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Carrie Fong Kah Wai, 39, Director of Hedgeford Sdn Bhd • • • •
REHDA Youth Chairlady (2016 – 2018) REHDA Youth Interim Chairperson (20152016) REHDA Youth Deputy Chairperson (20142015) REHDA Youth Secretary (2010-2014)
Property market outlook for 2018? Our company continues to maintain a rather cautious view for 2018. We will not be aggressive with our launches and have observed that the demand will continue to be generated from the affordable priced segment continuing from the residential trends we see in 2017. Buyers are spoilt for choice these days with generous packages coming out from developers. There is also opportunities in the sub-sale market. With some price correction which has happened over the last two years, buyers may be able to pick up a good deal in good locations. Which areas do you oversee in your company? I oversee project development and marketing for Hedgeford. When we are sourcing and considering potential land for development, we conduct market research and work with the project team to look into the suitable types of products to be launched. This process will also extend into showroom design, sales packages and other ancillary products and service deliverables to end buyers. I am also in charge of the marketing campaigns accompanying the launch and brand direction. What projects will you be launching in 2018? Our future project will be a landed development which is still in the planning and approval stages. The details should be finalised by 2H18.
22 I January 2018
REHDA Youth’s aims that have been set in place? There is an original initiative started by REHDA Youth in 2016 called Future Forward Forum. This is a platform which brings together ideas related to the property industry today that will impact the future also showcasing guest speakers comprising mainly international young entrepreneurs and companies
travel to. Travel and race becomes traveling with a purpose. Or sometimes I’m just the support crew. Which is more relaxing for me of course. I have also been doing Pilates for a long time and recently started on my yoga journey. The two practice couldn’t be more different and yet it compliments each other in terms of improving your body awareness and being mindful about what you seek to accomplish.
How does REHDA Youth benefit the overall real estate industry? REHDA Youth is an association made up of property developers from Peninsular Malaysia with a membership exceeding 1,000 members. REHDA is also recognised as the leading representative body for private developers involved primarily in advocacy and governance of the industry by working and ho;ding dialogues with related government agencies for the betterment of the industry and the nation. The association has been active since 2010 championing a few causes namely CSR, Green Sustainability and Education via knowledge sharing and networking. REHDA Youth is the Youth platform for REHDA whereby members are under 40 and are either business owners and/or have a role in the higher management of their respective organisations. REHDA Youth’s role is about cultivating leadership among its members, educating people about the industry, aiding the less fortunate regarding sustainable living and promoting design whereby the implementation and development of green buildings for a sustainable way of life is key. As part of its advocacy on educating, REHDA Youth organises study trips locally and internationally to study and learn to implement the best practices to adopt to improve the industry either through township planning, local policies on planning related to property developments, building designs, future trends, building technology or green and sustainable developments for its members. It has conducted tours to Singapore, Thailand, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and its most recent tour to Nanning in China.
Datin Lea Chan, 38, Director of M101 Holdings Sdn Bhd.
How do you relax after working hours? I have a couple of hobbies, most which are inspired by my husband. He runs and I pretty much join him. He’s got me to run half marathons, cycle and go into the trail. It’s pretty awesome to be able to enjoy the outdoors and connect with nature. We do races which have brought us to different locations within Malaysia and also around the region. It also inspires the destinations we
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REHDA Youth Committee Member since 2016
Property market outlook for 2018? We are optimistic that the market will pick up in 2018. Upcoming infrastructure such as the extension of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line and the upcoming High Speed Rail (HSR) connecting the major cities here will make Malaysia a very attractive country to invest in. Malaysia has also maintained its position as one of the world’s favourite cities for tourism – one of the factors contributing to the upward trend of the country’s Gross Domestic Product’s (GDP) growth, making Malaysia attractive as an investment destination. At M101, we believe that the location of the product coupled with the concept, branding, right product mix and rightly priced properties will continue to do well as a sound investment strategy. M101 also has a unique product positioning with its Property Tourism business strategy that has been endorsed by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture. For instance, its flagship project M101 Skywheel is an integrated development designed by Studio F.A. Porsche situated in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre which is poised to be the