UMLand opens new office, sales gallery in Bandar Seri Alam

JOHOR BAHRU (Jan 30): Seri Alam Properties Sdn Bhd (SAP), a wholly-owned subsidiary of United Malayan Land Bhd (UMLand), has opened its new corporate office and sales gallery in Bandar Seri Alam, Johor, named Galleria Seri Alam.

The official opening on Monday was officiated by UMLand chairman Tun Musa Hitam. Apart from the ribbon cutting and plaque signing, there was also a lion dance performance in conjunction with the Chinese Lunar New Year.

With a total built-up area of 34,556 sq ft, the 4-storey building houses the sales gallery on the ground floor showcasing the products offered within the township of Bandar Seri Alam, UMLand's flagship township in Iskandar Malaysia.

"This building sports a simple yet elegant design. It demonstrates the simplicity and practicality that we have infused in our various developments in Bandar Seri Alam," said UMLand group chief executive officer Pee Tong Lim.

"Bandar Seri Alam has matured into a self-contained township, offering its residents a wide range of excellent amenities such as the Tesco hypermarket, F&B outlets, five banks halls and Regency Specialist Hospital. Being a fully-integrated township spanning over 3,700 acres, the township has been recognised as the 'Eastern Gateway' of Iskandar Malaysia," he said.

Bandar Seri Alam has also been recognised as the "Education Hub" for the Eastern Corridor of Iskandar Malaysia by the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA). Several institutions of higher learning have been established in Seri Alam, such as University Kuala Lumpur; University Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Masterskill University College of Health Sciences, Mara Junior Science College, Malaysia Arts School, Japanese International School; and the proposed HELP University and Excelsior International School.

"The positioning of Seri Alam as a major education hub will significantly increase its appeal given the various developments coming on stream in Iskandar Malaysia," Pee added.

With the completion of the Coastal Highway in February, travel time from Johor Bahru city centre to Seri Alam will be within 18 minutes. The North-South Expressway is also only twenty minutes away, accessible via the Pasir Gudang Highway. To the north of Seri Alam is the newly-opened Senai-Desaru Highway.

"UMLand will continue to form strategic partnerships through joint ventures with likeminded partners to fast track the development pace at Bandar Seri Alam," he said.

A recent strategic partnership is the collaboration with the Excelsior International School Group to build the 1st Raffles Campus international school in Seri Alam.

Construction will commence in the first quarter of 2012, and is expected to be completed by June 2013. This will be the flagship school for the Raffles Campus network in Malaysia. The first intake of students is anticipated in the third quarter of 2013, with admission assessments and enrolments commencing in early 2013.

Another project coming on stream early next month, is the luxurious waterfront serviced apartments known as Somerset Puteri Harbour located in Nusajaya, Iskandar Malaysia. UMLand had sealed an agreement with Ascott Ltd at the end of last year to manage and operate the 204 units of serviced residences in a leaseback arrangement with the buyers of Somerset Puteri Harbour. This development is a joint venture with UEM Land Bhd, the master developer of Nusajaya. The gross development value of this project is estimated to be RM220 million.

"This joint venture will not only provide growth impetus to our portfolio of niche development, but also strengthen our foothold in prime locations within Iskandar Malaysia," said Pee.

Apart from Seri Alam, another UMLand township located within Iskandar Malaysia is Taman Seri Austin.