Kebenaran Merancang (Planning Permission)

When UEM Sunrise, IJM, UM Land, Sime Darby, PKNS or any developers in Malaysia intend to develop an area for a new township, even at their own land, they will start by applying for a planning approval. According to the Urban and Rural Planning Act (Act 172: Akta Perancangan Bandar dan Desa 1972), any individual or company is required to obtain planning approval or Kebenaran Merancang (KM) from the local authority prior to any new development. Therefore, before Sime Darby can turn Bukit Chermin and into Putra Height, they had to get through Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya (MPSJ). Before Prasarana Berhad can erect the viaduct for the extension of their Light Rail Transit (LRT) or dug the tunnels for the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), they had to get through all the authorities of all the involving area - Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL), Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya (MBPJ), Majlis Perbandaran Ampang Jaya (MPAJ), Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam (MBSA) and so on. No construction can commence without Planning Approval from the respective authority.

Planning Permission allows the respective party, under supervision and authority of the local government, to conduct development works according to the plan and condition of which will decide including but not limited to proposed width and level of road and street, proposed height level, design, function, space, density and plot ratio of residential or commercial unit and other type of buildings, other proposal of land use, utilities provision for recreational space, community centre, school and other facilities required, and other condition for orderly development. The objective of planning approval is to ensure that all development and land use by any developers is conducted properly without initiating pollution, disturbance, traffic congestion, increase of infrastructural burden, decrease of value and amenities, floods or any other unwanted problem to the neighborhood and the community including social and economical issues.

The procedure and duration for application for KM is different from one municipality to another. Sometimes, even two municipal in one states can have different operation in processing application. However I believe the core of the application process would be in similar form in anyway. In Malaysia, bureaucracy always be the most annoying thing while dealing the government officers. All the government great plan  usually turn out hard to implement due to red tape from their staff. Currently I'm still learning the procedures for KM and will come back to you once I can understand the surface and underground stream flows.

PR1MA - One Malaysia Peoples’ Housing

Most of you must already familiar with the government's PR1MA branded housing. I bet thousands of you have already enrolled into this scheme since PR1MA Corporation established under PR1MA (1Malaysia Peoples’ Housing) Act 2012.

PR1MA objective is to plan, develop, build and offer modern and high quality houses for middle income urban citizen. PR1MA housing is located within community area with various types and sizes. The cost to own a PR1MA house is anticipated to be around RM100,000 to RM400,000, a very reasonable price for middle income family.

As to date, at least 9 PR1MA housing will be build within Klang Valley. 3 will be build at Johor, and another 8 are at other states, including 3 at Sabah. The following are the list of the PR1MA housing.

1. Alam Damai, Cheras
2. Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur
3. Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur
4. Jalan Bukit, Kajang, Selangor
5. Jalan Jubilee, Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur
6. Pandan Indah, Selangor
7. Pandan Jaya, Selangor
8. Seremban Sentral, Negeri Sembilan
9. Seremban Utara, Negeri Sembilan
10. Setapak, Kuala Lumpur
11. Taman Bukit Cheras, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur
12. Taman Cempaka, Selangor
13. Bandar Layangkasa, Johor Bahru
14. Jalan Saujana, Mukim Plentong, Johor
15. Tebrau, Johor
16. Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang
17. Bukit Gelugor, Pulau Pinang
18. Slim River, Perak
19. Sungai Petani, Kedah
20. Bunut Rendang, Kuantan
21. Borneo Cove, Sabah
22. Inanam, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
23. Sandakan City Centre, Sandakan, Sabah

To apply for PR1MA, a person and his/her spouse must be:

• Malaysian citizen
• Single or married
• At least 21 years old on the application date
• Gross household income must fall within RM2,500 toRM7,500
• Applicant and/or spouse not have more than one existing property

Eligible applicants must apply for the balloting of the homes through the PR1MA registration system via www.pr1ma.my. Applicants are also required to submit the relevant documents for screening purposes.

End financing for the homes are to be arranged by the successful applicants themselves. There is a 10-year moratorium, whereby the properties cannot be sold or transferred to another party. The homes must be owner-occupied and no subletting would be allowed.

For lower middle income individual, PR1MA is without doubt a great opportunity for you to own house at a discounted price. The only downside of it is most of the proposed development are stratified apartments. Only few are landed houses, including the recently launched PR1MA at Sungai Petani, Kedah. However it is up to you to decide based on your household budget and future plan.

I wish you all the best.

Greater KL and Smart City Conference 2014

In the 10th Malaysian Plan (10 MP 2011-2015), Kuala Lumpur ranked 79 out of 130 cities under the Economist Intelligence Unit survey on livability. Major plans have been identified under the (NKRAs) to address this, particularly on combating crime and improving urban public transport. Livability, however, encompasses a broader concept, and initiatives to create attractive public spaces, nurture a uniquely internationally relevant arts and culture scene, and provide a rich mix of leisure activities will create a distinctive urban character for the Greater Kuala Lumpur

As the capital and commercial heart of the country, the Greater Kuala Lumpur (KL)/Klang Valley NKEA represent a crucial component in the plan to transform Malaysia into a high-income nation by 2020. The overall aim is to transform the region into a world-class metropolis that will boast top standards in every area from business infrastructure to liveability.

ASLI ‘s Greater KL & Smart City 2014 will be updating executive delegates the selected key areas that are expanding for its future completion in 2020. This one day forum will be combining the big mind and powers that has been the pulse of development of the greater KL now, before and in the future.

Limaspuri - Johore Architectural Heritage Reborn

Just short introduction for our friend from outside Nusantara. Johore is the southernmost state in Peninsular Malaysia, and is located between the 1°20"N and 2°35"N latitudes. Historically, it is the last kingdom from Srivijaya and Malacca linage that survive the colonial era, and the only nation in South East Asia, other than Rama Kingdom of Thailand that is always independent from any European occupation. In the past, its territory comprises most part of Sumatra and Malay Peninsular including Singapore and most of the islands at South China Sea. Its rich culture is made up of harmonious blend of various tradition from all place in Nusantara. Limas house is one of the many heritage of Johore. To learn about Limas House, you might want to read my older post on it. (Read it here).

For all peoples who had visited Johore several years back might be lucky to be able to see a replica of a Johore Malay Village located at Danga Bay, Johore Bahru. There were several pretty and unique traditional Limas houses in a kind of village setting, with a little shop, reflexology place, restaurant with a beautiful veranda and many more. The site can be spotted no more. It had been pulled down to ground to give way for a more expensive commercial development. Even I had no chance of seeing it. Realizing the missing of a place symbolising Johor’s Malay heritages at the heart of Johore capital, an effort had been made through a collaboration of the State Government of Johor and her subsidiary Cahaya Jauhar, with expertise of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia's Malay World Research Centre or Pusat Kajian Alam Melayu (KALAM) to build a new village of Malay Limas Houses. The project is called Limaspuri Melayu Johor.


Originally, Limaspuri was proposed to be build at Danga Bay near the old Limas villages site but then, it was given a bigger location at Linear Park (Qiblat Axis), Nusajaya near the state's new administrative centre, Kota Iskandar and Malaysian Legoland themepark. At least ten Johore Limas houses will be build based on the KALAM research on the existing traditional house in Johore. The project was scheduled to be launched during the Visit Johor Year 2015 and ready for opening by 2016. When it is completed, Limaspuri will has a gallery complete with a theatrette, exclusive Johore restaurant, hall and surau. It will embody the state's rich, varied and intricate artistic heritage, evident in everything from elaborately carved Malay motifs, exceptional woodwork and the exquisite expressions of master artisans and landscaping that harmoniously blends nature with man-made ingenuity.

The Limaspuri Melayu Johor is part experiential showcase, part edutainment hub and part theme park, a place where the past, present and future converge to inspire hearts, minds and spirits. There will be lot of fun activities to be done at each Limas house, and beside the Malay architectural amazes, visitors can also learn on the other aspect in Malay culture such as Silat, Malay cuisine, games, medicines, arts and artifacts.

For more information on Limaspuri Melayu Johore, updates, events and promotion, go to the official website at www.limaspuri.com

In another occassion, please take a moment of silence to recite al-Fatihah for the late Dato Wan Abdullah bin Wan Ibrahim, CEO/Managing Director of UEM Sunrise who passed away on the last 26th February 2014, two weeks post his last umrah trip. Dato Wan had been on sick leave since last December 2013.

For anyone who has nothing better to do today, please be invited to Nusajaya Affordable House Pre Launching at SMK Gelang Patah. Check out the tentative at my previous post