This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on August 21, 2023 - August 27, 2023

Twenty years after the establishment of Encorp Bhd’s Taman Cahaya Alam (Encorp Cahaya Alam), the developer is set to launch the township’s final phase, Tilia, in September, marking the closing chapter of the township.

Launched in 2004, the 210-acre leasehold Encorp Cahaya Alam is jointly developed by Encorp and Selangor State Development Corp (PKNS) and has a total gross development value (GDV) of about RM1 billion.

The final phase will occupy 9.13 acres and Tilia will comprise 112 two-storey superlink homes with a land area of 24ft by 80ft each and a choice of layouts: Type A and Type B.

Type A is an open concept with 56 units that have a built-up area of 2,408 sq ft to 2,806 sq ft and come with four bedrooms and three bathrooms.

Type B is a semi-courtyard layout concept with 56 units that have a built-up area of 2,707 sq ft to 3,131 sq ft and come with 4+1 bedrooms and four en suite bathrooms.

With a GDV of RM100 million, the selling price starts at RM1.03 million for Type A and RM1.12 million for Type B. Tilia is slated for completion by December 2025.

“As it is the last phase, we want to exit this township with a bang,” Encorp group CEO Hazurin Harun tells City & Country in an exclusive interview, adding that the developer will be adding features not available in previous phases.

Some of Tilia’s unique features are pitched roofs, functional interior designs, seamless integration between the indoor and outdoor areas, convertible space for work from home (WFH) needs, solar panel systems and private swimming pools for selected corner units.

Hazurin explains the reason for the pitched roof design for Tilia, which differs from other phases that incorporated flat roofs. “In previous phases, we experimented with flat roofs, which were the trend at the time. We found, however, that pitched roofs were more functional [in the local climate]. Water does not pond easily.”

Moreover, the interior layout was designed for functionality. “The layout allows for free interaction between spaces in the units between the [indoor and outdoor spaces]. For example, if you open a sliding door, you can integrate the indoors and outdoors into a bigger space but still be able to maintain the privacy of an indoor space. So, this allows you to utilise the space better.”

In designing for a post-pandemic lifestyle, he says, all units in Tilia will be installed with solar panels and the utility room will be convertible for WFH needs.

“When you are working from home, you tend to consume more electricity. With solar panels, your electricity bill will not increase drastically. We also understand that some of our customers are working from home. So, we have a feature like a utility room, which is convertible into a study or office room.”

Hazurin adds that, in the lead-up to the official launch, the company has received registrations of interest from prospective buyers such as upgraders from Seksyen 7, Shah Alam, those who want to live in the vicinity of Setia Alam, as well as existing township residents.

“[Because Tilia is our last phase], there’s a lot of interest coming from existing owners in our township. They know that there won’t be any more landed phases in Encorp Cahaya Alam. If you look at the surrounding area also, there is not much land to develop in other townships. So, we hope this can generate demand,” he says.

Hazurin says construction of other phases has been completed and they are fully taken up. The current phase still under construction is Iris, which is 80% sold.

He adds that a groundbreaking ceremony was recently held for the affordable housing Rumah Idaman MBI project — a development undertaken by MGB Bhd, a subsidiary of LBS Bina Group Bhd, and PNSB Construction Sdn Bhd (PCSB), a subsidiary of Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd (PNSB). PNSB is a subsidiary of the Selangor state government under the supervision of Menteri Besar Selangor (Inc) (MBI).

“It’s good that MBI decided to build Rumah Idaman here, [as] it is the highest grade of Rumah Selangorku. It maintains the prestige of the development,” he says.

There will be a combined total of 2,414 residential and commercial units once the township is fully completed in 2027.

Located in U12, Shah Alam, the township has direct access to the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE), thus allowing for access to Seksyen 7 in Shah Alam, Bandar Bukit Raja in Klang, as well as Setia Alam.

Nearby amenities include shopping malls and commercial centres such as i-City, Eco Ardence Labs and the commercial hub in Seksyen 7, educational institutions such as Universiti Selangor (Unisel) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) as well as public and private medical facilities such as Shah Alam Hospital and KPJ Selangor Specialist Hospital.

As the closing chapter of the Encorp Cahaya Alam township draws near, what’s next for Encorp? Hazurin says the developer is already working ahead on new plans while focusing on its current and upcoming projects.

“Encorp is actively pursuing attractive opportunities with like-minded partners in the [property development] industry to expand our property development efforts through collaborative and mutually beneficial partnerships that yield positive results for all stakeholders.”

He adds that the company’s strategy is to acquire land through joint ventures with landowners.

“We think this is a better way of doing business. [We do not have to] come up with large upfront payments to buy land. Rather, we enter into a JV with landowners, where both parties will benefit,” he explains.

The developer’s other ongoing and upcoming projects are Lamanda Chuping in FELDA Chuping, Perlis; Cahaya Kristal in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah; and a mixed-use development project in Teluk Cempedak, Kuantan.

Hazurin says the Lamanda Chuping project was originally abandoned during construction of the first phase. The township spans 46 acres and has a GDV of RM88.8 million.

In describing Encorp’s taking over of the project, Hazurin says: “The first phase focuses on restoration and redevelopment; and the second phase will encompass commercial lots, mid-range residential units and a recreational area, which will further enhance the overall lifestyle of the community.”

In Kota Kinabalu, the recently launched Cahaya Kristal is a leasehold condominium in Bukit Kepayan, which fronts the Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

The project, which is a JV development with Jentayu Sustainables Bhd, has a GDV of RM79.2 million and is scheduled for completion by 2026. Launched last month, it marks Encorp’s foray into the Kota Kinabalu property scene. The project has achieved a take-up rate of close to 50% since the launch.

The company is excited about the mixed-use development project in Teluk Cempedak, a joint development with Touch Millenium Sdn Bhd (TMSB), the property arm of Touch Group Holdings Sdn Bhd.

Located behind Hyatt Regency on a 4.97-acre plot and facing the South China Sea, it has an estimated GDV of RM540 million and comprises a 2-storey commercial podium as well as three 30-storey towers with about 900 units. Additional details have yet to be announced, as the project is still in the planning stages.

“The construction of this seaside project is set to commence next year, and we are eager to create a unique and dynamic space that complements the natural beauty of the surrounding area,” Hazurin says, adding that Encorp plans to launch the project by 1Q2024, subject to approval.

“We are excited about this project because Teluk Cempedak already has an ecosystem with [commercial activities]. What we are doing is to complement the area because in peak seasons, Hyatt Regency is always full and [booking rates] are not cheap. Therefore, we are targeting investors from [the Klang Valley], as it is only a three-hour drive to Kuantan, as well as local investors and buyers.”

Meanwhile, Encorp is diversifying its portfolio by exploring the mining and renewable energy sector.

“Two years ago, we decided to really grow Encorp as a company. We cannot rely only on property. [The expansion plan] is a bit more diversified, partly to mitigate the cyclical nature of the property development [industry] but also to diversify our income stream. So, the next property downturn will not affect us so much.”

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