PETALING JAYA: Just south of Kuala Lumpur are a number of educational institutions and training centres that offer a conducive and quiet place for both students and employees alike to pursue their dreams.
Additionally, the population density of the suburbs here is much lower, thus offering a more tranquil setting. However, for those enticed by the high life, the city is not too far away either.
Located within one of Malaysia’s main institutional and research zones is the 100-acre De Centrum City (DCC), a mixed development comprising high-rise residences, an infrastructure university, a neighbourhood shopping mall, a hotel and student hostel facilities.
Art Toh Sdn Bhd project marketing consultant Arthur Toh said, “A strategic location is always occupied by institutions and leading corporations.”
With DCC being grounded by researchers, professionals and experts from diverse fields in this education hub of KL South, he said this urban township will grow to become an “intellectual city”.
DCC’s intelligent, creative, innovative and knowledge-based characteristics are bound to drive sustainable economic growth and transform its intangible resources into sustainable long-term wealth for the people living and working here.
Within DCC’s surroundings south of KL are some 30-plus public and private higher educational institutions, training centres as well as pre-, primary and international schools.
The National Institute of Valuation (INSPEN) in Sepang, for instance, that houses the Finance Ministry’s Valuation and Property Services Department is located here, while the Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur (IUKL), which Toh described as “niche”, had a student population of 3,000 to 4,000 before the Covid-19 pandemic.
This wholly-owned subsidiary of Protasco Bhd and Malaysia’s first full-fledged infrastructure university specialises in engineering and architecture as well as a wide offering of business and other related programmes.
According to IUKL, its ratio of foreign students from 45 countries was 50% of the total student population post-pandemic.
Another notable private university located close to DCC is Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN). UNITEN has numerous sports facilities and is the top choice for engineering, computer science and information technology (IT) courses.
CBRE-WTW managing director Foo Gee Jen told FMT that Bangi became an education hub when Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) was set-up here in October 1977.
Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), a leading research university which is located just next to DCC, has also been instrumental in innovating education for a better tomorrow and providing DCC with the environment to become a liveable and stimulating intellectual city.
Foo added, “There has been a lot more migration to this location which led to its development as an education hub with improved infrastructure.”
This has led to the proliferation of IT and training centres in the surrounding location such as Maybank Academy and those belonging to RHB Bank and Public Bank.
Educational research centres like the POS Centre of Development and the newly completed Petronas Leadership Centre for the oil and gas sector, will encourage more future learning experiences via its innovative spaces.
DCC is also supported by other ancillary services such as utilities, food and beverage venues as well as recreational facilities where students, academicians, business people and residents can find a place to chill out or spend quality time. This includes the 9-hole ILSAS Golf Club and the UniPutra Golf Club with its 18-hole golf course.
The availability of landbank for development in KL South also means more affordable pricing of properties for home ownership compared to the more premium locations in the city centre.
Foo also said he believed that the development of Nilai, Sendayan and Labu at Negeri Sembilan North further south of KL, would create a synergistic relationship, and opportunities for investment and job creation. People will also be looking for nearby accommodation to stay or properties to invest in.
Other ready infrastructure supporting DCC’s growth as an intellectual city is the accessibility offered by existing highways, namely the North-South Highway, South Klang Valley Expressway, Kajang Dispersal Link Expressway and Sungai Besi Expressway.
Meanwhile, phase one of its newly implemented MRT Putrajaya line, which forms part of the Klang Valley Integrated Transit System, currently covers nine new stations and three that were previously part of the Kajang line.
With its modern driverless automated trains travelling at a maximum speed of 100 km an hour, it will set the tone for smart connectivity for DCC, especially when phase two is completed in early 2023 to include stations such as UPM, Serdang, Cyberjaya and Putrajaya. Speculation is rife that land value and property prices will substantially increase in a number of areas.
