Turning Malay reserve land into housing estate

Mohd Zain (first row fourth from right) handing over a mock key to houseowner Zuliana Mat Nasir during the key handover ceremony at Taman Desa Kencana, Meru, Klang. Looking on are Azmi (first row, sixth from right), Northern Region Development controller Siti Zubaidah Abd Jabar (first row second from right), VIPs, and other house buyers.

IT WAS a proud moment for the housebuyers who received the keys to their much-awaited houses at Taman Desa Kencana, Meru, Klang.

Sitting on a 1.05ha land, the project began in 2013 and was completed in November last year.

It received its Certificate of Completion and Compliance (CCC) in April.

The development consists of 12 one-and-a-half storey houses and 10 units of double-storey houses, equipped with three-plus-one rooms and three bathrooms.

The units with built-up areas between 1,500sq ft and 2,200 sq ft, was priced from RM390,000 to RM600,000.

Taman Desa Kencana is easily accessible via the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE), the North-South Expressway Central Link (ELITE) and Shah Alam Expressway.

A total of 19 homeowners received their keys at the ceremony.

This development is by PKNS Infra Berhad (PIB), a fully-owned subsidiary of Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS).

PIB’s business activities encompasses construction, property development and engineering services.

Although it has other developments in its stable of projects, this is its first project to be built on Malay reserve land.

“The success of this project is a beginning for PIB to develop other Malay reserve lands around Selangor, many of which have been left idle.

“Taman Desa Kencana is an ideal residence that captures the elements of urban lifestyle through its architecture and display, drawing inspiration from latest trends in modern design, comfort and practicality,” said PIB chief executive officer Mohd Zain Sarman.

Though on smaller scales, PIB will continue to develop more of such land, it aims to ensure people are able to own their dream homes, he added.

“This is the right time to focus on developing more medium-cost houses and residences to cater to the demand for good quality and affordable homes by the middle-income group.

“We will be the key driver of this sector while encouraging other developers to also see the huge potential that Malay reserve lands can offer at the same time,” he pointed out.

It is estimated that in 2014, there was about 170,533ha of Malay reserve land in Selangor.

Mohd Zain said PKNS was in the process of acquiring about 60ha of land in Dengkil while scouting for potential land located in the suburbs of Banting, Meru, Kapar and Kuala Selangor.

They have also identified the Malay reserve lands in Sungai Merab, Kajang along with Jalan Kebun and Kampung Lombong in the Klang Valley to be developed.

He encouraged Malay reserve land owners to work together with PIB to develop more houses in line with its aspirations to provide affordable and good quality houses to the people.

Homeowner Kamsol Khalid, 49, is looking forward to spending time in his new house with his wife.

The father of three is currently living Sungai Kapar Indah and will pass on his house to his children, of which two are working and the youngest is in university.

“I bought this place because of its peaceful environment.

“I’m about to retire and I want to spend my retirement here. It is also close to where my in-laws are living.

“If all goes as planned, we will shift into our new home by 2017,” said Kamsol, the new owner of a one-and-the-half storey house.