charlesf@thestar.com.my

Cyberjaya is 10 years old. Once an estate planted with rubber and oil palm trees, it is a visionary project that is set to place Malaysia on the world map as a premier hub for Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

Officially launched in May 1997, it is now dubbed the world's intelligent city, having transformed over the last 10 years into a fully integrated development.

High-rise living: The Cyberia Crescent, high-rise apartments in Cyberjaya.

Those who have property here will have noticed that it has an eco-friendly environment where residents can live, work and play. And, there are more surprises to come.

Cyberview Sdn Bhd managing director Redza Rafiq said Klang Valley folks should not dismiss Cyberjaya as an option when buying property as most of the people who lived and worked here were already accepting the fact that the township was booming.

"The distance between Cyberjaya and the Klang Valley has shortened over time with the construction of new highways and surrounding developments," added Redza.

He pointed out that those who found the houses expensive could look at the studio apartments that some developers were offering at RM138,000 or view some of the Neo Cyber service apartments and townhouses which were priced between RM100,000 and RM120,000.

"Cyberjaya is now a happening place. There is some event taking place almost every week and with the opening of the Community Clubhouse, buyers are now happy that there is life in the township after all," added Redza.

Housing development: CBD Perdana is among the state-ofthe- art housing developments.

He said other attractions in Cyberjaya were free parking at three public parking areas and the park-n-ride system that would be implemented in stages until 2010.

"The Dedicated Transportation System with buses plying seven routes is Cyberjaya's answer to public transportation. Plans are afoot for a government clinic and an international school while the construction of a unique shopping mall will start this year," he added.

Despite the fact that full infrastructure development is another nine years away, this intelligent city has already won accolades for its unique architectural and landscaping designs.

At the heart of the development is the 2,834ha (7,000-acre) Cyberjaya Flagship Zone (CFZ), largely seen as the nucleus of the Malaysian ICT initiative developed by Setia Haruman Sdn Bhd (SHSB), the master developer for Cyberjaya.

"Fifty percent of the CFZ land is allocated for green areas and public facilities and the balance for residential development," said SHSB chief operating officer Lao Chok Keang.

The tranquil neighbourhood has more than 2,700 housing units to accommodate the working and expatriate population here, whether they are discerning individuals who seek luxury living or those who just want affordable housing.

The working population comprises more than 18,000 workers in 28 multinational companies, including Shell, DHL, Unisys, Satyam, Dell and Monster Inc.

Seat of higher learning: The Multimedia University in Cyberjaya.

"To the working community, Cyberjaya offers all the conventional amenities of working in other cities plus the advantage of having an office in a rich garden setting," Lao added.

The Cyberjaya Clubhouse, launched on Jan 27, is another jewel in the crown for SHSB.

Lao pointed out that Cyberjaya's potential as a modern city and International ICT Hub had yet to be fully realised as it was due for completion only in 2016.

Cyberjaya is accessible from the Klang Valley via several major highways, such as the North South Central Link Expressway (ELITE), South Klang Valley Expressway (SKVE), Damansara-Puchong Expressway (LDP) and the 26km KL-Putrajaya/Cyberjaya Dedicated Highway, which is due for completion by the end of the year.

Lao added that as more and more multinationals were set to take advantage of the benefits of operating in Cyberjaya, the demand for residential and commercial properties would rise in tandem.

"We are proud to say that since Cyberjaya was launched 10 years ago, there have been no electricity or water disruptions. This is good reason for a rise in property value and boosting returns on investment," he said.

Visitors to Cyberjaya will find other forms of infrastructure aplenty. There are several universities, colleges and hotels of international standard.

Among them are the Cyberjaya University College of Medical Science, Limkokwing University College of Creative Technology, Multimedia University, Cyberview Lodge Resort & Spa, Cyberview Garden Resort, the only state-of-the-art police station in the country and the Cyberjaya City Command Centre, which is one of the most compelling components in Cyberjaya, designed to be the nerve of this intelligent city.

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