In a news report in an English medium newspaper, it was reported that SEVEN new highways would be starting work next year, 2015. These are only for Klang Valley. They are as follows: RM1.18bil Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE) extension, the RM5.04bil West Coast Expressway (WCE) from Banting to Taiping, the RM2.5bil Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex), the RM1.5bil Kuala Lumpur Outer Ring Road (KLORR), the RM4.18bil Damansara-Shah Alam Expressway (DASH), the RM4.3bil Sungai Besi-Ulu Kelang Elevated Expressway (SUKE) and the Serdang-Kinrara-Putrajaya Highway (SKIP). Sometimes, the abbreviations just make you laugh but humour aside, this meant that the expectations are that there would be more people in terms of new population and more cars on the roads. Quite an exciting period indeed for those who has bought properties which are well linked by expressways.
Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusuf also said this about KIDEX. “If you look at Kidex, the promoters have received the feedback from the public for realignment … with the information, we now need to sit down and evaluate how to proceed with the project,”. If we look at this statement alone, I think the chances that KIDEX will proceed is extremely high. KIDEX was a highway which faced heavy objections from the public staying along the route. You can read my earlier article on KIDEX here. KIDEX off? KIDEX on? More expressways on the way.
Image Source: http://www.mkenology.com/2014/07/map-of-proposed-highways-in-greater.html
For those who are thinking about buying stocks of construction companies, the Minister said that the industry is expected to continue its double-digit growth due to the ongoing construction activities from both the private and public sectors. Overall project value? RM110 BILLION. In terms of stocks to buy, RHB likes GAMUDA as it is a proxy to the Klang Valley MRT project. Do note that GAMUDA was also mentioned as one of the potential bidders for Penang’s Transportation Masterplan a few months ago.
CIMB meanwhile said that “Expectations are still high for Muhibbah Engineering Bhd securing packages in the Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development project in Pengerang, Johor. While still skeptical, investors were eager for the high-speed rail updates and keen to hear our opinion about YTL Corp Bhd’s advantage,”. Again, note the word ‘skeptical’ and ‘eager’. Sometimes, it’s very funny because if you are skeptical, why are you so eager? Well, just look at the Facebook comments. MANY said the household debts in Malaysia is way too high. Yet, MANY are still so positive about property investment. Great, ‘skeptical’ and ‘eager’.
Personally, I continue to like secondary market at least for the next 12 months because I think it will continue to be slow. As for the new launches, I think the prices may not rise as much as previously but average prices, without much doubt would continue to rise for now because the owners of luxury properties may not be willing to part with their property for lesser profits while the secondary properties, for those below RM500,000 ones are likely to inch up bit by bit as those needing a home buys one. Happy investing or waiting but not speculating.
written on 20th Sept 2014
Next suggested article: NEW highways, NEW developments, SURE objections
Seven highways starting next year. Thats means, MORE TOLLS in future. 🙂
Comments
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Hi Charles,
I personally don’t know how many more highways we had to build to ease the traffic. But some of the highways seems overlapping the other one. I realize it is necessary just like SILK and PLUS KL-Seremban because the of the jam in one highway but how about SUKE which we can go through existing KLIA highway. How about WCE?
Okay to be fair, I think all highways are good. But where are the Government Plan to actually promote the public transport. I don’t think they had done enough to accelerate the growth. Many things they can do with 110 billion to enhance public transport. Isn’t it?
We had to do that because our KL had already jammed, thanks to Dr.M for building Putrajaya. If many people still feel it’s good to ride in their own car, then there are still somethings to do with the public transport system. Our target is to make less people feels it’s easier and cheaper to ride in their own car. Then there will be less trafiic and pollution as well.
How about making free car parks alongside the MRT and we make our journey into KL with public transport. How about making ERP in KL like Singapore. Perhaps adding more integrated taxis companies will give the solution. It could be anything and please think about it.-
Hi im, for the size of Klang Valley, I do not think any transportation plan is ever going to be enough. Just have to make sure all the ones available are integrated. Model can be Hong Kong’s one card for all. (Octopus card). MRT must not stop no matter what because this is already delayed. Promotion of public transport cannot happen unless the environment is made such that no one can afford to drive. A parking space in Hong Kong can be sold for millions of Hong Kong dollars. A Proton Preve in Singapore is at least S$200,000 or higher. Yet to calculated ERP and the fact that the COE is only for 7 years. I am not sure if Malaysians are ready for such strict measures especially for KL City centre. Tun M is my idol even if there are things which I do not agree with him. Free parking is never a good solution because who will build the parking spaces? Maintain it, the security, the land required and many more questions.? Recently, there are now private-public for some LRT stations and MRT which I think is the right step. Public gets more parking spaces and the developer which builds them get lands for development. TAXIS is a very good solution. It’s time the taxi drivers behave or just have more of those who are willing to be good. Sorry, I do not agree with unlicensed ones. Jams also happen because of the people, the drivers. Some hotspots are also loved by too many people cause even more jams. Klang Valley is a huge place. If everyone is spread out and be more objective, the jams can already be solved by half. I seriously hope the government of the day can be more strict in ‘pushing’ for higher usage of public transportation. I would support. Singapore is indeed a very good model, at least just for KL city centre. Anyway, for the MNCs, they are usually looking for places that everyone likes to be for their hiring requirements etc. That is also one reason why jams would always happen, unless we have less of these MNCs setting up in KL. Tun Dr. M is an idol for me even if I may not agree with everything he says. I think he has done very well and achieve many.
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