SMART and affordable housing with seamless connectivity that embraces environmental protection are some of the traits sought-after by future homeowners.
According to Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, the younger generation in Kuala Lumpur, Sabah and Sarawak are looking for areas with more green spaces and where there are less shopping malls.
He said youths wanted to see more open spaces that provide facilities such as sporting infrastructures and recreational as well as lush landscape.
Khairy said there was no need for more malls and commercial development as youths are already embracing the trend of online shopping.
Khairy was speaking at the launch of Sime Darby Property’s City of Elmina — Townships For the Future, a TN50 Aspiration programme at Elmina East in Section U16 Shah Alam, Selangor, recently.
During the launch, a time capsule containing aspirations of those present was planted at Elmina TN50 Community Park and will only be opened in 2050.Khairy praised Sime Darby’s effort for building the Elmina township which encompasses large green and open spaces.
The township is also located adjacent to a forest reserve with trees that are classified as endangered, rare and threatened.
“This is the sort of approach that is in line with what the youth want, which is the living space of the future. I would like to encourage other developers to emulate (such approach), but it is not easy to create a township like how Sime Darby has done. Developers have to invest quite a bit in building and creating open spaces, and not only that but finely curated manicured park,” said Khairy.
Sime Darby Property Group managing director Datuk Seri Amrin Awaluddin said the company was in tune with TN50 as the City of Elmina was very much a liveable society.
“We are not just selling houses but we are selling living sustainable experience where houses are not just about blocks, but about township area of living, quality of living.
“For example here in Elmina we have 90km of cycling and jogging track that is the longest in the country and we have 300 acres of park in the middle of the city which is actually a huge investment on our side.
“We spent about RM17 million in the City of Elmina alone for the community park. Total infrastructure was about RM200 million but that’s over 10 to 15 years and in that city alone.
“We have other townships like Bandar Bukit Raja and Serenia which we will emulate in the future,” said Amrin.
He said by middle of this year the company would be launching the statutory affordable houses priced between RM200,000 and RM270,000, a new concept of D3 affordable but quality dwellings for the family.