Bandar Rimbayu (The Chimes) - Updated

It was the first time I went for any balloting (including any general or non-general election!). It was one nice crisp March morning that I had to wake up earlier than usual to queue for a property that I feel will be set to be a nice place to stay. For those who are unaware (or somewhat confused with my nickname), I am a Dutch-Indo-Javanese-Malay Malaysian hence qualified as a group called the Bumiputras.

Bandar Rimbayu the Chimes were launched last weekend on the 2nd of March 2013. Despite the skeptics and the blatant accusation of a property market slowing down, about 3000 people turned up for the balloting launch of the first phase of a huge, green concept of a township. The development is located 3.2km away to the south of Kota Kemuning. This part of Selangor has yet to have a retail mall. It will further increase the prices of properties in Kota Kemuning and Alam Impian as they are freehold land (minimum 700k now). Prices starting from 577k before bumi discount and there is also an RM8000 rebate, free wifi on the first year, free security on the first year (provided the Guarded Neighbourhood Scheme was approved) and free legal fees and stamping fees for SnP. Other features of the properties include Rain-water Harvesting System and Solar Powered Water Heater.

Only 115 units were made available for Non-Bumis on that day. The rest were either taken up by the internal people or being reserved for Bumis. As 3 bumis were selected on that day, an extra 3 places were balloted to Non-Bumis. The bumi quota for this launch is 50:50 which is still okay compared to other launches in Shah Alam like Laman Glenmarie 2 and Denai Alam (70:30). IJM is known for strict adherence on the market conduct set out by the authority thus Bumi Lot would ultimately means any unit taken up by a Bumi. Only 25% completion of the said phase, 50% of the Bumi leftovers would be released to Non-Bumis. The other 50% will only come after 50% completion.

My thoughts on the township? I am always skeptical about leasehold projects but I keep being reminded of the success stories of Kota Damansara and Damansara Perdana. The vast land reserved for retail and commercial, added with a green township concept somehow exponentially increased my great feeling about the township. Furthermore, people do not care already about whether a property is a leasehold or freehold. Then come the question of bumi lots and how the bumi investors should avoid buying them.

Well, if you are buying for own stay, Bandar Rimbayu seems like a nice place to grow your family. With an affordable pricing of minimum 580k for the normal intermediate 22x75 and 850k for a normal corner lot, one should see the corner lot as a great bargain, provided that the purchasers can afford. A small fry like me would settle for a nice, private, intermediate unit with a number that is desirable by all community. Being a bumi has it perks and drawbacks, especially when you are a target after many of the Non-bumi hopefuls' number was not called or when you are only allowed to sell the property to a fellow Bumi from the Malays or Kadazans or Ibans etc. Having said that, it is also worth mentioning that any leasehold properties would need the consent of the authority so the process is still a hassle. But for the bumi lots, the process to transfer to a non-bumi secondary purchaser would be much tougher. This is a reality,

However, being a responsible property investor, I do not flip or speculate. Property investment should always be a long term investment. I am buying to provide for my future unborn children who I predict would face a difficult task to buy their own landed house. There are people who flip to make short gains and these are the people who contribute to the ever skyrocketing prices of Klang Valley properties. But remember, remember, the lands are getting much lesser. And any right thinking adult would feel high rises won't be a suitable place to grow your family (at least to me). I would not worry much if there are less bumi now that are less wealthy than the Chinese Malaysians, evidently by the huge turnout of the Chimes launching.

Imagine a huge hall containing about 3000 fellow Malaysians. Only 14 Bumiputeras/Indian-Muslims came to buy! Malaysian Indians accounted about 20 hopefuls with only 4 who got lucky. The rest left grumbling and honking their car all the way out of the Holiday Villa Hotel, Subang. Frustrated. Some were heard cursing the Bumi policy as if I do not understand what they were saying. None has done it to my face however if not... there would be blood! Only kidding. I know Malaysians are mostly scaredy cats. Kidding again!

For a 550k property, if it is your first time buying a property for own stay, you would need a combined income of RM6,811 which is RM3,411 each. (based on 4.2% interest and 35 years duration). I am talking about married couple with young kids and I don't think there is any issue if your husband is a pengkid (tomboy) in Malaysia in order to qualify for a joint-loan. In my frank opinion, the price is still affordable. As I mentioned in my tweets earlier, if you still feel you can't afford it, look away. But shelter is a basic necessity for every family. Forget about your gold, stocks, direct-selling "air-market" investment for a while and simply think about providing the basic necessity for your children. In the game of capitalism, the consumer should be smart. If you think the price is ridiculous, avoid.

I was the 120th person to choose a unit and the ceremony ended around 345pm. It was so long (but the food was great) but even though I was not that lucky to get to choose earlier as my number was not picked, I was lucky enough the unit I grabbed was good thanks to my Bumi status. For the Bumis who complained about not being able to buy a landed house to stay, I urge not to wait any longer as the prices for landed properties will not go any lower for a 22x75 double storey, below 500k. Do not settle for a pigeon hole that cost 100k cheaper than half a million landed property because at the end of the day, you just want to lead a happy and comfortable life.

Next on the cards: Setia Eco Hill, Semenyih and Kwasa Damansara.

Stupid to buy a car?

Yes, car is a liability.

But when you need it, especially when the public transport is poor, it has become a necessity.

Of course it's stupid to buy a car just to show off your status.

"You buy local car (Malaysian context), you are LAU YAA.' some say.

(removed. Because he is my friend and my brother).

Others, break the bank to buy German cars. Cheapest available is the Volkswagen Polo Sedan.

Not as fast as Polo TSI, the CKD version is quite affordable so everyone who likes German cars would be enticed by it.

Cars are so expensive in Malaysia. And yet people buy Porsche Panamera. Actually it doesn't matter if you are a fan and if you really can afford it. But hey come on, it's stupid if you buy a car to please others.

Buy a car to please YOURSELF.

I am driving a 2008 Camry. Never in my life I would imagine buying a Camry. No, not because I'm an anglophile like some people. It's because growing up, I managed to see how my father, who is a fan of Mercedes started so humbly buying his first Mercedes, a second hand 190E. Since then, I became a fan. A former classmate Pajai told me how his father changed from one Camry to the another. A snob as I was, I just gave him a condescending smirk.

Now, I'm driving a Camry! It's just one helluva reliable car.

So why I think it's not stupid for me to buy a car? This topic was preordained by a post on Facebook by the great property investor Faizul Ridzuan (Paikor as he is known). He was tagging a link to a website encouraging people to manage money better. Here in Riyadh, the car prices are so cheap. I bought the car on second hand and it was also sold below market price. I was that lucky to be offered the car by a fellow Malaysian here in Riyadh. Not only I love my first car, I also had it repaired cosmetically.

I guess it's just if you have the passion for cars, it's not really stupid to buy one that you like, as long as your conscience is clear. You might want to prioritize in life but hey, why keep so much money if you don't really use it?

So there's no really right or wrong. (removed).

Bandar Puncak Alam (Shah Alam 2)

My great father bought a house here in Bandar Puncak Alam for me because he knew the house prices would increase and we would not be able to afford it. It was bought for only RM150,000 in 2005 and wanted us to be thankful so we went to clean it almost every fortnight.

I remember cleaning the lawn and fixing the lamps and water system. It was the first time I knew about property but I was only in university back then.

Now after about 8 years, the development is still slow in Puncak Alam. I am always a fan of the underdogs and of course with the bandar having a soft spot in my heart, I will always root for Bandar Puncak Alam. The population mix is not something we can be proud of but slowly but surely, it would be a good city.

I was told Tesco is coming to Puncak Bestari and with the links through new highways, Puncak Alam's "ulu" status would soon be history.

But for one thing I mentioned to my dad when we were on the way to the house. The distance is always a problem. In 10 years time this would be a thing of the past as more developments are set in neighbouring towns.

Double blow for Pakatan

Pakatan Rakyat has suffered a double blow to wrest Putrajaya from the ruling coalition as the 13th General Election looms. The death of Private Investigator Balasubramaniam due to heart illness has not been a good timing as he was only about to "reveal all" in a nation-wide campaign. Then came a series of pictures purportedly taken from a video feed featuring two men in compromising positions where one of them appears to be of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Conspiracy theorists may have suggested the former was killed while the latter was not the man who featured in the video. However, reality would soon settle-in to the minds of even the hardcore supporters as hard proofs would soon be released. Some supporters have even admitted they do not care if the man in the video was Anwar Ibrahim as long as "ABU" (Anyone But UMNO) movement is implemented when choosing the new Government. While the UMNO-ists might see this as a veiled attacks against the Malays as a whole, many has also seen UMNO as a party drenched with filth of corruption.

A large section of PAS party leaders and supporters have declared unfavourable to the idea of Anwar Ibrahim becoming the new Prime Minister if Pakatan were to take over the Federal Government. The notion of this movement might have stemmed from the sentiments among the grassroots supporters, in which I could only assume, Anwar's moral scandals. The sudden U-turn made by the leaders could not have been timely as it was first mentioned publicly only months before the impending General Election.

This is somewhat disastrous because Pakatan Rakyat could not afford to show differences in opinion among them to the public. They have not even agreed on the same logo or if the Buku Jingga is taking into account the aspirations of PAS to make Malaysia and Islamic (or welfare state).

At this point PAS should not make public any differences of opinion against sister parties like DAP or PKR. Seat allocations have yet to be confirmed and I expect PAS to actually fight for having the majority of seats contested, if not won, in which Anwar himself would not allow. There is a certain feeling among their leaders that PAS should actually lead Pakatan Rakyat, not PKR. Some even suggested that it is normal to elect the Prime Minister from the party that won the most federal seats but Anwar Ibrahim has insisted that they should have two Deputies, one who is Lim Kit Siang and the other should be Hadi Awang.

Personally I feel that PAS is playing a dangerous game by ignoring the two incidents mentioned and trying to push Ustaz Hadi to be the rightful Prime Minister. It is either they accept Anwar as the Pakatan's Prime Minister or join Barisan Nasional when the time comes.

Unless they are confident enough that they could win more seats than PKR and keep Pakatan intact in which is very unrealistic to me.

Adlin Binti Abdul Jalil

Actually she doesn't deserve to be in my blog but of course, since she's asking for it, here goes.

I am no shrink but by the words chosen by her in her writings, I conclude that.

1. She is mentally ill.
2. She is scarred for life of whatever trouble she faced before. Blaming it on Islam.
3. She is an attention seeker, in which she has won, only in a bad way.
4. She is not pretty and made it worse on herself by colouring her hair blonde. Since I have been wanting to become a beauty pageant judge, I would rate her as 10... out of 10 billion.
5. Good news that Interpol has co-operated to bring her to justice. But don't forget those Malay-liberals-civil society who demand freedom of speech (or lies).
6. I bet no normal man would do her and her smile is so sinister it could be used for anti-premature ejaculation.
7. Whatever it is, her fate is sealed. Another waste of life.