KUALA LUMPUR: TheEdgeProperty.com’s “Symposium on Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail 2016” saw more than 500 participants turn up for it on Saturday morning to listen to real estate experts share their insights into opportunities that investors can ride on.

The high-speed rail (HSR) is now the talk of the town as investors and the public are eager to find out how it would impact the Malaysian property scene and to find out where they can put their money. Hence, it is only apt that the symposium was themed “Where to invest — Don’t miss the boat.”

In her welcome address, TheEdgeProperty.com managing director and editor-in-chief Au Foong Yee noted the importance of seizing investment opportunities from the upcoming HSR, although the first train would only be flagged off in another 10 years or so.

“If there is to be one development in the Malaysian property scene now that can be considered sexy and exciting, it must be the HSR. Sexy not because of the meandering curves of its alignment, but the immense investment potential and opportunities that it offers.

“There is no denying that [the] HSR will change the way we live, work and do business as the barriers to travel and trade diminish as it brings Kuala Lumpur and Singapore closer together,” she said.

The speakers featured in the symposium were BBCC Development Sdn Bhd (developer of Bukit Bintang City Centre) chief executive officer (CEO) Datuk Richard Ong, Henry Butcher Real Estate Sdn Bhd chief operating officer Tang Chee Meng, TheEdgeProperty.com director of business and product development Alvin Ong, KGV International Property Consultants executive director Samuel Tan, Ho Chin Soon Research chairman Ho Chin Soon and Savills Malaysia executive chairman Christopher Boyd. Ho, Boyd and Ong were also part of a panel discussion entitled “HSR: The Big Idea” moderated by Au.

TheEdgeProperty.com spoke to several participants of the symposium, who all happened to be avid readers of TheEdgeProperty.com weekly pull-out that comes with the The Edge Financial Daily every Friday and is also available for free download on TheEdgeProperty.com portal.

Based in Johor, managing director of eBizway Research Sdn Bhd Mike Chau started his drive at 1am, from Johor to Kuala Lumpur, just for the symposium. Chau said he was eager to explore the investment opportunities that the HSR will bring to Iskandar Malaysia, while taking the chance to network with fellow property investors, agents and developers at the symposium.

“It is good to get a heads-up about the HSR development from these real estate experts as well as to expand my network,” he said.

Meanwhile, 24-year-old fresh graduate Jason Phuah Boon Wai would like to find out what’s in store for Greater Kuala Lumpur with the HSR development.

“I believe we should look beyond Kuala Lumpur and see what’s out there for us as Kuala Lumpur is becoming too saturated,” he said. As a relationship manager for real estate contract financing at Alliance Bank, Phuah added that the symposium would expand his insights into the real estate market.

Kathrine Chu, general manager of marketing and strategic planning for KM Land Group Sdn Bhd said the symposium provided a timely discussion about the impact of the HSR development on the property market.

“It’s a very relevant topic for my profession, as I would like to know the hotspots and investment opportunities that are in store for the company and myself,” she said.

TheEdgeProperty.com also ran an interactive poll during the symposium to find out what the attendees of the symposium thought of the HSR project.

The first question asked was, “What’s the one word that comes to mind when you think of HSR?”, and the majority of the participants answered “opportunities”, “speed” and “money”.

The second question was, “There are seven HSR stations. Rank one to seven where you would put your money.” The station that ranked first was Greater Kuala Lumpur, followed by Seremban, Iskandar Puteri, Putrajaya, Ayer Keroh, Batu Pahat and Muar.

The symposium was organised by TheEdgeProperty.com and supported by The Edge Malaysia. The presenting sponsor was BBCC.

This story first appeared in TheEdgeProperty.com. For more stories on the symposium, go to the website and read this Friday’s issue of TheEdgeProperty.com pull-out, which is also available for free download on TheEdgeproperty.com website.