For Immediate Release

 

LBS BINA GROUP AWARDED AS TOP 10 DEVELOPERS AT

THE BCI ASIA AWARDS 2020/2021

LBS endorsed at BCI Asia Awards for the Fifth Consecutive Year

 

Petaling Jaya, 6 December 2021 – Leading township developer, LBS Bina Group Berhad has once again clinched the Top Ten Developers Award 2020/2021 at the BCI Asia Awards (BCIAA) last year. This award serves as a great acknowledgment to LBS as an exemplary property developer in Malaysia and South East Asia. This marks the fifth time LBS received the recognition.

With the rising number of daily COVID-19 cases, the Full Movement Control Order (FMCO) came in place in May 2021 to ensure that daily diagnosed cases will be reduced and to protect public safety. Hence, the originally planned BCI Asia awards 2020 dated on 19 June 2020, was postponed and rescheduled to 3^rd December 2021.

The Top 10 developers of 2020 were handpicked based on the extent of their projects’ sustainability. It is positioned as the most coveted award for architecture, developers, and construction sectors across Southeast Asia namely, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The Award is now in its 17th year since its inception in 2003.

“The objective of sustainable housing is to elevate living standards while providing Malaysians with the opportunity to own their dream house with enhanced social unity, well-being, economic growth and social improvement. Sustainability considerations are factored into the entire life-cycle of our developments, from concept design to construction and building management such as KITA Mekar, KITA Mesra, Residensi Bintang Bukit Jalil, and Prestige Residence, which are the recently launched projects” said LBS Bina Group Berhad Executive Chairman, Tan Sri Lim Hock San.

“The year 2020 has been a challenging one, not only was LBS able to pull through, but the team’s hard work and perseverance managed to position LBS as the top 10 developers. For that, I am truly gratified and would like to extend my special thanks to BCIAA for consistently recognising our efforts and awarding LBS with the Top 10 Developers Award. We believe during these pandemic times, affordable housing with exceptional built quality is the recipe to success. As we approach the end of the year, our focus will continue to be driven towards providing affordable homes and creating green and sustainable living, working and recreational environments for all Malaysian homebuyers,” Tan Sri Lim Hock San said.

The BCIAA 2020/2021 gala dinner was held on 3rd December 2021 at Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur and was graced by the President of Pertubuhan Arkitek Malaysia (PAM), YBhg. Datuk Ar Ezumi Harzani bin Ismail, President of Malaysian Institute of Interior Designers (MIID), IDr Lai Siew Hong, and Immediate Past President, Malaysia Green Building Council (MGBC), Ar Chan Seong Aun.

~End~

Feng shui is a pseudoscientific traditional practice originating from ancient China, which claims to use energy forces to harmonise individuals with their surrounding environment. The term ‘feng shui’ literally translates as “wind-water” in English, and is considered as one of the Five Arts of Chinese Metaphysics, classified as physiognomy (observation of appearances through formulas and calculations). The feng shui practice discusses architecture in terms of “invisible forces” that bind the universe, earth, and humanity together, known as qi.

In today’s age, the new generations hardly believe in this practice anymore. In Malaysia, the practice of feng shui transcends through races. Each race has their own set of beliefs and whether you personally believe in it or not, today we are going to talk about the feng shui beliefs among Malaysia’s three main races.

The Malays, the Chinese, and the Indians, all have their own moving rituals that they practice before moving in into a new, empty house. Of course, these days, practicing these rituals is more of a pleasing act for the parents, although the belief is starting to regain popularity among youngsters who are interested in having “good energy” flow through their house. 

For Malays, their moving ‘feng shui’ is based on their religion – Islam. As Muslims, they’d recite surahs from the Quran and perform azan and prayers when they first move in into an empty house. Muslims believe in the existence of other entities / spirits, and these entities are believed to often reside in empty, “abandoned” houses and by doing these moving-in “rituals”, it’ll alert the entities of new residents coming in and that they should leave the house. Muslims also believe this practice will help guard the house from any visit of these entities for as long as they reside there.

The Malays also often organise a housewarming event whenever they move in into their new house. Traditionally, the event begins with prayers recital known as ‘doa selamat’. Usually but not necessarily, a Tok Imam (religion leader) would lead this recital as to bless the home and the family living in it. Alternatively, this recital can also be led by an elderly male of the family. The event is then followed by a feast session that is meant to form bond between the family and their new community. It is also often used as a chance for them to introduce their family members and friends to their new neighbours and vice versa. This practice often initiates trustworthy relationships between the parties involved.

The Chinese community is also rich with traditions and feng shui beliefs when they want to move in into a new house. Traditionally they would leave the lights on starting three days before moving-in day as to fill the house with ‘yang’ (positive) energy and to rid of any ‘yin’ (negative) energy. Moving in into a new house filled with yang energy indicates a new positive beginning for the family that will hopefully lead to many fruitful opportunities and abundance of prosperity. 

Another common Chinese tradition is to open all doors and windows when first moving in. Generally, this allows fresh air and sunlight to travel in and out of the house, creating a fresh atmosphere and making the new home feels vibrant. However, this ritual is also embedded in the yin & yang belief. By leaving the doors and windows open, it is believed that it will attract more positive and prosperous energy to flow into the home, increasing the family’s luck.

As for the Indians, their moving-in beliefs are just as interesting as the other two races. A huge majority of the Malaysian-Indians are Hindus, and when they first move in into a new home, they would invite a priest over to lead the moving-in prayer. This includes setting up a prayer room and displaying a photo of one of their Gods and setting up an oil lamp. Post-prayer, the family will then boil milk in a brand-new pot until it overflows and spills over. This milk is now considered as holy water, and it will be offered to the family’s patron God and the remaining will be served to the guests. A portion of it will be sprinkled around the house to ward off evil spirits and negative energies. 

Another traditional feng shui ritual for the Indians is to break a coconut – a fruit that is considered as sacred and pure according to Hindu values. Families are encouraged to break a coconut by throwing it onto the ground when they are moving in into a new home as an act to receive blessings from God. This ritual is also a common practice during other various occasions such as weddings and festivals. 

These are among the common feng shui practiced by the three main races in Malaysia. Being a melting pot of races and culture, there are plenty more races with plenty more beliefs that are practiced in Malaysia, and whether you believe in them or not, it sure is interesting to learn about them and to cherish the diversity among us Malaysians.

PRESS STATEMENT

 

SCAPES HOTEL, GENTING HIGHLANDS REOPENS WITH JOYOUS CHRISTMAS DEALS AWAITING

 

Petaling Jaya, 30 November 2021 – Following the government’s announcement to reopen the interstate border and the drop in daily COVID-19 cases, we are pleased to announce that SCAPES Hotel, wholly owned by LBS Bina Group Berhad has officially reopened starting from 1st November 2021. Families can now meet and vacation plans can finally come true. However, the safety of our guests and employees will continue to be our top priority, by adopting the latest SOPs and implementing comprehensive precautionary measures.

 

As a token of appreciation to the customers who have continued to support SCAPES Hotel during the difficult times and in conjunction with the upcoming Christmas celebrations, SCAPES Hotel is pleased to announce the ‘X’mas Flash Deal-Stay & Dine’ promotion, starting from 1 December 2021 until 1 January 2022. Enjoy special promotions for rooms with free breakfast and dining promotions at selected restaurants via the SCAPES Hotel website.

 

Now is the time for a short escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and spend quality time with your loved ones and enjoy the beautiful scenery or visit places of your interest located nearby. For more information on promotions and room rates, visit https://scapeshotel.com/.

 

We cordially welcome you to SCAPES Hotel.

 -End-

For Immediate Release

LBS POSTS SOLID Q3FYE2021 RESULTS

• Total property sales (22 November 2021: RM1.10 billion) translates to 92% of 2021 sales target (RM1.2 billion)
• 20 on-going projects with a Gross Development Value of RM5.65 billion
• Unbilled sales of RM2.17 billion

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Petaling Jaya, 23 November 2021 – LBS Bina Group Berhad (“LBS” or the “Group”) today announced its third quarter results for the financial year ending 31 December 2021 (“Q3FYE21”).

 

For the quarter under review, LBS delivered a profit before tax of RM34.0 million and profit after tax of RM20.0 million, a quarter-on-quarter increase of 34.5% and 3.2% respectively. To add on, revenue and profit after tax and minority interest (“PATMI”) clocked in at RM254.0 million and RM18.1 million respectively, despite a quarter whereby sales and construction progress were impacted by COVID-19 related restrictions and the re-implementation of the Full Movement Control Order. The Group reported that development projects within the Klang Valley accounted for more than 81% of the Group’s revenue for the nine months ended 30 September 2021 (“9MFYE21”).

 

The nine months ended 30 September 2021, revenue and PATMI surged by 15.0% and 153.7% to RM922.4 million and RM60.0 million respectively, as compared to the corresponding period in 2020. The 9MFYE21 PATMI has surpassed 2020’s total PATMI of RM51.3 million. The increase was largely attributable to the positive take-up rates and steady construction progress of the Group’s ongoing development projects at KITA @ Cybersouth, LBS Alam Perdana, Alam Awana Industrial Park, Residensi Bintang Bukit Jalil and Cameron Centrum. LBS’ cash and cash equivalents for 9MFYE21 stood at RM197.4 million, an increase of 30.4% compared to 9MFYE20.

 

The Group further announced that it currently has 20 on-going development projects with an estimated Gross Development Value (“GDV”) of RM5.65 billion, land bank for future development of 2,794 acres with an estimated GDV of RM24.3 billion and unbilled sales of RM2.17 billion.

 

Commenting on the results, LBS Executive Chairman Tan Sri Lim Hock San said, “LBS has been able to sustain its earnings growth as a result of carefully planned launches and the team’s relentless effort to push forward with garnering sales and bookings despite the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. We therefore have been rewarded with a profitable quarter and we hope to keep this going into the final turn of 2021.

 

As of 22 November 2021, we have secured RM1.10 billion in sales and total bookings in the pipeline of RM950.2 million. Against the bigger picture, we have achieved 92% of our 2021 sales target which is set at RM1.2 billion. This illustrates that we are building in the right areas and delivering affordable housing which satisfies the needs of the general public. As reported by the Housing Bureau Statistics, Malaysia still has a shortage of 1 million units of affordable residential housing. On the back of this, we recently launched Prestige Residence in Seri Kembangan and landed houses in Kita Mesra at KITA @ Cybersouth, whereby we have seen encouraging sales. We are also supportive of the Selangor state government’s plan to build 30,000 affordable homes in strategic locations by 2025. We are launching six Rumah Selangorku Idaman MBI projects which will be constructed using IBS precast concrete, and we hope to be able to work together with the Selangor State Government to build more affordable housing in Selangor in the future.

 

He added, “While the outlook for the property sector is expected to remain challenging, we are encouraged by Malaysia’s return to normalcy, having achieved over 90% vaccination rate among the adult population. Based on data released by the National Property Information Centre, there was an 18.5% increase in the number of transactions for properties below RM500,000 in the first half of 2021, compared to the corresponding period in 2020. This is a positive sign for the property sector, in particular for affordable housing, as it provides an optimistic view that the property market is on track for recovery.”

 

For more information, please visit https://lbs.com.my/ .

-End-

For Immediate Release

LBS BINA LAUNCHES A NEW PHASE OF KITA @ CYBERSOUTH
KITA Mesra Sets to Be the Next Successful Residence

 

Petaling Jaya, Selangor, 16 November 2021 – LBS Bina Group Berhad (LBS) today unveils KITA Mesra, another affordable landed homes with a total of 646 units comprising of 3 property types, Townhouse, Double Storey as well as Single Storey Terrace Houses which will set to launch first, with an estimated Gross Development Value (GDV) of RM309 million. Previous phases within KITA @ Cybersouth has proven time after time to be a hit with its exceptional take-up rate of up to 90% for almost all units that were released from one phase to another.

LBS Executive Chairman, Tan Sri Lim Hock San said “KITA Mesra is yet another neighbourly residence that is set to follow the footsteps of KITA @ Cybersouth township, fulfilling the homeownership dreams of fellow Malaysians, with affordable pricing for new family starters. We believe that even with the ongoing pandemic, the demand for landed properties will continue to surge and this project can benefit buyers with its reasonable price range as well as value for investments in the long term,”

Mesra means ‘Friendly’. KITA Mesra, sited on a Malay Reserved Land, is built with an open space concept, ample space on the exterior, surrounded by green lungs and parks, ideal for outdoor activities and recreational endeavours to create friendly vicinity. Safety is also an integral focus for KITA Mesra where it is gated and guarded, with CCTV, access card via guardhouse and perimeter patrol for total security of residents. KITA Mesra is built with first-time homebuyers, particularly growing families, in mind, positioned near Putrajaya and Cyberjaya while providing easy access to major highways as well as amenities, all of which are pivotal features of a self-sustaining residence. Built with family-bonding and community living as its primary intend, KITA Mesra is equipped with a plethora of facilities such as community hall, open courtyard area, jogging and cycling tracks, multi-purpose courts, reflexology garden, barbeque pods, just to name a few, perfect for an array of recreational and community activities.

KITA Mesra is one of the participating projects for the Vacci-Nation Bonanza campaign which has been further extended till the end of the year. In this campaign, LBS will be giving out a total of RM671,120 cash incentives and extra cash incentives of up to RM334,500 for those who are in line for vaccination or have been vaccinated. Also, in the 1st round of the LBS Fabulous 20-21 campaign lucky draw, LBS Bina has recently given away prizes worth RM445,000 with the Proton X50 as the grand prize. KITA Mesra homebuyers who place their booking by end of 2021 will be entitled for the 2nd round of the lucky draw with even more amazing prizes such as the Proton X70, Persona, Iriz, Exora valued at RM750,000 to be won.

For more information on KITA Mesra, please visit us at https://virtualfair.lbs.com.my/township/cybersouth/ or contact 1700 81 8998.

-End-

For Immediate Release

LBS’ COMMENTARY ON MALAYSIA’S BUDGET 2022

 

Petaling Jaya, 1 November 2021 – LBS Bina Group Berhad (“LBS” or the “Group”) applauds the Government’s focus on healthcare spending, job creation and economic recovery following the tabling of Budget 2022 by Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz in Parliament on 29 October 2021.

 

Most notably for the property sector, LBS welcomes the Government’s removal of real property gains tax on properties sold after six years from when it was first acquired. As it has been widely anticipated by the general public, LBS believes this is an important move to stimulate the secondary property market and encourage long-term investment. The public would be more receptive towards home upgrades and owning a property.

 

To add on, LBS appreciates that the Government has placed the lower-income households at the forefront of Budget 2022 by providing RM2 billion in guarantees under the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme for those without a steady income. This improves the accessibility of gig-workers, small-time business owners and farmers towards obtaining housing loans and owning their own home, which LBS as a leading affordable housing developer strives to provide.

 

The extension of personal income tax relief of up to RM1,000 for domestic tourism expenses up to the year of assessment 2022 is beneficial to encourage tourism within Malaysia. This is in particular since LBS has earlier this year re-opened to tourists its own SCAPES Hotel in Genting Highlands. The effective re-opening of the tourism sector translates to a positive multiplier effect for the economy

 

Commenting on Budget 2022, LBS Executive Chairman Tan Sri Lim Hock San said, “The initiatives under Budget 2022 appear balanced with the aim of assisting businesses and the rakyat towards economic recovery post-pandemic. The Government has not introduced any additional taxes to burden families, which bode well for LBS as there is a greater opportunity for more funds to be channelled towards the property development sector. Overall, we laud the Government’s efforts in proposing a budget that is strong and proactive as we continue to work towards reviving the property market.”

 

For more information, please visit https://lbs.com.my/ .

-End-

For Immediate Release

 

MGB OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES AFFORDABLE HOMES

UNDER RUMAH SELANGORKU IDAMAN MBI

High-rise residential units starting from RM250,000

 

SELANGOR, 28 October 2021 – MGB Berhad (“MGB” or the “Group”) (a subsidiary of LBS Bina Group Berhad), which is involved in construction and property development, today announced the official launch of Idaman BSP in Bandar Saujana Putra (“Idaman BSP”), which is the first launch out of all its 6 Rumah Selangorku Idaman MBI projects which it has secured. Rumah Selangorku Idaman MBI which comprises 7,210 units of affordable homes, will tap on MGB’s in-house Industrialised Building System (“IBS”) pre-cast technology.

 

MGB had entered into a joint venture with PNSB Construction Sdn. Bhd. to form PCSB-MGB Consortium with the aim of building Rumah Selangorku Idaman MBI affordable homes in strategic infrastructure locations. Rumah Selangorku Idaman MBI, which is namely Idaman BSP, Idaman KITA (Cybersouth), Idaman Perdana (Bandar Puncak Alam), Idaman Cahaya (Shah Alam), Idaman Sari (Puchong) and Idaman Melur (Cybersouth), consists of high-rise residential homes starting from RM250,000, with 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and a minimum built-up size of 1,000 sq ft per unit. The unit also comes with 2 carparks, 3 air-conditioners, 1-unit television, television cabinet and kitchen cabinets, 3 wardrobes, a refrigerator and 2 water heaters.

 

Idaman BSP is situated in the fast-growing Bandar Saujana Putra property township with easy accessibility to towns, cities and major highways. It is strategically located next to Cyberjaya and Puchong which has convenient public amenities such as police stations, hospitals, fire stations, schools and shopping malls.

 

MGB estimates to launch its 5 remaining Rumah Selangorku Idaman MBI projects by the end of 2022.

 

Rumah Selangorku Idaman MBI is an initiative launched by the state government of Selangor to deliver affordable houses to qualifying citizens. Under this initiative, Malaysian citizens aged 18 years and above with a household income range between RM3,001 – RM10,000 per month and a first-time home buyer in Selangor may apply.

MGB Group Executive Vice Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Lim Hock San said, “We are pleased to officially launch our Idaman BSP project in the 4^th quarter of 2021 and support the state government of Selangor’s goal to build 30,000 affordable homes by 2025. We are sailing away from the pandemic storm so the timing of the launch cannot be more ideal than now. We are grateful for the trust which the government has placed in us to deliver these projects. We place the utmost importance on quality, efficiency and the punctual delivery of our developments, and are working tirelessly to ensure the smooth construction of all our Rumah Selangorku Idaman MBI developments.

 

We have invested heavily in our IBS system and upgraded our IBS factory to increase our capacity to 6,000 IBS units annually. This is in line with our goal to become a leading housing solution provider via our IBS system. Moving forward, MGB is prepared to construct more Rumah Selangorku Idaman MBI projects to ensure continuous replenishment of our order book for the upcoming financial years. As we make our way towards economic recovery, brighter times are ahead for MGB,” he added.

 

For more information on Rumah Selangorku Idaman MBI, visit https://mgbgroup.com.my/ or call us at 1700-81-9091.

-End-