Metropolitan Square @ Damansara Perdana
by Elaine

Introduction
Metropolitan Square is a project by MKLand Bhd targeted at modernized living lifestyle.  With its first glass swimming pool in Malaysia and probably one of the largest condo project that has a mix with commercial and retail shops all at one center.  It has few swimming pools, squash court, tennis court, sauna, steam, Jacuzzi and many facilities like a small mini condo township.  Build on an escalated land and has a superb view over the entire Petaling Jaya city.  It is probably one of the most strategic condo lifestyle living today.

Location
Located at the new golden triangle in Petaling Jaya with immense high profile developments that seldom seen in Malaysia with variety hot spots like shopping centers, lifestyle and fashion, golf driving range, commercial center, hotels, colleague, Luxurious car show room, food and entertainment center all housed by a few known operators like One Utama, The Curve, Ikano Power Center, Ikea and upcoming class A commercial office called PJ Trade Center.

It has many high profile and mature neighbors like Bandar Utama, Mutiara Damansara, Taman Tun, Damansara Uptown, Desa Park City and a high growth area like Kota Damansara.  It is well connected via LDP and Pencala Link situated at a position that can reach Kuala Lumpur within 15 Minutes and Mon’tKiara within 5 minutes.  Under the new government’s plan, LRT will extend it route from Taman Tun towards Kepong further bring convenience for this modern development.  In term of location, I hardly find any dispute about this strategic spot.

Developer
MKLand Bhd is a well known and largest developer in town with many projects across nationwide.  In late 90s and early 2000, MKLand uses their strength in lifestyle living has captured many home buyers attention.  By far, the most successful project would be Damansara Perdana that has begged millions of profits to the group.  However, the recent corporate exercise may paint a different picture and that will only know when the exercise is completed.  But in term of stability, I will not have any question about them since they are listed in KLSE and reported profit every year with positive NTAB.

Special
The most special about Metropolitan Square @ Damansara Perdana that I would suggest is the location.  As it is located in this vibrant and growing new golden triangle of Petaling Jaya, I believe it has a unique advantage over other locations.  Looking into the master plan of development this so called New Golden Triangle in Petaling Jaya, if more commercial, international school and hospital are to be completed in the future, the value of this golden triangle will be tremendous.  To share my personal experience on this location from my foreign friends, most of them when travel from airport to Kuala Lumpur and to Damansara Perdana.  They will always expressed that this location is so different from other parts in the city cause it looks very Western.  Proper planning play a major role in this factor and it is a good job well done to all developers that form this Golden triangle.

Against
Many of my colleagues and friends are talking about the subject of traffic jam at Damansara Perdana.  However, personally I would say this is an overall unstructured challenge to the fact of life in Malaysia.  Till date, I have not seen a township that is doing well with no jam.

I always think if you intend to invest in a property for high yield and high return, do not look into what you want.  It is what other people - the majority needs and wants. If you are looking for a property for genuine stay, then it will be a different story at all.

To some extend, after I went to the site and check it out, it parceled me that why there are still few condos project on going with different completion time till may be few years later.  This will create a tremendous noise pollution to the residence at Metropolitan Square.

The other against is actually its leasehold title.  Though it is a fact that most new projects in Klang Valley are leasehold, but I am thinking if Bandar Utama is carrying a freehold status, Same to Mutiara Damansara too and what is the reason Damansara Perdana is carrying a leasehold status?  What the authority is going to do on the hill after 99 years?  May be is the policy or may be is the procedure but I would suggest that given time, our nation’s authority process in providing either freehold or leasehold status will have a more transparent view and supported by practical facts.

Conclusion
If a good property that can carry good return is always first location and second is the developer.  Then I would probably suggest that the investment in Metropolitan Square will still carry handsome return due to its location.

Personally, I would suggest if one of these three biggest developers would embark on something like Warner Bros center in this Golden Triangle or something similar.  It will further boost the identity and becomes one of the very unique township in the whole of Malaysia.