This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on August 15, 2022 - August 21, 2022

This is one of the best views you will get of Kuala Lumpur,” says the newly minted CEO of Datumcorp International Sdn Bhd Mohd Azmil Abd Shukor, pointing to a vast infinity pool overlooking the Kuala Lumpur city skyline as he gives City & Country a tour of the group’s maiden project, the RM1.2 billion Datum Jelatek in the heart of Jelatek. 

The Datum Jelatek’s sky “ring” is a colossal sky bridge that connects all four towers of the project. Inspired by lily pads, the impressive structure links offer a common point for residents. Azmil says: “It is certainly a conversation starter but, more importantly, it creates a level of harmony among all the towers, residents and interconnectedness.

Datumcorp is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS). It was founded in 2012 as a special entity to undertake the construction of high-value mixed development projects in prime and strategic locations across the state of Selangor, among others.

“We plan to distinguish ourselves from PKNS via our products such as Datum Jelatek, which is on the more high-end side. Our products will cater for a different set of income groups, from young professionals to families and upgraders, especially those who would like to experience contemporary, luxury living,” he says. 

Azmil brings with him more than three decades of experience in an array of disciplines, from property and urban development to infrastructure and construction. Prior to joining Datumcorp, he served in numerous key leadership roles locally and internationally at renowned entities such as UEM Sunrise Bhd, UDA Holdings Bhd and Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd.

At UEM Land, as UEM Sunrise was known at the time, Azmil spearheaded the Bandar Nusajaya and Iskandar Puteri development within the “Tipping Point of 2012” as mandated by the government of Malaysia through Khazanah Nasional Bhd. Internationally, he has held different positions in the UK, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Bahrain and Azerbaijan.

Azmil aims to add a fresh perspective to his work at Datumcorp. “I believe the broad exposure in almost all areas in the property and development industry has equipped me with sufficient knowledge to propel the company to be one of the industry’s respected competitors. I am a ‘go-getter’ and believe that problems are to be resolved immediately,” he says. 

“We are looking forward to introducing the projects to our key clients, to further strengthen our overall brand and image. Datumcorp also plans to acquire more land, specifically in the Klang Valley. We are looking to further develop Jelatek (after it has evidently gone through a level of gentrification).

“We must shift our perspective. The more we learn to see constraints as opportunities, the better we will become at seeing things from various angles.

“We hope to successfully position the Datumcorp brand in the local market, particularly among homebuyers, investors and retailers.

“With the completion of Datum Jelatek, we are confident that the project will demonstrate Datumcorp’s commitment towards innovation and sustainable development to build future-ready communities.”

The group will also focus more on its environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts, Azmil adds. “We understand the importance of sustainability and have incorporated elements into the design of LINQ SKY, the residential component of Datum Jelatek, to increase the efficiency of resource use through efficient ventilation, the use of natural lighting and the recycling of natural rainwater to cultivate an eco-friendly environment.”

“We are very excited that our flagship project, the Datum Jelatek, which was recently completed, and its retail mall is set to open its doors to shoppers by year-end,” says Azmil, who plans to announce the key tenants officially soon. 

The RM1.2 billion integrated, transit-oriented development is connected to the Jelatek LRT Station and comprises a 340,000 sq ft retail mall as well as four residential towers, with a total of 712 luxury residential units on a 5.65ha piece of land. “It is a significant milestone for us, as it is a testament to the resilience and capabilities of the company,” says Azmil. 

Datum Jelatek was launched in Aug 1, 2015, and completed by March 31, 2022. The condominium units are priced between RM750,000 and RM2.2 million, with sizes starting from 557 sq ft to 1,657 sq ft. The units are housed in four towers: Tower A (41 storeys), Tower B (35 storeys), Tower C (35 storeys) and Tower D (40 storeys), with a maintenance fee of 55 sen psf (inclusive of sinking fund). “The first phase of the residential towers - consisting of Tower A and Tower D - are more than 50% taken up, with the target market predominantly being [a good mix of both young and mature] owner occupiers from Jelatek, Setiawangsa and Ampang Jaya.” The remaining two towers will be released in stages. 

As far as meeting and exceeding stakeholders’ expectations, Azmil says: “We are still a relatively young company, and there’s still some work to be done to create awareness for our brand, which we believe — with the success of Datum Jelatek — can help enhance the visibility of the company to a wider audience.

“Most businesses in Malaysia were disrupted by the pandemic in the past two years but we are proud that we managed to complete Datum Jelatek.

“The project was supposed to be finished in 2020, but construction was halted because of the MCO [Movement Control Order] from March 18, 2020, but we managed the situation well and handed over the project in June this year. Owing to the high infection rates at property development sites, developers were unable to carry out any construction work until the MCO was lifted. Contractors have continued to face disruption, even after the MCO was lifted, such as having to implement stringent standard operating procedures on health and safety measures for construction sites.”

On the company’s latest market focus and strategies, Azmil says, “The primary focus for now will be to successfully market Datum Jelatek and strengthen the brand. We are confident that Datum Jelatek will garner strong interest from retailers and homebuyers.

“It is strategically located, adjacent to the Kuala Lumpur city centre, and will inject new energy to rejuvenate the surrounding communities, providing residents with a modern urban living experience. We believe the success of Datum Jelatek will serve as a proof point for Datumcorp to carve out a special place in the mind of homebuyers and investors.” 

Azmil says the developer is currently exploring a few projects as well as land parcels in the immediate vicinity and also in the rest of Klang Valley and Greater Kuala Lumpur.

In terms of Datumcorp’s market outlook for 2023, Azmil says, “I am confident that the company can continue to deliver its commitment towards innovative and sustainable development. 

“We want to continue to build projects that deliver high value, not only in terms of GDV but also the positive changes they bring to the surrounding communities, as demonstrated with Datum Jelatek. We have introduced a product that was not previously available in that area and provided the community with access to a modern urban living experience.”

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