EBIC debuting two projects in KL after CNY

EBIC Holdings Sdn Bhd, which was founded by Roger Lim two years ago when he was just 31, is ready to unveil its first two projects in Kuala Lumpur.

With a total gross development value of RM252 million, they will be launched by 1H2013. In fact, the niche developer has another three projects to be launched by 2014 with a total GDV of RM585 million.

The core businesses of EBIC, which stands for Embrace Building an Integrated Community, are property development, construction and mining.

Kuala Lumpur-born Lim was 18 when he joined the apprentice and scholarship programme of construction group Gamuda Bhd as a quantity surveyor trainee in 1997. He spent five years studying (part-time while working) and another five years — the last three as contracts manager in the Middle East — working for the construction and engineering arm of the company.

"It was a very good training ground for me and it wasn't easy to leave the company," says Lim, now a full-fledged quantity surveyor and executive director of EBIC.

"But I had to come back to Malaysia in 2006 to assist my uncle in running his company as it was going through some difficult times."

The company was called Techjaya Builders Sdn Bhd and Lim was the general manager of its construction arm and worked on such projects as Nusa Tropika in Ampang. His uncle Lai Moo Chan was a Master Builders Association Malaysia past president and one of the co-founders of Ho Hup Construction Co Bhd.

After working for his uncle for four years, Lim, who had always wanted to be a property developer, decided to set up his own company. Thus was born EBIC in 2010, and Lim is debuting two projects after Chinese New Year in February.

"Actually, we had plans for our first project back in 2010. We had a leasehold, nine-acre parcel in Melawati where we planned to build town villas, superlinks and villas. But we sold the land to Selangor Dredging Bhd, together with the development order and after the land conversion was completed," he explains.

Come March, the developer will introduce its high-rise project DeSkye Residence. It is located off Jalan Ipoh, just 15 minutes from Solaris Dutamas near Mont'Kiara, Kuala Lumpur, on a 2.84-acre freehold plot and has a GDV of RM200 million. There will be two 24-storey blocks with a total of 284 condos (eight per floor) with built-ups ranging from 960 to 1,260 sq ft (excluding the penthouse). Prices are around RM560 psf.

"The project is in a mature area with many other condominiums around. It is close to two Komuter train stations and easily accessible via the Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway. Some condos nearby are going for close to RM700 psf (developer's price)," Lim says, adding that aside from allocating two parking bays to each unit, buyers will also be offered a developer interest-bearing scheme.

DeSkye is a joint venture with the landowner. Its facilities include a wading pool, swimming pool, gymnasium, children's playground, multipurpose hall, cafeteria and mini-market.

In July, the developer will be launching Edenia @ Melawati, a boutique and landed high-end residential project on a 2.46-acre leasehold plot next to Sunway Rydgeway in Taman Melawati. The project has a GDV of RM52 million and is also a joint venture with the landowner. It offers six 2½-storey semidees and 10 three-storey semidees with lifts and a built-up of 5,000 sq ft. The unfurnished homes are priced from RM3 million onwards.

Among its facilities are foot reflexology paths, a zen garden, playground and star observatory tower.

Edenia is easily accessible via Jalan Ampang, the Middle Ring Road 2, the Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway and the Genting Klang-Pahang Highway. Nearby are the International School of Kuala Lumpur (elementary campus), the Malaysia Institute of Art, the Damai Service Hospital and the National Zoo.

EBIC own 15 acres in Melawati, 50 acres in Rawang and 4.6 acres in Kuala Terengganu for future developments. It plans to build superlinks and town villas on its freehold plot in Melawati by the end of this year. In Rawang, its land is close to Glomac Bhd's Bandar Saujana Rawang or just 5km from AEON Jusco. There are plans for a residential development, comprising semidees and bungalows, here. According to Lim, this project will be launched next year and has an indicative GDV of RM265 million.

The 4.6-acre leasehold plot fronting the sea in the east coast was acquired in June last year. Initial plans for the land is a small office/ home office development with an indicative GDV of RM100 million.

Lim is busy looking for land and new opportunities, but prefers to work on two projects at a time so that he can be a hands-on manager and focus on the projects in hand.


This story first appeared in The Edge weekly edition of Jan 14-20, 2013.