Singapore MotoGP Track in Changi

On completion, the private sector operator will be responsible for the operation of the FIA standard facility in accordance with a management framework developed by Confluence and our other consortia partners.

It will also consist of grandstand, media centre, paddocks, pit garages, F&B outlets, clubhouses etc.  The first race on the new circuit has been targeted for June 2011.

Name of project:	Changi Race Track Circuit /Changi Motor Hub
Plot location & size:	The estimated 41-ha plot is situated off Changi Coast Road, to the west of theSingapore Air show site.
Type of circuit:	Grade 2 FIA-approved motor sports racetrack capable of hosting any motor race for both motorcycles and cars, other than Formula One. Also includes a Grade 1 FIA-CIK-approved karting track.
Track length:	Likely to be 3.5 km or more, depending on the individual designs put forth by the bidders.
Capacity:	The racetrack should be able to accommodate at least 15,000, and be easily expandable through temporary facilities to accommodate more seated spectators when required.
Events:	(a) At least 3 international races per year, 2 of which must be Grade 2 level race, & (b) At least 2 national series a year; (c) Other motor sport events, exhibitions, product launches, automobile & parts testing;
Mandatory facilities:	Inclusive of a Grade 1 FIA-approved karting circuit, a credible motor racing and advance driving training school, and all other critical racetrack amenities
Commercial facilities:	Willing to consider any commercial facilities that are relevant to motor sport and viable for bankrolling the racetrack operations, subject to approval by the land authorities

Singapore on track to complete Changi race circuit
By Ilsa Chan, channelnewsasia.com | Posted: 25 September 2008 2145 hrs

 

SINGAPORE: Singapore is on track to complete its first permanent race circuit in Changi by 2011, said Teo Ser Luck, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports, after sitting in on a session where McLaren-Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton spoke to aspiring Singapore racers and drivers. 

While Mr Teo did not reveal the number of interested tenderers, he said the government is in talks with several parties and is exploring the different possibilities of developing the facility which will be fully funded by the private sector. 

He said: "We are committed to wanting to develop a race track. We are open to different ideas which are coming forward because for the government side, we want to make it successful, and it must be a win-win partnership between the consortium that ultimately wins it and operates it, and the government as well." 

"We are also assessing what needs to be done in that race track. It is a seafront race track, so we must maximise that piece of land there, not just as a race track but possibly an area where tourists will come, locals will go there and everybody would look at it as more than just for car races, but it is a family outing area as well," added Mr Teo. 

The race track, which will be built on a 20-hectare plot, is likely to stretch between 2.8km and 3.5km, short compared to the Singapore Grand Prix circuit of 5.067km. 

"That piece of land there is quite vast, but there are other needs for that piece of land, so I would say there is no confirmation or final (decision) on size and all that, we will talk to the different parties and decide later," said Mr Teo. 

The Changi race track will be capable of hosting major motorsports events, except for F1 races, which need Grade 1 circuits, and include facilities such as a racing and driver training school, and a pit building and grandstand. 

While Singapore pro race driver Hafiz Koh welcomes the idea of having a permanent race track here, he said GP drivers like himself, are not likely to benefit from it. 

"It's definitely a good training ground for drivers to move forward if you have a track and you could start earlier, but for GP drivers like myself, who drive GP cars, we still need to travel a lot and test different tracks. The only way you can learn is to drive different cars on different tracks," said Koh. 

- CNA 

Gold Coast Resort Living Only 2 Hours Drive From Singapore

Malacca is NEXT to Sepang and Malacca is where the Arab City is.

http://eyeonmalaysia.wordpress.com/2010/02/22/malacca-sepang-gold-coast/

Situated a short distance from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang lies the laidback coastal area of Bagan Lalang where, on a fine day, the sea laps gently against the shore and beach-goers enjoy the quiet and slow pace of life. This is the location of the Sepang Gold Coast (SGC) development.

SGC is developed by Sepang Goldcoast Sdn Bhd, a 70:30 joint venture between Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd and Sepang Bay Sdn Bhd (Sepang Bay). The latter is the local subsidiary of Indonesian property development company Istana Group. The entire SGC project, covering 22km of coastline, is estimated to have a gross development value (GDV) of about RM3 billion, and is slated to be completed in 15 years.

City & Country had the opportunity to take in the vista of its first project in Phase One — the Golden Palm Sea Villas. This gated development  stretches about a kilometre into the Straits of Melaka.




Traversing the sea
To get to the Golden Palm Sea Villas, golf buggies ferry visitors to the showhouses, which showcase a resort-like interior with alang-alang roofing imported specially from Bali. Sold as an investment resort property, the sea villa investment package has two options — own use or leaseback. For the former, owners have to pay a maintenance fee and contribute to a sinking fund.

As for the leaseback option, buyers will have their property managed and operated by international hotel operator Swiss-Belhotel International as a bona fide five-star accommodation. Swiss-Belhotel International manages several hotels in the region, including China, Australia and New Zealand. As for returns on their investment, owners will receive a rental return based upon the purchase price of about 8% nett for the first two years.

“The leaseback arrangement is for 15 years. From the third year onwards, the returns will be based on the occupancy rate. Swiss-Belhotel has indicated with confidence that it can bring at least 8% to 12% returns to investors,” shares Steven Yap, Sepang Goldcoast Sdn Bhd’s head of sales and marketing. All the maintenance charges and contributions to the sinking fund will be borne by the developer.

At the moment, the take-up rate of the 366 units is over 90%, with 85% of buyers choosing the leaseback option. Overseas buyers make up the bulk of owners mainly from the UK and Dubai. Unit sizes vary from 570 to 2,422 sq ft, with prices ranging from RM571,815 to RM2,500,696.

The development is modelled after the Palm in Dubai; the only significant difference is that the Golden Palm Sea Villas are built on stilts and not reclaimed land. Inside all the units, which come fully furnished, are fixtures and fittings tastefully selected for the resort feel, aided by the alang-alang roofs. The units do not have any cooking facilities to eliminate fire hazard, especially since the roofs are made of alang-alang (thatched roofing).

Adjacent to the Golden Palm Sea Villas resort is a leisure and recreational area called the Open Resort, which blends the best of resort and residential living. Exact details are still sketchy as plans are yet to be finalised. However, what is certain is that it will be for members only and residents of the resort.
The Golden Palm Sea Villas’ GDV is RM315 million and it is slated to be completed at end-2009. Swiss-Belhotel takes over the reins in January 2010.


Moving ahead
The original plans for project No 2 of Phase One were for a serviced apartment block on seven acres called Sea Tropics Village, but the developer is now redrawing and upgrading its plans and concept for the site. “The reason for the change is that we have come up with a superior development concept hatched from a recent prolonged brainstorming session. This concept embraces a resort holiday yet home lifestyle, which was pioneered by Club Med International. We want to go beyond what Club Med has to offer. That’s why we are prepared to revamp the entire Sea Tropics concept to bring together a rich variety of new features, which both local and foreign investors will find it hard not to invest,” says Ho Hok Seng, president of Sepang Goldcoast Sdn Bhd.

Isa Bella Lin is a Singaporean Peranakan with roots originating in Malacca, Singapore, Indonesia and China.
With a large network across the world, join her on FACEBOOK 
and get yourself connected to Isa Bella,The South East Asia Investment Specialist.

MAGLEV TRAIN FROM KLIA TO MELAKA - 磁悬浮

Recently, it was reported that a Chinese rail company has been invited to Malaysia to do some feasibility project proposals for high speed trains from KL to JB, KL to Kuantan and a Maglev train from Butterworth to Georgetown.

Tourism Melaka will like to express our opinion that a proposal be made for a Maglev train from KLIA to Melaka or from Tampin to Melaka. This Maglev train if built, will encourage visitors to visit historic Melaka upon arrival from KLIA or from Tampin via high-speed train from KL.

The benefit for Malaccans will be good as more visitors will travel to enjoy the sights and sounds of Malacca. At the same time, Malaccans can work in Kuala Lumpur but stays in Malacca as travel time will be in mere one hour.

We need to think out of the box for 2010. Happy New Year 2010 to everyone.

Here is the news report about the train proposals.

Chinese railroad company eyes projects in M'sia

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 3, 2010): Malaysia will work with Tangshan Railway Vehicle Compang, which rolled out the China-made bullet trains late last month, to carry out three rail projects estimated to cost RM1 billion in the country.

According to a report in Nanyang Siang Pau today, the projects are a track for magnetic levitation (maglev) trains between George Town and Butterworth and two high-speed rail links -- between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Baru and between Kuala Lumpur and Kuantan -- that allow trains to reach 350km per hour.

The report said Tangshan Raiway Vehicle Company, a unit of China CNR Corporation Ltd, has been invited by MRailways International Sdn Bhd, to explore rail opportunities in Malaysia.

Sources said MRails has received a letter of authorisation from Tangshan Railway Vehicle last month for the proposed maglev rail project in Penang on a joint-venture basis.

Apart from the George Town-Butterworth maglev rail project, Tangshan Railway Vehicle also intends to undertake the Kuala Lumpur-Johor Baru and Kuala Lumpur-Kuantan high-speed rail projects.

The two high-speed rail links being planned are similar to the 1,068km Wuhan-Guangzhou high-speed railway that went into service last month.

Dubbed the bullet trains of China, the trains operating the Wuhan-Guangzhou high-speed railway can reach 350km per hour.

The three projects, if implemented, can be completed in three to five years.

Arab investors - Malaysia 2010

MALACCA: The state’s tourism industry will get a boost following plans by Arab investors to pump in more than more RM1 Billion in investment to develop several tourist-related projects over the next three years.

A successful completion of the proposed "Arab City" here will attract more Arab investors to Malaysia, Managing Director of Golden Corporate Heritage Sdn Bhd, Hesham El Din Fathi Mohamed said.

He said there were a lot of Arab investors waiting to see our model, if it is going to succeed or not.

"Most of them came here and tried (to invest) but get back with a negative feeling (because of bureaucratic red tape)," he told Bernama in an interview here recently.

Bureaucratic red tape has forced the company to develop Arab City here earlier, which is designed to be a symbolic gateway connecting Malaysia to the Middle East, and to move from its site in Jalan Ampang in Kuala Lumpur to Melaka, which promises a 24-hour approval for the project.

Golden Corporate Heritage is undertaking the Arab City project in Melaka.

It is a joint venture between Dubai, Saudi Arabian and Malaysian partners, the company has branch offices in Dubai and Saudi Arabia with diverse interests in real estate, trading and oil and gas business.


He said the projects would allow the state to better attract Middle Eastern tourists and give locals a chance to experience Arabic culture.

The Arab investors, Golden Corporate Heritage (CGH), will carry out joint projects with the state-owned Chief Minister Incorporated (CMI).

Arab City on Pulau Melaka involves the development of a three-storey shopping complex including an Arabian bazaar, Middle Eastern restaurants and cafes and a unisex Arabic health and beauty spa.

The Klebang project involves the construction of a five-star hotel, a water theme park, an aquarium and a floating restaurant.

GCH managing director Hesham Eldin Fath Mohamed Khalil said the company was also looking at developing an Arab Village in Kampung Jawa.

Arab City on Pulau Melaka is expected to be completed by the end of next year and the one in Klebang in 2012.


With concerns that the global economic crisis would affect the Middle east badly, Hesyam said they studied the situation very well and found that Malaysia was a very suitable place for them.

Despite the lack of a "special offer" to investors, Malaysia was very stable, its people friendly and easily accept the Arabic culture, which in itself presents a very good environment for Arab investors.

Hesyam said one million Arab tourists came to Malaysia and they spend 10 times more than the others.

For the past seven months, he said 250,000 Arabs came to Malaysia although it is not the holiday season and they spent RM5 billion.

Hesyam said when the Arabs came here, his staff went to the shopping areas especially in Bukit Bintang and interviewed Arab tourists to know how they felt in Malaysia including the problems they faced and the things they hope to have here to make them come back again.

Based on the interviews, Hesyam said Arab tourists want an integrated place that has the feel of Arabian culture, food and tradition.

He said there were cases in Bukit Bintang for example, where these Arabs do not feel comfortable with.

So, when they do not feel comfortable here, he said they would not come back for the second time.

However, Hesyam said the Ministry of Tourism which has been tracking tourist trends says the number of Arab tourists keep on increasing every year.

"If we received 750,000 this year and we received one million next year, it goes without saying that we are doing well," he said.

Singapore : 

Singapore's Arab Street! 

Hey When Is Singapore's Arab City Coming?

Arab City Melaka To Cost More Than RM1 Billion

MELAKA, April 28 (Bernama) -- Arab City Melaka, the integrated commercial project in the state, will cost over RM1 billion, with construction expected to be completed in the first quarter of next year, its developer announced today.

Hesham Fathi Mohamed, Managing Director of Golden Corporate Heritage Sdn Bhd (GCH), the developer, said the project covering 46.9 acres (18.76ha), is located in three areas -- Pulau Melaka, Klebang and Kampung Jawa.

He was speaking to reporters after the ground-breaking of Arab City Melaka, a joint-venture between the Melaka state government and GCH, at Pulau Melaka here.

Also present were Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and GCH chairman Sheikh Saleh Mansor.

Hesham said the whole Arab City project was initially estimated to cost RM400 million.

He said phase one of the project, costing RM250 million, will be developed into an integrated and comprehensive development, which included shopping bazaars, Arabic-themed restaurants, cafes and Arabic health and beauty spas.

At the ceremony, both the state government, represented by Ali signed an agreement with GCH to develop phase two of the project in Klebang, which is tipped to be a new landmark for tourism in Melaka.

Today marks the beginning of piling work for the first phase of the Arab City in Pulau Melaka, which, according to Hesham, is due for completion within five weeks.

Hesham said the project was scheduled for completion by year-end, with the Arab City project, sited on a 4.2 acre (1.68 ha) site, in Pulau Melaka expected to open for business by 2010.

He said Klebang, the second phase of the Arab City project, will be a mixed development, comprising a five-star hotel, an aquarium, health resort and water sports club.

"We will provide the development plan within three months from now to the state government, with investments expected to cost more than RM1 billion," he said.

Both the state government and GCH today signed an agreement to develop the Arab City project in Klebang sited on a 36.2 acre (14.48 ha) area.

At the press conference, Hesham said he had received numerous enquiries from foreign companies intending to rent or sell the facilities provided at the city.

However, the company, which mooted the Arab City concept, would retain the Arab concept, with only Arab brands under its roof, with no opening for fast- food giants such as McDonalds or Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), he said.

The third phase of the Arab City will comprise an Arab Village on a 6.5 acre site (2.6ha) in Kampung Jawa, he added.

GCH's Shaikh Saleh, at the press conference, said Malaysia offered a conducive climate for foreign investments, especially from Gulf nations, citing the Arab City project in Melaka, as an example.

In his speech, Mohd Ali described the Arab City project as a significant and important investment, especially during the current economic slowdown.

He is confident the project would succeed and generate the expected returns and revenue, which would in turn benefit the investors, the state, tourists and the Melaka people.

-- BERNAMA

Where is the Arab City ?

Arab City Melaka is located on the man made island off the historic port city of Melaka. Melaka is approximately 1 and a half hours driving distance from the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur and approximately an hours drive from the Kuala lumpur International Airport (KLIA). What's even more exciting is that the Arab City is only 1 and a half hours from Singapore!

arab city - malacca 2010

From the impeccable detail of its architecture to the authentic recreation of a souk of Arab inspired bazaars and a dazzling array of ambient restaurants, these are the many facilities for visitors to discover and relish within its compound. Arab City Melaka is a place that is both unique and memorable. Aspects of every Arab city is brought to the forefront and represented at the hub of Arab City Melaka.

The bazaars are laden with wares from jewelry to fabrics sourced from Algeria to Yemen. Restaurants serve authentic regional Arab cuisine with herbs and spices of Morocco and Syria. The perfumes and oils of the spa exclusively for men and women are brought in from Egypt and Tunisia.

In all its essence, Arab City Melaka translates to a one-stop destination of caravan loads of every and all things from the Arab world within walking distance. Now, that's something to write home about.

1st Reason: Tourists Simply Adore Malacca!
As a tourist attraction Melaka has displayed its potential among larger Malaysian tourists states. Despite its intimacy of scale Melaka is highly visible, welcoming over 6 million visitors a year to its locales teeming with emblems of its legacy. Monuments, ruins and traditional architecture add a unique contrast to the skyline of its modern cityscape.

2nd Reason: The Special Bond That Goes Way Back
The draw to the remarkable city of Melaka is many fold and impossible to ignore. Besides its warm people, sunny shores and recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, there is also sentimentality associated with Melaka’s historical significance. 


Arab traders were among the first ancient mariners who plied the old trade routes and converged at Melaka’s bustling port. Having shared a meaningful past with the Arab world it seemed fitting to revisit that legacy for the future with the advent of Arab City Melaka.

Courtesy of http://www.myarabcity.com/