By Zuhaila Sedek
With the ambitious plans for the Iskandar Development Region and its proximity to Singapore, which is pumping massive investment funds throughout the Asean region, it's on everybody's lips that Johor is going to be the country's top growth region.
Selangor, the only state in the country to declare itself "developed", certainly does not want to be left out.
It has come up with a massive development programme that aims to propel its 12 new growth areas. A key part of this move is to turn on its full power to attract investments, big and small, local and abroad.
The new growth areas will be specific in economic activity, and the range will be as diverse as is required to cover the gamut of industries from basic manufacturing to new fields in biomedicine and biotechnology.
Berjaya City
One of the largest growth areas will be the Ladang Socfin development that is slated for completion by 2040. Called Berjaya City, this 16,451-acre development takes up 15,811 acres in Hulu Selangor and another 640 acres in Kuala Selangor.
"Berjaya City will be a mixed development of housing, commercial, industrial, agricultural and infrastructure components," said Selangor's Town and Country Planning Department director Mohd Jaafar Mohd Atan.
It will have three main sections, the Upper district, Middle district and Lower district, and will be developed by Berjaya City Sdn Bhd, formerly Eminent Capital Sdn Bhd, which owns the land.
Situated about 4km off the North-South Highway, the area is now covered with rubber and oil palm plantations.
Berjaya City, Jaafar said, will also have a "homestead" project, the Persona Farm and Maya Suria residential development.
Vision City
The second largest development area will be the 10,861-acre Selangor Vision City (SVC), situated alongside the Guthrie Corridor and includes parts of the districts of Sungai Buloh, Damansara, Bukit Raja, Petaling, Rawang and Gombak.
"We believe SVC will cater to many industries in the region and make Selangor the country�s top investment centre," Jaafar said.
"The location is strategic as part of it comes under the Klang Valley and extends into the northern side of Kuang town."
Guthrie Group Bhd will undertake SVC, which will surround its developed areas of Bukit Jelutong, Denai Alam and Bukit Subang, which take up 3,450 acres in all.
The prime growth areas, now under oil palm plantations, are Ladang Lagong Mas (1,511 acres), Ladang Elmina Gombak (1,800 acres), Ladang Elmina Petaling (3,400 acres) and Bukit Subang (700 acres), making up 7,411 acres in all.
With the SVC taking off, land values in the surrounding areas are expected to rise, including that of Malay reserve land.
"Under the Malaysia Physical Plan, Selangor will be part of the national conurbation and contribute to the country's development in the 'glocal' context," Jaafar said.
Going "glocal" is the government's call to the industrial and commercial sectors, to "hink global, but act local".
Sepang to expand
Another new growth area will be Sepang, where a "balanced, mixed development" called Sepang Vintage Heights will rise on a 4,057-acre site, a significant part of which is an oil palm plantation called Ladang Teluk Merbau. It will have housing, industrial, ecotourism, infrastructure and utilities projects.
The plantation belongs to Hup Seng Consolidated Bhd but the development is to be carried out by Vintage Heights Sdn Bhd, a joint-venture company set up by GuocoLand Malaysia Bhd, Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS), Hup Seng, Crescent Capital Sdn Bhd and Singapore's Cheltenham Inv Pte Ltd.
"This development will provide more job opportunities for the people, especially in the industrial, eco-tourism and utilities sectors," Jaafar pointed out.
Of the total area, 1,527 acres will be for residential units, 834 acres for commercial projects, 490 acres for industries and the remaining 1,206 acres for infrastructure development.
This development is targeted for completion by 2020 and will complement another growth area adjacent to it, the Sepang Gold Coast.
Located near Taman Sepang Putra, Sepang Gold Coast is also linked by good roads to Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi, Sungai Pelek, Bagan Lalang and Morib.
"In two years' time, when much of the development takes shape, Sepang Gold Coast will be the latest hotspot to be seen in," he said.
This RM3 billion development undertaken by Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd and Sepang Gold Coast Sdn Bhd is taking place along a 2km stretch of the Bagan Lalang beach and is being touted as the country's newest holiday destination.
Under the first phase, villas over the water, called Golden Palm Tree Water Villas, are being built.
Selangor Science Park 2
Another major project coming up in Sepang is the Selangor Science Park 2. This 988-acre area that will emphasise hi-tech development is expected to be completed in 18 months.
The focus of activity in this park, which will be within easy reach of the KL International Airport, is to enhance research and development in the biosciences and technology.
The RM1 billion Selangor Science Park 2 is being developed by PKNS, which is also developing Selangor Science Park 1 that is slated for completion by March 2008. Science Park 2 aims to lure major investors from around the world, using its close proximity to Cyberjaya and Putrajaya as a key selling point.
Canal City
Another major development for Selangor is to put an end to flood problems within the Greater Klang Valley area. Called Canal City, this 5,399-acre development stretching over the Klang and Hulu Langat districts will serve as a flood mitigation system, with an 18km-long canal linking the Klang and Hulu Langat rivers.
The RM3 billion Canal City will also have a water reserve system to provide drinking water for the state. Of the total area, 3,954 acres will be for residential and infrastructure development.
"Those developing these new growth areas should complete their projects according to the time schedules if Selangor is to benefit from greater investment and economic activity.
"They must not compromise on quality and the planned schedules," Jaafar said, adding "we don't want to see land and property speculation in these areas, with no results in the end."
SOURCE FROM : http://properties.emedia.com.my/listfocus.php?propNewsID=532&CatID=F00
P/S : Hope all investors from all around the world will invest in Selangor. Gotcha!!!
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