PETALING JAYA: Global direct commercial real estate investment volumes are anticipated to increase between 30% and 40% this year, said financial and professional services firm, Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL).

KUALA LUMPUR: The Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) is urging the government to regulate the number of contractors as a means of qualifying parties who are tendering.

KUALA LUMPUR: Ahmad Zaki Resources Bhd has been awarded a construction project worth RM59.99 million.

In a filing to Bursa Malaysia on April 2, it said its unit Ahmad Zaki Sdn Bhd had on April 1, received the letter of award from Putrajaya Holdings Sdn Bhd for the construction of waterfront shopoffices and external works on plot 8C1 in Putrajaya.

IPOH (Perak): The Perak state government is planning to set up a structured housing programme for ex-servicemen in appreciation of their contribution to the country, Perak Menteri Bsar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said.

He said the state government had instructed district officers to identify suitable areas for the programme.

KUALA LUMPUR:The Penang Bridge obtained the top score from the Malaysian Highway Authority (MHA) in a 2009 survey for its maintenance and operational services.

In a statement on Friday April 2, Penang Bridge Sdn Bhd said the bridge scored an average rating of 92.4 per cent, which was an improvement over 2008 when the bridge scored an average of 83 per cent.

PETALING JAYA: Dijaya Corp Bhd will be launching a new commercial and lifestyle development named Tropicana Avenue (pictured) located within the Tropicana Golf and Country Resort in Petaling Jaya, Selangor in the middle of the year.

PETALING JAYA: Johor Corp (JCorp) is building a RM23 million Islamic business school in Kota Tinggi, Johor.

Its president and chief executive, Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hashim, said the business school, Academy JCorp, would focus on teaching, developing and implementing Islamic principles into business practices.

NEW YORK: General Growth Properties Inc, the No 2 US mall owner, filed an eagerly awaited plan to exit bankruptcy on Wednesday (March 31), setting the stage for suitors such as Simon Property Group Inc to come in with rival bids.

Still no news on RCULS conversions

We met with KLCC Property Holdings’ (KLCCP) new Head of Finance & Accounts Division, Encik Azmi Yahaya, and Head of Legal & Corporate Services Division, Encik Abd Aziz Abd Kadir.

Today, we introduce our “Construction: Jobs Flow Tracker”, which seeks to measure the momentum of contract awards. Over the 1Q10 period, some RM2.85bn worth of jobs was awarded. Domestic contracts showed a healthy 16% y-o-y increase but contracted by 38% q-o-q due to the high base effect.