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Group, has done to the area. I was working that area in my
early days as an estate negotiator and used to rent out
apartments in Pantai Hillpark and Pantai Panorama. We
worked for a short while with the UOA Group on their Park
Residences and I can only say that such developments will be
good for its residents.
Firstly, it increased the value of their properties. Secondly,
it brought good infrastructure to the area and thirdly, it
branded the area as Bangsar South, playing on the idea of
the higher-end perception of the neighbouring Bangsar. It
can only bring positive change in the future.
JT: When you look at Bangsar South and its density, it begs
the same question as Mont Kiara does: where is the exit
point It is just blocks and blocks of developments but the
jam starts right at the doorstep.
Having said that, I would note that one of the upcoming
developments there, KL Gateway has a good location.
Overall, Bangsar South is sited on a good parcel of land.
There is an LRT station which is University Station and it is
smack in the middle of Bangsar proper and Petaling Jaya as
well as on the Federal Highway.
With so many big developments coming up in the area, I do
not think that it will affect current residents in any negative
way. UOA Group has a lot invested in the area so I highly
doubt that it will fail in their more than capable hands.
As with most places in Klang Valley, the biggest concern
would be the potential congestion of an already-congested
area. Their only option is to create a slip-road or overpass
onto the other side of Federal Highway. That, however, is
extremely unlikely.
KL: Bangsar South may have started off with a negative
stigma attached to it but it has successfully overcome this
and found great success. The worn-down and dilapidated
environment which would have hitherto turned off major
corporations has since been spruced-up with infrastructure
improvements and continuing upgrades that have and
will continue to only add value to this locale. Its continued
growth with more developers crowding in will surely raise
capital values there.
Contrary to negatively impacting its current residents,
it is a unique opportunity for wealth creation and new
conveniences which were not possible in its former shape
and form.
Bandar Tun Hussein Onn sits in a location filled with
potential but plagued by traffic. Will the MRT line and LRT
extension change this or is there more that needs to be
done to turn the area into more than just a part of Cheras
JT: Without a doubt, the rail lines will definitely change
things mostly because there is no other choice. When you
think about it, what alternative do they have They cannot
build another highway in the area. The SILK Highway is
fantastic and it has also brought in a lot of great amenities
such as the AEON outlet in the area. The widening of the
Cheras-Kajang Expressway was also a smart move.
What needs to be done is some kind of integration. The
“
One of the many
advantages that Cyberjaya
has is that it is an administrative
centre which is quite wellthought-out
even as a township.
”
biggest downside of Bandar Tun Hussein Onn and Cheras is
that pockets of land are developed by different developers.
That has also contributed to the slow increase of capital
appreciation especially as township developments tend to
appreciate at a much faster pace.
One move which will positively impact the area is the
building of big parking stations at all the public transport
stations. Releasing more government land in the area will
also allow for more versatile developments to be created.
KL: Bandar Tun Hussein Onn will begin to experience better
growth once the train lines are completed. This could be
enhanced with better facilities and amenities in the area
which are better planned. There are opportunities for this
due to the large land areas which are still available for
development in the immediate and secondary surroundings.
Klang Valley’s property prices are nothing to scoff at. How
will the simultaneous development in its most distinguished
areas affect its affordability aspect
LC: It has definitely gone beyond what everyone expected.
There is a Chinese saying that roughly translates to, “My
glasses fell off!” About six to seven years ago, I told people
that 2-storey link houses will go up in price to about
RM600,000 and everyone scoffed at that. At the time,
prices for these homes were around or below RM300,000.
At present, we are looking at well above the RM1-million
mark for those exact same houses. These days you cannot
put ‘distinguished area’ and ‘affordable’ in the same
sentence.
Many people, especially those belonging to Generation Y,
have come forward to look for houses to invest in. They are
always plagued either by the affordability of the property or
credit crunching by the banks.
Singapore has seen property prices drop by as much
as 30%, so hopefully there will be a similar correction in
Malaysia as well. Most first-time homebuyers dream of
having a home for their families but end up having to ask
their parents for help to do so. It has really gone past just
an issue of affordability.
JT: I am of the opinion that affordability cannot even
be discussed as it is a perennial problem that is never
addressed. It will further be pushed against a wall when the
Goods and Services Tax (GST) hits. As for simultaneous
development, it sounds great but if no one can buy these
homes to stay in, what would be the point
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