Pay DBKL assessment tax from now until Aug 31
Property owners in Kuala Lumpur can begin paying the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) assessment tax for the second term of 2017 from today until August 31. Owners who fail to pay their assessment taxes by August 31, would automatically be fined 2% of the current payment. Those who have yet to receive their assessment tax bill for the second term of 2017 can get it at Menara DBKL or any DBKL branches. Payment can be made at the counters, or online through Ambank, Public Bank, Maybank, Bank Kerjasama Rakyat, MyEG, Citibank and JomPay. (Malay Mail Online)

Ivory Properties joins strategic alliance to re-develop KL land
Ivory Properties Group Bhd is teaming up with Taman Segar Management Corp and Upper Label Sdn Bhd to form a strategic alliance to jointly re-develop a piece of land in Kuala Lumpur. The three companies will work together to re-develop the project land by demolishing three existing blocks of 300 units on the land and build at least 800 units, of which 300 units will be compensation for existing owners. (The Edge Markets)

Property market in KK booming thanks to tourism, private investments
Rising private investments and expansion of tourism industry in Sabah’s real estate sector have led to a booming property market in Kota Kinabalu. State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor said the market had been resilient between 2008 and 2014, with improved economic activities since the implementation of Sabah development corridor projects, especially those related to tourism. He added that the government also aimed to address property affordability via the “Malaysia My Second Home” (MM2H) scheme and had established an immigration office to facilitate registrations. (NST Online)

Tallest building in Sabah ready in 5 years
A new upscale property development called The Shore will be Sabah’s tallest building when completed in five years. The 25-storey property, situated in the city centre facing the South China Sea, is also expected to appeal not only to the local communities, but domestic and foreign investors. The project, a collaboration between Titijaya Land Bhd and China Railway Engineering Corporation (CREC) has a GDV of RM575mil and will house 561 units. The building’s unique design makes it the first of its kind in Kota Kinabalu. Among other things, it will feature a rotating sky bar, infinity pool and a hammock garden. (The Star Online)

New home for DBKL sports club
The 47-year-old Kuala Lumpur City Hall Sports Club (KSDBKL) in Brickfields has been reduced to a pile of rubble, paving the way for a brand new building in its place. The decades-old club was demolished on April 18, and took eight weeks to demolish. DBKL will spend RM50mil to rebuild a new club house in its place. The new sports complex would be built on the now empty 2.42ha-site and expected to be completed by 2020. The new four-storey KSDBKL building will also have a basement carpark. It will feature a football field, and courts for futsal, basketball, and tennis. Indoor facilities will include three badminton courts, sepak takraw court, ping pong facilities, gym, a community hall and a cafe. (The Star Online)

It took contractors eight weeks to demolish City Hall’s 47-year-old sports club building in Brickfields. —FAIHAN GHANI and YAP CHEE HONG/The Star

Ranhill relocates corporate HQ from KL to Johor Baru
Ranhill Holdings Bhd has relocated the current corporate headquarters in Kuala Lumpur to Johor, in a bid to strengthen its core business in the southern region and Sabah and Sarawak. Johor Baru is the site of its largest operating centre, SAJ Ranhill Sdn Bhd, followed by others in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and various third-tier cities in China. Through SAJ Ranhill, the group is currently the exclusive water operator for Johor, providing water supply services to the second most populous state in Malaysia. It remains the group’s key business, contributing almost 75% to Ranhill’s total revenue in FY2016. (The Sun Daily)

Improve housing needs, environment for better family wellbeing
The country needs to improve the housing needs and environment to achieve a better family wellbeing index, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim. Based on the Malaysian Family Wellbeing Index (IKK) 2016, the housing and environment domain recorded the lowest score at 6.24 from a maximum scale of 10. Malaysians still need affordable housing facilities that are clean and comfortable to improve wellbeing. (The Sun Daily)

Jalan Harapan-Jalan Damansara link open to traffic
The long-awaited Phase II of the Jalan Harapan-Jalan Damansara link project in Petaling Jaya is finally completed and now open to traffic. It had been delayed numerous times since 2013 due to contractor issues, development projects and relocation of utility connections. It stretches from the SSTwo Mall to the traffic light intersection between Section 17 and Section 19 at Jalan Harapan. The project involved widening of the road and drains along Jalan Harapan to prevent flooding in the area. (The Star Online)

Phase two of the Jalan Harapan-Jalan Damansara Link is finally open and Section 17 and 19 residents are worried about the impact on traffic flow in their neighbourhoods. —The Star Online