This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on August 9, 2021 - August 15, 2021

Taman Melawati, or more commonly known as Melawati, is a former rubber plantation called Hawthornton Estate. The township was developed in the 1970s by Negara Properties (M) Bhd, now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sime Darby Property Bhd.

According to Metro Homes Realty Bhd executive director See Kok Loong, Jalan Bandar 3 in the township comprises mainly 2-storey shopoffices occupied by businesses such as food and beverage outlets, electronics shops, laundrettes, car wash shops, clinics, hair salons, a grocery store, photo shop, bakery equipment store and the Taman Melawati police station.

Outlets include Restoran Nasi Kandar Deen, Kien Lai Huat Trading, Zax Hair Studio, Kafe Khatulistiwah, Bake Well Supplies Sdn Bhd, 1 Shine Carwash, Kodak Express AS Photo, Klinik Aminah, Hock Chin Hing Electronics Sdn Bhd and Giant Mini. The neighbouring Lorong Perak and Lorong Selangor consist of 3-storey shopoffices.

Mei Gan, who lives in the area, is a frequent customer at Kafe Khatulistiwah. “The café offers a wide range of hearty dishes, light breakfasts and desserts. I love the Nasi Kerabu, which comes with fish crackers and oven-baked chicken marinated with galangal, curry powder, ginger and anise. Half a salted egg, fried desiccated coconut and shredded cabbage back up the protein, along with a mound of blue rice coloured with butterfly pea.” Other popular dishes include Spiral Mushroom Alfredo, Oppa Chicken Rice, Pulled Beef Sandwich and Tuna Melt Sandwich.

See notes that demand for the shopoffices on Jalan Bandar 3 has been strong, as it is one of the main commercial streets in Taman Melawati that cater for the mostly middle- and upper-class Malay population.

“A recent transaction shows that an intermediate unit with a built-up of 3,000 sq ft was sold for RM1.95 million. Rental rates range from RM7,000 to RM8,000 a month, giving yields of 4.5% to 4.7% a year,” says See.

“In terms of the residential segment, the terraced houses nearby have a built-up of 2,200 sq ft and were transacted at RM730,000 to RM820,000 in 2020. Monthly rent is at RM1 psf, which translates into yields of 3% to 3.2% a year.”

Jalan Bandar 3 is near amenities such as Melawati Mall, Giant Hypermarket and Melawati Corporate Centre. It is also a 20-minute drive from the Kuala Lumpur city centre and is easily accessible via the Ampang-Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway, Middle Ring Road 2, Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway and Kuala Lumpur-Karak Expressway.

The outlook for Melawati appears positive, See says. “The prices of residential and commercial properties in the area will continue to increase in value, owing to the lack of viable land in the vicinity for development.”

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