HONG KONG: More organisations and individuals joined the chorus of criticism against the doubling of stamp duty on the purchase of commercial properties, ahead of a meeting with lawmakers yesterday.

It could become prohibitively expensive for businesses to buy their own premises to avoid high rental costs, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors said.

GEORGE TOWN: Penang niche developer Heng Lee Group’s latest project, Sandilands, in the city centre has seen more than 70% take-up since its launch in late December. Located at the beginning of Beach Street and just 10 minutes walk from Komtar, the freehold project has a gross development value (GDV) of RM330 million.

KUALA LUMPUR: Mah Sing Group Bhd will continue to focus on property development in the greater Klang Valley as its population is expected to grow to 10 million by 2020.

KUALA LUMPUR: Glomac Bhd sees alternatives to the build-then-sell (BTS) scheme, which will be implemented by 2015 to avoid cases of abandoned housing projects.

KUALA LUMPUR: Gamuda Bhd is acquiring 14 parcels of land via open tender from TPPT Sdn Bhd for RM620 million. TPPT is a property developer established by Bank Negara Malaysia in 1990 to manage a special fund with the objective of providing affordable housing.

THE vibe at developer Symphony Life's headquarters housed in the Symphony House building, off the old Subang Airport road, is one of new enthusiasm and optimism.

PROPERTY auctioneers are seeing more high-end apartments in Kuala Lumpur come into the auction market, as more owners grapple with the slowdown in demand for such properties.