szehoong
February 22nd, 2005, 08:27 AM
Future of KL's embassy row uncertain
The plan for embassies and foreign missions to move from Kuala Lumpur to the new diplomatic precinct in Putrajaya has raised a few questions. How will the move affect businesses in Jalan Ampang (where most of the embassies are located)? Is there adequate infrastructure in Putrajaya to handle the large number of expatriates? ESTHER CHANDRAN and GEETHA KRISHNAN investigate.
THE embassy row in Kuala Lumpur is distinct from the rest of Jalan Ampang, with the high walls of embassies and high commission offices.
The stretch starts after City Square, and along the way one will find the French Embassy, British High Commission, Royal Thai Embassy, Embassy of the People's Republic of China and Embassy of the Russian Federation.
The massive US Embassy occupies the corner of Jalan U-Thant and Jalan Tun Razak, while a drive further into Lingkungan U-Thant, Jalan Kedondong and Persiaran Stonor will reveal more foreign mission administrative centres.
http://metro.thestar.com.my/news/2005/2/p2embassy.JPG
The Royal Thai Embassy is one of numerous foreign missions in the embassy row.
Real estate prices are significantly higher as the expatriate community also reside in these parts, recognisable by the beautifully landscaped green, flowery facade.
The embassy row is somewhat a pride of Kuala Lumpur, presenting a stylish side to it.
The lingering question is will the area's outlook change if foreign missions move to the Putrajaya Diplomatic Precinct?
In 1999, sale of lots at the Putrajaya Diplomatic Enclave (now the Putrajaya Diplomatic Precinct), an integral component of Putrajaya's development near the government administration centre and Foreign Ministry, was announced.
The 80ha site is currently under development.
Zerin Properties chief executive Previndran Singhe said there would be a short-term impact on real estate prices if foreign missions relocated, but the scenario would not last.
“Other than the embassies, real estate prices are also influenced by the oil and gas, finance, insurance and real estate industries.
http://metro.thestar.com.my/news/2005/2/m_pg03eka.jpg
Ekanayake...'Being based in Putrajaya makes it easier for us to communicate with the Malaysian Government.'
“A move will not cause a major setback to real estate prices as the embassy row is prime area with ideal location and infrastructure.
“In no time, available lots and properties will be snapped up by the public and businesses for tenancy,” Singhe said.
Several businesses cater to the needs of the international community living in and around Jalan Ampang. These businesses could inadvertently suffer if foreign missions relocated to Putrajaya.
Micasa All Suite Hotel sales and marketing director Mei Liew agreed such a move would influence the hotel's business.
“Most embassies have visiting principals and change of diplomats and they take up residence at our hotel.
“We receive a certain amount of business from the embassies as we are in the embassy row,” she said.
Hock Choon Supermarket, popular for its range of international products, is confident its customers will continue to patronise the outlet.
Managing director Diana Lim said 80% of its customers were foreigners.
“I believe our customers will still come back as Putrajaya is not convenient for the international community.
“People are accustomed to living in Kuala Lumpur where there are more options for the expatriate community,” she said.
Muller's Sausage Haus Sdn Bhd director Susan Lim said business would suffer as most of its clients frequented the restaurant during lunch hour.
http://metro.thestar.com.my/news/2005/2/m_pg03tang.jpg
Tang: 'Most of the time, diplomats stumble upon our shop when strolling through AmpWalk'
Susan said although there were local diners, the lunch crowd consisted of people from foreign missions nearby.
Jennifer Chong of The Mustard Tree at AmpWalk said erasing the embassy row from the map of Kuala Lumpur would change Jalan Ampang's appeal.
City Art Gallery proprietor Mary Tang said business would be affected if the offices of the diplomatic missions moved.
“We carry a lot of art pieces depicting local sceneries which are popular with foreigners.
“Most of the time, diplomats stumble upon our shop when taking a leisurely walk through AmpWalk, but if they move to Putrajaya, diplomats will not take the trouble to window-shop here,” she said.
Among foreign missions, there is mixed response about whether they will move or not.
Embassy of the Russian Federation press attache Ilya Bogomolov said the question of the Russian diplomatic mission moving to Putrajaya was under consideration.
With transport and communications network being intensively built and infrastructure upgraded, Putra-jaya in time will become a full-scale Malaysian political, economic, cultural centre, Bogomolov said in a statement.
He said relocating to Putrajaya required detailed planning by the Russian government.
The Australian Government had no firm plans about moving to Putrajaya, an Australian High Commission spokesman said, while the Canadian High Commission had said that there were no plans to move to Putrajaya as it had recently moved into Menara Tan & Tan.
Sri Lankan High Commission Minister E.M.S.B. Ekanayake said the high commission had identified the land it intended to buy in Putrajaya.
http://metro.thestar.com.my/news/2005/2/m_pg03china.jpg
The high white walls of the Chinese Embassy are a familiar sight to regular passers-by in Jalan Ampang.
“The high commission office in Jalan Kedondong is rented, so we feel that it is appropriate to buy a piece of land in the Malaysian administrative capital.
“After all, being based in Putrajaya where the Malaysian administrative machinery is located makes it easier for us to communicate with the Malaysian Government,” he said.
He added Putrajaya's location was ideal because of KLIA's proximity.
“We make three to four trips a week to the airport and with our move to Putrajaya, we will save a lot on travelling time,” said Ekanayake.
The Sri Lankan Government's only concern was the High Commissioner's residence, which belonged to the former, was situated in Taman Titi-wangsa.
“We are still waiting for our government to approve the budget for the purchase of the land,” added Ekana-yake.
Larger foreign missions such as the British High Commission, Indian High Commission, US Embassy and People's Republic of China had, in a 2002 news report, indicated their preference to remain in Kuala Lumpur.
The plan for embassies and foreign missions to move from Kuala Lumpur to the new diplomatic precinct in Putrajaya has raised a few questions. How will the move affect businesses in Jalan Ampang (where most of the embassies are located)? Is there adequate infrastructure in Putrajaya to handle the large number of expatriates? ESTHER CHANDRAN and GEETHA KRISHNAN investigate.
THE embassy row in Kuala Lumpur is distinct from the rest of Jalan Ampang, with the high walls of embassies and high commission offices.
The stretch starts after City Square, and along the way one will find the French Embassy, British High Commission, Royal Thai Embassy, Embassy of the People's Republic of China and Embassy of the Russian Federation.
The massive US Embassy occupies the corner of Jalan U-Thant and Jalan Tun Razak, while a drive further into Lingkungan U-Thant, Jalan Kedondong and Persiaran Stonor will reveal more foreign mission administrative centres.
http://metro.thestar.com.my/news/2005/2/p2embassy.JPG
The Royal Thai Embassy is one of numerous foreign missions in the embassy row.
Real estate prices are significantly higher as the expatriate community also reside in these parts, recognisable by the beautifully landscaped green, flowery facade.
The embassy row is somewhat a pride of Kuala Lumpur, presenting a stylish side to it.
The lingering question is will the area's outlook change if foreign missions move to the Putrajaya Diplomatic Precinct?
In 1999, sale of lots at the Putrajaya Diplomatic Enclave (now the Putrajaya Diplomatic Precinct), an integral component of Putrajaya's development near the government administration centre and Foreign Ministry, was announced.
The 80ha site is currently under development.
Zerin Properties chief executive Previndran Singhe said there would be a short-term impact on real estate prices if foreign missions relocated, but the scenario would not last.
“Other than the embassies, real estate prices are also influenced by the oil and gas, finance, insurance and real estate industries.
http://metro.thestar.com.my/news/2005/2/m_pg03eka.jpg
Ekanayake...'Being based in Putrajaya makes it easier for us to communicate with the Malaysian Government.'
“A move will not cause a major setback to real estate prices as the embassy row is prime area with ideal location and infrastructure.
“In no time, available lots and properties will be snapped up by the public and businesses for tenancy,” Singhe said.
Several businesses cater to the needs of the international community living in and around Jalan Ampang. These businesses could inadvertently suffer if foreign missions relocated to Putrajaya.
Micasa All Suite Hotel sales and marketing director Mei Liew agreed such a move would influence the hotel's business.
“Most embassies have visiting principals and change of diplomats and they take up residence at our hotel.
“We receive a certain amount of business from the embassies as we are in the embassy row,” she said.
Hock Choon Supermarket, popular for its range of international products, is confident its customers will continue to patronise the outlet.
Managing director Diana Lim said 80% of its customers were foreigners.
“I believe our customers will still come back as Putrajaya is not convenient for the international community.
“People are accustomed to living in Kuala Lumpur where there are more options for the expatriate community,” she said.
Muller's Sausage Haus Sdn Bhd director Susan Lim said business would suffer as most of its clients frequented the restaurant during lunch hour.
http://metro.thestar.com.my/news/2005/2/m_pg03tang.jpg
Tang: 'Most of the time, diplomats stumble upon our shop when strolling through AmpWalk'
Susan said although there were local diners, the lunch crowd consisted of people from foreign missions nearby.
Jennifer Chong of The Mustard Tree at AmpWalk said erasing the embassy row from the map of Kuala Lumpur would change Jalan Ampang's appeal.
City Art Gallery proprietor Mary Tang said business would be affected if the offices of the diplomatic missions moved.
“We carry a lot of art pieces depicting local sceneries which are popular with foreigners.
“Most of the time, diplomats stumble upon our shop when taking a leisurely walk through AmpWalk, but if they move to Putrajaya, diplomats will not take the trouble to window-shop here,” she said.
Among foreign missions, there is mixed response about whether they will move or not.
Embassy of the Russian Federation press attache Ilya Bogomolov said the question of the Russian diplomatic mission moving to Putrajaya was under consideration.
With transport and communications network being intensively built and infrastructure upgraded, Putra-jaya in time will become a full-scale Malaysian political, economic, cultural centre, Bogomolov said in a statement.
He said relocating to Putrajaya required detailed planning by the Russian government.
The Australian Government had no firm plans about moving to Putrajaya, an Australian High Commission spokesman said, while the Canadian High Commission had said that there were no plans to move to Putrajaya as it had recently moved into Menara Tan & Tan.
Sri Lankan High Commission Minister E.M.S.B. Ekanayake said the high commission had identified the land it intended to buy in Putrajaya.
http://metro.thestar.com.my/news/2005/2/m_pg03china.jpg
The high white walls of the Chinese Embassy are a familiar sight to regular passers-by in Jalan Ampang.
“The high commission office in Jalan Kedondong is rented, so we feel that it is appropriate to buy a piece of land in the Malaysian administrative capital.
“After all, being based in Putrajaya where the Malaysian administrative machinery is located makes it easier for us to communicate with the Malaysian Government,” he said.
He added Putrajaya's location was ideal because of KLIA's proximity.
“We make three to four trips a week to the airport and with our move to Putrajaya, we will save a lot on travelling time,” said Ekanayake.
The Sri Lankan Government's only concern was the High Commissioner's residence, which belonged to the former, was situated in Taman Titi-wangsa.
“We are still waiting for our government to approve the budget for the purchase of the land,” added Ekana-yake.
Larger foreign missions such as the British High Commission, Indian High Commission, US Embassy and People's Republic of China had, in a 2002 news report, indicated their preference to remain in Kuala Lumpur.