Sprawling Sibu Jaya taking Sarawak into the future
With a total gross development value (GDV) over RM1 billion and gross area of approximately 1,400 acres — Sibu Jaya Township — is touted as the largest on-going mixed-development project undertaken by HDCam Sdn Bhd (HDCam) based in Sibu.
The mega mixed-development is based on the concept of a self-contained township and well-positioned along the Pan-Borneo Highway, a mere one kilometre (km) from the Sibu Airport and 23km from Sibu town. It is also centrally located along the first trunk road between Kuching (454km) and Miri (416km).
SELF CONTAINED: The key idea is to create an interdependent living system with the potential to grow.
The development comprises a mixed-array of affordable to high-end residential homes, shop houses, high-rise commercial buildings, industrial lots, school, community facilities and public amenities.
According to HDCam director Azlan Baqee Abdullah, the project was first initiated in 1995 but faced major slowdown during the 1998 Asian Financial Crisis. “After that, customers preferences started to change and many units that were built were unsold or left unoccupied,” he told BizHive Weekly in an email interview.
In 2005, the plan was reviewed and new measures were drawn to address the weaknesses. Since then, a smart partnership between the Housing Development Corporation and Amcorp Group was formed under a private Fund Initiative Concept to propel the transformation of Sibu Jaya and HDCam was created.
Between 2004 and 2008, Sibu Jaya went through a transformation phase when HDCam started to revamp and upgrade the affordable homes, build new medium to high cost homes, and dynamically promoted the industrial as well as commercial properties. “More than 600 properties have been sold since then and its population has grown from 10,000 to 20,000,” said Azlan.
In April 2008, the proposed re-planning development masterplan towards a more community-based New Sibu Jaya Township won the prestigious Judges Merit in Planning Excellence Award (under the Community Development-Planning Achievement Category Four) organised by the Malaysian Institute of Planners.
Azlan pointed out that the construction of its ‘Main Boulevard’ at Sibu Jaya in 2011 marked the first package to be implemented under the re-planning of Sibu Jaya masterplan. “It will not only give a new buzz to the existing growing population, but will also ease traffic congestion during peak hours.”
Of the combined developable area of 1,400 acres, approximately 460 acres had been completed with a current GDV of RM470 million under the initial township development. The development comprised 4,986 residential units, 174 commercial units and 96 industrial units that serve a population base of about 25,000.
Based on the new masterplan, the township was expected to be completed by 2023 with a total population base of 60,000 and would see an additional 5,600 medium to high-end residential units, 476 commercial units, 83 industrial units and four parcels identified for commercial buildings.
“The development of Sibu Jaya is to bring in economic prosperity to the region by creating conditions that attract establishments to set up organised commercial markets and to motivate investors and developers as well as other beneficiaries to invest and contribute directly to economic properties,” Azlan highlighted.
“Substantial employment opportunities generated within and around the township has improved the per-capita income and gross domestic product. In addition, superb accessibility to various prime destinations have also created additional employment opportunities,” he added.
Moving forward, with the completion of the Durin Bridge as well as the upgrade of Pan-Borneo Highway, Sibu Jaya has become more accessible to other surrounding towns such as Kapit, Kanowit, Song, Julau, Ngemah, Bintangor and Sarikei.
Sibu Jaya offered a mixed array of affordable to high-end residential homes, ranging from under RM100,000 to RM480,000 per unit, compared with a higher range of RM250,000 to RM700,000 for properties of similar types in Sibu town.
“Increasingly, it is becoming clearer that apart from the competitive pricing of properties, people are looking for a sustainable integrated township of a size capable of supporting businesses and homes, with adequate physical and social infrastructure, availability of good quality health services, educational institutions and modern recreational facilities,” revealed Azlan.
“The key idea is to create an interdependent living system which is not only self-sufficient but also has the potential to grow and inject growth into geographical areas around Sibu Jaya,” Azlan commented.