View Full Version : JohorBaru:32 escalators walk from ghostmall
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=261345
May 11, 2007 15:53 PM
Bridges Linking Malaysia, S'pore Possible, Says Abdullah
KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today hinted at the possibility of a new bridge linking Malaysia and Singapore in the future.
The prime minister went a step further, saying he believed that several bridges could be built to connect the two neighbouring countries.
"I believe that one day there may be several bridges linking Singapore and Malaysia, just like in places like New York, Manhattan and Korea, although these places are not in different countries," he told reporters after addressing a gathering of Umno members in conjunction with the party's 61st anniversary celebration at the Putra World Trade Centre here.
"Rivers and straits are not a hindrance to having bridges to ensure smooth traffic. It's something that's going to happen," he added.
Abdullah, who is Umno president, was queried whether he viewed the option of building a bridge to replace the Johor Causeway was still on the table or otherwise.
Several groups have called for the issue to be revisited in talks between Abdullah and his Singaporean counterpart, Lee Shien Loong, in Langkawi on Monday and Tuesday.
When pressed whether the matter would be brought up at the meeting, the prime minister said: "We'll go to Langkawi with an open mind...to look at the latest development."
The government decided to abort the bridge in April last year, citing legal complications.
Abdullah said then that the project had been scrapped as Malaysia could not accept Singapore's request for sand and the use of airspace in exchange for cooperation on the project.
Consequently, the government stopped all negotiations on the bridge issue with Singapore.
-- BERNAMA
Construction of EDL to start in Q1 2008
CONSTRUCTION of the RM977mil Eastern Dispersal Link Expressway (EDL) in Johor will likely start first quarter next year.
In June, MRCB signed a concession agreement with the Government to design, construct, maintain, operate and manage the EDL with the understanding that its subsidiary - MRCB Lingkaran Selatan Sdn Bhd, would undertake the project.
The 8.1km toll road will link the new Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex at Bukit Chagar, Tanjung Puteri in Johor Bahru and the North South Expressway via the Pandan Interchange.
With a concession agreement for 34 years, the EDL is expected to contribute recurring group income over 30 years up to year 2041. It is anticipated that the EDL will take four years to build.
For the MRCB group, which is mostly valued based on its order book, the EDL project is a significant development as a model for sustainable income.
If indeed the EDL could turn into the future cash-cow for MRCB, the company would be in the game to secure other mega projects with similar good cashflow, and develop other sustainable income streams.
Analysts said that was the reason why MRCB was eyeing projects such as the Penang Monorail.
The analyst said MRCB's involvement in property delivered the major contribution, followed by construction. However, the income stream from property cannot last long while construction remains volatile.
With a current order book of RM3.2bil, a local research house noted that MRCB could be in for an exciting time ahead with the likelihood of more infrastructure projects in Penang.
He said the development of KL Sentral was progressing well and had become a successful transportation hub in the country. With strong experience in building transportation hubs, it came as no surprise that MRCB was awarded the contract to develop the Penang Sentral which has a gross development value of RM1.3bil.
Not only was MRCB looking for more of similar projects in Malaysia, it also hoped to replicate the success of KL Sentral in other countries such as in the Middle East. In October, it was reported that MRCB was in talks to build a US$2bil transport and housing development in Saudi Arabia. MRCB has won a RM390mil construction contract in Dubai and built an airport in Bangladesh.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/12/24/business/19839302&sec=business
March 06, 2008 17:43 PM
Work Starts On RM1.1 Bln Coastal Highway
JOHOR BAHARU March 6 (Bernama) -- Works on the RM1.1 billion Coastal Highway, one of the biggest infrastructure projects within the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) has started, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman said here today.
He said that site clearing had already began and was due for completion by this month, followed by piling works and the construction proper thereafter.
The 15km six-lane highway which will have seven interchanges and three bridges, will serve as a lifeline for the IDR as it will provide a vital road link between the east and west of South Johor.
"This highway will be the main infrastructure to open up the IDR by connecting the old Johor Baharu to the new city in Nusajaya and the Second Link when ready by 2010," Ghani said in a statement here today.
He said that concerted efforts would be made to ensure the IDR, which is the brainchild of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, is completed on time.
"This fast track development will have far reaching economic and social implications on South Johor. This is why the Prime Minister himself is taking a keen interest in the project," he said.
Ghani, who co-chairs the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), regulatory body for the IDR, with the Prime Minister said the project was a priority and the progress of works would be closely monitored to avoid delays.
The Coastal Highway project is being spearheaded by South Johor Investment Corporation (SJIC), a Khazanah Nasional-linked company, which is the IDR master developer and investor in strategic projects.
The other shareholders of SJIC are the Employees Provident Fund and Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor (KPRJ), which is wholly-owned by the Johor State Government.
To date, SJIC has already appointed several Malaysian consultants, including Johor Baharu-based companies, for the design, coordination and supervision of construction.
The new highway which will eventually connect to the North-South Highway via the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) will provide the much-needed East-West linkage to the two ports and airport in South Johor.
It will also serve a huge population stretching all the way from Pasir Gudang to the city centre here, Nusajaya, the new Johor State New Administrative Centre (JSNAC) and the Second Link.
JSNAC, which is the nexus of the IDR, is already 90 per cent completed and is projected to be ready for occupation by June this year.
The Coastal Highway will also be a boon for visitors from Singapore using the soon-to-be opened Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex here, as it will provide a convenient and direct access to new IDR attractions in Danga Bay, Nusajaya, JSNAC and the proposed new theme park.
At least 12 mega projects totaling billions of ringgit are expected to kick off this year under the IDR, which includes the RM4.2 billion project funded by West Asian investors in Node 1, about 30km from Johor Baharu after the Second Link Crossing.
Ghani said the opening of the new coastal highway would also spell an end to squatter woes by 2013 through a RM583 million relocation programme that will house around 8,000 squatters presently living within the IDR.
-- BERNAMA
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http://www.bernama.com.my/
Monumentally awful piece of property mismanagement. Total incompetence! :eek: Indeed, the reporter from The Star doesn't do much to dispel the impression that Malaysia is being run by total idiots by writing a report in which he describes the stolen equipment as both "lifts" and "escalators". Now it could just be that Malaysia has inherited a different naming tradition from its former Brit colonisers. Malaysian hotels sport a Ground Floor and a 1st Floor, which Thailand calls 1st & 2nd Floors. But as a Brit, I call an elevator a lift, and an escalator is a 'stepped and inclined moving-walkway'. Anyways! Regardless of whether it was 32 lifts or 32 escalators, how many months did it take them to remove these massive objects?
Tuesday April 29, 2008
32 lifts stolen from mall
By YEE XIANG YUN
JOHOR BARU: The abandoned RM300mil Pacific Mall near Bukit Cagar is not only an eyesore, but also the scene of a bizarre theft where 32 of its escalators were stolen.
Owners who purchased individual lots at the shopping centre are crying foul over the loss as they are still servicing bank loans for the failed project.
http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/4/29/southneast/se_02mall.jpg
[Photo: The Star - Eyesore: The RM300mil Pacific Mall comprising of a five-level retail podium and a 24- storey office tower in Johor Baru.]
Tan Poh Lai, a pro-tem committee member representing the buyers said the escalator theft increased the building's restoration cost from RM10mil to RM50mil.
She said the mall's construction was stopped eight years ago due to management issues.
The bank that financed the project could not be reached despite much effort, she added.
“To make matters worse, those who purchased the lots are fighting a legal battle with the bank to prevent their lots from being auctioned,” said Tan.
Singaporean Irene Ling, 31, who took over one of the lots from her late father, said the matter caused much frustration to those committed to the project.
Tan said the majority of the buyers faced hardships as their life savings and retirement funds were used to finance their purchases.
Johor Baru MP Datuk Shahrir Samad, who took up the case, said the rights of Pacific Mall's owners should be protected and given priority.
http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/4/29/southneast/se_02shahrir.jpg
[Photo: The Star - I will look into the matter and meet local authorities to straighten out the issue immediately« DATUK SHAHRIR SAMAD]
“I will look into the matter and meet local authorities to straighten out the issue immediately. We should throw light on the situation quickly to prevent repetition of such events,” he said.
Pacific Mall, located between Jalan Storey and Bukit Cagar, comprises a five-level retail podium block and a 24-storey office tower.
I couldn't resist that last picture of a rather sheepish looking Datuk saying he would be "looking into the matter". 32 ruddy great holes to peer into and become completely lost in pondering a massive case of ineptitude! :D:D:D:D:D
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/4/29/southneast/21082020&sec=southneast
Cops keep watch on abandoned mall in Johor Baru
By FARIK ZOLKEPLI
JOHOR BARU: Police have beefed up patrols around the abandoned Pacific Mall near Bukit Cagar after 32 escalators were reported stolen from the building.
Johor CID chief Senior Asst Comm II Amer Awal acknowledged that police had received complaints from the public over the theft and investigations were underway.
http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/5/14/southneast/se_06eystore.jpg
[All Photos: The Star - Eyesore: The poor condition of the abandoned Pacific Mall.]
http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/5/14/southneast/se_01police.jpg
“We are investigating the case from all angles and have stepped up patrols near the mall to prevent other similar cases,” he said, assuring the public that police did not take the matter lightly.
SAC II Amer appealed to residents living near the mall to report suspicious incidents to enable prompt police action.
He urged those with information to contact the police hotline at 07-221 2999 or the nearest police station.
The Star had earlier reported that the RM300mil building near Bukit Cagar was not only an eyesore, but also the scene of the bizarre theft.
http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/5/14/southneast/se_06mess.jpg
[Huge mess: Ceiling boards missing at the mall.]
Owners who bought individual lots at the shopping centre were crying foul over their loss as they were servicing bank loans for the failed project.
The mall, located between Jalan Storey and Bukit Cagar, comprises a five-level podium and a 24-storey office tower.
The building, which was 90% complete, was abandoned in 1997 due to recession.
Meanwhile, Johor Baru MP Datuk Shahrir Samad, who took up the case, said the buyers' plights had gained the attention of the state and the Iskandar Region Development Authority (IRDA).
“The state has asked IRDA to look into resolving the issue which involves the buyers and banks,” he said.
http://thestar.com.my/archives/2008/5/14/southneast/se_06escalator.jpg
[Stolen: Policemen from the Johor Baru (South) mobile patrol unit inspecting the remnants of an escalator, which was stripped of metal parts.]
http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/5/14/southneast/21195272&sec=southneast
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