Bandar Meru Raya in north Ipoh is being touted as the new Cyberjaya and Putrajaya for Ipoh. Not only was it recognised in 2007 as a MSC Malaysia Cybercentre, this 1,600 acre freehold township will see the opening of the new Ipoh Sentral bus and taxi terminal from the middle of this year.

Located across the North-South Highway from Jelapang, Meru Raya is set to also house over 10 government buildings, including those for the Ministry of Home Affairs, Perak Foundation, Forestry Department and the National Archives of Malaysia, according to Andaman Group, the developer of Bandar Meru Raya's commercial centre of shop/offices.

Andaman have launched and sold out several phases of these shop/offices, dubbed Taipan @ Ipoh Cybercentre and Taipan Festival Mall. This has garnered RM200 million sales in the past 18 months.

The latest phase is Taipan City, offering 3-storey semi-detached and bungalow shops. With a gross development value of RM100 million, these shops are priced at around RM1 million each.

They are ideal for outlets like IT and computer stores, wedding gown/photography shops, fine dining outlets, automobile centres, fashion outlets and fast-food outlets, says the developer.

"We received an overwhelming response from Phase 1 of Taipan City which sold out within two months of launch," Andaman sales and marketing director Datuk Vincent Tiew has said.

Due to be handed over next month, the price has appreciated 100% since its launch, adds the developer. Andaman is therefore confident that investors in Taipan City will see equally attractive capital appreciation.

Bandar Meru Raya will benefit from a Mydin Hypermarket which is due to open from the middle of the year. Casuarina Hotel and Convention Centre is meanwhile under construction next to Taipan City.

source:(New Ipoh Hub | TheSundaily)

Andaman Group recently announced that 90% of its first phase of shop/office lots in its Sentral@Bangi CBD project was sold before being launched. This joint venture between Andaman Group and Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (PKNS) comprises a first phase of 86 four-storey shop/offices, and a four-storey shopping centre as its second phase. Both will be located in Section 9 of Bandar Baru Bangi.

"I'm proud to share that we are 90% sold and most of our buyers are actually end users, investors and businessmen who have bought the shops for their own use," said Andaman Property Management's head of sales and marketing, Datuk Vincent Tiew at the launch.

"Jakel [Trading] bought 19 shoplots from us where they will consolidate a very big textile city… We also have a lot of buyers who are currently shop owners and retailers in Masjid India, as well as some existing businesses in Bangi"

Plot size ranges from 24'x70' while built-up area ranges from 6,543 to 11,729 sq ft. Each unit is priced from RM2.15 million to RM 5.5 million, which equates to above RM329 per sq ft. Bumiputera buyers enjoy a 12.5% discount.

All units come with a lift and a lower ground floor for parking, accessed from behind, as well as a full glass façade. The shopping centre is proposed to include a cineplex, bowling centre, book village and IT centre.

More than 10 years ago, the planners of Bandar Baru Bangi planned for a Bangi Walk as well as for the bell-shaped centre of this township to be named Sentral, said Tiew of the project's inception.

"None of the developments since then treated this area as a central commercial development. And since this was the last piece of land to be developed here, the state government said, 'We must make this happen. We want Bangi Walk to be successful and we want to adopt this as the central [business district].'"

Construction is expected to commence in April or May of this year, while completion is scheduled for mid-2014. Another commercial project nearby is Paragon Point II, developed by Sunway Holdings Bhd. Launched last year, it will comprise 104 office and retail suites, as well as a boulevard of F&B outlets.