Tenants at Kuching’s KMC Flats to pay 30% more

By JACK WONG

jackwong@thestar.com.my

KUCHING: The more than 500 families living at KMC Flats in Jalan Ban Hock here will have to fork out 30% more in monthly rental soon.

The flats, built by Kuching Municipal Council (now Kuching City South Council) for rent to the poor 50 years ago, comprise 22 blocks of buildings, the highest being seven-storey blocks.

Under the new revised monthly rental, tenants of the seven-storey single bedroom units will have to pay RM110 (currently RM85).

The new rental is RM119 for three-storey single bedroom units and RM156 for three-storey double bedroom units (up from RM92 and RM120 respectively).

Tenants in double-storey terrace houses will have to pay RM179 monthly as compared to RM138.

With the increase, the City South Council is expected to collect nearly RM790,000 in rentals a year, up from RM600,000.

The council, according to state Environment and Public Health Minister Datuk Michael Manyin, would charge the revised rental only after meeting the tenants to explain the reasons for the rise.

Manyin, who takes charge of local government, said recently that the revised rental was still much cheaper than the market rental rate in the vicinity of KMC Flats.

He said the nightly rate for a single room in a budget hotel in the area ranged from RM45 to RM60.

The council has been subsidising tenants about RM250,000 a year to maintain and improve services at the housing estate.

The subsidy will be reduced to RM72,000 with the rental rise.

The council, which spent RM1.3mil to replace six lifts three years ago, has budgeted RM800,000 this year for the rewiring of the three-storey flats and terrace houses, repairs to drains, repainting the flats and other improvement works.

ABOUT US

ORICON Sdn Bhd has been in the business of the Development of Housing since 1984. Among the distinguished projects are the Satok Parade and Menara Zecon, both are located in Satok, a busy business area in Kuching. Wisma Sultan Tengah, the Head Office for the Perbadanan Pembangunan Perumahan (Housing Development Corporation) was also completed in 1998, and many others.

ORICON SDN BHD has diversified its nature of business to become a Contractor herself (and still holding a Developer’s core business tag). We are one of the local Bumiputra firms, with its core business in Project Development and Construction, has managed to sustain the business until to-date. This were due to the commitment given by the staff in the effort to always meet the minimum standard set by the company.

Oricon has grown to become one of the well known and established Development and Construction companies principally involved in project development and construction, project management, design/build projects, subletting of properties, provision of management services, acquisition and development of land for commercial and residential development and investment.

OUR COMMITMENT

Our experience and performance record has earned us reputation among corporate clients, financial institutions, and government agencies. We have consistently demonstrated the ability to construct projects that are functional, economical, and aesthetically pleasing. From offices to retail facilities, our company has emerged as a leader in the Housing Developer’s community.

Our firm is a licensed building contractor in the state of Sarawak. All construction is supervised and coordinated by our own personal staff, and performed by some of our local's best subcontractors. By being our own contractor, we are able to control the timing and quality of our jobs. It also enables us to reduce overall cost, resulting in the most economical lease rates/purchase prices for our clients. We take pride in that we are able to fast track a project without having to sacrifice quality or cost.

OUR SERVICES

Our established rapport with the local authorities enhances the smooth flow and speed in the implementation of our project planning. ORICON SDN BHD provides a service for the entire project cycle: strategic planning, site selection, the disposal and acquisition of sites, feasibility studies, site plan approval, cost estimating, value engineering, management, development, operation, shell1/interior build-out, project management, field supervision, site development, scheduling, cost control, maintenance and estate assessment. With experience ranging from the construction of low-cost houses, to the restoration of residential units or urban redevelopment, ORICON SDN BHD has provided clients with time, cost and quality effectiveness. ORICON SDN BHD has an obligation to continuously improve the designs, outlook and general beauty of its property development.

THE PROJECT EXPERIENCE

Completed Projects

Year 2007

5 HDC's mini libraries - Bandar Semariang, Tondong, Palma, Demak Laut & Landeh. The first in the State of Sarawak using pre-fab systems (the Integrated Building Syetems). Very fast.

Year 2005

Rancangan Perumahan Rakyat, Taman Sepakat Jaya. Proposed Construction of 304 units Single Storey Low Cost Terrace and 138 units Double Storey Cost Plus Terrace.

Year 2003

(1) Taman Haji Ludin, Lot 2182, Jalan Semariang, Petra Jaya, Kuching. 4 units Semi Detached House and 19 units Terrace.

(2) Tabuan Desa Utara II, BLK 11, MTLD. (Joint Venture project with BLESSED REALTY S/B). 5 units Double Storey Semi Detached House.

Year 2002

(1) Tabuan Desa Utara, Lot 640, 4286 & 4287, Block 11, Muara Tebas Land District. 7 units Double Storey Terrace House, 5 units Double Storey Terrace House.

(2) KUCHING COMMUNITY COLLEGE. Has completed a RM7.0 million KUCHING COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Jalan Sultan Tengah, Petra Jaya, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak for Ministry of Education, Malaysia.

Year 2001

(1) Menara Zecon, 9 Storey Office Tower, Lot 370, Jalan Satok, Kuching. Proposed 1 unit 9 -storey Office Tower.

(2) Wisma Sultan Tengah, Interior Renovation, Car Shed, Guard House & Fencing. Renovation works of WISMA Sultan Tengah, SHDC, 6-Storey Office Building at Jalan Sultan Tengah, Off Jalan Kuching-Santubong, Petra Jaya Kuching.

(3) RPR, Matang Malihah Phase 2. Construction of 988 units 2 Bedroom Flats for Sarawak Housing Development Commission.

Year 1999

(1) Taman Sukma II, Block 14, Salak Land District, Jalan Sultan Tengah, Petra Jaya, Kuching. 27 units single storey terrace house, 26 units Single Storey Semi-Detached House (Mutiara Model), 10 units Single Storey Semi-Detached House (Delima Model), 10 units Double Storey Semi-Detached House (Kenyalang Model), 6 units Double Storey Semi- Detached House (Kenari Model), 40 units Semi-Detached Double Storey House.

(2) Tabuan Desa Indah, Lot 2995 & 5394, Block 11, Muara Tebas Land District. 12 units Double Storey Semi Detached House.

Year 1998

(1) Satok Parade Commercial Centre, Lot 350-369, Jalan Satok, Kuching. Proposed 20 units 4-Storey Shophouse.

(2) Wisma Sultan Tengah. Construction of WISMA PERUMSAR, SHDC, 6-Storey Office Building at Jalan Sultan Tengah, Off Jalan Kuching-Santubong, Petra Jaya Kuching.

Year 1996

TAMAN PELITA JAYA. Oricon has completed a RM1.25 million consisting of 1½ Storey Semi-Detached (6 units), Single-Storey Semi-Detached (6 units), Single Storey Detached (3 units) at TAMAN PELITA JAYA, Jalan Sultan Tengah, Petra Jaya, 93050 KUCHING, SARAWAK.

Year 1991

TAMAN SRI SENA. Oricon has completed a RM0.88 million Double Storey Semi-Detached (4 units) & Double Storey Terrace (27 units) at TAMAN SRI SENA I, LOT 1329, JALAN SEMARIANG, Petra Jaya, 93050 KUCHING

Under Construction

Year 2006

(1) Taman Sukma Commercial Centre, Lot 1406-1463 & 1465, Block 14, Salak Land District, Jalan Sukma Dua, Off Jalan Kuching-Santubong. 8 units 3-Storey Shophouse (Blk A) & 6 units 3-Storey Shophouse (Blk B) & 8 units 3-Storey Shophouse. 8 units 3-Storey Shophouse. 8 units 3-Storey Shophouse & 6 units 3-Storey Shophouse.

(2) PJ Heights, Lot 402, Jalan Sultan Tengah, Petra Jaya, Kuching. 4 units of Semi-Detached.