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New Straits Times
11-08-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Putrajaya's growth journey far from over, says developer
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's administrative capital, Putrajaya, is only half complete, three decades after its transformation from the Prang Besar rubber estate into a modern showcase city. Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd, the master developer behind the city, says the next 30 years will be just as pivotal as the first. "We are halfway through our journey," chief executive officer Datuk Ir Ts Izwan Hasli Mohd Ibrahim told TV3's Money Matters, aired last Saturday. "There's still a lot more to go and we are aggressive in building and progressing," he said, adding that the cranes dotting the skyline signal "more development ahead." Putrajaya Holdings is a subsidiary of KLCC (Holdings) Sdn Bhd, the master developer of the 40.47-hectare (ha) Kuala Lumpur City Centre development. The company has been entrusted with 485.62ha, or 10 per cent, of the 4,856.23ha Putrajaya development master plan. A CITY BUIT TO PLAN Izwan said the master plan, conceived in the 1990s, remains the city's guiding framework. It divides Putrajaya into 20 precincts. The "core island", comprising Precincts 2, 3 and 4, houses the main government offices, commercial centres and iconic public landmarks. Surrounding precincts provide residential neighbourhoods, schools, parks and lakeside leisure spaces. Even the 650ha lake, a defining feature of Putrajaya's landscape and property value, was part of that original vision. "There was no lake before. We put in the lake and it has absolutely helped in terms of the appreciation and viability of the city," Izwan said. GUIDED BY THREE PRINCIPLES Every new project must pass three tests: it must have catalytic value, commercial viability and social benefit. "A catalytic project has a multiplier effect, it boosts the land and developments around it," Izwan explained. "It also has to be commercially viable so it won't be abandoned years down the road, and it must be socially good for the community." This approach has shaped Putrajaya's mix of residential, commercial and public amenities, from government quarters and international schools to malls, hotels and lakeside parks. THE FUTURE UNFOLDS One of the most significant projects in the pipeline is Kota Madani in Precinct 19, which Izwan calls "the future of Putrajaya." Planned as an affordable, artificial intelligence-driven green township, Kota Madani will feature 10,000 units of government quarters, vertical schools and integrated infrastructure over three phases, with a projected population of 35,000. "It fits right at the centre of our catalytic value principle," Izwan said. "Thirty-five thousand people need to eat, shop and play. This will stimulate businesses across Putrajaya." Phase one, covering 3,000 units and the first vertical school, is already in motion following a groundbreaking by the prime minister last month. The full development will take seven years to complete. EXPANDING THE ECOSYSTEM Beyond Kota Madani, Izwan said Putrajaya Holdings is pressing ahead with projects to strengthen the city's live-work-play balance. This includes the RM106 million rejuvenation of the Alamanda shopping mall, now more vibrant with new restaurants, upgraded cinemas and soon, bowling alleys. Two new retail projects, Terra Mall in Precinct 8 and a transit-oriented development in Precinct 7, are set to add lifestyle and commuter-focused shopping options. Hospitality will also expand with the upcoming Fraser Residence joining the lakeside DoubleTree by Hilton. The education pillar remains robust with Heriot-Watt University's Malaysia campus, one of only three such campuses worldwide, and Nexus International School. A MODEL FOR THE WORLD Putrajaya's reputation has travelled far. Izwan said the city received visits from four foreign leaders in 2024. The city regularly hosts foreign delegations eager to learn from its integration of green spaces, smart infrastructure and urban design guidelines. "Putrajaya is known as a green garden city, a smart city, and a well-planned city. The challenge now is to keep doing the right things for the next 30 years." THE ROAD AHEAD Izwan is clear about his mandate: deliver the remaining half of the master plan while preserving the city's identity as Malaysia's premier address. "My job is to make sure we continue moving forward, building according to the master plan," he said. "A lot is happening in Putrajaya today. Come over, it's the best address in Malaysia."
Irish Times
30-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Ireland gets energy warning and should you buying a home if you aren't married
Ireland's ambition to become a big net exporter of renewable electricity 'risks being undermined unless policymakers act swiftly to address cost competitiveness challenges', the National Economic and Social Council has warned the Government. Kevin O'Sullivan has the story , and also breaks down what the reports mean for Ireland. It's more popular than ever, but is buying a home with your other half when you aren't married the right move for you? Joanne Hunt breaks down what is at stake in Money Matters. Given the amount of trade news in recent days, it is understandable that the EU's mammoth budget has moved somewhat under the radar. Martin Sandbu goes through the detail to show the good, the bad and ugly of the bloc's spending plan. Kevin also reports that progress in Ireland's transition to clean energy is insufficient to meet key energy targets with 'widening investment and delivery gaps', an assessment of trends up to 2050 concludes. The report by energy analysts Wood Mackenzie, in collaboration with the energy company Pinergy, concludes Ireland could become a net exporter of electricity as early as 2030, enabled by offshore wind and new interconnectors. READ MORE It's earnings season, and we got our first look at the big banks, with Bank of Ireland reporting a 31 per cent drop in net profit for the first half of the year and higher than expected provisions for bad loans. The shares fell, with CEO Myles O'Grady set to cut 260 jobs next year. Joe Brennan has the details, and analyses why the market turned off the bank after the earnings. The median price of homes in Ireland has risen by 9.5 per cent in the past year, according to a home valuation firm's report. The Geowox Housing Market Report for the second quarter of the year found the median average price for an Irish home rose to €370,000 after a €32,000 rise in the same period in 2024. Hugh Dooley has the story. The High Court has confirmed a Central Bank inquiry decision fining Irish Nationwide Building Society's former finance director John Stanley Purcell €130,000 for his role in regulatory breaches at the lender before its collapse during the financial crisis. Mary Carolan reports. A forensic investigation into loans from Fade Street Social restaurant company, which is in examinership, to three companies in which Dylan McGrath was a director and two of which Vincent Melinn had been a director, has been conducted by staff at recovery specialists Azets. Details emerged as the examiner to the business successfully applied for more time to save the restaurant. The International Monetary Fund has upgraded its growth forecast for the euro zone on the back of a 'strong GDP out-turn in Ireland'. As Eoin Burke-Kennedy reports, in its latest assessment of global economic conditions, the Washington-based institution said it expected growth in the euro zone to accelerate to 1 per cent in 2025 and 1.2 per cent in 2026. A senior Dublin-based manager with Twitter who was deemed by the company to have resigned when he failed to sign up to the new 'hard-core' work environment set out by Elon Musk had, in fact, availed of an 'enhanced opportunity' to depart with severance pay, the company has told the Labour Court. Emmet Malone was there. A former employee of popular Dublin ice cream parlour Spilt Milk, who said she quit after months of sexual harassment from a colleague a decade her senior, has secured €5,000 in compensation. If you'd like to read more about the issues that affect your finances try signing up to On the Money , the weekly newsletter from our personal finance team, which will be issued every Friday to Irish Times subscribers.
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Incommunities invites customers to apply for school uniform vouchers
A housing provider is supporting families with vouchers for school uniforms. Incommunities is offering the scheme to customers with school-age children to help ease the financial pressure of buying uniforms ahead of the new academic year. Emma Warden, manager of Incommunities' Money Matters team, said: "Last year, we had an amazing response to the school uniform campaign. "We received more than 1,400 enquiries from people all over the UK! "However, I'm afraid we can only offer the vouchers to customers who rent from Incommunities. "It just shows how much this kind of help is needed. "This time of year can be a real challenge for families with children – they have to feed and entertain them over the holidays, and for those who work, there may also be childcare costs. "Added to the existing challenges of the rising cost of living, families then also need to find the money for school uniforms in time for the September term. "We're really pleased that, thanks to funding we've received through social value initiatives, we're able to offer this bit of extra support to help take the pressure off our customers." Last year, nearly 900 families benefited from the scheme, receiving a share of £21,500 in vouchers funded through social value contributions from suppliers. The offer is open to all eligible Incommunities tenants with school-aged children who are willing to have a conversation about their income and outgoings. This discussion helps identify those who may need further support from the housing provider. The value of the voucher will be based on individual circumstances. Incommunities' Money Matters team provides practical support with finances, including help with benefits, reducing household bills, and accessing food banks. Over the past year, the team has helped families save and access benefits totalling more than £1 million. Eligible customers can apply for the vouchers by emailing moneymatters@ with the subject line 'School Uniform.' Applicants must include their name, address, and contact details. Vouchers can be used at Tesco, M&S, Asda, Sainsbury's, Matalan, Aldi, and Morrisons. For branded school uniform items, vouchers can be used at Whitakers of Shipley, The Uniform Shop, and Natasha in Bradford City Centre. The vouchers will be available for the next 12 months, but families are encouraged to apply as soon as possible if they need them for the start of the school year in September. More information about the Money Matters team is available at
Barnama
14-06-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Veteran Solo Journalist, Haliza Hashim Links Two Continents
By Syamsiah Sahat IPOH, June 14 (Bernama) -- "Haliza Hashim, That was the iconic sign off of TV3 news correspondent, Haliza Hashim who was the face connecting Malaysian viewers with major events in Europe for over 30 years. In an era of increasingly advanced technology, this 60-year-old woman takes on the task of a versatile solo journalist who can double as a cameraman, interviewer, voice-over artist, scriptwriter, editor and presenter to make a complete and interesting report. "More than three decades, as if I can't believe it, I'm still standing here, still reporting. As long as the television company needs me, I will be here and retire here," she said when met by Bernama in London, recently. Recounting her career path, the Cardiff University economics graduate said she started at the TV3 News Room, Jalan Liku, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur in the early 1990s as a broadcast journalist for the news segment and Money Matters programme from February 1991 to January 1993 before making the bold decision to become a correspondent in London. "I started by joining several international media associations, introducing myself to Malaysian government departments and agencies in London and building networks with key ministries here. Chasing deadlines and language barriers in European countries were among the major challenges faced. "In the 90s, I hired a cameraman, rented an editing studio, sent visuals using satellite and sent text reports via fax to the newsroom. If you think about it, journalists are really lucky these days, they can write scripts and record visuals with smartphones." Haliza said that with the development of technology, starting in 2013 she used a broadcast-quality video camera to record visuals and interviews, edit videos using applications on her laptop and send news using the latest system directly to the editor in the newsroom. "As a solo journalist, sometimes I miss the intimacy with my colleagues, crew and the atmosphere of the newsroom. However, the advantages of working solo allow me to move more easily, quickly and save costs,' said the mother of two, aged 30 and 26.
The Sun
14-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Veteran solo journalist, Haliza Hashim links two continents
IPOH: 'Haliza Hashim, That was the iconic sign off of TV3 news correspondent, Haliza Hashim who was the face connecting Malaysian viewers with major events in Europe for over 30 years. In an era of increasingly advanced technology, this 60-year-old woman takes on the task of a versatile solo journalist who can double as a cameraman, interviewer, voice-over artist, scriptwriter, editor and presenter to make a complete and interesting report. 'More than three decades, as if I can't believe it, I'm still standing here, still reporting. As long as the television company needs me, I will be here and retire here,' she said when met by Bernama in London, recently. Recounting her career path, the Cardiff University economics graduate said she started at the TV3 News Room, Jalan Liku, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur in the early 1990s as a broadcast journalist for the news segment and Money Matters programme from February 1991 to January 1993 before making the bold decision to become a correspondent in London. 'I started by joining several international media associations, introducing myself to Malaysian government departments and agencies in London and building networks with key ministries here. Chasing deadlines and language barriers in European countries were among the major challenges faced. 'In the 90s, I hired a cameraman, rented an editing studio, sent visuals using satellite and sent text reports via fax to the newsroom. If you think about it, journalists are really lucky these days, they can write scripts and record visuals with smartphones.' Haliza said that with the development of technology, starting in 2013 she used a broadcast-quality video camera to record visuals and interviews, edit videos using applications on her laptop and send news using the latest system directly to the editor in the newsroom. 'As a solo journalist, sometimes I miss the intimacy with my colleagues, crew and the atmosphere of the newsroom. However, the advantages of working solo allow me to move more easily, quickly and save costs,' said the mother of two, aged 30 and 26. Haliza's coverage covers various historical events including the MH17 tragedy in Ukraine, summits such as the G8 and G20, the 7/7 London bombings, the Grenfell Tower fire, the Paris bombings, the Platinum Jubilee celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II, the coronation of King Charles III and not forgetting the story of the Malaysian diaspora to the official visits of this country's leaders to the UK or Europe. She also had the opportunity to interview famous figures such as the two previous UK Prime Ministers, namely Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair, Jacques Chirac (former French President) as well as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Apart from her busy schedule as a journalist, Haliza is also active in humanitarian work as the chairman of MERCY Humanitarian UK from 2015 to 2024, involved in aid missions to Lebanon, Bangladesh and Morocco while producing special reports from disaster areas as well as pioneered the Talian Kasih MERCY initiative, a mental health support platform for Malaysians in the UK and Europe. During the COVID-19 pandemic, her efforts to distribute thousands of sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) to health centres in the UK were recognised through the Golden Hearts Award and she also received the Ahli Mangku Negara (AMN) medal from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 2023. In addition, Haliza also shared her knowledge at various journalism workshops, public talks, and mentoring sessions for university students in Malaysia and the UK, making her not only a journalist of calibre, but also a mentor to a new generation of journalists. Haliza was also appointed as an Adjunct Professor at Universiti Malaysia for two years starting this month and is currently actively writing a memoir that records personal experiences, stories behind the scenes of reporting as well as honest reflections on the increasingly dynamic and complex world of media. Asked about the celebration of National Journalists' Day (HAWANA) on every May 29, Haliza said it shows that the sacrifices of media practitioners in Malaysia, especially those working behind the scenes and in challenging situations, are appreciated and recognised. 'HAWANA means that media practitioners are appreciated every year and not a 'one off event' because most of the time they are the ones who work hard towards deadlines to deliver accurate news and information to the public,' she said. The HAWANA 2025 celebration, themed ' Journalism in the New Era: Embracing AI, Safeguarding Ethics, has been going on since yesterday and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will officiate the summit today at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL) today.
