20th July, 2004, New Straits Times: Business Times
By NOOR ADZMAN BAHARUDDIN

SPK Homes, a member of Sharikat Permodalan Kebangsaan Berhad (SPK), is expected to begin work on its proposed RM800 million Ambangan Heights mixed development project in Bandar Amanjaya in Sungai Petani, Kedah, in two months.

It expects the RM7 million 4.1Km dual-lane access road between Bandar Amanjaya and Sungai Petani town to be completed by then. The road will reduce traveling time between the two places from the present 30 minutes to only five minutes.

Bandar Amanjaya is a massive new growth centre sprawling over 4,000ha. Its involvement is via Ideal Appraisal Sdn Bhd, a joint-venture company with the Kedah State Economic Development Corp.

SPK managing director Saiful Aznir Shahabudin said the Ambangan Heights project, to be built on 284ha, will provide more than 4,200 units of various types.

"With 'Experience Life' as our theme, we are committed to building homes that meet the needs and match the lifestyles of our customers.

"We have a huge landbank in Bandar Amanjaya and we are also planning a new benchmark for residential and commercial centres," he said at the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the access road, Persiaran Amanjaya 5, in Bandar Amanjaya yesterday.

The ceremony was officiated by Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Syed Razak Syed Zain. SPK executive director Datuk Mohd Mydin Mohd Sheriff was also present.

At the same function, SPK donated 55 three-bedroom low-cost terrace houses to the poor squatting on its land in Sungai Petani.

Syed Razak, in commending the noble effort, urged other housing developers to emulate SPK Homes.

"SPK Homes is the first developer in Kedah to build and provide free alternative housing for squatters on its land before it starts work on its housing scheme," he said.

Syed Razak said that in the past, housing developers would relocate squatters to transit homes before providing them with alternative housing, mostly at discounted prices.

"In many cases, too, the temporary relocation of squatters is left to the state government. In this case, SPK Homes provided the units for free and allowed them to move in first before starting its construction work.

"This is very commendable and others should follow suit," he said. The low-cost terrace units cost RM3 million.

Syed Razak also commended SPK Homes for building the access road using funds from its own coffers.

"Usually, developers would also leave it to the state government to build the roads and drainage systems.

"SPK Homes is definitely a caring corporate citizen which puts the needs of other people before itself.

"And the state government is very proud to be associated with the SPK Group," he said.

Saiful Aznir said it is SPK's philosophy to give back to the community where it does its business.

"As a partner of development, we want to help eradicate poverty, a mission by the state government to achieve developed state status by 2010," he said.

Syed Razak later handed the keys to the houses to the squatters.