​Spanning 29km with a target completion date by 2029, phase one of the CRL will run from Bright Hill to Changi with 12 stations in all

By Khalil Adis

Come 2029, you can hop onto the train via a fully underground line that will link you from Ang Mo Kio to the aviation hub of Changi.

Announced just last week by Singapore’s Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan, phase one will comprise 12 stations.

When fully completed by 2030, the entire line will span some 50km and will serve existing and future developments in the eastern, western, and north-eastern corridors.

This will link it to major hubs such as Jurong Lake District, Punggol Digital District and the Changi region.

According to the Land Transport Authority (LTA), the CRL will be Singapore’s longest fully underground line. 

Here are five quick facts on phase one of the CRL.

#1: 29km of fully underground line

The CRL will run parallel to the current East West Line (EWL).

When opened, it will serve the residential and industrial areas such as Loyang, Tampines, Pasir Ris, Defu, Hougang, Serangoon North and Ang Mo Kio.

This will definitely help ease congestions along the popular line which has been in operation since 12 December 1987.

When the full CRL line commences service, the LTA envisages time savings of up to 30 to 40 minutes from Changi to Jurong.

Construction for phase one of the CRL is expected to commence in 2020 and will be completed by 2029. 

#2: 12 stations 

Phase one of the CRL will comprise 12 stations namely, Aviation Park, Loyang, Pasir Ris East, Pasir Ris, Tampines North, Defu, Hougang, Serangoon North, Tavistock, Ang Mo Kio, Teck Ghee and Bright Hill.

Of these, four will be interchange stations.

Bright Hill, which is on the Thomson-East Coast Line, will become an interchange station with the CRL

Meanwhile, Ang Mo Kio, Hougang and Pasir Ris will be an interchange station with the North-South Line, North East Line and the East-West Line respectively.

#3: More than 100,000 households will benefit

According to the LTA, more than 100,000 households will benefit from phase one of the CRL.

Additionally, the LTA said envisages the projected daily ridership of the entire CRL to be more than 600,000 in the initial years before increasing to over 1 million in the longer term.

#4: Open up access to more areas

The LTA said previously inaccessible areas which currently have no MRT access such as Serangoon Gardens, Serangoon North and Aviation Park in Changi will enjoy greater connectivity. 

This means common recreational spaces such as Changi Beach Park, Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, Hougang Mall and Ang Mo Kio Hub will also become more accessible by public transport.

This is definitely great news for outdoor lovers and mall enthusiasts as such spaces will enjoy greater connectivity.

There’s more good news.

The LTA said the line may be extended to link up with Changi Airport.

#5: CRL will support three new economic hubs 

Singapore plans to bring jobs closer to homes with various plans in place to build economic hubs away from the central business district.

Minister Khaw said that the CRL will help to support these new economic hubs that are being planned such as the Punggol Digital District, Jurong Lake District and one at the Changi region.

Analysis

​The CRL will help to boost property values along the 50km stretch.

The districts that will benefit greatly are those described above where the government has laid across a masterplan especially for Punggol Digital District and Jurong Lake District.

According to the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) Punggol Digital District masterplan, the innovation district will house technology firms involved in key growth fields such as cyber-security as well as the new Singapore Institute of Technology Campus.  

It will be opened progressively from 2023 and will create around 28,000 new jobs.

Meanwhile, Jurong Lake District is set to become the largest commercial and regional centre outside the city centre.

According to the URA, the district will create more than 100,000 new jobs with 20,000 homes to be built when it is set for completion after 2040.

As for Changi, the URA’s Draft Master Plan 2013 showed Changi Airport’s ambitious expansion plans with two new terminals that will be built - Terminal 4 was completed in 2017 while the new Terminal 5 will be completed by around 2025. 

In addition, Project Jewel, an S$1.7 billion mixed-use development is set to open this year and will be seamlessly linked with the existing Terminal 1.

This iconic development will feature a vast indoor garden and more shopping options. 

The URA envisages these three new developments to anchor Changi Airport’s air hub status for years to come and to generate thousands of new jobs for Singaporeans.

As such, homeowners residing in Jurong East, Toh Guan, Teban Gardens, Taman Jurong, Punggol and Changi areas will benefit the most from the opening of the CRL line.

​With the Chinese New Year approaching, what better way to soak in the festivity than exploring Kuala Lumpur’s historic Chinatown district? 

By Khalil Adis

Whether you love it or hate it, Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown district has a colourful personality that attracts both Malaysians and tourists alike. While Malaysians lament about the loss of its authenticity and some have chosen to avoid it altogether, this vibrant area has its own quirks that make it oh-so-charming thanks to the many rustic shophouses. Here is a quick guide on exploring Chinatown.

#1: Plaza Rakyat LRT station

Plaza Rakyat LRT station is an elevated station along the Ampang and Sri Petaling Line. Situated next to a massive proposed mixed-use development that has since been abandoned, the whole area unfortunately reeks of urban decay. Once you exit from the station you will likely come across the occasional beggars and the rancid smell emanating from the air - not for the faint-hearted.  Taking the LRT station is ideal if you intend to head to Menara Maybank or to savour the street food at Jalan Sultan as it is located within the vicinity.

#2: Pasar Seni MRT station

Pasar Seni MRT Station is an underground station that is integrated with the existing Pasar Seni LRT station serving the Kelana Jaya LRT Line. Located in the heritage area of Chinatown, Pasar Seni is located within walking distance to backpackers’ lodges, boutique hotels and the tourist trap flea marts of Petaling Street. 

There are plans to also connect the station to the iconic Central Market. An added feature is a bus interchange located just above the station that will connect buses from Kuala Lumpur to Petaling Jaya. 

#3: Petaling Street

Petaling Street is a must visit street if you want to buy branded knock-offs ranging from bags to watches. Ironically, while this is the heart of Chinatown, the vendors selling the wares are mostly foreigners comprising Bangladeshi workers. The imitation watches, in particular, are rather pricey and do not last long. You are better off buying the real deal while taking in the rampant piracy that occurs along this stretch. 

#4: Pasar Karat

Known locally as ‘Thieves Market’, Pasar Karat is a treasure trove for antique and trinket lovers as well as the occasional luxury goods that are believed to have been stolen. From Montblanc luggage bags to second-hand electronic goods, Pasar Karat is KL’s version of the now-defunct Singapore’s Sungei Road. Pasar Karat is open in the wee hours of the morning at around 4 am and shuts down by 10 am. Be sure to come early before the goods run out.

#5: Food street at Jalan Sultan

Located within the Petaling Street enclave, the food street comes alive at night with a serving of local Malay dishes, mamaks as well as Chinese cuisines in a fuss-free alfresco setting. If the dark and dirty alley makes your stomach turn, fret not as you can opt to dine at the slightly upmarket Nando’s or KFC located nearby.

#6: Weng Hoa Flower Boutique
No 1 Lorong Hang Lekir
Off Jalan Hang Lekir
50000 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Website: www.wenghoa.com/home​
Opening hours: 8 am to 10 pm

Forget overpriced flowers sold at upmarket malls. Instead, head here for fresh plants and roses sold at wholesale prices! There are even ready-made bouquets for you to choose from. Ladies and wedding planners will definitely find delight in the freezer room located at the back of the shop where you can choose from the many arrays of local and exported roses as well as other exotic flowers. In addition, you can buy flower petals and kaffir lime to cleanse your chakras for that montly flower bath ritual. For the freshest produce, head here when the store opens.

#7: Central Market
Lot 3.04-3.06, Central Market Annexe, 
Jalan Hang Kasturi, 
50050 Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia
Website: www.centralmarket.com.my​
Telephone: 03-2031 0399/5399/7399 

Central Market is the place to go to for slightly upmarket goods within an air-conditioned environment. Housed within an art deco facade, Central Market first started out as a wet market in 1888 but has since been repurposed as a one-stop centre for Malaysian batik, souvenirs, collectables and handicraft. From textiles to tableware, the choices are endless. 

#8 Kasturi Walk

​Kasturi Walk is located alongside the main Central Market building. This newly transformed, pedestrianised and covered walkway features an al fresco ambience with a wide variety of stalls selling local snacks and exquisite souvenirs.

Summary

Price: According to Brickz, the median price for office buildings and shophouses here are around RM858 per sq ft and RM1,056 per sq ft respectively.

The good: Buying a property here will mean constant human traffic from both locals and tourists alike as Chinatown is rich in popular tourism landmarks such as Central Market and Petaling Street. The quaint rows of heritage shophouses house hip boutique hotels to quirky cafes and restaurants that attract the cool, creative type. The area is also a haven to some of KL’s famous hawker food such as Shin Kee Beef Noodle near to Central Market and the birthplace of Hokkien mee, Restoran Kim Lian Hee located at the junction of Jalan Petaling and Jalan Hang Lekir. All these attractions make it suited for Airbnb type of accommodations. 

The bad: ​If you intend to buy a property here, you are only limited to office buildings or shophouses. Land here is extremely scarce and there are no existing or future residential projects in the pipeline. As such, this area is a no go for most investors unless you are an institutional investor or have deep pockets.

Hiring a PR firm can amplify the good work that your company is doing. Here are the important facts on public relations and what it takes to get the story out.

By Khalil Adis

Few people know that prior to being in the property industry, I was doing editorial and public relations work in the lifestyle industry (do check out our portfolio section here).

I don't blame them really as my property work is more prominent.

While my firm’s core business lies in editorial, social media, research and due diligence work, we do handle public relations for our clients who are primarily property developers.

Last year, however, we took on a client in the wellness industry to help them penetrate the Singapore market.

The challenge we faced was their product is relatively new to the region with very little public awareness save for social media marketing.

As such, it was very difficult to pitch the client’s story to the press as they are not the big brand cosmetics.

In fact, some had asked for the client to advertise in order for the editorial team to come down to ‘cover’ the press conference.

In the end, however, we did manage to garner S$12,000 worth of PR value for the client.

#1: PR value

A PR value is derived by calculating the advertisement value times three.

Why times three?

This is because an editorial is considered three times an ad value as the story is deemed newsworthy enough by the editorial team.

In this case, we managed to get an editorial exposure on an advertising space worth S$4,000 without the client having to spend a single cent.

In the field of journalism and public relations, this is the ideal outcome professionals would like to achieve.

#2: Not every news or corporate announcements are of public interest

We get it that your event is important to you and your company.

After all, you do need to sell an X number of products as part of your company’s bottom line.

However, those boardroom announcements on launching a new website are of little relevance to the public.

An exception, of course, is if you are a government body who is launching a new platform that allows the public to check for traffic/health/transport etc information online.

This was in fact how I spun the story for a Malaysian property developer when they launched a community safety application.

The challenge was the client requested to call for a press conference in less than a week.

In three days, I contacted the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), did up a community policing and safety fact sheet and arranged a press conference.

In the end, the client was very pleased as we had delivered a PR value of more than RM500,000.

The key winning formula here is the client gave us their 100 per cent confidence to do the work while keeping a hands-off approach when dealing with the media with a realistic expectation given the short work turnaround time.

#3 Be realistic

I always find myself having to tell my clients to be very realistic when they demand to be on the cover of every major newspaper in the country.

Before putting out your news announcement or hiring a PR agency, ask yourself, how is this relevant to the public?

The exception is of course if your company has discovered a cure for cancer backed by research.

As a newsmaker, you must always put yourself in the shoes of the reader.

Does your news scream “front page news”?

#4: Understand the 5Ws and 1H

​When pitching your story to the press or hiring an agency to do this for you, it is imperative that you understand the 5Ws and 1H formula that journalists use in the newsroom to determine the newsworthiness of a story.

What are the 5Ws and 1H? They are the Who, Why, What, When, Where and How.

Who is involved?

Why did it happen?

What happened?

When did it happen?

Where did it take place?

How did it happen?

Every day, the newsroom receives hundreds of media releases and invitations. 

Why should your event be an exception?

#5: There is no guarantee on publicity

A public relations campaign takes time to build up especially if you do not have a sexy angle to sell to the press.

Most often than not, it is the soft skill that gets the story out like a good relationship with the press.

This can help to open doors.

While a story may not be suitable for this week, it will probably be of relevance to the journalist a few months down the road. 

The key is to be consistent in your media engagement.

One PR practitioner’s pet peeve is when a client asks to guarantee a certain number of coverage in the media.

While we will endeavour to do our best, there are certain things that are beyond our control.

For instance, should a war break out in the region today, the story that the journalist had promised to cover this week will most likely be cancelled or postponed as the entire newsroom will be devoting their resources on this breaking news.

For clients that want guaranteed publicity, then taking up an advertising space (with the title: advertorial) or hiring a media buying agency is the way forward.

​A vibrant district is about to take shape over at Woodlands Regional Centre in the next 15 years with enhanced connectivity to Johor Bahru via the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link. We give you the quick low-down on this gateway district to Singapore.

By Khalil Adis

​Living in Woodlands is about to get even more exciting as Woodlands Regional Centre will be developed into a sizeable commercial hub and bring jobs closer to homes in the northern region of Singapore. 

Comprising 100 hectares of land, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) envisages Woodlands Regional Centre to become home to new spaces for industry, research and development, learning and innovation over the next 15 years.

Just last month, the URA released a white site for sale under the reserve list of the second half of 2018 Government Land Sales (GLS) Programme.

A white site means it can be used for different functions such as commercial, residential and industrial.

The sale of the site is especially momentous as it will provide a seamless connection for commuters travelling to Johor Bahru via the RTS Link by 2024 at Woodlands North MRT station before disembarking at Bukit Chagar station.

Here are a few quick facts on the site:

#1: Located next to popular shopping mall, Causeway Point

​The site is located within Woodlands Regional Centre which comprises two complementary precincts - Woodlands Central and Woodlands North Coast.

The white site itself is located at Woodlands Central which the URA said will be transformed into a bustling commercial and community node with a mix of office, retail, residential and attractive public spaces for live, work and play. 

#2: A vibrant mixed-use site with a GFA of 115,000 m2

The mixed-use site measures 2.75ha and can potentially generate some 115,000 m2 of gross floor area (GFA) for office, residential, retail and entertainment uses.

At least 45,000 m2 of the maximum permissible GFA of the development will be set aside for office use. 

Meanwhile, the URA said the remaining GFA can be for additional office, retail, entertainment and residential uses.

#3: 27,000 households in northern Singapore set to benefit

According to the URA, the new public spaces planned for the precinct can be enjoyed by more than 27,000 households in the vicinity. 

Woodlands Central will also serve as a community gathering point for the residents in Woodlands and the rest of the north region.

#4: Strategically located above the upcoming Woodlands Thomson East Coast Line (TEL) station, (TE2) 

​The site is planned to be seamlessly connected to the existing Woodlands MRT station.

As such, the site will enjoy a direct connection to both the Thomson East Coast Line (TEL) and the North South Line (NSL) via the Woodlands TEL station, (TE2).

From the TE2 station, commuters can hop onto the RTS Link at Woodlands North MRT station located one stop away to Bukit Chagar station in Johor Bahru.

#5: Direct basement connection to TE2 station

The new development will have a direct basement connection to the future Woodlands TEL station, providing shoppers and commuters with easy access to the rest of the stations under the TEL.

This includes the Central Business District, Marina Bay and the shopping, dining and entertainment options at Orchard Road.

#6: 100,000 new jobs

​When fully developed, Woodlands Regional Centre will have about 700,000m2 of commercial space and offer approximately 100,000 new jobs.

#7: Innovation district at Woodlands North Coast

​Meanwhile, a mixed-use business cluster will be coming up at Woodlands North Coast which will include future industrial and business park spaces.

Woodlands North Coast will be served by the Woodlands North MRT station

The URA has envisioned it to provide flexible workspaces that encourage experimentation and innovation and are geared towards the needs of both small to medium enterprises and multinational companies.

Summary

As we can see from the infographics above, prices of HDB resale flats across the board have fallen except for executive flats.

However, the upcoming TEL and developments at Woodlands Regional Centre will act as a property booster for homes in the area.

The opening of Woodlands TEL station and Woodlands North MRT station will be the first property booster followed by the rest of the developments that are being planned.

Homeowners of 3-,  4- and 5-room HDB flats should hold on tight to their properties in the next 15 years before selling.

Meanwhile, it is a good opportunity for home buyers to start their property hunt in Woodlands and wait for the capital appreciation  as Woodlands Regional Centre becomes more mature.

As for the RTS Link, the Malaysian government has remained committed on completing this project.

In fact, this is one of the major infrastructure project that will be carried on under the newly elected Pakatan Harapan government.

For a detailed master plan of Woodlands Regional Centre, do check out the URA site here

​Announced under Budget 2019, first-time homebuyers should take advantage of the schemes that are being rolled out by the federal government.

By Khalil Adis

​In case you had missed the good news that was announced during Budget 2019, there will indeed be more help coming your way if you need help in buying your first home this year.

Here are the quick low-down on what the schemes are.

What: 
This is a private sector-driven “Property Crowdfunding” platform to serve as an alternative source of financing for first-time house buyers.

It will be regulated by Securities Commission.

When: 
The P2P exchange will go live in the first quarter of 2019. 

How it works:  
Interested applicants will need to put a 20 per cent downpayment while the remaining 80 per cent will be funded by investors.

Exactly when and how this will be done will be announced closer to the date by the Finance Ministry.

Who should apply: 
Those who have the required 20 per cent downpayment. It is not clear if this is in cash and/or EPF.

#2: RM1 billion fund allocated for first-time homebuyers

​What: 
This is a special fund for those earning less than RM2,300 a month.

The fund can only be used to purchase properties priced up to RM150,000.

Bank Negara will be setting up the fund. More details here

When:
The fund is available for two years until the allocation is spent as of 1 January 2019.

You may apply for them at the following banks at a rate of 3.5 per cent:

What: 
This is a special fund meant for those with a household income of up to RM5,000

The fund provides a mortgage guarantee to enable borrowers to obtain higher financing, including deposit fees.

The fund can is for first-time house buyers who are purchasing properties worth up to RM500,000

The fund will also provide a grant stamp duty exemption of up to the first RM300,000 on transfer instruments and loan agreements for two years until Dec 2020.

The fund will be run by Cagamas. 

When:

Unfortunately, details are scant. You may check Cagamas Bhd for updates.

If you are unsure about the procedures on home renovation, fret not. Follow these six simple steps to a fabulous-looking home.
 
By Khalil Adis

The new year will probably see some homeowners moving to a new home and embarking on their home renovation.

While many will likely take up a home renovation package, some may opt to do them in stages.

In fact, this option is ideal for those who do not wish to take a loan and will allow you to have full control over the cost.

However, taking the first step in home renovation can indeed be a bewildering experience especially for the uninitiated.

I mean, where do you even start?

This was indeed the question I had asked when I first received the keys to my new home.

When embarking on my own home renovation project, I chose not to take a loan as I do not wish to burden myself with debt.

While my DIY renovation project is still a work-in-progress, here are some tips that I had learnt along the way.

Follow these steps so that your own home renovation will go off without a hitch.

#1: Work on your floor plan first

If you do not have any training in interior design, then you may wish to either engage an interior designer to do the proposed layout or using interior design software like Homestyler.

For detailed tips on some of the interior design basics, refer to my previous blog post here.

#2: Turn on your power and gas supply ​

This is a crucial second step as you need power and gas before embarking on your labour of love.

The latter is ideal if you want to have piped gas for your stove and water heater.

Otherwise, you can opt for LPG gas delivery from the various local supplier.

However, do note the gas cylinders do take up a significant portion of your kitchen cabinet and you may run out of gas while cooking.

#3: Decide where you want to place your air-conditioning units and then install them

You can make this decision by drawing the proposed location on your floor plan.

The number of air-conditioning units depends on the size of your home.

Go for inverter units as they are energy saving and come with energy saving modes.

You will need to install your air-con first before working on the next step.

#4: Work on the lighting points from the floor plan and then call in the ceiling contractor

This is an important next step before calling the carpenter to install your cupboards and other fittings.

As you can see from the floor plan that I have uploaded here, it shows the location of the existing lighting points.

From the location of the cupboards and fittings, you can then plan where you want to install the lighting points.

Be sure to plan this to a T as you will be charged around S$65 for each lighting point.

Next, you need to order your own LED lights.

There are many brands in the market.

I opted for Xiaomi Phillips Zhirui downlight as they are value-for-money and come with an adjustable colour temperature that can be controlled from your phone.

Unfortunately, they are not available in Singapore so you will need to order online.

You then need to download the Mi Home app in order to control the lighting.

For ceiling works, you may wish to opt for a combination of an L-box and cove lighting (see above).

An L-box can dramatically alter the ambience of your room making it very welcoming while giving the illusion of height due to the indirect lighting.

This will costs around S$350 onwards.

You may also opt for a cove lighting to give a very clean and intimate feel to your living space.

However, do bear in mind it reduces your ceiling height due to the plastering and ceiling works. 

The cost varies according to the size - typically it starts from around S$500 onwards.

You may also choose to opt for a centre ceiling flat panels. 

This will cost around S$400.

The contractor will build the L-box and false ceiling around your already installed air-conditioning units.

Speaking of which, I would also urge you to install ceiling fans even if you have already installed an air-con system in your home.

This is because natural ventilation works best in our tropical weather and it can significantly cut down your electricity bill by up to 20 to 30 per cent.

Choose one that comes with LED lighting.

While there are many brands in the market, most are not aesthetically pleasing.

You might want to opt for a timeless design like the  Haiku L-Series Fan.

Although slightly pricey, the fan is surprisingly quiet and comes with 16 levels of brightness.

I chose black as they fit with the monochromatic colour scheme of my home.

As for installation, you can opt for it to be installed for you (assuming the rest of the lighting works are already done).

Otherwise, the ceiling contractor will charge you S$60 for installation.

Remember, you will need to show this lighting plan to the ceiling contractor/electrician so they can execute it accordingly.

Try to get at least three quotations.

Word-of-mouth referrals, in my opinion, work best.

#5: Call in the carpenter

​Now that you have installed your lightings and finished with your ceiling works, it is time to work on the rest of your fittings like kitchen cabinets and cupboards.

The carpenter will build your fittings up to the height of your false ceiling.

Generally, fittings will require a space of around 600mm.

However, if you do not have enough space, measurement of 300mm onwards works just fine especially if it is for display cabinet in the living room.

If you need flexible living space, go for slidable/foldable doors.

I particularly like those from Ewins as they come in a myriad of design and are customisable to your living space.

They are slightly pricey from the usual carpenter’s quote but worth considering especially if you live in a small apartment like mine.

The staff are also very helpful and can help you draft a design before proceeding to install the fittings.

#6: Blinds/curtains should be the last 

Now that you have everything in place, you can dress up your windows with either curtains or blinds.

Curtains will require regular washing so it may not be ideal if you do not have the time to do it.

If you want a clean, modern look, then blinds are the way to go.

They are many options to choose from in the market according to the interior design theme you have in mind.

A parting word
In closing, a DIY home renovation project will require your 110 per cent commitment and attention but the outcome is worth it.

Remember to not spend more than 10 per cent of the purchase price of your home and to use neutral colours as they are easy on the eyes.

Most importantly, enjoy the entire design process, do not rush it and unleash your creativity to make the living space uniquely yours.