Putrajaya to call for project tenders worth RM1b

Companies like Ahmad Zaki Resources, IJM Corp, Sunway Holdings, UEM Group and Ireka Corp are set to bid for tenders to build office towers, residential properties and office blocks.

Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd will call for tenders for projects worth over RM1 billion this year as it is bullish on the property market in Putrajaya.

Chief executive officer Datuk Azlan Abdul Karim said the tenders are to build four office towers worth a combined RM700 million, residential properties and office blocks.

Tenders for the 14- and 15-storey office towers with one million sq ft of built-up space will be called in the next five months.

Companies like Ahmad Zaki Resources Bhd (AZRB), IJM Corp Bhd, Sunway Holdings Bhd, UEM Group and Ireka Corp Bhd are set to bid.

"When you have the government as the anchor tenant here, there are always spin-offs. There is support from the private sector and government agencies," Azlan said.

"We will lease the four office towers first and sell later. We have prospective buyers," he told Business Times after the signing of an agreement between Putrajaya Holdings and AZRB's construction arm, Ahmad Zaki Sdn Bhd (AZSB), in Putrajaya yesterday.

As Putrajaya is due for a cybercity status, more multinational companies (MNC) are expected to step in.

"The government wants Putrajaya to be a green city. This will attract more MNCs and local private sector companies as well as foreign firms.

"But for Putrajaya to go green, we need a monorail. I hope the government will have a budget to build a monorail under the 10th Malaysia Plan. That will help boost activities in Putrajaya," Azlan said.

According to Azlan, Perbadanan Putrajaya, the city's local authority, has sent in a request to the government. The matter is still pending.

On the signing with AZSB, Azlan said it will build a waterfront commercial project fronting the Putrajaya lake for RM126 million over the next two years.

AZSB will construct three blocks of three- and five-storey buildings comprising 106 units of retail lots and shop offices.

Azlan said the average selling price per unit is around RM500 per sq ft and more than half have been booked.