Education Ministry: Jawi, not khat, lesson stays, but only with parents’ consent
The Ministry of Education has announced that the vernacular schools will only teach the Jawi script at a basic level instead of the khat calligraphy. The introductory lessons will stay in vernacular schools, but only with the consent of students and each school’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA). “Sekolah Kebangsaan will continue as usual,” it added. The ministry also reiterated the Cabinet’s decision that the jawi lesson takes up only three pages in the Bahasa Malaysia text book, and will not be subject to any tests or examinations. (Malay Mail)
S P Setia cuts 2019 sales target a fifth
With less than five months remaining for 2019, S P Setia Bhd has revised downward its sales target for the year to RM4.55 billion from RM5.65 billion as the property slump has yet to show significant easing. At the same time, the property developer has earmarked non-strategic land bank in second-tier cities such as Batu Pahat and Muar in Johor for divestment to focus on bigger cities. The revision is its second as the initial plan was to launch approximately RM6 billion worth of homes. However, there is a bright spot in sustained demand for landed terrace houses. (The Edge)
Country Garden Malaysia unveils Lake City @KL North project
Property developer Country Garden Malaysia yesterday unveiled its first integrated transit-oriented development project in Kuala Lumpur. The project, called Lake City @KL North, is set to follow the HOPSCA concept, which stands for hotel, office, park, shopping mall, connectivity and apartments. Property in KL North saw an appreciation mainly due to the upcoming Mass Rapid Transit Line 2 (MRT2), with seven out of the 26 proposed stations slated to be within the vicinity. “Sitting on 80 acres of prime land, Lake City @KL North will be able to increase the economic activity to create new jobs, ease sustainability and transportation issues, establish landmarks for the city and create synergistic communities,” said Country Garden Malaysia regional president Jason Fu. (The Edge)
(Source: Lake City – KL North)
Axis REIT to buy two industrial properties in Johor for RM55.8m
Axis Real Estate Investment Trust is planning to acquire two industrial properties for a total of RM55.8 million in Taman Teknologi Nusajaya, Johor. REIT trustee RHB Trustees Bhd has inked sale and purchase agreements with Nusajaya Tech Park Sdn Bhd to buy the properties, comprising two plots of freehold land and all the buildings erected on them. The first property is priced at RM42 million and has a land area of 1.4674 hectares, while the second property, which will cost the REIT RM13.8 million, has a land area of 0.6585 hectares. Both are currently leased. The proposed acquisitions would strengthen its portfolio of industrial properties, which is expected to benefit the REIT in the long term. (The Edge)
France opens criminal probe into death of Nora Quoirin
The Paris prosecutor’s office has opened a criminal probe into the death of an Irish-French girl, whose body was found near a jungle stream in Malaysia. The remains of Nora Anne Quoirin, 15, were found on Tuesday, 10 days after she went missing from a rainforest resort in Seremban. An autopsy begun yesterday had yet to conclude, Malaysian police said, adding that forensic pathologists were still working to determine the cause of Quoirin’s death. French prosecutors regularly launch investigations on cases involving French citizens abroad. Nora’s mother is from Belfast, England while her father is French. An initial investigation had yielded no evidence of criminal behaviour but police would look at all possibilities, Malaysia’s deputy police chief Datuk Mazlan Mansor said. (Malay Mail)
