Ken Holdings Bhd, a property developer-cum-contractor, has partnered University Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) to initiate collaborative research and development.
Utar research and development and commercialisation vice-president Prof Lee Sze Wei said both parties would also encourage and facilitate academic development changes.
“These include mutual visits by staff members to pursue research and training as well as organise and participate in seminars, conferences and workshops,” he said prior to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signing ceremony between the two parties yesterday.
The MOU also covered industrial study visits by Utar undergraduate and post-graduate students and mutual visits by staff members of both parties for the purpose of enhancing learning experiences, professional development and curriculum development, said Lee.
“Joint development of research in green technology and the facilitation of applications from Ken Holdings for relevant post-graduate programmes at Utar will also be looked into,” he said.
Ken Holdings is developing the country’s first green township KEN Rimba in Shah Alam following the completion of its first green building, Ken Bangsar, in Kuala Lumpur.
“Utar is always concerned about producing the right graduates that meet the human capital development agenda of Malaysia. It has long been working with the industry from diverse fields through academia industry collaborations,” said Lee.
Meanwhile, Ken Holdings, which had its AGM prior to the MoU signing ceremony, expects its green office building, Ken TTDI, to contribute to earnings from the financial year ending Dec 31, 2014.
Managing director Kenny Tan said the project would generate rental income of RM12mil to RM15mil per annum.
“We’re investing about RM100mil in the project. Currently, piling works are still on-going and it should be completed in two-and-a half years.”
He said the 13-storey building in Kuala Lumpur would have a net lettable area of about 220,000 sq ft and would have offices, hotel suites, food and beverage outlets, banking hall and a data centre.
Tan also said Ken Holdings would invest about RM100mil to set up a boutique hotel with green features in Batu Ferringhi, Penang.
He said it was still too early to determine when the hotel project would begin as there were still “a few issues that need to be sorted out”.
“Property development is not so straight forward,” he said in jest, adding that the RM200mil-plus investment collectively for both projects would be funded internally by the company.
Tan also said the fifth phase of Ken Rimba in Shah Alam would be “coming up soon”.
Meanwhile, the company told Bursa Malaysia yesterday that it posted a net profit of RM5.1mil for the first quarter against RM1mil a year ago due to higher revenue.
Its revenue for the quarter ended March 31 was RM19.56mil against RM3.26mil a year ago.
