| Hakim Hayat |
WITH no restrictions on foreign ownership as an attraction, one of the main factors why the Astaka units in Johor Bahru in Malaysia are selling well is the price factor and the exchange rate. For just under BND1 million, you can own a top-notch high-rise luxury unit that is on par with other upmarket developments around Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, that may be priced higher,” Chief Executive Officer of Astaka Holdings Dato’ Zamani bin Kasim said.
He made these comments to the Sunday Bulletin on the sidelines of the property’s exclusive showcase at The Empire Hotel & Country Club in Jerudong yesterday.
Hartanah Impianika, the local agency marketing The Astaka in Brunei Darussalam, invited potential investors or buyers to visit the final day of the exclusive showcase at the Conference Room of The Empire Hotel & Country Club today from 11am to 6pm.
The Astaka, a twin-tower luxury residential development comprising two towers of 65 and 70 storeys, is catching the eyes of many admirers as it soars high at the centre of Johor Bahru, Malaysia’s city centre and overlooking neighbouring Singapore about one kilometre away from the development.
The prestigious and luxurious upmarket apartment project lies in the financial hub of the Iskandar Malaysia Corridor, a strategic development project by the Malaysian Government aimed at transforming Johor Bahru into a new urban metropolis of international standing.
At the heart of the architectural marvel with the 70-storey tower soaring 305m above sea level is the tallest residential tower in Southeast Asia, the Astaka Holdings, an integrated property developer in Iskandar Malaysia that is listed on the Catalist Board of the Singapore Exchange.
Apart from its strategic location, the upmarket development is designed for quality living, integrating a combination of architectural marvels together with complete clubhouse facilities, landscaped gardens and stylish interiors to complement the entire elements of excellent luxurious living.
It is no surprise that the development has already bagged a few awards, including the best high rise residential property development for ASEAN and the 14th Asia Property Award, and is also nominated as the best residential and best interior design in the Asia-Pacific Property Award, Dato’ Zamani said. “All these awards are testament to our hard work and commitment towards quality for the project, and we are humbled by this,” he added.
The Astaka, located at One Bukit Senyum, is less than one kilometre from the Johor Bahru Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex as well as the future Rapid Transit System (RTS) station. It is surrounded by an efficient traffic network accessible to all major highways and expressways with upgraded infrastructure and improved road system. An access tunnel has also been built for easy access to The Astaka.
This freehold integrated development also includes a luxury hotel, serviced apartment and three ‘Grade A’ commercial office towers and comes with its own retail, supermarkets, greenery garden and deck, basement and podium parking.
When completed in 2021, the mixed-use integrated development in One Bukit Senyum will have a gross floor area of 6.6 million sq ft and gross development value of up to RM5.3 billion.
The Astaka features 438 units of luxury residences fitted with top notch finishing and installation, with units starting from 2,207sqft for a typical three-bedroom apartment to 2,659sqft for a typical four-bedroom apartment. Each floor contains four units – two three-bedroom and two four-bedroom apartments – and each comes with private lift access. The development also obtained its Certificate of Completion and Compliance earlier last year, allowing residents to move in immediately.
According to Dato’ Zamani, only 100 units are left for The Astaka, with most of their buyers from international backgrounds, from the United States (US) to Europe and Asian countries including Brunei.