By Allison Lee (The Edge)From its beginnings in the automobile trade, the Kueen Lai group has spread its wings into the real estate industry. It recently introduced zero-lot concept homes in Kajang, Selangor.

A husband-and-wife team runs the show at Kueen Lai, with its managing director Eng Soo Min in charge of the day-to-day operations while his spouse, director Teh Mee Ting, handles the administrative side of the business. Eng owns several automobile-based businesses in Kajang, but decided to diversify into property development with Taman Damai Mewah, the group’s maiden project.

Launched in 2005, the 10-acre freehold development consists of 40 units of 3-storey shopoffices, 140 units of medium low-cost apartments and 544 units of medium-cost apartments. The project has been fully sold and completed.

Tiara Residence
Following up from Taman Damai Mewah, the group is currently developing the 10.6-acre freehold Tiara Residence in Kajang, a project with a concept that Eng describes as a break from the norm. “Kajang has yet to see homes with the zero-lot concept like the ones we are offering in Tiara Residence. We wanted to entice buyers by offering them variety, while others are offering conventionally designed homes,” says Eng.

The RM70-million Tiara Residence has 70 units of bungalows and semidees. There are three units of 3-storey bungalows and four units of 3-storey semidees with built-ups ranging from 5,500 to 4,018 sq ft respectively. The bungalows are tagged from RM1.7 million, while the semidees are going from RM787,100.

The bulk of the units in Tiara Residence are the zero-lot concept homes — 31 units of 3-storey bungalows and 32 units of 3-storey link bungalows. The zero-lot bungalows have land areas of 40ft by 80ft and built-ups of 4,020 sq ft, while the zero-lot link bungalows have land areas of 50ft by 65ft with built-ups of 4,019 sq ft. Prices start from RM787,100 and RM798,300 for the bungalows and link bungalows respectively.

“The response has been very good and we have sold 50 units since the soft-launch last September. Interestingly, we have attracted foreigners — German, French, Dutch and Taiwanese buyers have taken up five units in Tiara Residence through the Malaysia My Second Home programme,” says Eng, adding that foreigners were keen on the project because of its proximity to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

Tiara Residence is located off Jalan Tun Zamrud along the Kajang’s main artery road of Jalan Semenyih. The project, less than five minutes from Kajang, is accessible via Jalan Cheras, the KL-Seremban Highway, Kajang- Seremban Highway and the SILK Highway.
Kueen Lai group’s marketing consultant M Halim says because of the improved road network, Kajang has become more accessible.

“Although Eng is a first-time developer, he is passionate about the industry and is willing to take on new ideas. Together, we have studied the Kajang market and are confident that Tiara Residence will meet the demand for lifestyle-themed homes. We priced the project at a premium compared to the standard concepts found nearby, which are going from RM500,000,” says Halim, who is the managing director of KNOX Halim Holdings Sdn Bhd.

The zero-lot concept
What’s the zero-lot concept? “The zero-lot concept is about maximising the available space. (The standard) semidees are split into two by a wall and bungalows are in the centre of a lot. This does not give privacy as your neighbours can always look into your compound. The zero-lot concept has built-up areas pushed to one end of the lot, thus the boundaries are lined with a side wall,” explains Tiara Residence’s architect Goh Day Ren.

He says this gives owners peace of mind as the gardens are private outdoor rooms with sidewalls that ensure seclusion. “People in Kuala Lumpur have learnt to appreciate this concept, which is popular in the US. Even bungalows, which are superior to semidees because of their space, lose out to the zero-lot concept when it comes to privacy,” he adds.
The homes are designed so that there is a flow between internal and external spaces. Goh says the layout gives buyers a sense of wide-open space.

“We created open boundaries and ample cross ventilation. There is see-through flow space from the living room to the garden. Staircases are usually a horizontal slab of concrete, but those in Tiara Residence resemble an open space with a structure in the centre. We brighten up the homes with L-shaped windows and plenty of glass to minimise the dark corners,” he says.

Tiara Residence is situated on elevated terrain and the entire development will be gated and guarded with CCTV camera surveillance. The project is slated for completion in 3Q2009.

Upcoming
Kueen Lai group plans to launch another two projects in Kajang by year-end — a 4.42-acre light industrial factory lot project in Bandar Teknologi and a 5.07-acre freehold residential development. “The zero-lot concept in Tiara Residence is popular with buyers, so we are offering another residential project with the same concept nearby,” says Halim.
Although Kajang is the group’s stronghold, it is venturing outside, with a 3.6-acre freehold project in Jalan Kuchai Lama and a project of over one acre in Mont’Kiara.

The RM80-million Kuchai Exchange in Jalan Kuchai Lama will have 25 units of 5 and 6-storey shopoffices. The strata-titled units are sized from 7,947 to 16,249 sq ft and tagged from RM370,000 to RM5 million. To date, seven units have been taken up.

Although plans for the Mont’Kiara land are still on the drawing board, Eng says they are for high-end condominiums. “The site is adjacent to the French International School and although there are many high-rises in the area, I feel there is still demand for them as sales have been strong. We plan to launch the project in 1½ years,” he adds.

Kueen Lai may be a new player in the industry, but Eng is determined to make property development the group’s core business. He is on the hunt for more landbank in the Klang Valley.

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