Monday, November 21, 2011
Golf City in the making
By Rosalynn Poh, City and Country of The Edge
Mines Resort City founder Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew has earned a reputation as a developer who transforms the ordinary, even the unwanted, into something highly coveted. This can be seen in his Country Heights Kajang development which was launched during the recession in the 1980s. He also turned what was once the world's biggest open cast tin mine into The Mines Resort City, where an impressive list of Malaysia's business and political elite now operate and reside.
Lee, the deputy chairman of Country Heights Holdings Bhd (CHHB), has now taken on another massive challenge — building a world-class golf course-cum-residential development akin to the world's largest golf course complex, namely, China's famed 216-hole Mission Hills Golf Club. Making his task even more difficult is Lee's decision to locate his golf course project, called Mines Golf City, in the vicinity of Bukit Beruntung, a languishing township in Selangor which seems to have been bypassed by development.
Lee, who earlier this year relinquished his position as CHHB group managing director to focus on his personal ventures, showed he was up to the task when he recruited women's golf legend and former world No 1 Annika Sorenstam to design the first 18 holes of the Mines Golf City. Lee owns a 48.1% stake in CHHB.
The ambitious Mines Golf City will feature a 63-hole golf course, the country's largest, along with residential development. And if the developer succeeds in obtaining approval to manage the existing 36-hole Bukit Beruntung Golf & Country Club, adjacent to the Mines Golf City site and owned by the Selangor state government, that would create an unprecedented 99-hole golf course in the country and give credence to Lee's claim of making his golf development Southeast Asia's Mission Hills.
Mines Golf City, which comes under Mines Golf City Sdn Bhd, is a 70:30 joint venture between Lee's privately owned company and CHHB. Bungalow lots, from half an acre to two acres and tagged at between RM50 and RM80 psf, will be available for sale. With a gross development value of RM3 billion, the project spans a 2,100-acre freehold tract formerly known as Rasa Estate. The acquisition of the land was completed in January this year.
Touch of golfing great
It was an early Saturday morning and this writer found herself standing on a small, cleared elevated spot on the former Rasa Estate near Bukit Beruntung. Along with several other journalists, we watched a helicopter circle around the estate with Lee himself and Sorenstam on board, before finally landing on a temporary helipad. The group was then taken on a tour of part of the future golf course.
Lee believes Sorenstam is the right choice as, with her commitment and character, "she fits into our development". He first approached her during a golf tournament in Australia last year. "It is an honour for me that Annika has agreed to design her first golf course in Malaysia in Mines Golf City. With this 63-hole golf course development, the world will take a better look at our country," says Lee, adding that while there has been an increase in new golfers, there have not been many new golf courses in Malaysia.
Sorenstam, who walked away from competitive golfing after the Ladies European Tour in Dubai last weekend (Dec 11-14), says she's proud to be involved in such a world-class development. "It is very important to preserve the environment, spirit and traditions of the game. The creation of a variety of tees with generous landing area gives each individual an opportunity to be challenged based on their level of skill, while smaller greens and challenges will make it a true and fair test to remember." She says her immediate plans after retirement would be to focus on her business and her wedding next month.
On her impression of the site, Sorenstam says it is a beautiful and peaceful place with natural terrain: "I am thrilled with what I have seen today... it is like an open book and I can then start drawing."
Initial plans for the Mines Golf City, which is expected to be completed within six years, includes a golfing academy, medical tourism, a health clinic and spa, international school, an equestrian academy, a diving academy, a country retail mall and a world-class entertainment centre.
Lee says there are three phases planned for the development, with 400 bungalow lots available in the first phase. The lots, some 20,000 sq ft in size, will be sold for around RM50 to RM80 psf. Buyers are encouraged to build single-storey and 1½-storey bungalows and homeowners will be encouraged to allocate about 5% of their land to set up their own organic farms for a healthier and environment-friendly lifestyle.
Mines Resort City founder Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew has earned a reputation as a developer who transforms the ordinary, even the unwanted, into something highly coveted. This can be seen in his Country Heights Kajang development which was launched during the recession in the 1980s. He also turned what was once the world's biggest open cast tin mine into The Mines Resort City, where an impressive list of Malaysia's business and political elite now operate and reside.
Lee, the deputy chairman of Country Heights Holdings Bhd (CHHB), has now taken on another massive challenge — building a world-class golf course-cum-residential development akin to the world's largest golf course complex, namely, China's famed 216-hole Mission Hills Golf Club. Making his task even more difficult is Lee's decision to locate his golf course project, called Mines Golf City, in the vicinity of Bukit Beruntung, a languishing township in Selangor which seems to have been bypassed by development.
Lee, who earlier this year relinquished his position as CHHB group managing director to focus on his personal ventures, showed he was up to the task when he recruited women's golf legend and former world No 1 Annika Sorenstam to design the first 18 holes of the Mines Golf City. Lee owns a 48.1% stake in CHHB.
The ambitious Mines Golf City will feature a 63-hole golf course, the country's largest, along with residential development. And if the developer succeeds in obtaining approval to manage the existing 36-hole Bukit Beruntung Golf & Country Club, adjacent to the Mines Golf City site and owned by the Selangor state government, that would create an unprecedented 99-hole golf course in the country and give credence to Lee's claim of making his golf development Southeast Asia's Mission Hills.
Mines Golf City, which comes under Mines Golf City Sdn Bhd, is a 70:30 joint venture between Lee's privately owned company and CHHB. Bungalow lots, from half an acre to two acres and tagged at between RM50 and RM80 psf, will be available for sale. With a gross development value of RM3 billion, the project spans a 2,100-acre freehold tract formerly known as Rasa Estate. The acquisition of the land was completed in January this year.
Touch of golfing great
It was an early Saturday morning and this writer found herself standing on a small, cleared elevated spot on the former Rasa Estate near Bukit Beruntung. Along with several other journalists, we watched a helicopter circle around the estate with Lee himself and Sorenstam on board, before finally landing on a temporary helipad. The group was then taken on a tour of part of the future golf course.
Lee believes Sorenstam is the right choice as, with her commitment and character, "she fits into our development". He first approached her during a golf tournament in Australia last year. "It is an honour for me that Annika has agreed to design her first golf course in Malaysia in Mines Golf City. With this 63-hole golf course development, the world will take a better look at our country," says Lee, adding that while there has been an increase in new golfers, there have not been many new golf courses in Malaysia.
Sorenstam, who walked away from competitive golfing after the Ladies European Tour in Dubai last weekend (Dec 11-14), says she's proud to be involved in such a world-class development. "It is very important to preserve the environment, spirit and traditions of the game. The creation of a variety of tees with generous landing area gives each individual an opportunity to be challenged based on their level of skill, while smaller greens and challenges will make it a true and fair test to remember." She says her immediate plans after retirement would be to focus on her business and her wedding next month.
On her impression of the site, Sorenstam says it is a beautiful and peaceful place with natural terrain: "I am thrilled with what I have seen today... it is like an open book and I can then start drawing."
Initial plans for the Mines Golf City, which is expected to be completed within six years, includes a golfing academy, medical tourism, a health clinic and spa, international school, an equestrian academy, a diving academy, a country retail mall and a world-class entertainment centre.
Lee says there are three phases planned for the development, with 400 bungalow lots available in the first phase. The lots, some 20,000 sq ft in size, will be sold for around RM50 to RM80 psf. Buyers are encouraged to build single-storey and 1½-storey bungalows and homeowners will be encouraged to allocate about 5% of their land to set up their own organic farms for a healthier and environment-friendly lifestyle.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Perjalanan bas Bukit Beruntung-KL lebih cepat
KUALA LUMPUR: Kementerian Pengangkutan melancarkan laluan baru Bus Expressway Transit (BET6), memendekkan tempoh perjalanan bas dari Bukit Beruntung ke Kuala Lumpur sehingga 70 minit.
Perjalanan bas berkenaan bermula dari Terminal Bukit Sentosa Satu dan melalui Plaza Tol Bukit Beruntung, Plaza Tol Jalan Duta, Kelab Selangor, LRT Masjid Jamek ke Pasar Seni.
BET Route 6 – Bukit Beruntung to KL – Launched on 1 June 2011
Posted on June 7, 2011 by transitmy
TRANSIT took note of this article announcing the launch of Bus Expressway Transit route 6 from Bukit Beruntung (Rawang) to Central Market (KL) using the North South Expressway, Jalan Duta, and Jalan Parlimen.
The service began on 1 June 2011 and is operated by Setara Jaya bus co.
graphic showing the BET 6 (Bukit Berunting - Central Market) bus route. Image courtesy of NST
TRANSIT apologizes for not sharing any information with you earlier – but this is the first time we have heard any details about new BET routes.
Faster bus trip to the capital (The Star)[TRANSIT: 138 passengers daily? That is basically the equivalent of 3 full buses (at 60 passengers each). Or one KTM Komuter train carriage. Just to give you a sense of perspective.]7 June 2011
PUTRAJAYA: The Transport Ministry launched Bus Expressway Transit 6 (BET 6) on June 1, enabling commuters from Bukit Beruntung and its surrounding areas to save up to an hour in travel time to Kuala Lumpur.
By using the PLUS Highway, the buses will take a shorter time to reach their destination.
Under the old route, it took bus commuters more than two hours to travel from Bukit Beruntung to Kuala Lumpur on the old trunk road. They also had to change buses in Rawang.
The bus fare for a one-way journey using BET6 is RM4.
The ministry’s lead National Key Results Area (NKRA) coordinator Ruhaizah Mohamed Rashid said that BET6 was the newest addition to the BET system under the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) to improve urban public transport where buses utilise existing highways to link heavily populated areas and the city centre.
“With BET6, commuters are expected to experience a more reliable and smoother ride as the new route reduces journey time, provides comfort, easy accessibility and connectivity,” said Ruhaizah.
She said the route would be operated by Setara Jaya Sdn Bhd, which also runs BET5.
“After seven months of operation, BET5 has proven to be successful in the Government’s efforts to improve public transportation and to increase ridership under the GTP,” she said.
According to a press release yesterday, since the launch of BET5 in October last year, ridership from Bandar Tasik Puteri via Country Homes in Rawang to KL increased two-fold to 8,390 total ridership within its first five months of operation.
[TRANSIT: 8, 390 riders over 5 months. Let's cheer for that. No, let's not because clearly these numbers are unbelievably small. How about some BET routes in areas that are heavily in demand instead?]
There were only 43 passengers daily when BET5 was first launched but this tripled to 138 passengers daily in March 2011.
“Similar improvement in ridership is expected for the newly-launched BET6,” she said.She said the ministry had also recorded tremendous improvements in BET1 (Kota Damansara-KL) and BET2 (Bandar Sg Long-KL) launched on Jan 12 last year as well as BET3 (Subang Mewah-KL) and BET4 (Taman Sri Muda-KL), launched on Jan 21 last year.
“Ridership for BET1-4 posted a 78% increase (1,970 ridership daily) from 2,688 ridership per day in QI last year to 4,638 ridership per day in Q1 this year,” she said.
For further information on BET5 and BET6 services, call Setara Jaya at 03-40214566 or 03-40216166.
TRANSIT Says:
While we are happy with any improvements to public transport services, this is one example of an improvement that we would question if given the opportunity. Kudos to Pn Ruhaizah and his team for the hard work and dedication (we know they are struggling to win consensus from different agencies and operators which previously work in silo).
Yes, we appreciate the improved and direct service and we are happy that Setara Jaya is participating (so it’s not just RapidBET) – but at the same time, we could see much more significant improvements by making investments in public transport where there are actually lots of people.
There are many bus routes in the Klang Valley that would benefit from expansion or “BET”-ing. Let’s look at improving those bus services as well.
Also, we deeply suggest the government to plan for Expressway Rapid Transit (ERT) service as a holistic ‘BET’ package. BET’s efficiency will be reduced with the increase in congestion on present ‘under-utilized’ expressways, and traffic bottlenecks on the first and last mile journeys (before entering and after exiting the highway) affect the overall door-to-door journey time. After all, with ERT, express bus operators can lease the buses for ERT service use when their capacities are underutilized during peak hours, and fleet management efficiency can be obtained.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
BUKIT BERUNTUNG GOLF CLUB (BBGC)
Petikan dari http://kakigolf.com/forum/index.php?topic=2263.0
Effective from July 1, 2010 recently, The management of BBGC have been taken over by The Mines.
They are budgeting a minimum figure of RM3 million to up grade the course.
Among other things that they are going to do are:-
1) To widern the existing greens
2) To rebuild the buggy track
3) To engage the services of caddies
******************************************************************
Mining works start at Beruntung
BUKIT Beruntung Golf & Country Resort as of Aug 1, will be managed by the Mines Excellent Golf Resort Berhad (MEGRB). A spokesperson for MEGRB said that the existing 36 holes at Bukit Beruntung will be upgraded in stages.
A fleet of new buggies has been ordered and is expected to arrive in October, while upgrading works will be carried out in most of the club’s amenities including changing rooms, point of sales and sports facilities such as tennis, badminton and squash courts, swimming pool, gymnasium and other service areas.
A new membership programme was also announced by MEGRB, whereby golfers need only pay RM300 a month to use the club’s facilities. There will be no subscription fees charged.
It is expected that MEGRB will seek to change the name of Bukit Beruntung GCR in due time. Although no reason was offered as to why MEGRB has taken over Bukit Beruntung, it can be speculated that this 36-hole layout is to complement the 64-hole Mines Golf City project that was launched by Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam.
The Swede and South Korean Se Ri Pak have been signed to design two courses at the Mines Golf City. The third architect has not been announced yet.
MEGRB also manages the Mines Golf & Spa Resort in Sungai Besi, the venue for the US PGA-sanctioned CIMB Asia Pacific Golf Classic in October.
For more information regarding Bukit Beruntung, contact Ong at 019-600 1390.
BUKIT Beruntung Golf & Country Resort as of Aug 1, will be managed by the Mines Excellent Golf Resort Berhad (MEGRB). A spokesperson for MEGRB said that the existing 36 holes at Bukit Beruntung will be upgraded in stages.
A fleet of new buggies has been ordered and is expected to arrive in October, while upgrading works will be carried out in most of the club’s amenities including changing rooms, point of sales and sports facilities such as tennis, badminton and squash courts, swimming pool, gymnasium and other service areas.
A new membership programme was also announced by MEGRB, whereby golfers need only pay RM300 a month to use the club’s facilities. There will be no subscription fees charged.
It is expected that MEGRB will seek to change the name of Bukit Beruntung GCR in due time. Although no reason was offered as to why MEGRB has taken over Bukit Beruntung, it can be speculated that this 36-hole layout is to complement the 64-hole Mines Golf City project that was launched by Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam.
The Swede and South Korean Se Ri Pak have been signed to design two courses at the Mines Golf City. The third architect has not been announced yet.
MEGRB also manages the Mines Golf & Spa Resort in Sungai Besi, the venue for the US PGA-sanctioned CIMB Asia Pacific Golf Classic in October.
For more information regarding Bukit Beruntung, contact Ong at 019-600 1390.
***************************************************************
good to hear something to be done kat BBGC, since the course layout actually not bad, challenging also with combination of slopes. water hazards
and pokok kelapa sawit. Dulu ramai turun main kat sini tapi lately makin pudar, keadaan pun agak kurang meriah kalau di sana, sunyi sepi - takut
nak main pun ada jugak.
Hopefully, Mines dapat naikan semula kegemilangan BBGC, sebab di sini lah terletaknya Kolej Aman - sekolah Golf kebanyakkan anak2 Korea train
di sini, kalau ke driving range nya jangan terkejut dipenuhi remaja Korea boys and girls training - swing mereka - superb! Kedudukan yang strategik
jugak harus di utilizekan 40 min kurang lebih dari Shah Alam, Kuala Lumpur patutnya memudahkan golfer untuk tiba awal pagi, tepi tol Bukit
Beruntung lagi - ada banyak kedai makan di persekitaran. Pendek kata, its a future golf heaven kalau Mines really put effort into.
and pokok kelapa sawit. Dulu ramai turun main kat sini tapi lately makin pudar, keadaan pun agak kurang meriah kalau di sana, sunyi sepi - takut
nak main pun ada jugak.
Hopefully, Mines dapat naikan semula kegemilangan BBGC, sebab di sini lah terletaknya Kolej Aman - sekolah Golf kebanyakkan anak2 Korea train
di sini, kalau ke driving range nya jangan terkejut dipenuhi remaja Korea boys and girls training - swing mereka - superb! Kedudukan yang strategik
jugak harus di utilizekan 40 min kurang lebih dari Shah Alam, Kuala Lumpur patutnya memudahkan golfer untuk tiba awal pagi, tepi tol Bukit
Beruntung lagi - ada banyak kedai makan di persekitaran. Pendek kata, its a future golf heaven kalau Mines really put effort into.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Map of persiaran prima beruntung Mister-Map.com - 1
48300
Prima beruntung (
Selangor)
Malaysia
Zip Code 48300 | Map of prima beruntung | Map of selangorTuesday, March 29, 2011
Trek Prima Beruntung
Trek Prima Beruntung:Sunset Ride - 08 August 2010
Distance : 12.7km
Location : Prima Beruntung, Rawang
Moving Time : 1 Hours 5 Minutes
Location : Prima Beruntung, Rawang
Moving Time : 1 Hours 5 Minutes
Setelah sekian lama kami tidak menjejakkan kaki di Bukit Prima.Akhirnya pada petang Ahad yang lalu kami berlima berjaya menawan kawasan bukit Prima sambil menikmati suasana matahari terbenam. Kawasan Bukit Prima yang berbukit-bukit amat sesuai untuk mereka yang sukakan pendakian yang memenatkan. pada petang Ahad yang lalu kami berlima berjaya menawan kawasan bukit Prima sambil menikmati suasana matahari terbenam. Kawasan Bukit Prima yang berbukit-bukit amat sesuai untuk mereka yang sukakan pendakian yang memenatkan.
baca sepenuhnya :
7 Eleven Bukit Sentosa
7-Eleven - Bukit Sentosa 1 (Store 287)
NO. 1 (GF), JALAN BUNGA KERTAS 1D,
BUKIT SENTOSA 1
48000 RAWANG
Tesco Bukit Beruntung
Pelaburan TESCO memesatkan pembangunan ekonomi, peluang pekerjaan dan peningkatan nilai hartatanah di Bandar Bukit Sentosa. Bayangkan TESCO Transit (Gudang) betul-betul terletak di sebelah Tol Bukit Beruntung yang telah beroperasi sejak tahun lalu. Kini, Kompleks perniagaan TESCO sedang dibina di Bandar Bukit Sentosa (di tapak Juara Rakyat).
TESCO Rawang di Batu 16 juga telah mula operasi sejak akhir tahun lepas.
Disamping itu, projek kompleks dan deretan kedai , pejabat dan bank sedang di bina sepanjang laluan antara Tol Bukit Beruntung hingga ke Bandar Bukit Sentosa .
Sunshine Business Park
Monday, March 28, 2011
RM20 million boost for Bukit Sentosa
9.12.2010
SHAH ALAM: Investors from Australia and China are keen to invest some RM20 million in Bukit Sentosa in Rawang to build a supermarket, an international college and a beauty skills training centre.
The investors have bought 37 units of shophouses from Talam Corporation Bhd for RM1.5 million to be converted into a supermarket, said the media secretariat at the Selangor Menteri Besar's office in a statement.
The investors also planned to buy in stages seven blocks of vacant and abandoned shophouses to establish an international college and a beauty skills training centre.
The investors, who met Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim at his office here today, were keen to invest in Bukit Sentosa due to its strategic location on the fringes of the Kuala Lumpur City and connected with an efficient and systematic road network.
Meanwhile, Khalid said the state government practised investor-friendly policy and would extend full cooperation to the investors to do business in Bukit Sentosa.
He said the investment would provide the impetus to transform the landscape in Bukit Sentosa, which was all this while regarded as a "white elephant" project, into an industrial zone and human settlement.
"The investment will provide a great deal of benefit to Bukit Sentosa residents in terms of job opportunities and better infrastructure facilities," he added. - Bernama
Sunshine Business Park - Bukit Beruntung
Sunshine Business Park is located within easy reach of major hot spot such as Selayang, Rawang and to as far as Subang Jaya and Petaling Jaya. SBP's location is further enhanced by its easy accessibility via North-South, Guthrie Corridor & North Klang Valley (NKVE) expressway thus ensuring higher visibility and business opportunity.
With its high-value combination of location, affordability and security; the development will further add to the vibrancy of the area which is already home to highly populated residential hubs, financial institution, Chinese, Malay & Indian schools & college, hypermarket, tropical golf club, and variety of amenities. Sunshine Business Park is believed to be the biggest and utmost modern business centre ever to emerge in Bkt. Beruntung town centre.
RESTORAN MOHD CHAN ABDULLAH - BUKIT BERUNTUNG BRANCH
In the year of 2007, the founder of Mohammad Chan Restaurant, En Mohammad Chan Abdullah, a truly Chinese Muslim who are serving Chinese-Muslim Food for all the Malaysian. He was inspired by the Malaysian ethnic that the delicious Chinese foods should be generously shared with all the Malaysians from different background. With that, En Mohammad Chan took the courage to establish the first branch in Bukit Beruntung in the year of 2007 to cater all the Muslim and non-Muslim. The restaurant received positive respond from the market, En Mohammad chan had decided to operate another 2 branches, located in Kelana Jaya, PJ and Taman Melawati, KL. In Nov 2009, another branch was established in Wangsa Maju, KL. Within 3 years, En. Mohammad Chan has successfully operated 4 branches and continuously bringing in new dishes every month! In the coming years, En Mohammad Chan will continue to operate more branches in other places to serve the tasty Chinese Muslim food that you don't want to miss it! |
TESCO MALAYSIA UPDATE
http://hubpages.com/profile/rcklim%40yahoo.com
In the past 8 years Tesco has seen significant growth, now making them the number 1 retailer in Malaysia. Do you want to grow with Tesco and be part of thier success story? If so then Tesco will be expecting supplier to become a centralized supplier and conform to Tesco standards when delivering to Tesco new Ambient Distribution Centre. As part of continued investment in building a bigger business; this will be a state of the art Distribution Centre with 50, 000 pallets locations, 160 dock bays and 280 trailer parking spaces, making it one of the largest Distribution Centre’s in South East Asia, which opens in Bukit Beruntung in August, 2009.
Part of Tesco distribution center will provides major benefits and services of which some are below;
An increased in availability leading to increased sales, Reduced waiting time, Priority delivery at stores, Reduction in Administration, Reduced purchase orders by consolidating them, Quicker replenishment to stores, More frequent deliveries to stores,
To ensure these benefits are realised it is essential that Tesco suppliers adopt Tesco ways of working.
Document outlines the rules for working in Tesco supply chain. It is important to point out that failure to meet Tesco requirements will mean that you will not enjoy the stated benefits and continued failure will result in the cost incurred being passed on to you and the risk of not growing Tesco business together.
Please email to us & we will share with you in depth information of on Tesco requirement & expectation.
New Chinese school at Bukit Beruntung
By FOONG PEK YEE
newsdesk@thestar.com.my
BUKIT BERUNTUNG: The RM6mil SJKC Bukit Tangga here is set to open its doors in January with 250 pupils, said Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The school, which will cater for the growing population here and nearby areas, will be a relief for many parents and their children.
“Prior to this, the children would have to travel about 20km to the Chinese school in Serendah, and their parents had to pay about RM100 a month for the transport,” Dr Wee said, after visiting the school here yesterday.
Dr Wee said the community’s wish to have a school here became reality when Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced in January that a plot of land valued at RM3mil would be allocated for the school.
All ready: Dr Wee (fifth from left) visiting the SJKC Bukit Tangga in Bukit Beruntung yesterday.The ministry had provided a RM3mil direct grant to the school board to build the school and Muhyiddin performed the groundbreaking ceremony in April.
Dr Wee also visited SJKC Kalumpang, Kerling, near here yesterday to present RM300,000 to the school board.
The money would be used to build a new block for the school.
Mines Excellence plans 5-star hotels in Bukit Beruntung
By Sharen Kaur Published: 2009/09/08 http://www.skyscrapercity.com Founder Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew aims to turn Mines City into a world-class destination for golfing and for health tourism DEVELOPER Mines Excellence Golf Resort Bhd will build three five-star hotels within its RM3 billion Mines Golf City development in Bukit Beruntung, Selangor over the next three to four years. Founder Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew said it is looking to set up a boutique hotel, a wellness hotel with golden standards and a hotel for golfers for more than RM300 million. Lee said he is also keen to establish a university designed for golfers and a health clinic and spa. "My aim is to turn Mines City into a world-class destination for golfing and for health tourism," Lee told Business Times in an interview in Kuala Lumpur recently. "I want to set up a few golf and wellness hotels in Malaysia and it would be ideal to have two in Mines City," he said. Lee said he is ready to talk to boutique hotel and spa operators who are keen to set up shop at the golf resort. The 840ha Mines City is being developed by Mines Golf City (MGC) Sdn Bhd, a 70:30 joint venture between Mines Excellence and Country Heights Holdings Bhd, in which, Lee, has a 48.1 per cent stake. MGC will develop a 63-hole golf course on 320ha, which would be Malaysia's largest, and build townhouses, 500 bungalow lots, an equestrian and driving academy, schools, sports facilities, food outlets and parks on the remaining land. Lee said construction on Mines City will commence in early 2010 after it gets approval from the local council to develop the golf course. MGC has completed the piling work and signed up Swedish golfing superstar Annika Sorenstam to design the first 18 holes and South Korea's Se Ri Pak, the next round of 18-holes. Lee said MGC is in talks with other golfing superstars to design the remaining 27-holes. "There is a big business in golf. In the US, there are over 20,000 golf courses and more than 90 per cent are successful. There will be a big Japanese and European market for Malaysia going forward because of Sorenstam and Pak," Lee said. Meanwhile, Lee, who was CHHB group managing director but relinquished his position last year to focus on golf, said there is scepticism from the market on whether he would finish developing Mines City. "There is scepticism on whether I would be able to do it. A few years after I started Mines Resort City in Seri Kembangan, recession hit. People started talking. But I completed it in five years," Lee said. Mines Resort City consists of seven components including Palace of the Golden Horses, Mines Wellness Hotel (previously Palace Beach & Spa) and Mines Waterfront Business Park, built from 1993 to 1998. "MGC is free from encumbrances. If banks want to support the Mines City development, I am more than willing to talk to them. Right now, I am self-funding the project," said Lee. |
 |
MINES GOLF CITY IN THE MAKING - BUKIT BERUNTUNG
By Rosalynn Poh
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com
Email us your feedback at fd@bizedge.com
Mines Resort City founder Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew has earned a reputation as a developer who transforms the ordinary, even the unwanted, into something highly coveted. This can be seen in his Country Heights Kajang development which was launched during the recession in the 1980s. He also turned what was once the world's biggest open cast tin mine into The Mines Resort City, where an impressive list of Malaysia's business and political elite now operate and reside.
Lee, the deputy chairman of Country Heights Holdings Bhd (CHHB), has now taken on another massive challenge — building a world-class golf course-cum-residential development akin to the world's largest golf course complex, namely, China's famed 216-hole Mission Hills Golf Club. Making his task even more difficult is Lee's decision to locate his golf course project, called Mines Golf City, in the vicinity of Bukit Beruntung, a languishing township in Selangor which seems to have been bypassed by development.
Lee, who earlier this year relinquished his position as CHHB group managing director to focus on his personal ventures, showed he was up to the task when he recruited women's golf legend and former world No 1 Annika Sorenstam to design the first 18 holes of the Mines Golf City. Lee owns a 48.1% stake in CHHB.
The ambitious Mines Golf City will feature a 63-hole golf course, the country's largest, along with residential development. And if the developer succeeds in obtaining approval to manage the existing 36-hole Bukit Beruntung Golf & Country Club, adjacent to the Mines Golf City site and owned by the Selangor state government, that would create an unprecedented 99-hole golf course in the country and give credence to Lee's claim of making his golf development Southeast Asia's Mission Hills.
Mines Golf City, which comes under Mines Golf City Sdn Bhd, is a 70:30 joint venture between Lee's privately owned company and CHHB. Bungalow lots, from half an acre to two acres and tagged at between RM50 and RM80 psf, will be available for sale. With a gross development value of RM3 billion, the project spans a 2,100-acre freehold tract formerly known as Rasa Estate. The acquisition of the land was completed in January this year.
Touch of golfing great
It was an early Saturday morning and this writer found herself standing on a small, cleared elevated spot on the former Rasa Estate near Bukit Beruntung. Along with several other journalists, we watched a helicopter circle around the estate with Lee himself and Sorenstam on board, before finally landing on a temporary helipad. The group was then taken on a tour of part of the future golf course.
Lee believes Sorenstam is the right choice as, with her commitment and character, "she fits into our development". He first approached her during a golf tournament in Australia last year. "It is an honour for me that Annika has agreed to design her first golf course in Malaysia in Mines Golf City. With this 63-hole golf course development, the world will take a better look at our country," says Lee, adding that while there has been an increase in new golfers, there have not been many new golf courses in Malaysia.
Sorenstam, who walked away from competitive golfing after the Ladies European Tour in Dubai last weekend (Dec 11-14), says she's proud to be involved in such a world-class development. "It is very important to preserve the environment, spirit and traditions of the game. The creation of a variety of tees with generous landing area gives each individual an opportunity to be challenged based on their level of skill, while smaller greens and challenges will make it a true and fair test to remember." She says her immediate plans after retirement would be to focus on her business and her wedding next month.
On her impression of the site, Sorenstam says it is a beautiful and peaceful place with natural terrain: "I am thrilled with what I have seen today... it is like an open book and I can then start drawing."
Initial plans for the Mines Golf City, which is expected to be completed within six years, includes a golfing academy, medical tourism, a health clinic and spa, international school, an equestrian academy, a diving academy, a country retail mall and a world-class entertainment centre.
Lee says there are three phases planned for the development, with 400 bungalow lots available in the first phase. The lots, some 20,000 sq ft in size, will be sold for around RM50 to RM80 psf. Buyers are encouraged to build single-storey and 1½-storey bungalows and homeowners will be encouraged to allocate about 5% of their land to set up their own organic farms for a healthier and environment-friendly lifestyle.
Overcoming negative perceptions
Bukit Beruntung is about a 45-minute drive from the Kuala Lumpur city centre and seems to have acquired an unwanted stigma due to the number of abandoned houses and the lack of amenities such as hospitals and schools. A recent drive into the township revealed many abandoned and vandalised homes amidst a few occupied houses, and generally badly maintained areas with high grasses lining the roads.
Will the upcoming Mines Golf City development be a boost for existing investors in Bukit Beruntung? Lee says he surveyed the area before making the decision to proceed. "While other people see it as a stigma, I see it as an opportunity," he adds.
"Merely building something beautiful is no use. You have to do it right to attract people. Look at how Mines was carved and turned around, and [the same with] the Borneo Highlands Resort in Sarawak," says Lee, adding that many people want to choose Malaysia as a golfing destination.
"I am an entrepreneur and I have my own ideas. I believe Malaysians must re-invest in the country. The two highest value properties are those facing water and golf courses. Golf properties are very much sought after and valuable, second only to waterfront properties, and I believe that when building a golf course, it is like building a garden," he tells City & Country.
Lee's vision is that Mines Golf City will set the next trend in living — beautiful living just outside the city. "It will exude the same elegance and style as other world-class golf courses in the world, such as The Wentworth Estate in England, Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai, The Heritage in Ireland and Hua Hin in Thailand," he adds.
Metrohomes Sdn Bhd director See Kok Loong says investors-cum-golfers would definitely be keen on investing if Mines Golf City is developed well, like Mission Hills. "I believe Mines Golf City needs to attract international golf tourists to stay there," adds See. He says golf holidays are leisure and tourism activities that are doing very well in Kota Kinabalu, and believes that with detailed planning and enough financial strength, Mines Golf City will be a success.
Henry Butcher Malaysia Sdn Bhd president Lim Eng Chong feels that Mines Golf City is going to be "good and exciting" for the Bukit Beruntung area. "When housing development was first launched there in the 1990s, it received good response. Most purchasers were actually investors and speculators, not end users," says Lim, adding that initially not many people moved into the area as they preferred to "wait until other people moved in first".
See says Talam Corp Bhd started developing Bukit Beruntung in the 1990s when the housing market was very positive and there was speculation that the new airport (now the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang) would be in the north of the Klang Vallley.
"Then the 1997/98 Asian financial crisis happened and the KLIA airport was located in the south instead. Developers in Bukit Beruntung and Bukit Sentosa focused on low and medium-cost housing instead, and with the increase in highway tolls, it was difficult to sustain new development there," See tells City & Country.
Up for auction
Furthermore, says See, many investors in Bukit Beruntung did not move in and this resulted in an "empty" township. "From early 2000 onwards, we have seen a lot of auctioned properties there and it continues until today. It would be quite difficult to see a comeback for the area as prices are going down so low," he says. See cites an example of an apartment that was sold between RM40,000 and RM60,000 in the 1990s that is now up for sale at between RM5,000 and RM6,000.
Indeed, a quick search online shows many low-cost and medium-cost properties in Bukit Beruntung up for auction. An auctioneer, who prefers to remain anonymous, says many purchasers of properties in the area were primarily investors paying 10% to 20% upfront and expecting rental yield.
"When those properties were completed, they were also vandalised. I was told that the lack of Chinese and Tamil schools there was also an important issue for families," he says. The auctioneer adds that, since August this year, he has had bungalow lots up for auction in the existing golf course there but there have been no takers. The lots are about 43,000 sq ft in size, with a reserve price of RM220,000.
Carey Real Estate (Ampang) director Avtar Singh says the first phase of Bukit Beruntung received good response when launched around 1992 to 1994. Bungalows, with a land area of 6,000 sq ft, were sold at between RM160,000 and RM180,000 then. Recent transactions of similar bungalows were auctioned for about RM200,000 to RM220,000, he says.
Avtar says there are 900 bungalow lots in the Bukit Beruntung Golf & Country Club. "While prices for the bungalow lots vary depending on the location; lots nearer to the golf course are currently transacted at around RM8 to RM9 psf," he says, adding that some were even auctioned for RM6 psf.
Avtar does not see Mines Golf City complementing the existing Bukit Beruntung developments. "I think Mines Golf City will create its own growth, as it might have its own commercial developments. Yes, there may be some activities there, especially during the weekends, but we will see if Bukit Beruntung will boom again," he says.
On a brighter note, hypermarket operator Tesco purchased 25 acres of freehold land in Bukit Beruntung from Talam Corp Bhd in April last year for RM18.59 million. The site, now in the midst of development, is said to be the biggest depot for Tesco in the country.
See says that while there may not be any major short-term impact on the area, investors may take another look at Bukit Beruntung and Bukit Sentosa if Mines Golf City proves to be a success.
http://www.minesgolfcity.com/
Pembangunan Terkini di Bukit Beruntung dan Bukit Sentosa
Baru-baru ni ada juga cari-cari di Google berkenaan pembangunan di Bukit Sentosa. Rupanya ada juga yang membincangkan perkara yang sama di forum. Kebanyakannya nak tahu berbaloi atau tidak membeli hartanah di Bukit Sentosa/Bukit Beruntung pada masa sekarang. Memang harga hartanah di sini murah terutama yang sedang di lelong lagi lah murah. Saya suka tinggal di kediaman saya sekarang. Walaupun tak sibuk seperti di KL, kereta masih banyak di jalan raya. Kalau hujan turun, berkabus juga persekitaran banjaran Titiwangsa yang boleh dilihat dari rumah saya. Genting Highland waktu malam cerah bercahaya dilihat dari rumah.
Fakta yang menarik dibincangkan adalah seperti berikut. Ada projek yang sedang berjalan.
1. Pembinaan Sekolah Kebangsaan Cina yang telah siap dibina dan telah beroperasi. Cepat sungguh pembinaan sekolah tersebut, tak sampai setahun pun. Katanya sekolah-sekolah yang seumpamanya di Rawang telah penuh serta sesak dan tindakan membina Sekolah tersebut adalah tepat.
2. Pejabat Majlis Daerah Hulu Selangor berpindah ke Bukit Sentosa. Perkara ini tak dapat dipastikan. Ada juga pembinaan bangunan pejabat sedang dibina di sebelah stesyen minyak ESSO.
3. Pembangunan Kompleks perniagaan TESCO. Ini memang sahih. Pembinaan sedang rancak dibina. Ada TESCO best juga boleh jadikan mobile office. Kat area situ P1 punya coverage memang tip top. Cuma tak banyak premis yang sediakan tempat nak surfing internet beserta power socket elektrik. Restoren Salam kat Bukit Sentosa tu pulak crowded sangat.
4. Projek kompleks dan deretan kedai, pejabat dan bank sedang di bina sepanjang laluan antara Tol Bukit Beruntung hingga ke Bandar Bukit Sentosa.
5. Sebuah Universiti Madinah akan dibina diantara Bukit Beruntung dan Bandar Bukit Sentosa.
6. Pembinaan jalanraya dari Bukit Sentosa 3 ke Serendah. Jalan potong tanpa melalui Jalan Sungai Choh
+ Hendak di katakan tidak ramai penduduk bukanlah alasan lagi bagi KFC dan PIZZA HUT untuk terus menjadikan destinasi yang kekal bagi cawangan mereka (Yang ada cuma caw bergerak, itupun kejap ada kejap takada). Internet broadband pula bergantung pada coverage ISP yang kebanyakkannya adalah edge. Tu yang tak berapa best bagi pelanggan Maxis, Celcom dan Digi. Harap kesemuanya ISP ni melabur lebih banyak dalam meningkatkan network mereka. P1 mobile memang sangat berbaloi digunakan di sekitar bandar Bukit Sentosa.
Projek Senggaraan Bumbung Bangunan yang telah siap
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