Daily Digest · Monday, 20 July 2026· Updated: about 18 hours ago
Pesona Metro lands RM247.5 mil hospital job as RTS Link study points to RM3.3 bil Johor spending boost
Johor Bahru’s cross-border retail opportunity and healthcare construction demand were the weekend’s key property themes. Pesona Metro accepted a RM247.5 million letter of award to build three private hospital blocks in Setia Alam, lifting its order book to about RM2.4 billion, while a study commissioned by three Singapore business bodies projected an additional RM3.3 billion in annual Singaporean consumer spending in Johor Bahru once the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link begins operations in 2027. The hospital award, for a Mega First Corp unit, involves a 30-month construction programme beginning July 28. Separately, the RTS study projected 11.2 million additional return trips a year into Johor Bahru, with groceries, pharmacy, dining and beauty services expected to account for much of the incremental spending.
Quick takes
- Astro sells Cyberjaya property to data-centre buyer at premium: Astro’s unit MEASAT Broadcast Network Systems has agreed to sell a 4.5-acre freehold Cyberjaya property to AIMS Central, a unit of data-centre group AIMS, for RM92 million. The disposal price is above the property’s RM85 million valuation and RM53.78 million book value.
- Chin Hin Property completes RM91 million Seri Kembangan land purchase: Chin Hin Group Property has completed the acquisition of two leasehold parcels in Seri Kembangan, Selangor, for RM91 million. The parcels are planned for a terrace housing development comprising 380 units with an estimated gross development value of RM560 million.
- Whitmore buys more MKH shares during takeover offer period: Whitmore Holdings acquired 557,400 MKH shares at RM1.96 each via the open market during the ongoing takeover offer period. The transaction was disclosed in Bursa Malaysia filings under rules governing securities dealings during an offer period.
- S P Setia launches RM63.14 million Aurora II in Klang: S P Setia has launched Aurora II, a 69-unit double-storey terrace housing phase within its freehold Setia Bayuemas South township in Klang. The phase has a gross development value of RM63.14 million, with homes priced from RM840,000.
- Radium tops out 1,218-unit Vista Adesa in Sungai Besi: Radium Development has topped out Vista Adesa, its 1,218-unit Residensi Wilayah project in Sungai Besi, Kuala Lumpur. The affordable housing project comprises 800 sq ft units priced from RM300,000 and is targeted for completion in the second quarter of 2027.
Pesona Metro accepts RM247.5 mil letter of award for Setia Alam hospital blocks
Pesona Metro’s wholly owned subsidiary Pesona Metro Sdn Bhd has accepted a RM247.5 million letter of award from Setia Alam Medical Centre for the piling, basement, main building and external works of a private hospital development at Persiaran Setia Dagang, Setia Alam, Shah Alam. The award was accepted on July 17, according to a Bursa Malaysia filing.
The development comprises three blocks. Block A will have 15 levels of hospital space, while Block B will comprise eight levels of hospital facilities together with additional car park floors. Block C will consist of three levels of hospital space over five levels of parking, alongside basement parking, mechanical and electrical rooms and support facilities. Construction is scheduled to begin on July 28 and complete on Jan 28, 2029, representing a 30-month programme.
Setia Alam Medical Centre is a subsidiary of Mega First Corp and operates the medical centre in the township. The award lifts Pesona Metro’s order book to about RM2.4 billion.
Why it matters
The award does not immediately change the contractor’s profile, with construction yet to begin under the letter of award. However, it adds healthcare infrastructure to a mature township where development activity is moving beyond residential delivery. Healthcare projects have provided a steady pipeline for selected mid-cap contractors as other construction segments move through different cycles. The award also highlights continued investment into operator-led assets alongside broader property development activity.
RTS Link study projects RM3.3 bil annual Singapore spending boost for Johor Bahru
Singapore residents are projected to spend an additional S$1.05 billion, equivalent to about RM3.3 billion, annually in Johor Bahru after the RTS Link begins operations in 2027, according to a study titled Impact of RTS on Singapore Retail and F&B Sector. The study was jointly commissioned by the Singapore Business Federation, the Restaurant Association of Singapore and the Singapore Retailers Association.
It projects outbound trips by Singapore consumers rising 51%, adding 11.2 million return trips a year into Johor Bahru, or about 30,700 return trips a day. Groceries account for the largest share of additional spending, followed by drug stores, dining and beauty services, with lower prices and the exchange rate cited as key reasons for the expected cross-border spending. The findings were based on historical card transaction data and surveys involving about 1,700 respondents in Singapore and 400 in Johor conducted in March.
The study also projected higher spending by Johor Bahru residents in Singapore, with 3.3 million additional return trips and S$756 million in annual spending expected to flow into Singapore, driven by premium retail, entertainment and events. The projected net position is an outbound spending flow from Singapore of about S$290 million annually.
Why it matters
The findings are based on stated consumer intentions from a study commissioned by Singapore trade bodies, so the projections should be viewed as directional rather than predictive. Even so, the spending categories identified — groceries, pharmacy, dining and beauty services — point towards neighbourhood retail and mall tenancy rather than only prime retail destinations. The potential uplift is most relevant to assets with accessibility to the Bukit Chagar RTS Link terminus, although the study does not by itself resolve broader challenges facing Johor Bahru’s high-rise residential market.
Also on the radar today
IJM Land delivers NOVA homes after strong take-up
IJM Land has commenced vacant possession for NOVA Phase 1, a low-density freehold hillside enclave in Seremban 2 Heights, after achieving 80% take-up. The development comprises smart-enabled semidee and bungalow homes supported by GreenRE-certified facilities and park-linked community features.
OSK Property tops out ALIA, unveils TAMU at OSK Mori Park
OSK Property has topped out ALIA @ OSK Mori Park, its first residential phase in Section 13, Shah Alam, after achieving a 98% sales rate. The developer is also unveiling TAMU, the third phase featuring lifestyle facilities, dual-key units and transit-oriented connectivity.
Ambest unit buys Bayan Lepas shophouse for workers' accommodation
Ambest Group’s wholly owned Ambest Technology has agreed to acquire a freehold two-storey shophouse in Bayan Lepas, Penang, for RM1.95 million cash. The property is intended for workers’ accommodation and will be funded internally, with no expected material impact on the group’s current financial year.
Widad unit's winding-up hearing pushed to September
Widad Group said the hearing for a winding-up petition brought by Sany Construction against its wholly owned subsidiary Widad Builders has been rescheduled to Sept 28. The matter relates to an ongoing contractor dispute involving the subsidiary.
Today's roundup
Construction awards and cross-border consumer demand shaped the weekend’s property agenda. Pesona Metro accepted a RM247.5 million letter of award to build three private hospital blocks in Setia Alam for a Mega First unit, lifting its order book to about RM2.4 billion. Separately, a study commissioned by three Singapore business bodies projected RM3.3 billion in additional annual Singaporean spending in Johor Bahru once the RTS Link begins operations. Other developments tracked included Astro’s RM92 million Cyberjaya property disposal to a data-centre buyer, Chin Hin Group Property’s completed RM91 million Seri Kembangan land acquisition, Ambest’s Penang workers’ accommodation purchase, Widad’s rescheduled winding-up hearing and further Whitmore purchases in MKH.
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