10 QUESTIONS FOR SELANGOR DREDGING MANAGING DIRECTOR, TEH LIP KIM
What qualities do you look for when people seek employment in your company? – Bulbir Singh
Selecting the right people to work with is important. I believe in teamwork and since we have to work together to achieve common goals, it is important that we have a common set of values.
While the company has a set of corporate core values, I would also look out for people who have their own personal values – honesty, integrity and a sense of care and responsibility for their loved ones. How people conduct their personal lives speaks volumes of how they will conduct themselves work-wise too.
What is the latest with Damansara 21? – Residents of Bukit Damansara
(Damansara 21 is SDB’s hillside project to build 21 bungalows in Damansara Heights in Kuala Lumpur. Following the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide last December and strong opposition from residents in the area, the project was issued a stop-work order.)
This development has had a lot of “airtime”. I wish to reiterate that we have obtained all the approvals necessary to develop this piece of land. Above and on top of this, we were also directed to follow an even more stringent approval process, which had been set–up by the Federal Territories Ministry.
This Special Committee for Hillslope Developments comprised 16 technical departments and agencies. After going through this rigorous process of obtaining approvals from all members of the committee, we got the amended development order from City Hall in December 2007.
The latest developments are based on the recent recommendations by Ikram (the Public Works Institute of Malaysia).
This is over and above what is normally required for development projects. We have been requested by City Hall to make additional changes to the boundary of our land.
Originally approved for a three-metre set-back from the boundary, it has now been increased by an additional 1.5-metre flat land set-back, making it a total of 4.5 metres (15 feet).
In fact, with this new request, we are giving an additional 453.5 sq m (approximately 5,000 sq ft) for the neighbouring residents to benefit from.
In addition, the entire set-back area, measuring about 1360.5 sq m (approx 14,700sq ft), will be developed into a landscaped walkway at our cost.
These adjustments to the boundary will cost us an additional RM6.6mil for additional earthwork, demolition of drains that have already been installed, construction of new walls and landscaping. We will also have to redesign nearly half of the homes in the project, which have already been granted approval.
You have had a lot of problems with Damansara 21. Is this something developers have to live with all the time? – Anita, PJ
Hopefully not! All property developers purchase a parcel of land for commercial reasons with a return on investment in mind.
When all approvals have been given, this should be honoured. We have complied with all the laws, regulations and authorities’ guidelines SDB bought the land in 2005 for about RM50mil.
This parcel of land was purchased complete with a development order and a building plan approval for 25 homes. Because we wanted to reduce the density of the development, we resubmitted our development plans.
We obtained our amended development order after waiting for 20 months and having gone through 16 technical departments and agencies.
The project is now under a stop-work order and earthworks are only half complete. To date we have spent RM18mil out of the entire earthwork cost of RM34mil.
The analogy to this would be like someone undergoing an open heart surgery, which has been left uncompleted! In fact, there had been two minor landslips on the land, and both incidences had occurred during a stop-work order period.
As MD of a company which has been listed since 1964 and with more than 11,000 shareholders, I am accountable to my shareholders.
We have followed every process and obtained every necessary approval to develop this piece of land.
We have other developments in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Singapore and there had never been any issues with these developments. Especially in Singapore, once all the approvals have been obtained we have been able to proceed smoothly.
For so long as all laws have been duly fulfilled, all investors should only be dealing with business risks and nothing more.
How would you describe your taste in interior decor? – Tan Bee Bee, PJ
I like clean and linear designs. In relation to the layout of homes, natural light, ventilation and linear spaces are the hallmark of an SDB home.
I don’t really have a preference for a specific type of style, but homes should look and feel cosy and comfortable.
Homes that are too stark and minimalist feel like an art gallery, and that does not really work for me. Then again, neither do homes that are overly “personalised” with bric-brac and lot of clutter!
I like the contemporary look, but interspersed with a few older pieces to give the home a personal touch and a more lived-in feel. I have some pieces of furniture at home which used to belong to my parents.
Are you grooming anyone to run the show at SDB? – Lee Meng Sin, KL
No, not at the moment. I am in my early forties! I would like to think that I can follow my father’s footsteps; he worked until he was in his 70s! On a serious note, SDB is run by a group of professionals, who are able to make sound commercial decisions.
How do you spend your non-working hours? – Joanne Lau, Penang
I believe in work-life balance. I enjoy spending my spare time at home with my kids and do try to keep healthy by exercising. I incorporate cardio, flexibility and strength into my work-out.
I have been learning about natural therapies recently and believe that the body is able to heal itself by living and eating well. I have started to apply this into my daily routine and am a lot more conscious of what the family has for meals!
Whenever the opportunity arises, I also believe in sharing resources and experiences with people, be it in terms of work, health and personal development.
Who are your favourite interior designers and architects? – Billy Ooi, Penang
I don’t have a particular favourite designer or architect, but I am very attracted to designs that are simple and have clean lines – very “back to basics”, which are reflected in Japanese designs and the contemporary Malaysian homes of the ‘60s and ‘70s.
I feel homes of this era were designed to allow lots of natural light and ventilation, which is ideal for our tropical climate.
What is the Chan and Teh family connection and how does that impact upon SDB? – Wong Kam Siew, KL
My late mother came from the Chan family. At the moment, the Teh family controls and runs SDB.
What is your 10-year plan for Selangor Dredging? – Lee Seng Chee, KL
We started property development in 2004. To date, we have six developments – five in the Klang Valley and one in Singapore. Our aim is to continue building niche boutique developments, and it has to encompass spacious internal layout and outdoor living spaces for the family to enjoy.
I am personally very involved in concept development for all our properties.
We have a customer service arm that takes care of your renovation, rental and maintenance needs and all our homes in Malaysia come with a 36-month defect liability period.
Our idea is to walk the extra mile with the purchaser upon handing over of the home. We believe that all these will help the homes appreciate in value.
Within the next 10 years, we foresee being more active overseas, such as in Singapore, as we feel there are very clear guidelines over there.
How do you divide your time between work and the family? How many children do you have and how old are they? – Monica Chan, Segambut
I have two boys, aged 5 and 3, and am very conscious of my time management. I make sure I don’t stay in the office too late so that I have some “down” time at home for myself and the family.
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