Didn't know SP Setia just throw back to residents to DIY lol... My taman in Denai Alam under SD too, as long as 60% of residents voted yes, they will help with building the guard house. That said, it took a couple of years and a very committed residents commitee to get our guard house done in the end. Not sure if it's less of a hassle compared to DIY, but at least the design of the guardhouse is consistent to our taman's design language, so it looks quite premium.

current practice of SD, they will request buyers to pre-sign authorization letter for SD to build guard house on behalf... it mean once VPed, there will be 100% residents agreed to build guard house... so the guard house will be built simultaneously with houses .... not need to wait RA to form ...it vey good and thoughtful practice by SD....meanwhile... SP setia nothing to be done on behalf until RA form by residents... just felt that SPSetia staffs abit passive and dun care attitude...

This post has been edited by bigman: Nov 26 2024, 10:37 AM

Things like this are what separate SD (there are others like them like Gamuda) from the run of the mill developers. They develop with all this in mind. For the buyer, they already put in place a RA and guardhouse and SD will apply for the buyers. Further Elmina is their showcase development, for them this is a must succeed township. So they built all the infra first before they sell their houses. Other developers will sell first and promise infra and proposed connections to buyers but tidak apa once everything sold - look at rimbayu). However prices are premium for SD. For me comparing Kinrara with Elmina, depends on the needs and preferences of the buyer. Kinrara is a matured township closer to PJ/KL but i was looking for a retirement place further away from the hustle and bustle with plenty of open spaces and parks.

My experience wasn't quite smooth-sailing la, but it could be because when we VP-ed it's nearing start of MCO already, didn't start defects claim & reno of our house until 2022. At that point I wasn't too much in the loop but I do recall RA had to put in quite some effort to work with SD on the guardhouse building. The guardhouse construction started around late 2023, finished construction early 2024, then fully operational with RFID gate around mid of this year. Hopefully newer development won't take as long as ours to build up la. End result is great tho for our taman, also appreciate my taman's RA in handling the whole shebang.

Yes Kinrara is also not bad, but I prefer to stay closer to my parents. Other than location, elmina and surrounding areas are quite low dense as compared to kinrara, it's just the ingress and egress to the township are not well planned.

Anyone bought Kanopi Residences?

how much?

A family member of mine bought. Did you?

Starting 565K

Nope.

Just curios why so quite about this launch. Usually is very happening..

Then just buy PJ area will do if you have the budget since
Puchong is so high density with the high price you pay for the property.
My personal view , Puchong is not ideal place to stay .
For investment is good , not for own stay .

due to by law, not because it is diy or dev never help. The fact that many places in selangor already ban f&g. It still exists due to leniency.

BK8 side is not the typical jammed and packed Puchong. its <10% of the Bandar Puteri / LDP highway.. and 80% of Bukit Jalil vibes
at least for now it's a serenity area
That's why ppl willing to pay 1.5mil+ and 3.1mil+ for DST and SMD

PJ Area =\= New

Actually there is one now just launched from Sunway, Sunway Serene Phase 2 however Leasehold

This post has been edited by IVL: Nov 27 2024, 02:32 AM

don't matter the guardhouse whatever.. the 'quality' of SD is enough to stop A LOT of housebuyer to get SD project

The Edge


The Edge Property Excellence Awards 2024
Creating a resilient development
By Chelsea J Lim / The Edge Malaysia
25 Nov 2024, 12:00 am
This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on November 25, 2024 - December 1, 2024

WINNER | City Of Elmina | Sime Darby Property Bhd

What used to be an oil palm plantation named Elmina Estate has become some of the most popular townships in Shah Alam, Selangor. Master developer Sime Darby Property Bhd (KL:SIMEPROP) has not shown any signs of slowing down since the township developments began more than two decades ago.

The development started with the 250-acre Bukit Subang township in 2000 and followed with the launch of the 1,000-acre Denai Alam township in 2005. It was only in 2013 that the vision for City of Elmina was introduced with the launch of Elmina East.

The mega development known as City of Elmina, which is spread across 6,500 acres of freehold land, now comprises the townships of Bukit Subang, Denai Alam, Elmina East, Elmina West and an industrial park called Elmina Business Park. The developer recently introduced Elmina City Centre. Together, the master plan makes up a self-contained development along the Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE).

The township developments have invigorated the area by boosting economic activity as well as infrastructure improvements. For its well-curated master plan, City of Elmina was named the winner of The Edge Malaysia Property Excellence Award 2024 for Master Plan Excellence. The award recognises large-scale property developments that have made a significant impact while continuing to contribute positively to the vibrancy of the area in which they are located.


Sime Darby Property COO of township development Appollo Leong (centre) with (from left) The Edge Media Group publisher and group CEO Datuk Ho Kay Tat, The Edge Malaysia editor-in-chief Kathy Fong, editor emeritus Au Foong Yee and City & Country senior editor E Jacqui Chan. (Photo by Mohd Izwan Mohd Nazam/The Edge)
On the achievement, Sime Darby Property group managing director Datuk Seri Azmir Merican says: “We are honoured to receive the award for the second time. It is an important milestone for us and it affirms our commitment to excellence in wellness-focused urban development and reinforces our position as a leader in sustainable property development. This recognition motivates us to continue our efforts in delivering quality and sustainable communities that add long-term value for all stakeholders.”

Sime Darby Property has built and handed over 12,800 residential units to an estimated population of 67,000 in City of Elmina to date. About 150,000 people are expected to call the mega development home when it is fully completed by 2040.


About 150,000 people are expected to call City of Elmina home when it is fully completed by 2040 (Picture by Sime Darby Property)
To cater for the growing community, the integrated master plan includes a full range of amenities such as hospitals, sports complexes, fire stations, health clinics, mosques, libraries, kindergartens, police stations and community centres.

City of Elmina is served by a network of major roads and highways such as the GCE, Kuala Lumpur-Kuala Selangor Expressway, Damansara-Shah Alam Elevated Expressway and the New Klang Valley Expressway.

Integrating wellness and being ESG-compliant
Developing a township is no easy task, and it is even more so for a mega development that comprises a number of townships. To ensure the longevity of these townships, a forward-thinking approach has to be adopted.


A successful township lies in having a robust and forward-thinking master plan. We provide a balanced mix of residential, commercial and industrial components to support a self-sustaining community where individuals can seamlessly live, work and play.”

“A successful township lies in having a robust and forward-thinking master plan. We provide a balanced mix of residential, commercial and industrial components to support a self-sustaining community where individuals can seamlessly live, work and play,” says Azmir.

Moreover, the forward-thinking master plan has to be guided by the developer’s eight pillars of wellness — physical, mental, emotional, family, community, occupational, intellectual and environmental wellness.

Azmir cites several key features as examples that resonate with the eight pillars of wellness. “The 300-acre Elmina Central Park comes with six themed parks, namely the Community Park, Urban Park, Forest Park, Arts and Cultural Park, Sports Park and Wildlife Park, to cater for various lifestyles and age groups; a 90km interconnected jogging and cycling track that has been attracting avid cyclists and runners; the 2,300-acre Bukit Cherakah Forest Reserve that enhances the living environment with natural greenery; and a 5km biodiversity corridor formed by the Elmina River, where [we want] to promote biodiversity and foster harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.”

Apart from the wellness elements, environmental, social and governance principles are embedded in the core planning and development of City of Elmina.

“We are committed to leading in four key material matters, which are energy and carbon management, urban biodiversity, climate adaptation and community experience. These focus areas are integral to our sustainability strategy and we aim to foster resilient communities while embracing nature-based solutions,” says Azmir.

Such commitment has been translated into several initiatives that have been kick-started in the townships.

“[We undertake] biodiversity conservation through the establishment of Elmina Rainforest Knowledge Centre (ERKC) as well as the Elmina Urban Biodiversity Corridor, collaboration with Unicef and adopting environmentally friendly approaches during the design and construction stage [as well as using environmentally friendly materials in our homes],” he says.

ERKC was launched in 2022 to focus on environmental education, conservation and research as well as workshops

The Elmina Urban Biodiversity Corridor is an integral green spine that interconnects six park precincts of Elmina Central Park to adjacent forest reserves and promotes wildlife movement and refugia.

He adds that the developer also partners with conservation bodies to preserve the natural features and landscape while enhancing the biodiversity around the townships. One notable project is the creation of ERKC and Elmina Living Collection Nursery (ELCN).

ELCN is dedicated to the production and conservation of native tree species, including those classified as endangered, rare or threatened according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.


The 2,700-acre Bukit Cherakah Forest Reserve are connected to Elmina Central Park via a Elmina Urban Biodiversity Corridor. (Pictures by Sime Darby Property)

Various programmes like environmental education, conservation, research and workshops are conducted at ERKC. (Pictures by Sime Darby Property)
Adapting to climate change
“ELCN supports the growth of native tree species and these trees are then transplanted across the townships of Sime Darby Property,” Azmir explains.

The developer took a step further to make City of Elmina resilient against climate change by implementing innovative solutions. For instance, the 300-acre Elmina Central Park was strategically designed to function as a temporary flood basin, where the design is based on the Q1000 stormwater system, effectively mitigating flood risks and enhancing the development’s resilience against future flooding events.

Azmir notes that such comprehensive measures not only resolve immediate flooding concerns but also strengthen the overall infrastructure to prevent future flooding occurrences. “To proactively address flooding at the Subang River in Kampung Kubu Gajah, we upgraded the river and pond systems while incorporating advanced urban stormwater management strategies.”

All in all, these efforts align with the developer’s commitment to fostering a society that respects and protects nature.

Ongoing projects and future direction
City of Elmina has come a long way since its humble beginnings. With plans afoot, the maturing development will only get more vibrant. According to Azmir, the developer will continue to focus on its growth and transformation over the next five to 10 years.

City of Elmina continues to expand in terms of commercial and business activities, driven by its growing population, says Azmir. “New businesses, including food vendors and bicycle rental services, have sprouted in response to the frequent crowds visiting the community parks and urban spaces. As the commercial and industrial components mature further, we foresee significant job creation which, in turn, will drive increased demand for both residential and commercial spaces.”

In terms of property launches, some of the key ones are the RM201.7 million landed development for the first phase of Elmina Ridge at Elmina West in May and the RM296 million semi-detached factories The Signature Collection Twin Factories in Elmina Business Park in September. Both developments are fully taken up. Azmir says Sime Darby Property will launch the second phase of Elmina Ridge in 2Q2025.

Elmina Lakeside Mall was opened in August and received a positive response in terms of footfall traffic. He says, “Elmina Lakeside Mall has exceeded our expectations. During the first week, the mall saw 180,000 visitors, demonstrating the strong enthusiasm of the local community. The current occupancy rate of the mall stands at 98% and the mall’s footfall has remained robust with an average of 100,000 visitors per week.”

He adds that the developer will hold a grand opening ceremony of the mall in December.

Elmina Lakeside Mall is a 214,000 sq ft single-level retail space that utilises an open concept design. The mall offers a selection of over 100 stores and services, with notable brands such as Kenny Hills Baker, Sushi Zanmai, Dolly Dim Sum, Jibby Chow, Ole Ole Bali, CHAGEE and Inside Scoop. Its anchor tenants are Jaya Grocer and Harvey Norman.


Elmina Lakeside Mall received 180,000 visitors during its opening week in August. (Picture by Sime Darby Property)
The opening of the mall also marks the introduction of a new precinct, named Elmina City Centre, that spans 350 acres. The new precinct will comprise Elmina Edu Hub (education), Residential Park (serviced apartments), Elmina Wellness Hub (wellness and hospitality), The Core (integrated commercial), Placemaking Village (transit-oriented development) and the CBD. The city centre will adopt a 15-minute concept, where each component is designed to be within a 15-minute walk or bicycle ride.

In the industrial segment, Sime Darby Property is commencing the construction of Google’s US$2 billion (RM9.7 billion) data centre in the 1,500-acre Elmina Business Park.

“This hyperscale data centre will be built by Sime Darby Property according to Google’s customised specifications and infrastructure requirements. Upon its targeted completion in 2026, the data centre will be operated by Google,” says Azmir.

“This unique lease arrangement between Sime Darby Property and Google is the first of its kind by a developer in Malaysia to date. Hosting this state-of-the-art data centre marks Elmina Business Park’s first major step towards becoming Greater Klang Valley’s digital hub.”

The park, designed to support the digital economy with critical infrastructure that includes large-scale water and energy solutions, is expected to attract more data centres, large-scale manufacturers as well as small and medium enterprises. “Upon its full development in 2035, the broader business ecosystem is projected to create over 35,000 job opportunities to meet operational demands,” he says.

Diversification of product offerings in the residential segment is taking place. “We are focused on transitioning from predominantly landed residential properties to a more diverse mix that includes high-rise living solutions,” he adds. The developer launched its first high-rise development there named Kanopi Residences on Nov 23.

Kanopi Residences is a serviced apartment project that will have a GDV of RM299 million and offer 449 units, inclusive of 50 units of Servis Apartment Mampu Milik (SAMM) and 13 retail lots, on a 3.85-acre freehold parcel.

The open-market units will come in two open-plan layouts — Type A is a 1,000 sq ft unit with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and two parking bays, while Type A1 is a 1,200 sq ft unit that comes with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and three parking bays. These are priced from RM565,888. The SAMM units, priced at RM270,000, will have a built-up of 550 sq ft. The 1-bedroom + 1-bathroom units come with two parking bays.

Azmir says about 1,780 acres, primarily in Elmina West and Elmina Business Park, remain undeveloped. The company plans to build high-end landed developments, integrated developments, ready-built factories and commercial properties, with the goal of enhancing City of Elmina’s value proposition.

Leveraging its decades of experience and expertise, Sime Darby Property hopes to replicate the success of its Subang Jaya township on a much bigger scale.

“We are inspired to replicate the success of Subang Jaya township, but on a much larger scale. By leveraging our past experience and focusing on scalability, we envision City of Elmina to become even more robust with a thriving community. We are enthusiastic about the opportunities ahead and remain dedicated to building an inclusive, resilient and thriving community,” says Azmir.

Actually as long as SDP willing to honour the defect liability rectification obligation, that's good enough. I am not denying that there is some noise regarding certain issues like leaking in some newly completed houses but like people said, you are not just buying a house, you are buying into a community and lifestyle. For many SD project, its crazy one. Like they never needed to build showhouse for many of their projects. People just buy and my SA said why bother to build showhouse when almost fully sold. Thats in like 2021 when many were still struggling after covid MCO. SDP also can fully sell. When i decided to buy my house then, i felt that was the best time. Price was around 700k, they gave 10% discount, SDP bear all the legal fees, loan fees and even stamp duty for MOT (saved like 20++K man)... grab. Had to wait for loan reject unit to get one.

Now their launches breach 1 mil already. And they are building showhouse.... which means to me that they anticipate it will be tougher to sell due to price. Hopefully their contractors will get better and have less defect issues. They have come up with a quality manual following CIDB standards by which you can hold them to the defects.... i mean which developer does that!?!Also the dare to show you the ACTUAL brand and quality of the fittings they will put in your house... most developers will say "quality lockset" or "quality sink and tap" because they won't commit to the brand of time to give due to cost consideration ie. they can give you cheaper stuff if their margin affected. These are the little things which push me to buy

My wife bought a unit there. Signed with HLB

Gamuda gardens and elmina is almost the same time distance from the city, both are great township. Gamuda gardens nkve access is good.

Got new Chinese skol opening here.

Yes. Elmina township is picking up pace and will give good impact to the surrounding existing developments. However SDP may have underestimated the traffic congestion and popularity of its township with the residents of the surrounding areas