Lo (second right) and Sim (second left) cut the ribbons to officially open the Sheda Home and
Property Roadshow at Boulevard shopping mall.
Lo (second right) and Sim (third right) take a tour around the exhibition area.
KUCHING: Property owners within Padawan Municipal Council are urged to consider building beautiful and natural surroundings near their properties.
Its chairman, Lo Khere Chiang, in giving this reminder said he was interested in collaborating with Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers’ Association (Sheda) to promote holistic development for the advancement of the municipality.
“Padawan has huge potential for such development as there are many areas with natural beauty such as the Annah Rais longhouse, Benuk longhouse and Borneo Highland Resort,” he said at the opening of Sheda Home and Property Roadshow in Boulevard Shopping Mall here.
Some 63 exhibitors participated in the three-day roadshow which started Friday.
The annual event offered opportunities for both exhibitors and the public to seek different options available from a wide selection gathered under one roof.
“I believe it will attract those buyers who prefer to live in quiet and green suburban areas yet have easy access to the city, amenities and facilities,” he said.
Padawan’s vast land, Lo pointed out, cost relatively cheaper as compared to city and can offer home owners a balance between flexibility of urban living as well as the calm beauty of nature around.
“The government plays an important part to support this kind of development concept,” he said.
In addition, Lo emphasised that housing and commercial property development encouraged growth of communities especially benefiting small and medium businesses in village areas.
“With strategic planning, the businesses then form a focal point, attracting surrounding communities whose population in turn generates financial growth and market value to the area,” he said.
“Take the townships of Batu Kawah, Kota Sentosa and Kota Padawan for examples, the balance between demand and supply, of converging residents and businesses is a working example of sustainable development,” he added.
Lo also said the council will continue to work with the government and other relevant agencies to find ways to strengthen community bonds and enhance the standard of living by upgrading amenities and creating employment opportunities.
Meanwhile, organising chairman and Sheda secretary general Sim Kiang Chiok highlighted that both developers and purchasers were concerned with the rising costs of owning a house.
“Government policies no doubt, have an impact on the industry including the rise of fuel prices, increase in stringent financing guidelines, reduction of personal loans for homebuyers and increase in Real Property Gain Tax,” he said.
On the impact and influence of the GST, Sim said it will no doubt have an impact on the economy and housing industry.
“The public should not wait for the implementation of the GST before deciding to purchase property as prices are still at a reasonable stage in
Sheda, Sim pointed out, occasionally holds dialogue with government to stay ahead in the competition.
Looking around the city, Sim pointed out the issues of space and affordability were interlinked.
He hoped that through the roadshow, the public can have the chance to make better informed decisions in property purchase.
In addition to the property exhibition, Sheda in collaboration with ACE Events will be organising several activities including a colouring contest today and Sunday for children aged four to 12 years old entitled ‘My Ideal Housing Estate’.
While children take part in the competition, parents can join in a cooking session organised by TruMix.
That apart, Dato Paduka Master Koh will be delivering a talk on adopting feng shui principles to create good energy when buying new house or decorating home while Sarawak Genral Hospital will organise a blood donation drive today from 10am to 2pm in Boulevard’s new wing.