Monday, September 26, 2011

Educity: Ambitious plans to become an Asian hub for Western education


A reverse brain drain

Ambitious plans to become an Asian hub for Western education

Published on 5th May 2011, Economist Print Edition


ONE corner of a foreign field is becoming for ever England. It is in Johor on the southernmost tip of peninsular Malaysia, opposite Singapore. At a site called Nusajaya, workmen are finishing a new campus of Newcastle University. Nearby foundations are being dug for Southampton University. And down the road Marlborough College, one of England’s most famous public (that is, private) schools, is building a Malaysian campus from scratch. If all goes well, the 900-odd pupils will hardly notice that they are looking out over palm-oil plantations rather than the Wiltshire Downs. Within a few years thousands of students will be enjoying an English education in this steamy bit of Asia.

“Educity”, as the Johor complex is called, reflects Malaysia’s grand strategy to become a centre for Western education. The country wants to meet strong demand among Asia’s new middle classes for English-language schooling. It also worries about its brain drain (over 300,000 university-educated Malaysians work abroad). Having watched Asian children flock west to spend a lot of money on British and American schools, the government decided a few years ago to try to reverse the trend. It has campaigned to persuade Western schools and colleges to come and set up branch campuses. The Malaysian proposition to Asian parents is simple and beguiling: come to these famous schools and universities in our country and get the same degrees and qualifications as in Britain or America for half the price.

Australia’s Monash University was the first to set up shop, followed by Britain’s Nottingham University, in 2000. Other Australian universities followed Monash, and in March the Massachusetts Institute of Technology teamed up with a Malaysian body to create Asia’s first Institute for Supply-Chain Innovation. Johns Hopkins University is expected to set up a medical school. The Netherlands Maritime Institute of Technology is already in Educity.

Yet other factors count as well. Malaysia is a former British colony and English is widely spoken. The country has a superficially Western feel to it—ideal for Westerners studying or teaching in Asia, and for Asians who want to acclimatise to Western culture. Meanwhile, Malaysia cleverly markets itself to the Middle East as a relatively relaxed Islamic country where young Muslims can mix together freely and, for a few years, slip the surly watch of the morality police back home.For these Western institutions, the prize is a toehold in the world’s biggest education market. Many have already gone into partnership with or lent their names to schools and universities in Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai. But this is the first time so many have been persuaded to build replicas of themselves in another country, a more permanent and riskier proposition. They are doing so largely because the Malaysian government is bearing the start-up costs. Educity is spending about $100m on the infrastructure and buildings.

In return for putting up a lot of money, the Malaysian government wants universities to set up faculties in subjects that will be most useful to Malaysia. The University of Southampton, for instance, will only offer degrees in engineering. But the influx of foreign colleges might have more interesting consequences, too. In order to attract foreign universities, the government has had to waive the restrictive and sometimes racist regulations that govern Malaysia’s own universities. In these places, informal quota systems give preference to ethnic Malays in the faculties of sought-after subjects such as law, medicine and engineering. Students are not allowed to join political parties or protest. Now, local students are demanding to know why they should be subject to these archaic rules when the new students are not. Good question.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Iskandar to benefit from Singapore-Malaysia relationship

Living in Johor. Another validation from Analyst. Good for us! 

Sep 12, 2011 - HomeGuru.com.my

Fund managers in Singapore see the enhanced bilateral relationships between Malaysia and the city state as the key driver of development in Iskandar Malaysia.

According to Quah He Wei, an analyst from HwangDBS Vickers Research Sdn Bhd, feedback from fund managers revealed that most of them would encourage their clients to invest in the region.

He added that the Singapore government has been asking its investors to look at Iskandar through initiatives such as Temasek Holdings’ joint venture (JV) with Khazanah Nasional Bhd to develop a “wellness township” in Nusajaya.

“About three week ago, we organised a field trip to Iskandar for the first time for more than 40 fund managers from the republic,” Quah informed the StarBiz.

He added that based on a survey, 53 percent of the fund managers approved the Iskandar’s development progress while 41 percent were neutral.

The survey also revealed that 64 percent would likely invest in Iskandar properties within the next two years and that 72 percent chose to acquire landed properties in Nusajaya, as the area canaccommodate various major projects.

Quah noted that the quality and pricing of housing properties in Nusajaya were the primary attractions.

But Nusajaya still lacks critical mass and investors are likely to come in only in 2012, which is the tipping point with the completion of the projects,” he said.

Situated in the southernmost part of Johor, Iskandar has a total land area of 2,217 sq km. The other four flagship development zones are the Eastern Gate Development Zone, Johor Baru City Centre, Senai-Kulai and Western Gate Development Zone.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Iskandar Malaysia making progress

Living in JB has its ups and downs. Today, it is an up. Why? Well, read the report for yourself and bask in glorious confidence if you've already a foothold in JB properties. It is always to receive good news from independent sources. Or so, saiths I. 


A special report by HwangDBS Vickers Research, On Saturday 10 September 2011, 23:45 SGT
http://sg.finance.yahoo.com


During our recent site visit to Iskandar Malaysia, we drove around the project sites for EduCity, Medini, SiLC, Horizon Hills, Setia Eco-Gardens, and Johor Premium Outlet, and made stops at the state administrative centre in Kota Iskandar, Columbia Hospital, and Puteri Harbour sales gallery. We also met up with representatives from the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB), UEM Land Bhd, S P Setia Bhd and Eastern & Oriental Bhd (E&O).

The feedback from fund managers was encouraging — 53% and 41% of our survey respondents were positive or neutral on Nusajaya’s development progress. Respondents were generally satisfied with the progress on infrastructure, security, foreign and private investments, government policies, awareness and marketing, and property prices. Fund managers rated infrastructure, security, and government policies as the top three factors required for Iskandar to be a success.

On security, IRDA highlighted that a Safety and Security Blueprint is in place and the crime index had fallen by 21% and street crime by 47% compared with last year. Police manpower has been increased from 6,172 in 2007 to 9,115, and Iskandar now has five police districts compared with only three previously. An additional 273 mobile police vehicles and 12 mobile police stations have been deployed as tactical command centres in Iskandar’s five flagship zones — Johor Bahru City Centre, Nusajaya, Western Gate Development, Eastern Gate Development and Senai-Skudai).

We are encouraged that 64% of our survey respondents are keen to invest in Iskandar-related shares and properties within the next two years, of which 72% are interested in landed properties. Tourism should be a low hanging fruit as 67% of respondents would consider Iskandar as a weekend getaway, while 72% would likely visit the theme parks. The Johor Premium Outlet — the first Premium Outlet in Southeast Asia — should also be well-received based on our 89% positive response.

Some 49% of the fund managers are also interested in patronising Iskandar’s healthcare facilities. This concurs with our observation of the activity level at Columbia Hospital, which is positioned as a suburban/community hospital (41 beds). Since its launch in July 2010, Columbia Hospital has treated over 8,000 patients, of which 30% to 40% were foreigners. Occupancy rate is 80% to 90% and average length of stay is two days. This can be attributed to the scarcity of reputable private hospitals in Johor and relatively cheaper medical fees compared with Singapore (the single-bed room rate is only RM180 against S$498 (RM1,230) at Gleneagles Singapore). EduCity, however, needs more promotion (only 11% of respondents would consider sending their children there).

2012 tipping point on track

According to IRDA, committed investments in Iskandar Malaysia have reached RM76 billion as at 1H11 (about 59% from foreign investors), of which 40% or RM30 billion has been realised. Most of the infrastructure and catalyst developments in Iskandar are on track for completion from 2012 onwards, which should help to draw in critical mass to Nusajaya.

Under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, RM6.3 billion has been allocated to upgrade existing road infrastructure and build new roads to improve connectivity (four out of six road projects are in various stages of progress). The Coastal Highway, which will cut travelling time from Nusajaya to Johor Bahru by half to 20 minutes, looks on track for completion by December this year. Newcastle University (first in EduCity) is expected to commence enrolment by October this year, although hostels are still under construction and the food courts and retail facilities seem rather sparse for now.

Although construction of Legoland seems to be in the initial stages, we were assured that its September 2012 launch date is still achievable as fabrication of rides will be done concurrently offsite. We also noted several large projects slated for completion in 2012 (some of which have been overshadowed by other higher profile projects), as shown in Table 1.

Medini: Central business district of Nusajaya

IIB provided some insights on development plans for the 902ha Medini, which was acquired by a Middle East consortium comprising Kuwait Finance House, Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Development Co and Saraya Group in August 2007 for RM4.1 billion (RM43 psf). Medini is divided into four components for mixed development: Medini North, Business, Central and South. To date, about RM4 billion has been committed and spent on infrastructure and building works.

There are robust development activities at Medini North to leverage on the September 2012 opening of Legoland, which is targeting one million visitors per year. Various listed construction and property players are keen to get a piece of the action:

• WCT Bhd is scheduled to launch its first phase (300 condo units) 1Medini residential project in Medini North this month at US$150 (RM450) psf (GDV RM200 million), with targeted completion by 2013. WCT will also be developing a RM688 million commercial project in the Medini Business District, just minutes away from Medini North;

• UEM Land Bhd is developing Lifestyle Retail Mall and Residences@Medini North, which will be directly connected to Legoland. Phase 1A, comprising 200,000 sq ft gross floor area, has been targeted for completion by September 2012, although the entire development of two million sq ft GFA will be spread over eight years;

• Bina Puri Holdings Bhd is scheduled to complete a RM500 million SOHO and retail development (Medini Square) at Medini North by 2013. The first phase of 1.05 million sq ft GFA is expected to be completed in 2012; and

• Pantai Holdings Bhd plans to build a 300-bed private hospital, Gleneagles Medini Hospital, on a 6ha site at Medini North, scheduled for completion in 2014.

For Medini Central, E&O will jointly develop 85ha at the iconic wellness township in Medini Central with Pulau Indah Ventures (Temasek-Khazanah joint venture). E&O has been appointed the project manager and sales and marketing consultant for the RM3 billion-GDV mixed development.

The project should do well given:

• its strategic location near the Second Link and public golf course, and Medini is the only area within Iskandar with special incentives (10-year tax exemption, no bumiputera quota, freedom to source capital and labour globally);

• Temasek’s stamp of approval which should see strong interest from Singapore buyers; and

• E&O’s strong execution track record (master plan likely to be similar to its flagship Seri Tanjung Pinang Phase 1).

Rising interest in Johor property

We saw an increase in landbank transactions at Iskandar recently, with Mah Sing Group Bhd and Dijaya Corp Bhd acquiring large parcels over the past five months. Nusajaya’s land price has continued to set new benchmarks, surpassing other areas in Johor, including Johor Bahru city centre. For example, Puteri Harbour was transacted at RM220 psf in June 2011 against Johor Bahru’s RM117 psf in August. Recent transactions at SiLC industrial land had touched RM35 psf, with UEMLand targeting RM60 psf in the longer-term as Senai Industrial Park is already asking for RM45 to RM60 psf. We understand SiLC buyers are required to construct their factories within two years of purchase, failing which UEMLand has the right to buy back the land at 90% of the purchase price.

Property launches are expected to pick up at Nusajaya and set new price benchmarks. UEMLand will be launching Imperia Condo at Puteri Harbour (700 to 1, 200 sq ft built-ups) soon at RM600 to RM700 psf, while WCT is aiming to launch 1Medini at RM450 psf. These prices are much higher than UEMLand’s Ujung apartments that were launched in 4Q09 at RM300 psf. The latest launches of link and semi-detached houses at Nusajaya are already touching RM800,000 and RM1.2 million per unit, almost comparable to property prices in some areas within the Klang Valley. Based on KGV Lambert Smith Hampton’s survey (highlighted in The Edge weekly), average prices of 2-storey terraced houses and semi-d/cluster houses at Nusajaya have appreciated by 21% and 48% since the start of 2009.

S P Setia remains market leader in Johor

SP Setia has seen consistent sales at its Johor projects, growing at a five-year compound annual growth rate of 17%. Sales for 9MFY11of RM798 million have surpassed FY10’s sales of RM607 million. Johor currently accounts for about 35% of S P Setia’s total sales (was about 70% prior to launch of Setia Alam and Setia Eco-Park in 2004). Johor will continue to feature prominently in S P Setia’s plans after the recent acquisition of two large parcels near Tebrau — Setia Eco Cascadia (105ha @ RM15 psf) and Setia Business Park 2 (106ha @ RM11 psf) for a combined RM295 million. S P Setia now has 608ha of land in Johor with RM8 billion potential GDV.

About six months ago, S P Setia ventured into industrial properties — a low hanging fruit given its established presence in Johor since 1997 and rising private/foreign investments at Iskandar. Setia Business Park (adjacent to Setia Eco Gardens) is well sought after with Phase 1 and 2 fully sold (80% to 90% locals). Phase 1 is completed and we will see Singapore-based companies such as Old Chang Kee, SYY Pte Ltd, Huiji and Windwell move in. S P Setia has also started to launch apartments in Johor to tap into the affordable homes segment, for example, Sky Gardens Residences at Setia Tropika (RM390 psf, 56% sold) and Sky Loft at Bukit Indah (RM462 psf, 75% sold).


Genting Plantations’ Johor Premium Outlet (JPO)

JPO, a 50:50 joint venture between Genting Plantations and US-listed Simon Property Group, is strategically located at the intersection of the North-South Highway and Second-link Expressway, and will span 18ha with approximately 175,000 gross lettable area.

It will be the first Premium Outlet in Southeast Asia, boasting 80 to 90 outlet stores with an average size of 1,800 sq ft per lot. There will be 3,000 parking bays and 30 bus bays to cater for four million visitors per year (first year target). Located between Resorts World Genting in Genting Highlands (3.5 hours drive) and Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore (one hour drive), JPO is likely to be packaged as part of the Genting Group’s travel packages/bus programme to attract more visitors to the shopping haven.

With the official launch (Nov 11, 2011) just four months away and its superstructure yet to be completed, we expect JPO to open in stages.

This article appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, September 8, 2011.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Concession for Malaysian Cars to be driven into Singapore

Copied from a forum - for those who own Msia registered cars intending to drive in Sg. 


"In recognition of the needs of bona fide Singaporeans or Singapore PRs working and residing in Malaysia to make home visits to Singapore, we could consider you for the special concession scheme. Under the scheme, all approved applicants are allowed to drive their Malaysia-registered cars into Singapore for all weekends, all Singapore public holidays and another 28 weekdays in a calendar year. Approval will be given on a case-by-case basis with consideration to the following:

The applicant (his spouse or his company) is the registered owner of the vehicle. If the vehicle is rented/leased by his company, he has to submit an official letter from the company stating the period the vehicle is leased for and that the vehicle is provided solely for his use;
He is physically working and residing in Malaysia;
He is required to apply to Land Transport Authority for approval when his earlier approval letter (if any) has expired (i.e. upon expiry of his vehicle's insurance/road tax or 6 months, whichever is earlier);
His vehicle has a valid Malaysia road tax disc and insurance coverage for the period it is used in Singapore; and
He must keep, in each of his visit, his vehicle outside Singapore before the vehicle entry permit grace expiry of 14 days from the date of the last entry.

(Note: Unless further extension is granted, the vehicle entry permit valid for 14 days is issued upon each entry and encoded in its Autopass Card electronically at land checkpoint.)

If you wish to apply for the scheme, please fax your request and the following documents to us at (02)-65535329 or (02)-65535802 (from Malaysia) or by email to rp@lta.gov.sg:

A photocopy of your Singapore identity card (front and reverse sides);
A photocopy of your passport with the relevant page of your employment pass endorsed by Malaysian Immigration or Malaysian identity card (if any);
A photocopy of your company's letter confirming that you are currently working and residing in Malaysia;
A photocopy of your vehicle's valid registration card (front and reverse sides) with latest valid road tax endorsement by Road Transport Department, Malaysia;
A photocopy of your vehicle's valid insurance certificate;
If the vehicle in your application is registered under your company's name (or is rented/leased by your company), we would also require an photocopy of your employer's letter stating the period the vehicle is leased for and that the vehicle is given solely for your use and that only you can drive the vehicle; and
A photocopy of your marriage certificate (if you are applying with your spouse's vehicle).

Please also provide us your residential address in Malaysia and your residential address during your intending visit in Singapore and indicate your intended date(s) of visit (if available) to Singapore.

Important Note

Your application must reach us at least 5 working days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays) before your intended visit to Singapore to allow us to process your application. Please note that we may not be able to process your application on time if your submission is incomplete or late.

Electronic Road Pricing and Vehicle Entry Permit Fees and toll charges

Please refer to our website at http://www.lta.gov.sg =>'Motoring' =>'Driving Into and Out Singapore' =>`West-Malaysian Registered Vehicles' =>'Vehicle Entry Permit/Tolls' and `Autopass card matters' for more details on payment of vehicle entry permit (VEP) fee, electronic road pricing (ERP) fee and toll charges.

Driving Licence to drive in Singapore

You may also wish to check on the type of driving licence required to drive in Singapore for Singapore citizen or Singapore permanent resident from the following Singapore Traffic Police's portal:

http://driving-in-singapore.spf.gov....ence_legal.htm

Please contact our Customer Service Hotline at 1800-CALL LTA (1800-2255582) or email us at rp@lta.gov.sg or vep_feedback@lta.gov.sg if you need clarification.

We thank you for writing to us."

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Turning Nusajaya into a Smart City

Collaboration essential in forming sustainable smart cities: Cisco

By AvantiKumar
Published on 2nd Sep 2011
http://www.cio-asia.com/


The use of ICT in forming smart cities and communities must be balanced with better collaboration between governments, according to discussion of a recent IDC report by networking solutions giant Cisco.

Speaking during a regional TelePresence (Cisco TP) media conference on 16 August 2011, IDC associate vice president, Asia Pacific, Philip Carter, said the June 2011 report - 'Delivering Next-generation Citizen Services' - showed that cooperation between city governments was essential for successful and sustainable programmes.

"The study assesses the environmental, social and economic impact of Intelligent X (an IDC term for using smart technology in smart city planning) on future communities," said Carter. "Governments are moving away from asking the 'why' and 'how' in terms of sustainability programmes in the light of mega trends such as the connected nature of things, including mobile devices."

"Infrastructure issues including energy, transport, and emergency services, coupled with increasing resource constraints and environmental concerns must be balanced to meet the growing demands of a rising middle class in both developed and emerging areas of the world," he said.

"There has to be a rethink on how cities can deal with such constraints," said Carter. "There are no quick is fixes. Intelligent X as a technology area that integrates smart devices coupled with high speed communication networks need intelligent software to process, consolidate and analyse data: these will help to transform industry specific business processes that underpin urban and community infrastructure needs."

He said that ICT used in smart communities should include smart meters, smart grids, a distributed grid environment to help reduce household consumption of energy. "Automated systems could help by reducing carbon emission by 25 percent, resulting in energy savings of 50 percent. Other benefits (indicated by smart communities such as Songdo in Korea and Waterfront Toronto, Canada) may yield reductions of crime and traffic congestion by 20 percent."

'Plumbers for the Internet'


Cisco president, Globalization and Smart+Connected communities, Anil Menon, said Cisco's role as providing deep network infrastructure could be seen as being 'plumbers for the Internet.' "Of course, ICT is more about what it can enable. Cisco notes that in the next 10 years, we will see global trends towards urbanisation as more people move into communities across the world."

"Cities are also suffering from infrastructure costs, so the 'Internet of things' along with networking must be used to help build and operate a city differently, such as the new development announced in Malaysia - the tripartite agreement between UEM Land Holdings, Iskandar Investment and Cisco to turn Nusajaya in Iskandar into a Smart City," said Menon.

"To bring technology early into planning means that the network could provide unlimited storage as well as help to solve the problems of cities in terms of safety, security, sustainability and efficiency," he said. "The quality of life, education and healthcare are all aspects of a smart city that operate better with such an approach."

"Cisco's differentiation as a service delivery platform is we believe that the networking connection within an information infrastructure is much closer to the actual flow of information (or data) and that this allows us to have better access into intelligent information handling," said Menon. "For instance, the Nusajaya Smart City in Malaysia is another example where we work closely with master and urban developers to help build the digital framework of a smart city."