StarSpecial

THE STAR Sunday 14 September 2014

Pioneering a unique education style > 7 The art of living well > 22
FOCUS ON
NEGRI SEMBILAN
Rich past,
promising future
2 FOCUS ON NEGRI SEMBILAN StarSpecial, Sunday 14 September 2014
NEGRI Sembilan is a unique state with an interesting past. Being so close to
Kuala Lumpur, it has long been the strong supporter of the nations growth.
It is now ready to shine with exciting developments mainly in its services
(medical, entertainment, transportation), education, property and tourism
sectors.
In this inaugural issue of Focus on Negri Sembilan, we explore the
states accessibility and its growth in two main sectors education and
property areas that are fundamental to a states progress.
Schools and institutions of higher learning are finding the state
beneficial in terms of it being fertile ground for recruiting students (both
from within and without the state), as well as favourable in terms of state
infrastructure and accessibility.
Similarly, the environment is conducive to property development in
terms of bigger land banks, cheaper land prices as well as buyers demand
for different property types. The state has recently seen a major property
boom across large parts of Seremban and Nilai, with styles and amenities
comparable to properties in the Klang Valley.
Negri Sembilan is a state with many hidden gems and people ready to
take up the lead in the countrys development. This supplement is just a
glimpse into its many treasures and we hope that these pages will inspire
you to further explore all that the state has to offer.
Introducing Focus on Negri Sembilan
Major shift for
Minangkabau state
By GREGORY BASIL &
PRISCILLA RAJAN
T
HE state of Negri Sembilan
has a rich Minangkabau
heritage that dates back
to the 14th Century. This is still
evident to this day as it is the only
Malaysian state that has some
of the customs and architecture
brought over by the Minangkabau
people of Sumatra.
Its industrial sector is now
developing at rapid pace and Negri
Sembilan is becoming a major
destination for investors from
across the world.
As the Klang Valley becomes
increasingly crowded and
expensive, Negri Sembilan offers
the perfect alternative.
Its location within proximity
of the capital Kuala Lumpur, the
administrative capital of Putrajaya,
the MSC hub of Cyberjaya as well
as the international airports, has
made the state a prime target for
investment, living, education and
real estate development.
The Negri Sembilan state
government has also expressed
its support for investors, many of
whom are exploring incentives,
such as tax exemptions, waivers
on assessment tax and quit rent
for selected projects, and special
water rates from the federal
government.
The state government is
receptive to the needs of investors,
both local and international, and
will open more industrial areas in
Nilai, Seremban and Port Dickson.
The opening of these
industrial areas will contribute
to the industrial sector, which
is expected to drive annual
investments to approximately
RM1bil.
Investments coming into
the state are pretty impressive.
The Malaysian Investment
Development Authority (MIDA)
websites gures for proposed
domestic investment for Negri
Sembilan from January to May
this year is set to be at RM2.64mil,
with foreign investment set at
RM5.98mil.
Industrial parks
The Halal Development
Corporations Halal Parks facilitate
the growth of the Malaysian halal
industries where halal-oriented
businesses can work together in
a community with the necessary
infrastructure and support
services.
HDC aids the parks in
attracting foreign companies and
multinational corporations to
invest in the parks that are spread
across the country.
There are various opportunities
for investors, including the
purchase and leasing of land, tax
incentives, factories, warehousing
and logistics.
In Negri Sembilan, the Pedas
Halal Park has an investment
value of RM20mil and continues
to create opportunities for halal
businesses, networking and
growth.
Similarly, there are other
industrial parks in the state
that offer the best in terms of
infrastructure and facilities.
These include the 15-acre
(6ha) Techpark@Enstek in Bandar
Enstek, Tuanku Jaafar Industrial
Estate, Senawang Industrial Park,
Nilai Industrial Estate and the Arab
Malaysian Industrial Park in Nilai.
The Negeri Sembilan Investment
Centre states that in terms
of industries, transportation
equipment, electronics and
electrical products, wood and
wood products, and machinery are
the mainstays of the sector.
According to a report early this
year, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri
Mohamad Hasan said that the
state is looking to open a new
industrial park in the western
part of the state this year to
accommodate the rising demand
from investors.
Negri Sembilan already has
many multinational companies
investing in the state from
countries such as Japan, France,
and the United States and that
will continue to be a pull for other
companies looking to invest other
than the existing attractions of
their business friendly policies and
incentives.
The state has now become a
premier destination for major
investors and big names such as
Kelloggs, Samsung, Nestle and
Coca Cola who are making their
presence felt in Negri Sembilan.
Quality living
at affordable costs
When compared with states
such as Selangor, Penang and
Johor, Negri Sembilan still presents
its residents with an affordable
standard of living.
This more affordable cost of
living is a major pull for many
and has contributed to the states
population inux.
According to Chor Eng Choon,
group executive director of BBN
Development Sdn Bhd, developers
of Putra Nilai, the cost of land in
Negri Sembilan is still cheaper
than in the Klang Valley and for
property developers and investors
looking to start a business in
Malaysia, this is a huge advantage.
Colin Tan, group managing
director of Hatten Group, the
developer of UNICITY, a campus
mall in Seremban 3, says that
towns in Negri Sembilan are
expected to grow in the coming
years.
Seremban is a prime example
of a city that is set to grow into a
pivotal Malaysian city hub within
the next 10 years.
According to a Department
of Statistics Malaysia census,
Serembans population was at
536,147 in 2010 but now the
population stands between
600,000 and 700,000. This
increase has made developers
and investors take notice of
its strategic positioning, high
protability and sustainable
growth, he says.

A burgeoning
township
Although once considered
a sleepy town, Nilai has grown
into one of Negri Sembilans
most important townships. In
recent years, the town has seen
major property developers and
educational facilities set up shop
here.
Nilai is set to become one of
the countrys major education
hubs and now boasts both local
and international educational
institutions such as Nilai
University, Universiti Sains Islam
Malaysia, INTI University and
Manipal International University.
Nilais major advantage is its
prime location within the golden
triangle of the Southern Growth
Corridor that encompasses
Putrajaya, Cyberjaya and the Kuala
Lumpur International Airport and
KLIA2 in Sepang. In addition, it is
only 30km from the Kuala Lumpur
city centre.
The town also boasts an
extensive road and infrastructure
network and is connected by
major highways, including the
North South Highway, the Nilai-
KLIA Expressway and the Lekas
Highway.
Apart from the highways,
Nilai can easily be accessed by the
Express Rail Link in Salak Tinggi
and the KTM commuter that stops
at the Nilai station, says Chor.
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Unlocking
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BRIGHT KIDS
Buying newor used? > 8
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MOTORING
StarSpecial
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Chinese NewYear
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The best offers in town and the hottest cars available this year.
SOUTHERN
PROPERTY StarSpecial
THE STAR Thursday 30 January 2014
Rise of
the south
Supplement Team Email: supp@thestar.com.my
03-7966 8237
jychia@thestar.com.my
03-7966 8227
kamariah@thestar.com.my

Negri Sembilan is an
upcoming state that is worth
investing in.
StarSpecial 3
Sunday 14 September 2014
4 FOCUS ON NEGRI SEMBILAN StarSpecial, Sunday 14 September 2014
UCSI International School
Bandar Springhills Olympic-sized
swimming pool.
The Students Boarding House is cosy and comfortable.
A teacher guiding students during a lesson.
An academic
experience like no other
T
HERE is no doubt that
nding a great school is
every parents goal; a great
school in a booming township
with access to major townships
and amenities is a parents dream
come true. UCSI International
School Bandar Springhill is all that
and more.
Located just an hours drive
from Kuala Lumpur is the lush
township of Bandar Springhill,
within proximity to Seremban,
Port Dickson, and the Kuala
Lumpur International Airport.
Away from the hustle and
bustle of the city, Bandar
Springhill is a calm and serene
township and it is the ideal
location for the UCSI International
School.
UCSI International School
Bandar Springhill is the only
International Baccalaureate (IB)
World School in Negri Sembilan
and offers IB programmes at
Primary Years, Middle Years and
the Diploma (Pre-University)
levels.
Our academic standards are
rigorous and we support our
students in rising to this high
standard of academic quality.
Not only are our teachers experts
in their elds, they are truly
student centred in their approach
to pastoral care, says Kathryn
Jean Farrell, principal of UCSI
International School Bandar
Springhill.
The schools expansive campus
offers students a wide range of
rst-rate facilities, including full
boarding. It also employs 100%
professional expatriate teachers
who are qualied, certied and
experts in all core subjects under
the IB curriculum to deliver
lessons to the students.

The IB advantage
The IB Organization
offers students high-quality
international education
programmes in a community of
schools worldwide.
IB offers four programmes for
students between the ages of
three and 19.
These programmes help
students develop their intellectual,
personal, emotional and social
skills that will enable them to live,
learn and work in a world that is
globalising rapidly.
The IB programme is unique
because it encourages students
to be internationally minded and
is reputed for its high-quality
international education over the
past 40 years.
The programme is made
available to students from a wide
variety of schools, including
national, international, public and
private.
It instills a positive attitude
towards learning where students
are encouraged to ask challenging
questions, reect critically,
develop research skills and learn
to participate in community
services.
IB students strive to be:
Caring
Thinkers
Inquirers
Balanced
Reective
Principled
Risk-takers
Open-minded
Knowledgeable
Communicators
The IB learner prole
represents these 10 attributes that
are valued by IB World Schools.
UCSI International School and
other IB World Schools across
the world believe that these
attributes will create individuals
and groups that are responsible
members of local, national and
global communities.
To greater heights
An IB education presents
students with a host of
opportunities. It serves as an
education passport to prestigious
universities across the world
because of its global recognition
status. IB programmes are
recognised across the world,
ensuring IB students increased
adaptability and mobility.
The curriculum and pedagogy
of the IB programmes focus on
international perspectives of
learning and teaching and at the
same time, insist that students
fully explore their home culture
and language.
A large number of students
who graduate from the IB
Diploma Programme nd that
it enhances their opportunities
at tertiary institutions as the
IB works hand-in-hand with
universities all over the world
to create individuals that are
ready for further learning and
discovery.
The core components of
the IB programmes encourage
students to participate in creative
and service-oriented activities
in addition to emphasising the
importance of reection on both
personal and academic levels.
Professional and
experienced educators
UCSI International School
Bandar Springhill takes pride in
its teachers who are essential
to the success of the schools
learning community.
As an IB World School, UCSI
International School Bandar
Springhill adheres to rigorous
international standards when
hiring its teachers.
The school boasts professional
expatriate teachers from the
United Kingdom, the United
States, Canada, South Africa,
Sweden, Ukraine and Italy who
are engaged to deliver the IB
programmes. This international
mix of teachers caters to students
from all over the world and
ensures that the students are
greatly enriched by the culturally
diverse, full-boarding experience
that UCSI offers.
The students will also learn to
embrace new challenges with the
full support of these pedagogical
experts.
UCSI International School is
an amazing place to learn and
teach. Our teachers bring with
them international awareness and
experience.
They personally embody
international-mindedness a
fundamental concept of the IB
programmes. In addition, they
are fully qualied teachers and
they have had specic training
from the IBO to elevate their
professional growth, says Farrell.
The IB teachers also participate
in a wide variety of professional
development opportunities
to constantly update their
knowledge and share their
expertise with colleagues from
across the world.
Top-notch facilities
The full boarding experience
that the school provides allows
students to fully immerse
themselves in their studies and
school culture.
Through the boarding
experience, students will
also learn to have better time
management and organisation
skills, develop social skills and
independence among students.
Students at the boarding school
are supervised round-the-clock
by boarding parents who live on
campus. The hostels are located
in the same building as the
international school and boys and
girls live on separate oors.
Access to each oor is only
possible with an access card.
As safety is a top priority at the
school, CCTV cameras are in
operation 24 hours in the school
and across the campus.
UCSI also takes pride in the
many modern facilities it offers to
its students.
The school has an Olympic-
sized swimming pool, a nine-
hole golf course, a football eld,
basketball, tennis and volleyball
courts, a gymnasium and a
student lounge with a table tennis
board and pool table.
In addition, the boarding
parents also organise a number of
activities for boarding students,
including visits to the city, beach
outings, bowling tournaments,
mountain biking and hikes.
We have created a school
culture in which students
feel cared for, challenged and
supported. The key to developing
and sustaining this school culture
is the teachers who are committed
to a holistic approach to student
success, says Farrell.
A wholesome learning
experience is what students can
hope to gain when they enrol at
UCSI International School.
The lush campus environment
at Bandar Springhill and the many
state-of-the-art facilities at the
school allow students to lead a
healthy and active life while the IB
education provides students with
worldly views.
This is a winning combination
and certainly a pull for parents
who intend to provide their
children with a world-class
educational experience in Negri
Sembilan.
n For more information,
call 06-653 6814, e-mail
enquiries@
ucsiinternationalschool.edu.my
or visit
www.ucsiinternationalschool.edu.
my/sh/
StarSpecial 5
Sunday 14 September 2014
6 FOCUS ON NEGRI SEMBILAN StarSpecial, Sunday 14 September 2014
Prep school students interacting with their teacher.
The Dining Hall, which was used for parent consultations with head of department
on the first day of school.
British-Malaysian boarding
school set for success
E
PSOM College in Malaysias
very rst term, which began
at the start of this month, saw
nearly 150 students enter the new
campus grounds in Bandar Enstek.
Leading up to the rst day of
school, Epsom College in Malaysia
(ECiM) interviewed and tested
almost 300 children who applied
for admission to the school.
According to Jane Smith, deputy
head and head of Prep School,
getting to three quarters of the
way to the original target of 200
students has been tremendously
encouraging.
This number provides a good-
sized group of students for each
class, enabling children to make
friends and the school to offer all
its academic and co-curricular
programmes.
We expected interest as
Epsom has a good reputation for
high-quality education, and there
was a tremendous response from
parents and students.
The three biggest groups of
students that applied and were
offered places are those going
into Years 9, 10 and 12, which are
when the IGCSEs and A-Levels are.
The fact that parents and students
are enthusiastic about the new
school for these critical years is a
great vote of condence in ECiM,
she says.
A rounded education
Epsom College is renowned
for being a top-quality British
boarding school, and ECiM is set to
continue this legacy.
Epsom has a celebrated science
programme, stemming from its
historical link to the medical
profession and its roots in the
Victorian-era school built for
the children of doctors who had
died from the diseases they were
hoping to cure.
As such, the science provision
in ECiM is excellent in terms of
curriculum, teaching staff and
facilities there are nine science
laboratories in operation, with a
provision for nine more.
But this does not mean that
science is given a priority to the
detriment of anything else.
Any school can develop a
reputation in one area, which is
what originally happened with
Epsom. But just as Epsom UK
has broadened its provision over
the years so too will we provide
a truly rounded education. Our
education programme has great
breadth and depth across all
subjects, says Martin George,
ECiMs headmaster.
Adds Smith: If one of our
students is gifted, we will stretch
them to their full potential. If
a student is not outstanding in
a particular eld, they will be
provided a breadth of opportunity
so they can be as successful as it is
possible across the curriculum.
Supporting this development
are higher education and career
counsellors who work with
students to guide them on to what
they want to do in the future.
ECiM also provides students
learning support where needed
there are special education needs
(SEN) staff available as well as
English as an additional language
(EAL) teachers.
Students must possess a certain
level of English understanding to
access the curriculum, but because
this is a college in an international
context, there will be students that
require some additional support in
this area, explains Smith.
Creating a culture
In expanding to Asia, Epsom has
certainly brought a culture of high-
quality international education,
vibrant student community and
broad academic and personal
development. But George makes it
clear that ECiM does not mean to
mirror Epsom UK.
We are building on Epsom UKs
strengths and developing new ones
for ourselves. We are offering a
new and dynamic programme to
Malaysia, and this is exciting for us
as academics and for the students
as well, he says.
ECiM will take the fundamental
aspects of the Epsom tradition and
build on them with a Malaysian
avour.
Many of ECiMs new students
are previously from local schools,
so going to a traditional British
boarding school may present a
potential culture shock.
However, says George, once
students and staff get over the
adjustment period, they have a
unique opportunity to set the
culture of the school.
The staff too is coming into
the school new and starting from
scratch. But they are all highly
experienced teachers who will
contribute to the development
and shaping of the various
academic programmes, which is
an exciting prospect for all of us,
he continues.
Though the rst day of school
was on Sept 2, ECiMs academic
staff has been interviewing
and assessing students for its
new intake and its support staff
has been working to ensure
that the campus and academic
programmes were ready by the
start of term.
Having academic staff in the
country from the beginning of the
project is vital to its success.
We made sure that everything
is of the best possible quality
for the school and meets
international standards,
students needs and curriculum
requirements, adds Smith,
explaining that as experienced
teachers who know what actually
works in a school, they had the
unique opportunity to provide
some input into the design of the
schools facilities.
The academic staff was
also there to speak to parents
about what ECiM can offer their
children. Education is one of the
United Kingdoms biggest exports,
which is why parents often look
abroad for education.
Having a British boarding
school in Malaysia means such
quality education is available close
enough to home that parents can
still experience their children
growing up and have a part in
their childrens milestones.
In ECiM, there will be constant
reporting back to parents about
their childrens progress, as the
school believes that education
is a collaborative undertaking
between the school, parents and
students.
This school expects a lot
of parental support. Parents
get involved in the community
and will be actively involved in
their childrens schooling, which
benets the children as well. We
nd that parents also want to
learn about modern education
practices and about what their
children are experiencing,
elaborates George.
The leading edge
Epsoms status as a leader in
education means that it is
expected that the school sets a
high standard that educators and
even other schools can aspire to
emulate.
This can be seen in several
aspects of ECiM its world-class
facilities, its link with Epsom
UK and the incredible range
of opportunities available to
students and staff.
Our link with Epsom UK gives
our school a dynamic quality that
other schools may not have a
link with a traditional British
school that has an excellent
reputation. And any head would
dream of facilities such as those
at ECiM, says George.
He also elaborates on
recruitment of academic staff:
ECiM took only exceptional
recruits who were British
educated and have experience in
British curriculum education.
Most of the academic staff
comprises expatriate teachers,
with the Bahasa Malaysia and
Mandarin teachers being highly
qualied local teachers.
The high standards of ECiMs
teachers and programmes may
ultimately play a role in raising
the Malaysian education scene
to new levels as other schools in
the country develop themselves
further.
Good schools are continually
assessing and improving
themselves, so schools at the
top end of the spectrum will
encourage other schools to
improve further. Being newly set
up, ECiM will keep evaluating
itself. We have to be reective
or there is a danger of becoming
complacent. As time goes by, the
schools growth will drive this
reection, says Smith.
Despite being new, ECiM
already has some inuence;
local teacher training colleges
have contacted the school about
opportunities for their trainee
teachers to become teaching
assistants at the school.
ECiM sees this as a
worthwhile undertaking, as it
will not only help develop new
teachers for the country, it will
also be a unique experience for
the students and aid in their
overall development.
Ultimately, ECiM is set to
achieve great heights. A school
responds to the students and
staff it has you get where you
want to go with the people
you have, which goes back to
admissions and recruitment,
says George.
It is a challenge, but building
the school from the ground up
is also an incredibly exciting
and fullling experience. All our
students and staff are ready for
success.
Epsom College in
Malaysia is a premier
British boarding school
on Malaysian shores.
StarSpecial, Sunday 14 September 2014 FOCUS ON NEGRI SEMBILAN 7
An artists impression of Matrix Global Schools.
Felix E.B. Lee (front centre) is the chief executive officer of Matrix Global
Schools.
Pioneering a unique teaching style
M
ATRIX Global Schools
(comprising Matrix
International School
and Matrix Private School) is
aliated with Ellesmere College
UK, a 130-year-old British
residential school.
The agreement involves
Matrix Global Schools
importing Ellesmeres specially
designed teaching methodology
using interactive computer
tablets.
Currently being developed
for use in Matrix Global
Schools and Ellesmere College,
this interactive addition to
the curriculum is unique to
the region as it is based on
the concept of collaborative/
co-operative learning.
The Matrix Global Schools
campus is a feat of innovation
and design that took two years
of detailed planning and is now
close to completion.
Built into the schools
Cambridge IGCSE curriculum
are two unique programmes
computer programming as
well as video and lmmaking.
Digital photography and
lmmaking are incorporated
in all subjects and the
programme places Matrix
Global Schools on the
education map.
One needs to always be
able to use the computer to
fast-track and improve the
current tasks at hand.
We need to create
and not merely utilise
current programmes and
applications, says Chris
Frankland, the principal of
Matrix International School,
who has been in Malaysia
for more than 30 years and
is well-versed in Malaysian
culture and education through
his previous appointment as
the director of CfBT Education
Trust.
The objective of this is to
show our children the wonders
of the smart gadgets that we
possess and their capabilities,
says Charline Evans, head of
Primary of Matrix International
School, who is also a Fellow of
the Royal Society of Arts and
Commerce.
All we can say at this
juncture is that we will be
different and fun. This is
going to be a wholly different
international school, says
Mandy Spence, head of
secondary Matrix International
School, who has more than
19 years of experience in
international education.
Matrix Private School
consists of the Matrix Primary
and Secondary school. It is
designed to be unique and
epitomises the life skills
philosophy, which includes
inter-personal skills and oratory
skills.
Lessons are delivered
through an experiential
learning approach also practised
by Matrix International School.
It also hones the testing skills
required by the national KSSR
and KSSM curriculum.
The curriculum will be
adjusted wherever possible to
ensure the provision of key life
skills that are required outside
school and in the workforce.
This is seen in the music
curriculum where students are
introduced to various genre of
music.
Cooking classes are also
conducted within specially
designed kitchen classrooms
where children become familiar
with food presentation, serving
skills and serving etiquette.
The objective is to equip our
children with the social skills
they will need to condently
enter the adult world and
workforce. We like to say that
we send our students out of
class, says Felix E.B. Lee, chief
executive ocer of Matrix
Global Schools.
Another hallmark of Matrix
Private School is the provision of
Mandarin education.
In fact, the school is in
the nal stages of its plan to
make the school a recognised
and authorised test centre
to conduct the International
Chinese Prociency Test for
the Oce of Chinese Language
Council International (Hanban)
in Beijing.
This is a collaboration with
the Kongzi Institute, Universiti
Malaya.
Special classes are also
conducted daily to coach the
private school students in
English, mathematics and
science in accordance with the
Cambridge IGCSE Curriculum.
Matrixs intention is to create
a bridge between the Matrix
Private School and Matrix
International School so that
the education of Matrix Global
Schools represents one campus
that shares the same mission
and vision.
Matrix Private School
students are given the option
to graduate as an international
student via this bridge with
Matrix International School.
The objective is to make
international school education
available to as many students as
possible, says Lee.
Matrix Global Schools has
also recently launched two
scholarships worth RM500,000
each with the Chinese Chamber
of Commerce and Industry of
Seremban and Nilai.
The purpose of this
endeavour was for the school
to be part of the business
community and ensure that the
education provided to students
is in line with the expectations
of the business leaders of the
local communities.
Matrix International School
is having its Open Day on
Sept 17.
n For more information, visit
www.matrixschools.edu.my
8 FOCUS ON NEGRI SEMBILAN StarSpecial, Sunday 14 September 2014
World-class education a big draw
N
ILAI is one of the fastest
growing satellite townships
outside of the Klang Valley.
Situated just 35 minutes south
of the Kuala Lumpur city centre
and 15 minutes from the Kuala
Lumpur International Airport,
it has become one of the top
townships for young families that
want to raise children away from
the hustle and bustle of the capital
and its overcrowded suburbs.
With the Express Rail Link
and Komuter stations linking
Nilai to Kuala Lumpur and other
key destinations, commuting
has become much easier for the
residents of Nilai.
Aside from affordable
housing, a main attraction for
many families is the availability
of world-class educational
institutions in the vicinity.
Nilai has been developed as
an educational hub and boasts
many universities, both private
and public, which also gives
the township a healthy student
population.
Among the many institutions
that are proud to call Nilai home
is Nilai University (Nilai U),
which was founded in 1997. The
university is home to more than
3,000 local and international
students.
Starting off as Nilai College, this
institution gained full university
status in 2012 and is now a major
player in the private education
landscape.
Nilai U features a Centre
for Foundation Studies and
ve dedicated faculties in
allied health and the sciences;
business; hospitality and tourism;
humanities and social sciences;
and engineering, science and
technology.
The Centre for Foundation
Studies offers pre-university
programmes in the elds of
science and business.
The one-year foundation
programme is one of the fastest
ways for a student to get into a
degree programme of his choice.
The university also offers a
wide range of diploma, degree and
postgraduate programmes through
its ve faculties.
Some of the more popular
programmes among applicants
are the Diploma in Aircraft
Maintenance Engineering, BSc
(Hons) in Biotechnology and BA
(Hons) in Accounting and Finance.
All programmes delivered
by Nilai U are validated by
the Ministry of Education and
accredited by the Malaysian
Qualications Agency.
Nilai Us popularity can be
attributed to its administrators
who have spared no expense in
providing its students with world-
class learning facilities.
The many facilities at the
university include a purpose-
built hangar with two aircraft,
workshops and laboratories for
each programme, and a well-
stocked resource centre.
Nilai U has also made a name
for itself as an institution that
offers plenty of opportunities
for students to gain enhanced
certications through a myriad of
training programmes conducted
by reputable institutions such as
Dale Carnegie, Outward Bound
School and Mizuno School of Golf.
The campus at Nilai U also
features various sporting
amenities, including outdoor
basketball, volleyball, tennis
and futsal courts and indoor
badminton courts.
Nilai U has also been named
as the sports focus centre for
fencing, making it one of the few
centres where students can learn
this niche sport from certied
professionals.
The lush campus is a picture
of serenity and features gender-
segregated accommodation and
round-the-clock security. All these
factors make Nilai and
Nilai U the perfect choice for
students who want to pursue a
tertiary education.
Nilai Us sister institution,
Nilai International School (NIS),
accommodates the needs of pre-
school, primary and secondary
students.
Situated adjacent to the
university campus, the ultra-
modern international school
prepares students for the ICGSE
examinations.
This internationally recognised
qualication allows for easy
transfer of credits to other
institutions offering the same
IGCSE syllabus and also for easy
application to foreign universities.
NIS also features boarding
facilities (for students above the
age of 13) and employs a requisite
number of expatriate teachers.
It utilises smart board
technologies in all classrooms,
which are temperature controlled.
Each class is limited to 15
students to ensure that all
students receive plenty of
attention from the teaching staff.
Having both NIS and Nilai U
in the area has certainly boosted
the towns appeal to families with
school-going children as well as
making investment in properties a
far more attractive proposition.
n For more information on NIS,
call 06-850 2308 or visit
www.nis.edu.my
Nilai Universitys 105-acre (42.5ha)
campus is surrounded by greenery
and provides students with a
peaceful environment to pursue
their tertiary education.
Nilai International School offers the internationally recognised IGCSE syllabus.
Starting off as
Nilai College, this
institution gained
full university status
in 2012 and is now a
major player in the
private education
landscape.
Nilai U features
a Centre for
Foundation Studies
and five dedicated
faculties.
StarSpecial 9
Sunday 14 September 2014
10 FOCUS ON NEGRI SEMBILAN StarSpecial, Sunday 14 September 2014
A township with plenty to offer
I
N the heart of the southern
growth corridor, enveloped
by the steadily growing city
of Putrajaya and the MSC status
township of Cyberjaya, is Putra
Nilai.
One of the largest townships in
the area, spanning 2,522ha, Putra
Nilai is a pioneering residential
and commercial development just
minutes from the Kuala Lumpur
International Airport.
Just like the southern growth
corridor, the township of Putra
Nilai has been meticulously
planned with excellent
infrastructure.
It is a thriving commercial
hub that offers residents
modern amenities, plenty of
job opportunities and most
importantly a living environment
with safety features.
The development of Putra Nilai
is amid natural wetlands, tree-
lined avenues and landscaped
parks to give its residents the feel
of living in a green city.
The Putra Nilai advantage
As the main developers of
Putra Nilai, BBN Development
Sdn Bhd takes pride in Putra
Nilai, which is a well-planned
and comprehensive integrated
township that has plenty of
amenities to offer its residents.
Chor Eng Choon, group
executive director of BBN, says
that when buyers purchase a
property from BBN, they can be
assured of a property that is of
high quality that can bring about
great capital appreciation in the
long run.
Putra Nilai has become an
extension of the greater Klang
Valley. Plenty of improvement on
infrastructure has been carried
out, such as the widening of the
North-South Highway.
Putra Nilai is in a strategic
location within close proximity to
the Kuala Lumpur International
Airport, Putrajaya, Cyberjaya
and Kuala Lumpur making the
township accessible through a
number of major highways, he
says.
The existence of other big
names in the Malaysian property
market such as Sime Darby, Mah
Sing, IOI Properties, Lion Group
and UM Land will expedite the
development of the southern
corridor of the Klang Valley
and contribute to the regions
immense growth.
BBN also targets buyers from
the Klang Valley who are looking
to leave the busy city life for a
greener and more peaceful living
environment.
As property prices in the Klang
Valley are not within every buyers
income range, Putra Nilai offers a
very attractive alternative as its
property prices are lower and there
is room for appreciation.
Chor is optimistic about the
growth of the property market in
Negri Sembilan.
Nilais main pull is its strategic
location and this has lured many
buyers from across the country.
We can also see more and more
investors setting up shop in Negri
Sembilan and this will mean an
increase in its population.
Coupled with the endorsement
of the state government, it is
foreseeable that the property
market in Negri Sembilan,
particularly in Nilai, will continue
to experience a tremendous
growth and remain robust in the
years to come.
Developments in Putra Nilai
BBN Development Sdn Bhd is
currently working on four new
developments in Putra Nilai.
Our rst development is called
the Lodge Residence, which is a
Upcoming developments
by BBN Development
l Alpinia Residence
The Alpinia Residence is the
rst serviced apartment by
BBN Development. Its starting
price is RM280,000 with the
option of one, two or three
bedrooms.
The Alpinia Residence is
located within close proximity
of four universities Nilai
University, INTI International
University, Manipal
International University
and Universiti Sains Islam
Malaysia.
It is targeted at young
families and also those who
are looking for investment
opportunities.
Facilities available:
Swimming pool
Gymnasium
Playground
Multi-purpose court
Multi-tier security system
Waived legal fees on the
sales and purchase agreement
Waived two years of Uni
fees
New high-end projects
This project will include
cluster houses, semi-detached
houses and bungalows.
All units will be gated and
guarded and will face the golf
course.
Residents will also have
access to the developments
clubhouse.
l Nilai Icon City
The Nilai Icon City is a
high-rise residential block
with full condominium
facilities. The project will also
include various commercial
developments, including
autocity.
Education
Government primary and
secondary schools
A private school
Four universities
Commercial centres
Various food and beverage
outlets
Banks
Hypermarkets such as Tesco
and Giant
Recreation venues
Nilai Springs Hotel
Nilai Springs Golf and Country
Club
Airport Indoor Sports Complex
Dataran Nilai
Taman Awam Nilai
Facilities and amenities
at Putra Nilai
An artists impression
of Lodge Residence.
INTI University is one of the many institutions of higher education in Nilai.
student hostel located right next
to Nilai University. The price
for these hostel units starts at
RM65,000.
This is a low-entry investment
opportunity for investors who
want to capitalise on the growing
student population in the area,
which is soon expected to reach
50,000, says Chor.
We also have a double-storey
semi-detached development,
known as the Beta Residence. The
Beta Residences built-up area is
at 2,940sq ft while its land area
is from 4,000sq ft. It caters to
residents who enjoy resort living
in a quiet, green environment that
is both gated and guarded.
For those who prefer a touch of
luxury, BBN offers them the 18th
Bungalow@Nilai Springs Heights.
These double-storey bungalow
units has a built-up area from
4,900sq ft and a land area from
6,000sq ft.
These gated and guarded
bungalows are developed
at the edge the Putra Nilais
prestigious golf course, The
Nilai Springs Golf and Country
Club.
The fourth development
that we are currently working
on is the South Bayu Residence.
It comprises gated and guarded
town villas and sky villas that
have a built-up area from
1,150sq ft and is targeted at
rst-time buyers. The unique
feature of the South Bayu
Residence is the 7.3 acre
(2.9ha) lake that is adjacent to
it, says Chor.
We are very proud to have
a variety of products that cater
to the demand of different
types of buyers and our
target market consists of rst-
time house buyers, the local
residents and workforce within
the vicinity and house owners
who are looking to upgrade the
homes, says Chor.
18th Bungalow@Nilai
Springs Heights offers
residents a touch of luxury.
StarSpecial 11
Sunday 14 September 2014
12 FOCUS ON NEGRI SEMBILAN StarSpecial, Sunday 14 September 2014
Connectivity to Negri Sembilan has been made easy been made by the various modes of public transport that ply the states.
> FROM PAGE 2
Top spot for leaders in education
THE growing population in Negri
Sembilan has necessitated more
educational facilities in the state.
As education is fundamental
to an evolving population, it is
only tting that the state has
educational institutions that are
second to none.
Education at its best
The Negri Sembilan state
government has recognised the
states tremendous potential and
has great plans of turning the state
into a Valley of Knowledge.
In addition to the public
schools available across the
state, big names such as Epsom
College in Malaysia, Nilai
International School in Bandar
Enstek, Matrix Global School and
Zenith International School in
Seremban and UCSI International
School in Bandar Springhill
offer residents plenty of choices
for an exceptional educational
experience.
UCSI International School
is the only school in Negri
Sembilan to offer the International
Baccalaureate programme, while
Epsom College in Malaysia is
the rst British-styled boarding
school in the country and is the
157-year-old establishments rst
sister college outside the United
Kingdom.
Matrix Global School,
meanwhile, boasts a specially
designed teaching methodology
that uses interactive computer
tablets based on the concept of
collaborative and cooperative
learning.
The increasing numbers of
universities in Negri Sembilan
have also contributed to the
increase in the states population.
Negri Sembilan has a total of 25
institutions of higher learning,
including private universities and
colleges.
One such example is Nilai
University. With its 105-acre
(42.5ha) campus, the university
has all the facilities of a world-
class university, including spacious
lecture theatres, study rooms, a
library, various laboratories and
even a hangar for its aeronautics
students.
In addition, the university
also has a range of sports and
recreational facilities to ensure
that the students have a holistic
tertiary educational experience.
Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia
(USIM), which is located in Putra
Nilai, is a promising public Islamic
university.
Being a one-of-a-kind
university that pioneers Islamic
science, USIM attracts students
from all over the world who want
an exceptional Islamic science
education.
Universiti Teknologi MARA
(UiTM), one of the countrys
largest universities, has a
campus in Seremban 3 with
three faculties: the Faculty of
Administrative Science and Policy
Studies, Faculty of Mathematics
and Computer Science and the
Faculty of Sports Science and
Recreation. The campus has
an enrolment of roughly 5,000
students with 50% living off
campus.
The opening of these
universities and private schools
means we are getting better rental
for our properties, says Patricia
Wong, who manages a series of
family properties in Seremban.
Students want to stay close to
their universities and so we are
really happy that we can provide
for them. We havent had this kind
of demand before.
Stationery trader Ramesh
Kumar agrees: We are thinking of
opening a small business to cater
to the needs of these students.
Weve never had that opportunity
before. I denitely think change
is coming for the better for us in
Seremban.
These top-notch educational
facilities, coupled with the backing
of the state government, are set to
change the education landscape of
Negri Sembilan for the better.
All-round accessibility
It has been a long standing
tradition for the state to have
a populace that work in Kuala
Lumpur but live in Seremban
or Nilai. Three decades ago, this
was made possible by the well-
known SKS buses that plied the
route between Kuala Lumpur and
Seremban.
Today, thousands continue their
early morning trek to the big city
with the Transnasional buses that
run the route, the services of the
KTM Komuter and even driving
using the many highways that
connect the town.
There are denitely more
options now for those of us who
work in Kuala Lumpur but live
here, says Catherine Sam, a long-
time commuter to the capital city.
We used to line up in the early
hours of the morning to ensure a
seat, but now I can either take the
KTM Komuter or on days when
I have to attend a dinner in KL I
drive as the options in highways
means I can plan my route
accordingly.
Highways and expressways
such as the Lekas, PLUS, ELITE and
Kesas not only link Negri Sembilan
to neighbouring areas but also
link up to provide the populace
with many alternative routes. The
extensive road networks in Negri
Sembilan have made connectivity
in the state easy.
Major highways connect KL
with various towns in the state
while the intercity KTM trains
pass through major towns of
Seremban, Rembau and Tampin
en route to Singapore.
Connectivity to Seremban is
expected to get better as the town
has been earmarked as one of the
ve stops along the route of the
proposed Kuala Lumpur-Singapore
high-speed rail, says Tan.
The city also has integrated
bus systems that connect major
towns and the capital of Seremban
with other major cities across the
peninsular. In addition, there is
the Nilai Inland Port, which is a
one-stop logistics centre.
Located about 20km from
the Kuala Lumpur International
Airport (KLIA), this inland port
The Negri Sembilan
state government
has recognised the
states tremendous
potential and has
great plans of
turning the state
into a Valley of
Knowledge.
The increasing
numbers of
universities in Negri
Sembilan have also
contributed to the
increase in the
states population.
Negri Sembilan
has a total of 25
institutions of higher
learning, including
private universities
and colleges.
is capable of handling cargo,
warehousing, open storage and
port services for factories across
Negri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur,
Selangor and Malacca.
It can be accessed via road
or rail and offers transportation
services, container handling,
container cleaning and repair,
bonded and non-bonded storage,
physical handling, computerised
documentation, and packaging
and labelling.
Perhaps, the biggest advantage
Negri Sembilan has in terms of
connectivity is its proximity to
KLIA and KLIA2.
The countrys main airport is
only 23km from Nilai and 55km
from Seremban two of Negri
Sembilans major towns. This has
given both towns a major boom
in their investments and also
population.
Negri Sembilan offers residents
a convenient and pleasant living
experience with its affordability,
integrated transportation systems,
world-class educational facilities
and top-quality property and
commercial developments.
These are major pulls for
residents who want to get away
from the congestion of the major
cities and lead a healthier lifestyle.
Previously, Negri Sembilans
proximity to Selangor and Johor
helped its economic growth but
now the state economy has grown
by leaps and bounds through
its many investments and its
strategic location is now an added
benet.
Negri Sembilan has the
potential to emerge as one of
Malaysias powerhouses in the
years to come.
Port Dickson remains
the top destination
for recreation in Negri
Sembilan.
Seremban railway station plays a big role in creating accessibility to the state.
StarSpecial, Sunday 14 September 2014 FOCUS ON NEGRI SEMBILAN 13
SEPANG
INTERNATIONAL
CIRCUT
PORT
DICKSON
BEACH
BLUE LAGOON
BEACH
KUALA LUMPUR
INTERNATIONAL
AIRPORT
GUNUNG
BESAR HANTU
(MOUNTAIN)
Straits
Of Malacca
State boundary
Sepang
Putrajaya
Tanjung
Malim
JELEBU
PAHANG
JOHOR
MALACCA
SELANGOR
PERAK
District boundary
Major state road
Highway
River
Railway line
Town
Legend: KTM Komuter route map:
Nilai
SEREMBAN
Kuala
Klawang Broga
Branang
Lenggeng
Mantin
SEREMBAN
RAILWAY
STATION
REMBAU
Port
Dickson
Lukut
PORT
DICKSON
Rembau
Pedas
Johol
Tampin
KUALA PILAH
GEMAS
RAILWAY
STATION
Gemas
Bahau
Rompin
TAMPIN
JEMPOL
Gemenceh
Batu Kikir
BAHAU
RAILWAY
STATION
RECREATION
FOREST
Simpang
Pertang
Lubuk Cina
PALONG
RIVER
TO
SINGAPORE
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FOREST
RESERVE
ULU BENDUL
RECREATIONAL
PARK
KUALA LUMPUR
Possibilities
abound here
C
LOSE enough to Kuala
Lumpur to make a quick
everyday commute but
far enough that residents leave
behind the hustle and bustle
of the big city behind, Negri
Sembilan is fast becoming a
large property investment draw.
The state is well-connected,
with major highways and the
railways linking it to the rest of
the country from the northern
states to Johor, and further down
south to Singapore.
There are several points of
interest in Negri Sembilan not
least the famous coastal town of
Port Dickson that continues to
attract visitors.
The Seri Menanti Royal
Museum and the fort at Kota
Lukut are places of historical
signicance to the state, while
for nature lovers, the Palong
River, Lenggeng Forest Reserve
and Gunung Besar Hantu
provide exciting outdoor
activities.
In fact, Negri Sembilan has
several forest reserves.
As much as Negri Sembilan is
developing and moving forward,
there is still much to be explored
and discovered.
The KTM Komuter is one of the major links
between Negri Sembilan and the Klang Valley.
14 FOCUS ON NEGRI SEMBILAN StarSpecial, Sunday 14 September 2014
Rembulan@enstek.
The appeal of Bandar Enstek
T
H Properties Sdn Bhd (THP)
has made good headway in
the property industry since
its inception in 1980. The property
development, construction and
asset facilities management group
was formed as a result of the
consolidation of its subsidiaries.
The groups signature project
is the 5,119-acre (2,071ha) Bandar
Enstek situated near the Kuala
Lumpur International Airport
(KLIA).
The self-contained freehold
township offers a mix of
residential, commercial,
institutional and clean industrial
properties and has a gross
development value of RM9.2bil.
Bandar Enstek was launched
in 2000 and is expected to be
completed by 2025, with 50% of
the township developed to date.
The latest residential
developments include the
Rembulan@enstek, Pearl@enstek
and Linea@enstek while the
commercial development is the
Mercato 2@enstek.
l Rembulan@enstek
features 124 units of two-storey
semi-detached homes and
available in two variants: side by
side 40 x 80 and back to back
50 x 80.
The units have built-up areas
that range from 2,555sq ft to
3,117sq ft. Currently, the sales
has achieved 77% with available
units selling prices starting from
RM695,200.
l Linea@enstek was made
available to the public in March
last year. It offers 94 units of
24 x 80 super links, with built-up
areas of between 1,954sq ft and
2,268sq ft. Linea has achieved 80%
sales with available units (end and
corner lots), selling prices start
from RM633,700.
l Pearl@enstek the latest
offering in Bandar Enstek, it
was launched last year and
comprises seven units of two-
storey bungalows and 28 units of
two-storey semi-detached. The
bungalows, with selling prices
starting from RM1.23mil, are fully
sold. The semi-detached houses,
with land dimensions of
40 x 140 and 50 x 100, have
built-up areas ranging from
3,347sq ft to 3,500sq ft. There are
17 units available with selling
prices from RM946,500.
l Mercato 2@enstek is the
second commercial component
in Bandar Enstek after Mercato
1@Enstek. It offers 99 units of
two-storey and three-storey shop
oces with built-up areas that
start from 3,276sq ft. The available
units (three-storey) are priced
from RM953,901 (bumiputra lot).
To date, there are only seven units
available for sale.
A new phase by the name of
Hundred East is expected to be
launched by November this year
and consists of 100 units of two-
storey super link houses with lot
dimensions of 24 x 75 and
26 x 80.
THP is also planning to develop
an 18-hole golf course and a
neighbourhood retail park, which
is to be developed in phases.
Strategic location
Located about 6km from the
Sepang F1 Circuit, Bandar Enstek
is currently home to more than
10,000 residents, comprising
families and young professionals
who work mostly in Putrajaya,
Cyberjaya, KLIA and KLIA2.
Part of the townships appeal is
its accessibility to Kuala Lumpur
via the Maju Expressway and the
Express Lingkaran Tengah (Elite)
Highway.
Meanwhile, Bandar Ensteks
institutional component is
off to a good start with the
Cempaka International Ladies
College, Politeknik Nilai, English
Language Teaching Centre, Institut
Perguruan Guru Malaysia and
Tunku Kurshiah College.
The Epsom College in Malaysia
began operations in September.
Training institutions such as
Akademi Audit Negara, Akademi
Kepimpinan Pengajian Tinggi,
Pusat Latihan Keselamatan
Perlindungan Malaysia and
Institut Aminuddin Baki have also
set up in Bandar Enstek.
Bandar Enstek also has a
strong industrial base with the
development of the biotechnology
and halal hub that are currently
underway within Bandar Ensteks
industrial zone, which is known as
Techpark@enstek.
Companies already operational
in Techpark@enstek include
Coca Cola Bottlers Malaysia Sdn
Bhd,Pure Circle, Renal Lab, Hokto
Malaysia, CROWN Records,
Fresenius Medical Care, Bio
Molecular Industries and FELDA
Biotech Centre.
The crowd pullers
Bandar Enstek stands to benet
from the development of KLIA
and KLIA2, which offer seamless
connectivity for budget travellers.
Located just 2km from KLIA,
KLIA2 allows easy transfer and
better connectivity between both
airports.
One key component of KLIA2
is The Gateway@KLIA2, which is
an integrated complex that will
create employment and raise
the demand for housing and
subsequently, the value of Bandar
Enstek.
Bandar Enstek is also located
about 13km from the proposed
TH Hotel and Convention Centre
in Sepang. The centre will
feature a ve-star hotel, which
will be run by Movenpick, and a
convention centre that is slated
for completion in 2016 with the
capacity to accommodate 1,500
people.
Two more commercial
developments that will benet
Bandar Enstek are Mitsui Outlet
Park and Mainstay Outlet Park.
The Mitsui Outlet Park, with net
rentable area of 506,000sq ft, is
about 19km from Bandar Enstek.
Slated to become South-East
Asias largest factory outlet park, it
Pearl@enstek.
Linea@enstek family area.
will be a part of the KLIA Aeropolis
development and is scheduled to
be completed next year. Mainstay
Outlet Park is located about 25km
from Bandar Enstek.
Developed by Mainstay
Properties Sdn Bhd and Horizon
Group Properties Inc, it will offer
a net rentable area of 300,000sq ft
comprising retail spaces.
In the works
Moving forward, THP is
developing a seven-acre plot
in Kuantan, Pahang, for a high-
end residential project near the
Royal Pahang Golf Club and Teluk
Chempedak beach.
The project is expected to be
launched in February next year
and will offer 38 semi-detached
homes and two bungalow units.
The development will also cater
to a diverse community, address
the quality of living within
suburban surroundings and
provide security and peace
of mind.
Through the development
of accessible and user-friendly
open spaces and recreational
areas, it will promote communal
interaction.
THP is also continuing to
develop its last phase of Warisan
Puteri, which spans more than
100 acres. Located about 6km
from Seremban town, the
development will have more than
900 residential units and 36 shop
oces.
It is expected to be launched
by middle of next year with
indicative pricing of the rst phase
at approximately RM350,000 per
unit. The 491-acre Warisan Puteri
was launched in 2000.
Other projects in the pipeline
include high-end serviced
apartments and villas near Jalan
Jelatek, Kuala Lumpur, and high-
end serviced apartment in Kota
Baru, Kelantan, and Bayan Lepas,
Penang.
With the success of Bandar
Enstek and the vast potential of
its upcoming projects, THP is well
on its way to position itself as a
premier property developer in
Malaysia.
StarSpecial 15
Sunday 14 September 2014
16 FOCUS ON NEGRI SEMBILAN StarSpecial, Sunday 14 September 2014
Connecting urban
living with the environment
N
ILAI Impian is the perfect
example of Sime Darby
Propertys focus on creating
sustainable communities.
Comprising 1,808 acres
(731.6ha) of freehold land that is
strategically located at the Nilai
Pajam interchange along the
North-South Expressway, this
township was rst developed in
1997.
With nearly two-thirds already
developed, Sime Darby Property
is not resting on its laurels but
continues to innovate with new
elements and products to upgrade
the townships value.
In creating sustainable
communities, Sime Darby
Property is moving from being
a builder of just townships to
an innovative place maker that
utilises cutting-edge urban design
principles to make connections
between people and places, the
natural landscape and the built
environment.
Strategically located within a
30km radius from major hubs such
as the Kuala Lumpur International
Airport, Putrajaya and Kuala
Lumpur city centre, on a site that
directly faces the countrys busiest
and most prominent expressway,
there is immense growth potential
in Nilai Impian.
Nilai Impian is located:
35 minutes from the
Kuala Lumpur city centre
25 minutes from
Putrajaya and Cyberjaya
20 minutes from the
Kuala Lumpur International
Airport
25 minutes from the KLIA2
Convenient living
amid greenery
Set against a stunning
backdrop of lush greenery and
an idyllic lake, the emphasis of
this township development is
based on nature, with bountiful
landscaping, family parks,
pedestrian walkways and bicycle
paths.
With an array of facilities
within proximity, including
shopping venues, schools,
colleges, universities and two
golf courses, Nilai Impian is the
epitome of comfortable and
convenient living.
High accessibility
and affordable
prices
Properties in Nilai are in
high demand as residents from
surrounding high-density
neighbourhoods such as
Subang, Puchong, Putrajaya
and Kuala Lumpur are opting to
move away from these areas to
avoid the congestion and seek
better quality homes at more
affordable prices.
This is evidenced by the
encouraging take-up rates of
recent residential launches in
Nilai and its surrounding areas.
With enhanced accessibility
with new road networks and a
new interchange between Nilai
Impian and the Nilai toll plaza,
the viability of Nilai Impian as
a focal point for development
activities is vast.
Nilai Impian is poised to be
a vibrant southern gateway
to the Klang Valley and a key
destination for investments.
With nearly two-
thirds already
developed, Sime
Darby Property is
not resting on its
laurels but continues
to innovate with
new elements and
products to upgrade
the townships value.
An idyllic lake
serves as the
backdrop for
the Nilai Impian
township.
An artists impression of the
Delfina Type 1B double-storey
link homes in Nilai Impian.
The interior of the houses in Nilai Impian are designed with cutting-edge urban design principles in mind.
StarSpecial 17
Sunday 14 September 2014
18 FOCUS ON NEGRI SEMBILAN StarSpecial, Sunday 14 September 2014
Green living in the heart of Nilai
H
EALTH and wellness are
integral parts of daily
living and many people
have realised the importance of
living in an environment that is
surrounded by lush greenery.
This was the inspiration behind
Rimbun Kasia in the town of Nilai
in Negri Sembilan.
Rimbun Kasia is an integrated
living environment that is built
amid green surroundings and
spans 35.6 acres (14.4ha). This is
Ireka Development Management
Sdn Bhds second development in
Nilai.
It encompasses ve residential
parcels and one commercial
parcel, which will be a lifestyle
hub, says Lai Voon Hon, its
president and chief executive
ocer.
All ve residential parcels are
gated, guarded and have their
own facilities. In addition, these
parcels are connected to a 2.3-acre
(0.93ha) central park with a lake at
the centre as its main feature.
Rimbun Kasia was
conceptualised to promote
community living within green
surroundings.
Each residential parcel in
Rimbun Kasia will have a unique
identity and characteristics that
cater to a specic target market.
The rst residential parcel that
will be launched before the end
of this year is called dwi@Rimbun
Kasia, which will encompass
courtyard-inspired homes.
The courtyard homes
are a low-rise condominium
development designed around a
courtyard, which has a sustainable
eco design. The subsequent parcels
to be launched over the next two
to three years are the town villas
and lifestyle condominiums,
says Lai.
Ireka ensures that each
residential parcel in Rimbun Kasia
contains a range of important
features it must be green, should
promote a healthy lifestyle and
encourage sustainability.
Lai says that as a strong
advocate of sustainability, Ireka
will be incorporating specially
designed stationary bicycles in
dwi@Rimbun Kasia to generate
power to water some of the
outdoor plants.
Irekas strong belief in
sustainable development also
means that Rimbun Kasia will
be launched phase by phase to
avoid overbuilding.
If the demand for a phase is
slow, we will defer the launch of
the next phase as we do not want
to overbuild. We have maintained
this policy throughout all our
developments in Mont Kiara and
now will do so in Nilai, he says.

Promoting healthy living
The lush surroundings of
Rimbun Kasia are intended to
attract a population that prioritises
healthy living, the outdoors and
nature, with each residential parcel
designed to cater to a specic
target market.
For instance, the courtyard
homes at dwi@Rimbun Kasia are
aimed at a younger market because
of the size of the units.
The town villas are larger than
the courtyard homes and are more
suited to a mature family or an
older population who enjoy the
outdoors and green living,
says Lai.
He adds that not all the
residential parcels have been
designed yet but says that all
parcels will be self-contained.
He envisages each parcel to have
a gym, a swimming pool and other
sports facilities, depending on the
type of the parcel. Each parcel
will also have its own property
management.
To encourage residents to
spend more time outdoors, Ireka
designed the central park and the
lake to anchor the Rimbun Kasia
development.
The lure of Nilai
We were attracted to Nilai
because it is a beautiful suburb in
the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. It is
very green, which is conducive to
healthy living, Lai says.
Nilai is located strategically
in the golden triangle of the
Southern Growth Corridor, which
encompasses Putrajaya, Cyberjaya
and Sepang, where KLIA and
KLIA2 are located.
Nilai is also only 30km away
from Kuala Lumpur. It has an
extensive road and infrastructure
network and many main
highways connect to it.
In addition, the Express Rail
Link in Salak Tinggi and the
nearby KTM commuter station
make accessibility to Nilai more
convenient and easy.
Nilai has also emerged as
one of the countrys education
hubs with a vast number of
world-class educational facilities
in the vicinity, including Nilai
University, Manipal University,
INTI University, Epsom College
in Malaysia, University Sains
Islam Malaysia and the upcoming
Xiamen University.
According to a study carried
out by the Ho Chin Soon Research
Group that specialises in property
information, there is a student
population of 35,000 within a 7km
radius of the Rimbun Kasia site.
This has given Nilai a dynamic
economy and led to an increase in
its population.
This is why Nilai has become
one of the fastest growing suburbs
outside Kuala Lumpur and it is
expected to be granted city status
soon.
The Ireka
advantage
Purchasing a property from
Ireka assures buyers that they
are purchasing a property from a
well-known name in the industry
one that is renowned for
developing luxury and branded
homes in Malaysia, most notably
the i-Zen collection.
We assure our customers that
we are giving them a product
that is of high quality. All our
developments thus far have high
capital appreciation.
This speaks volumes about
our quality, our level of innovation
and our emphasis on sustainable
development. We are very proud
of this and we are now bringing
this advantage to Nilai, says Lai.
The central park and the lake anchor
the Rimbun Kasia development.
An artists impression
of the Rimbun Kasia
development in Nilai.
Lai Voon Hon is the president and chief
executive officer of Ireka Development
Management Sdn Bhd.
Nilai is located
strategically
in the golden
triangle of the
Southern Growth
Corridor, which
encompasses
Putrajaya,
Cyberjaya and
Sepang, where
KLIA and KLIA2
are located.
This is why Nilai
has become one
of the fastest
growing suburbs
outside Kuala
Lumpur and it
is expected to
be granted city
status soon.
C
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r
t
e
s
y
o
f
P
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o
p
e
r
t
y
I
n
s
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t
StarSpecial 19
Sunday 14 September 2014
20 FOCUS ON NEGRI SEMBILAN StarSpecial, Sunday 14 September 2014
An artists impression of UNICITYs entrance.
An artists impression of UNICITYs courtyard.
H
ATTEN Group, a leading
corporation in Malaysia,
ocially launched a
groundbreaking lifestyle campus
mall development known
as UNICITY in Seremban 3,
Negri Sembilan, recently. The
ocial launch of UNICITY was
a groundbreaking success as its
serviced suites were the top pick
among local and foreign investors
and were completely sold out just
three days after the launch.
At present, only 50% of its retail
units remain available. Buyers
at the launch were presented
with a surprise gift of a brand
new 50-inch Sharp Aquos LED
widescreen television.
Eager crowds gathered in
Seremban to witness the launch
of UNICITY Lifestyle Campus Mall
and Serviced Suites. Many had
already heard about the Hatten
Groups successful developments
in Malacca and Iskandar in Johor
and they wanted to witness the
launch of the groups new iconic
project in Seremban.
With its vibrant new edu-
sports-leisure lifestyle concept,
UNICITY has brought new life,
hi-tech innovation and quality
edutainment into the third largest
university district in Malaysia.
Located next to the Universiti
Teknologi Mara (UiTM) campus,
UNICITY will be a major social
hub for the burgeoning student
population in Seremban 3. As
the university has more than
5,000 new enrolments each year,
UNICITY is strategically designed
and equipped to cater to a dynamic
youth-centric environment.
This proved to be the main
selling point as all units of its
serviced suites are completely sold
out and only 50% of the retail lots
remain.
UNICITY is an innovation that
the region has never seen before.
This project is history in the
making as it not only represents
the rst of its kind in Malaysia, it
is also Hatten Groups rst agship
development in Negri Sembilan,
said Colin Tan, group managing
Iconic
development in
Seremban 3
director of Hatten Group at the
launch.
Incorporating 250 affordable
and secure serviced suites located
atop a vast 350,000sq ft retail
platform, UNICITY provides stylish
urban lodgings with world-class
facilities for the increasing number
of students who choose to live off
campus.
More than just student housing,
UNICITYs denitive feature
is its ultra-modern lifestyle
campus mall. As the rst retail
development to embrace the edu-
sports-leisure concept, UNICITY
is a hub of activity and is dened
by its eclectic, functional and
innovative elements that include:
l Edutainment
- Cyber cafes
- Copy and printing kiosks
- Book stores
- Reading/study lounges
l Sports
- Futsal courts
- Basketball courts
- Lap pool
- Gymnasium
- Games room
l Leisure and convenience
- Shopping mall
- F&B outlets
- Convenience stores
- Launderettes

Supporting and enhancing
all aspects of urban student life,
UNICITY nurtures creativity,
healthy living and active learning
among youth. Here, energy
and inspiration thrive amid
comfortable and trendy lifestyle
spaces.
UNICITY is the multi-award-
winning Hatten Groups rst
project venture into the area and
will inject new vibrancy into the
socio-economic landscape in the
vicinity.
As a massive, multi-faceted,
mixed-development, UNICITY
is poised to capitalise on the
booming population, raising the
value of surrounding properties
where investors can be assured
of high capital returns and steady
value appreciation on their
investments. Students, on the
other hand, will benet from the
convenient and comprehensive
new lifestyle environment.
The projects unique concept
and quality excellence will attract
both local and foreign investors as
well as visitors to the state. This is
a giant step for Seremban 3, says
Tan.
n For more information, call
018-663 8899 or visit
www.unicitymall.com.my
About Hatten Group Sdn Bhd
INCORPORATED in 2008,
the multi award-winning
Hatten Group is a major
player in Malaysias property
development, asset management
and investment industry.
Led by Colin Tan (pic), group
managing director, the Hatten
group is renowned for its core
businesses in the commercial,
residential and hospitality
sectors and possesses an
extensive portfolio of distinctive
assets in the luxury lifestyle
industry.
Gaining global recognition
for its iconic innovations, Hatten
Group is well on its way towards
becoming one of the top 10
premier property developers in
Malaysia by the year 2020.
n For more information, visit
www.hattengrp.com
An artists impression of
UNICITY Lifestyle Campus Mall
and Serviced Suites.
StarSpecial 21
Sunday 14 September 2014
22 FOCUS ON NEGRI SEMBILAN StarSpecial, Sunday 14 September 2014
L
IVING well is an art, like
a masterfully designed
township or neighbourhood.
At Seremban 2 and S2 Heights,
residents experience a balance
of convenience and beautiful
landscape both natural and
man-made that provides them
a lifestyle that they will never tire
of.
Living well requires simple
things such as being far from noise
and crowds while being close
to the services you need. What
is more important is nding an
affordable home.
Owning such a dream home
in south of the Klang Valley is
now made easy with a Bumiputra
Scheme campaign.
The township that everyone
knows
Seremban 2 and S2 Heights
are developed by IJM Land,
the countrys leading property
developer with an enviable
track record of building
quality townships, boutique
developments and high-end
residential developments.
Seremban 2
To date, Seremban 2 has
emerged as one of the most
progressive and successful
developments in Negri Sembilan,
with development currently
at 90% to completion and an
expected population of 62,500.
Seremban 2 is strategically
located 1km from the Seremban
toll plaza and 4km from town.
Accessibility to the township is via
the North-South Highway.
ELITE and Lekas highways have
brought Seremban 2 closer to key
locations such as Kuala Lumpur
city centre (45 minutes), Kuala
Lumpur International Airport
(30 minutes), and Putrajaya and
Cyberjaya (30 minutes).
The integrated township offers
a wide selection of beautifully
designed homes, including
affordable apartments, terrace
houses, super-linked and semi-
detached houses and exclusive
gated bungalows.
To date, Seremban 2 comprises
nine residential communities, ve
schools, a 15-acre (6ha) city lake
park, a sports complex, modern
shopping centres and commercial
business parks.
Seremban 2 is also home to
the state government and local
authorities.
S2 heights
With the success of Seremban 2
and the positive and enthusiastic
response received from property
investors, IJM Land has unveiled
another integrated development
called S2 Heights.
S2 Heights is a low-density
development that spans more
than 1,500 acres (607ha) of prime
freehold land.
Located on high grounds with
an undulating terrain,
S2 Heights will offer home
owners a panoramic view of the
surrounding landscape.
It boasts a wide variety of
modern and spacious homes
designed to satisfy even the most
discerning buyers.
It includes exclusive gated
bungalows communities, semi-
detached homes and terrace
houses.
The highlight of S2 Heights is
the impressive 6.6-acre (2.7ha)
linear park that will be the focal
point for social, community and
recreational activities.
A network of well-laid paths
and walkways will link the cluster
of homes in S2 Heights to the park,
akin to having an extended garden
at your doorstep.
At the crown of S2 Heights, the
integrated linear parks convene
into the 30-acre (12.1ha) Hill Park,
where you can feast your senses
on the surrounding environment
and relax in the knowledge that
you are among birds, trees and a
cooling breeze that will allow you
to enjoy your favourite book with
a cup of tea in peace.
As a resident, you will have
the space and lifestyle that many
travel long distances to nd.
Samira Double Storey Home
from RM522,310
Aviva Semi-D Double Storey
Home from RM846,260 (Ready
for occupation)
Kalista Residence from
RM273,410 (Register for the
launch of the new phase)
Affordable and
accessible homes
The art of living well
Aviva Green in
Seremban 2.
An artists impression
of Samira at S2 Heights.
An artists
impression of
Kalista Residence
in Seremban 2.
S2 Heights proximity to
the Seremban 2 township will
provide its residents with easy
and convenient access to essential
amenities such as schools, parks
and shopping and entertainment
centres.
The development of S2 Heights
and Seremban 2 will emerge
as the driving force behind the
rapid growth of the Greater Klang
Valley.
n For more information, visit
seremban2.ijmland.com
StarSpecial 23
Sunday 14 September 2014
24 FOCUS ON NEGRI SEMBILAN StarSpecial, Sunday 14 September 2014
Come explore
these local favourites
T
HERE are many places of
interest in Negri Sembilan,
both for the locals who want
to know more about their state
and tourists out for a snippet of
Malaysian history.
We have prepared a shortlist
of some of the must-dos in Negri
Sembilan, in the hope you will
discover some secrets during your
travels there.
Pedas Hot Springs
Pedas is a well known hot
spring among the locals. This area
is great for picnics and family
time, with people ocking to it
during the school holidays.
Now there is a theme park
incorporating the hot springs so
there is more fun to be had.
There is a certain mystique and
sense of wonder with hot springs,
which was probably also why
the Roman baths (including that
in Bath, England) were once so
popular.
Port Dickson
Better known as PD, this
seaside town has plenty of history
and has long been the favourite
beach of the Seremban and Klang
Valley folk.
Developed by the British during
the time of the Straits Settlements,
it was thought to have great
potential as a harbour.
An area known as Lukut
has high tin ore content and it
attracted many Chinese miners.
Today, the local economy
is supported by oil and gas
reneries.
As a seaside town it has long
stretches of beaches, which are
mostly sandy and spotted with
beautiful rock pools. It has many
hotels and resorts that will leave
visitors spoilt for choice.
Families are also known to
rent beachside bungalows and
hold barbecue parties against the
backdrop of the setting sun.
Ulu Bendul
Recreational Park
On the way to Kuala Pilah
from Seremban is the Ulu Bendul
Recreational Park, which has long
been a favourite of picnickers and
long-haul lorry drivers looking for
some shut-eye.
It has a lovely waterfall that is
not too ferocious, which makes it
relatively safe for children to frolic
at the base of the falls under the
Port Dickson.
watchful eyes of their parents.
The forest itself is quiet and
rather pretty with nature lovers
and campers using it as a location
for their wholesome outdoor
activities.
The park also boasts of the
2,450ft high Gunung Angsi. Part of
the hike to the mountain follows
the Sungai Batang Terachi a
beautiful sight indeed.
Sri Menanti
Royal Museum
The Sri Menanti Royal Museum
once served as the royal palace for
state royalty. It is located in Kuala
Pilah.
The wooden palace is built with
wooden pegs, using no screws or
nails with beautiful solid timber
pillars. Within its walls you will
nd lots of history, including
royal costumes and documents of
lineages.
This is interesting because Negri
Sembilan practises Adat Perpatih,
which is not practised in most
other states in the country.
Adat Perpatih is a matrilineal
custom and is said to be between
3,000 and 4,000 years old and was
brought to Peninsular Malaysia by
the Minangkabau people in the
14th Century.
Negeri Sembilan
State Museum
The states museum is
located at the Crafts & Cultural
Handicraft Complex in Seremban.
The building itself is a simply
wonderful sight as it features the
marvellous Minangkabau roof
shaped like glorious buffalo horns.
The Minangkabau architecture
is a proud tribute to the heritage
of this group of settlers from West
Sumatra who made this place their
home.
The building is known as the
Teratak Pepatih Building and
Seri Menanti Royal
Museum.
now houses the states historical
exhibits, including the ceremonial
keris, Bugis and Minangkabau
swords, royal ornaments and
various handicrafts.
Within the compound is a
smaller building known as the
Ampang Tinggi Palace built
during the reign of the fth Yang
Di-Pertuan Besar from 1861 to
1869.
The palace is a delicate piece
of architecture that serves as a
gentle reminder of the intricacies
of the royal past.
Other elements in the
compound include canons, a boat
and a locomotive.
The Negri Sembilan House or
Rumah Undang built in 1898 can
also be found there.
It is another ne specimen of
Minangkabau architecture and is
built without a single nail.

Cape Rachado
Lighthouse
The Cape Rachado Lighthouse
is technically located in Tanjung
Tuan in the state of Malacca. But
considering this is located just
next to Port Dickson, the Cape
Rachado Lighthouse is a Negri
favourite too.
After the Portuguese came to
Malacca in 1511, they needed a
lighthouse to guide their ships
safely into harbour. Tanjung Tuan
was chosen and the lighthouse
was built in 1528.
It is believed to be the oldest
lighthouse in the country and is
an ideal area for bird watching.
Cape Rachado Lighthouse.