Property Hunter Magazine Property Hunter Magazine Issue 55 - June 2014 | Page 52

/// West Malaysia Property News Greenland Eyes Major Role in RM4.4 Billion River of Life Project However, company officials told StarBiz that MRCB has no intention of selling down its interest in RoL currently, and neither was it on the lookout for buyers. Unlike the Duke highway, in which MRCB used to own a 30% stake, RoL is a “division we want to keep”, an executive said. “We will honour our commitment to the Government as PDP.” Fresh from selling land worth RM600 million to China’s Greenland Group, Iskandar Waterfront Holdings Sdn Bhd’s (IWH) Tan Sri Lim Kang Hoo is believed to be eyeing another tie-up with Greenland – this time for the RM4.4 billion River of Life (RoL) project in Kuala Lumpur. land from IWH in the coastal Danga Bay area south of Johor for properties with an estimated gross development value (GDV) of RM2.2 billion, marking its maiden foray into Malaysia. People familiar with the matter told StarBiz that Greenland, one of China’s top five property developers by sales, was in talks with Lim for it to play a major role in RoL. It is understood that the stateowned enterprise may seal another purchase from Iskandar Waterfront Holdings (IWH) soon for two parcels measuring some 20 acres on the eastern side of Johor near the Permas Jaya township. The Shanghai-based firm could be planning a “city within a city” à la Shanghai’s iconic The Bund along the bank of the Klang and Gombak rivers that flow through Kuala Lumpur, sources said. The deal is yet to be finalised as the land is held under IWH’s 47.16% associate Tebrau Teguh Bhd, another listed entity in Lim’s stable, and will have to undergo the usual due diligence processes. Lim’s construction outfit Ekovest Bhd has a 60% stake in the joint-venture company that was appointed the project delivery partner (PDP) for RoL in 2011 by the Government. Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB) holds the remaining 40%. “Greenland ultimately plans to acquire up to 150 acres in Johor with a GDV exceeding RM10 billion. The land alone is expected to cost RM3.8 billion,” a property executive said. A spokesperson for Ekovest declined to comment when contacted. RoL – an anchor project of the E