PBB confident Puteri Harbour integrated project will succeed
PBB Group Bhd is optimistic that its integrated waterfront development, the Southern Marina Residences in Puteri Harbour, Nusajaya will attract strong interest from both local and foreign buyers despite negative reports of a property glut in Iskandar Malaysia. Puteri Harbour is said to be the ‘jewel’ of Nusajaya, and waterfront property located near to Singapore would be its strong selling point. Phase 1 of the development, which was launched over the weekend at its sales gallery. (The Star Online)

Knusford teams up with China firm to bid for projects
Knusford Bhd has entered into a joint venture (JV) agreement with China real estate developer Shanghai Greenland Construction Co Ltd to bid for major construction and infrastructure projects in Malaysia. The JV offers both companies good opportunities to bid for and participate in major building, civil engineering jobs and real estate development projects in Iskandar Malaysia and the region. (The Sun Daily)

i-City to transform into transit-oriented development with LRT3
I-Bhd, the master developer of i-City in Shah Alam, is planning to enhance its flagship development into a transit-oriented development due to the upcoming light rail transit line three (LRT3) plan. LRT3 will be a new rail line connection from Bandar Utama to Johan Setia in Klang, and will have a station right in the heart of i-City. The company has a masterplan for the development to be a pedestrian-based on with overhead bridges connecting the 29.1ha ultrapolis, with the possibility of bus transit to the KTM station, LRT station and i-City itself. (The Star Online)

Sunway REIT aims for full occupancy at Sunway Putra Mall
Sunway Putra Mall had its soft launch in late May after undergoing 2 years of refurbishment works, and reopened with an occupancy rate of 70%. The management is committed to bringing the mall’s occupancy level to 100%. It could potentially attract crowds from Jalan Duta, Jalan Kuching, Bangsar, Bukit Tunku and Mont’Kiara, as well as pedestrians using the link bridges and shoppers from PWTC and Seri Pacific Hotel. (The Edge Markets)

Minister: MARA Melbourne property deal legit
Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie has said that the purchase of a property in Melbourne, Australia by a subsidiary of Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), Mara Incorporated Sdn Bhd, is in accordance with procedures and there was no element related to inflated price as reported by an Australian newspaper. The valuation of the property had been checked by international bodies, and the building was meant to provide housing for MARA students. Dudley House currently houses 115 MARA students studying at Monash University. (The Malay Mail Online)

Hot and dry spell until August
The hot and dry season in Malaysia has begun, and is expected to last until end of August. The country is in the active phase of the south-west monsoon, and hotter and drier weather with less rainfall is to be expected during this period. However, temperatures are not expected to rise higher than 38ºC. (The Star Online)

International News
Malaysian student injured in Taiwan water park explosion
A Malaysian student suffered second degree burns and had been admitted to the Ren Ai Hospital’s ICU for further treatment. Lim Sh Li, a medical student at the National Taiwan University, was one of the over 500 people injured when an explosion occurred at a water park during the Colour Play Asia celebrations in Taipei on Saturday. Local authorities are still investigating the cause of the explosion. (New Straits Times Online)

USA legalizes same-sex marriage in all 50 states
It was a historic day for US and LGBT history, as the Supreme Court 5-to-4 vote ruled same-sex marriage legal in all 50 US states. Before the ruling, gay marriages were legal only in 37 out of 50 states. The ruling determines that citizens’ right to marriage equality is protected under the US constitution. Internet users around the world also celebrated the occasion by sharing rainbow-coloured posts on social media. (The New York Times)