the public about commercial crimes.

A DECADE-OLD lion dance troupe from Kedah has lifted the KBJ Lion Dance on Stilts Championship title for the third consecutive year.

A DECADE-OLD lion dance troupe from Kedah has lifted the KBJ Lion Dance on Stilts Championship title for the third consecutive year.

Hong Teik Lion and Dragon Dance Association from Alor Setar beat 12 teams from Penang, Perlis, Kedah, Selangor and Perak to take home the top prize of RM5,888.

Its hat-trick of titles was never in doubt as the slick moves by its perfor-mers on stilts during the 10-minute presentation won the hearts of the judges and the big crowd of spectators.

The skills and coordination of the two performers who moved with such precision to the beat of the drums had the spectators in awe at the recent event at Kompleks Bukit Jambul (KBJ) in Penang.

“We trained well for the competition with the determination to emerge as champions again this year,” said their trainer Cheah Kwong Leang.

Cheah, 41, said they picked the theme of a ‘drunken lion’ in a cave which ran amok. His troupe also won the Best Costume award.

The event was sponsored by Penang Xuan Gang Sports Entertainment.

The Tong Keow Bin Lion Dance Association troupe from Penang won the RM3,888 second prize while Dou Mu Jiu Hwang Da Ti Buddhist Association from Kedah took home the third prize of RM1,888.

The 13 participating troupes were required to finish different themed forms of movement in seven to 10 minutes, demonstra-ting vivid gestures and expressions of the lion.

The judging panel was made up of 15 professional judges from well-known lion dance associations in Malaysia.

The judging criteria were based on the level of skills of footwork as well as coordination between the performers and the music.

The championship was organised by KBJ and Penang Xuan Gang Sports Entertainment.