Another trailblazing year for Medini City

04 Jan 2018 – Focus Malaysia

2017 has been another sterling year for Medini Iskandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd (MIM)with the master planner and developer of Medini City celebrating several prominent landmarks and proud milestones in promoting the brand as the Central Business District of Iskandar Puteri.

Located on the southern tip of Johor near the Tuas second link, Medini City has been winning various distinguished awards as well as making tremendous strides in positioning Iskandar Puteri as a major business hub, not just in Malaysia, but in the region too.

In June, MIM celebrated the completion of the superstructure of its 21-storey Medini 9 office project, the first high-rise premium office building by the developer. Situated on the prime land of Medini City, within the boundary of the MSC Malaysia Cybercentre, this prestigious project covers a gross floor area of 500,000 sq ft.

Medini City, covering an area of 31.5 acres, was granted the MSC Malaysia Cybercentre status at the end of last year. In addition, MIM’s four-storey office building Medini 7 was also given the MSC status. It houses companies like Frost & Sullivan, Aegis, Courts Solutions, to name a few.

Grand ambitions

The Medini 9 was meticulously designed to meet the highest standards of MSC Malaysia Cybercentre’s building standards which were established by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). Medini City’s Cybercentre-status also elevates its position as a Central Business District (CBD) par excellence.

These global benchmarks dovetail with MIM’s grand ambitions of creating a Medini brand with global appeal as a Central Business District appealing not only to major local players, but also to the big international and local corporations, in the Financial, Education, Tourism, Healthcare & Wellness, Logistics, Global Business Services (GBS) and Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) sectors.

Medini 9 is a suitable location for small to large-size corporations seeking a prominent business address in a premium and strategic location. Medini 9 is the third office building developed by MIM after Medini 6 and Medini 7.

Medini City’s offerings are hard to beat, with high-speed internet and green building certification making it an attractive overall package for potential investors. It is an integrated urban township development that covers 2,230 acres.

Its location is another big plus because all major facilities are within close proximity. It is just five minutes away from Tuas Singapore Customs, Immigration & Quarantine (CIQ), 20 minutes from the Senai International Airport, and 45 minutes from the Changi International Airport in Singapore.

Medini City’s attractions are not just brick and mortar either. Its lush greeneries such as the 50-acre connected central park make it a stunning environmental wonder, too.

Medini 9 is not the only world-class offering by MIM with environmental charm. It is also the developer of a premier green office park called The Pulse which covers 24 acres and caters to the various needs of businesses and companies that are considering locating in Medini City. Presently, the four office buildings developed by MIM – Medini 6, Medini 7, Medini 9 and Medini 10 – are all situated

Dr James Tee, the managing director/ CEO of MIM, explains that the company focuses on commercial developments, including placemaking initiatives to complement the ecosystem.

in The Pulse, adjacent to The Compass, a flagship cluster development of MIM. Located in the heart of Medini City, The Compass will give new dimension to the meaning of a green lifestyle, providing a truly holistic experience for visitors and occupants alike.

“We have delivered at least 200,000 sq ft of gross floor area (GFA) of office space located in prime areas of Medini City. A multi-faceted destination, Medini is a thriving, sustainable and smart city envisioned to become the icon of future city living. Medini City is able to meet changing market demands and adjust accordingly to the investment climate,” says Tee.

Major landmarks

In the northern and southern part of Medini City, various projects belonging to sub-developers are progressively shaping its skyline. LEGOLAND Malaysia and Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios have fast become major landmarks in the city.

The opening of Gleaneagles Hospital Medini last year has steadily driven traffic into Medini City, where the use of MediSave has allowed Singaporeans to seek medical treatment. In addition, Majlis Bandaraya Iskandar Puteri’s (MBIP) new administration office in Medini City will draw other government agencies to be part of this CBD. Other projects undertaken by Medini City sub-developers include residential and mixed-use projects.

Investments are pouring into the development, signalling growing market confidence in Medini’s potential. More than RM1.4 billion has been spent on state-of-the-art infrastructure in Medini City to ensure that it keeps up with demands and expectations of the 21st century.

It has also hosted several local and international fitness and lifestyle events to promote healthy living. The township has 46 parks on 342 acres of green open space with a 22km cycling path that is touted to be the longest in Johor, and possibly in the country.

MIM believes that creating a healthier environment and workplace is a core component of a smart city that Medini aspires to be.

As proof that MIM does not just pay lip service to the environmental sustainability of Medini City, it collaborated with Landskap Malaysia last year to plant 1,000 forest trees in one of the parks in Medini City. The initiative is in line with Iskandar Malaysia’s target of reducing carbon intensity.

International recognition

MIM has been duly recognised for its green initiatives and efforts in Medini City. In September, it won the first ‘Smart Healthy City and Communities Township’ award in Iskandar Puteri. The recognition was given by the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA).

In July, it was heralded by the international community with two awards at the International Greenery, Recreation, Infrastructure, Parks (IGRIP) Conference and World Urban Parks Asia-Pacific Congress held at Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre, Singapore.

MIM’s urban park developments in Medini City clinched the Green Champion Award in two categories: ‘Emerging Green City’ and ‘Smart and Green Infrastructure: Greenfield Development’.

“We are committed to shaping Medini City as the address of choice for business, leisure and healthy living. The green environment provides an opportunity for everyone to enjoy a better lifestyle, more fresh air, safer surroundings and a creative environment that is far away from crowded roads, smog and pollution. As a corporate citizen, this is a way for us to give back to society. It is truly a ‘City With A Difference’,” Tee enthuses.

MIM’s impact as a master planner and master developer of an urban and integrated Medini City has not been achieved in isolation. Medini City is a unique destination where many notable and distinguished property developers are also present, such as UMLand, Sunway Iskandar, E&O, WCT, Mah Sing, Zhuoyuan Iskandar, Macrolink, CI Medini and BCB Bhd.

Tee concludes, “Medini City has achieved several significant milestones to-date and we are grateful for the unwavering support and assistance of our stakeholders, which include the Johor state government, federal government, our shareholders, the local city council, authorities, sub-developers, tenants, partners and of course, our employees.”

Established in 2007, MIM is owned by Jasmine Acres Sdn Bhd (60%), United World Infrastructure (20%) and Mitsui & Co Ltd (20%). MIM’s largest shareholder, Jasmine Acres, is jointly owned by Khazanah Nasional Bhd and Iskandar Investment Bhd.