PKNS launches Selangor smart city model
The Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) is committed to develop a Smart City model through their new development, Selangor Cyber Valley (SCV). The development of the 1,300-acre SCV will be built in done in phases based on nine key concepts, which includes the concept of safe city, business-friendly, efficient city, education city, green city, urban innovation, smart community city and smart premises thus making it a vibrant and sustainable city. The concept is also reinforced with the ‘internet of things’ element and is ‘smart and well connected’ in terms of infrastructure and accessibility. The SCV will be a mixed development comprising residential, industrial, commercial, educational and public facilities. (Selangorkini)

Yong Tai eyes new projects worth RM2.3bil
Yong Tai Bhd has inked agreements for the development of two separate property projects in Malacca with a combined GDV of RM2.3 billion. The company had acquired two pieces of land totalling 4.86ha through a 100% equity interest in Laila Development Sdn Bhd (LDSB) for RM35mil, which it proposes to build a mixed development with estimated GDV of RM1.1bil. The other agreement is to jointly develop land in Central Malacca with JM Bestari Land Sdn Bhd (JMBL). The proposed JV development is estimated to have a GDV of RM1.2bil and gross development profit of RM400mil. It might include – but not limited to – office, commercial and retail units. (The Star Online)

KTMB earmarks Klang Valley locations for real estate development
Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) has started venturing into the real estate industry, with three locations of its upcoming Transit Oriented Development (TOD) already identified in the Klang Valley. The projects, to be developed in Bangi, Shah Alam and Klang, is a form of urban development that maximises the amount of residential, business and leisure space within walking distance to its train stations. It will be a joint venture with developers, and would be done in phases and take four years to complete. (New Straits Times Online)

Minister: More than 1,000 housing units under construction
1,183 housing units under the national housing (RBN) programme are currently under construction at nine locations nationwide, said Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, to cater to part of the 1,675 applications received by the Federal Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (Felcra). 158 applications had already been approved. Through the RBN programme, the government offers a RM20,000 incentive for houses worth RM65,000 each to eligible applicants. The RBN housing unit must be built on the applicant’s own or parents’ land. (Malay Mail Online)

Road sign along the Kajang SILK highway

SILK Holdings gets shareholders nod to sell highway concession
SILK Holdings Bhd shareholders have approved the proposed disposal of Sistem Lingkaran Lebuhraya Kajang Sdn Bhd (SILK) to Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB). SILK Holdings will sell its entire issued and paid-up share capital in SILK for RM380 million cash. The transaction is still in progress, pending approval from UKAS and completion of the due diligence exercise undertaken by PNB. Of the RM380 million proceeds, RM200 million will be used to strengthen its marine logistics business and future investments while RM70 million has been allocated for a special dividend of 10 sen per share. (The Sun Daily)

Kelantan urged to gazette land for Orang Asli settlements
The Kelantan government has been called to gazette specific areas for Orang Asli settlements so that they will not continue to be afflicted by logging activities. The state government should consider a few things before approving logging activities, including related to water catchment areas, Orang Asli farming areas, Orang Asli burial grounds and Orang Asli ‘roaming’ areas. The Orang Asli had placed a blockade to bar loggers from entering logging areas and stop logging activities near their settlement in Balah forest reserve since September last year, claiming it damaged the environment and the extinction of forests adversely affected their livelihood. (Malay Mail Online)

High-rise projects threaten Bukit Kiara park
Environmental interest group Friends of Bukit Kiara (FOBK) has demanded that the government explain why it has allowed development projects to eat into the forested part of Bukit Kiara that is supposed to be reserved for use as a public park. The federal cabinet made a promise in June 2006 to reserve part of the land on the hill for a park, but parcels of the land had instead been sold to developers planning to build commercial or residential high-rise buildings. Residents are objecting to the development, which DBKL had issued a development order, for eight 42-storey and 54-storey blocks of service apartments on Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad. (Free Malaysia Today)

UM, Utar among top 120 Asian universities
Universiti Malaya (UM) has been listed in the top 100 bracket of Asia Universities ranking 2017 by Times Higher Education (THE). THE said in a statement that UM, a new entrant in the top 100 list, was placed at 59th while Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) emerged for the first time in the top 120 bracket. THE rankings editor Phil Baty said that with Malaysia claiming nine places in the top 300 list, up from four last year, “proves what a dynamic, diverse and competitive higher education region in the continent is becoming”. Other Malaysian universities to make it in the ranking are Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Universiti Sains Malaysia and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. (The Star Online)