In conjunction with World Cities Day, KSK Land, Malaysia’s leading lifestyle property and design company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of KSK Group Berhad, celebrated this annual occasion by hosting a fireside conversation yesterday on the various aspects that make Kuala Lumpur a great city and a hub in Southeast Asia, a fact that remains unknown to many of its citizens.
This occasion featured sharing of unique lived experiences and perspectives by a panel of industry leaders who have flourished in their respective spaces in Kuala Lumpur. Joanne Kua, Managing Director of KSK Land and CEO of KSK Group; Rick Joore, co-owner of JOLOKO and rising star F&B entrepreneur; and Dr Ceelia Leong, analytics lead from Think City and co-author of Kuala Lumpur Creative and Cultural District Strategic Master Plan (KLCCD) all brought unique perspectives to a discussion that centred around the way forward beyond the economic fallout of COVID-19.
Sharing her insights on what makes a future-forward city resilient, Dr. Ceelia Leong said: “Cities are complex but they are made up of people. A people-centric city is the future. That is why urban solutions have to be human-focused as it is ultimately the people who drive the economy and build the city’s cultural identity. A city shunned by people is a dead city. If a city is to survive and thrive, it should be built for the people then the city will be resilient with a brighter future ahead,”
Positive about what the future holds for this great city, “The wonderful thing about KL is its tagline of ‘the city of diversity’,” said Rick Joore, as a global nomad who has settled down in Kuala Lumpur for eight years, “I think that KL is full of opportunities and I’m far from being done here. One good thing that the COVID pandemic has left us with is a reminder for all of us to innovate and make up for what we have lost”.
Joanne added, “What gives Kuala Lumpur a competitive edge is that unlike several other first-class cities in the world, high standard quality-of-life is available and affordable to its citizens. And perhaps a fact less known by the public, nature is actually embedded at the heart of the city, where it is close to any urbanite who seeks escape from the city buzz.”
“Kuala Lumpur is a very intimate city, it is an imperfect city but it has so many identities, where people can discover fresh perspectives from the different corners in this city. At 8 Conlay, when someone comes through the door, our job is not just to sell the property but also to sell the city. Whether you buy the property or not, you will walk away with a new impression of what KL is really about,” continued Joanne.
With its maiden development 8 Conlay approaching the structural completion of its first residential tower (“YOO8 Tower A”), KSK Land is gearing up for its next lap and set to drive sustainable developments that bring vibrancy and wellness elements to the city and its community.
About KSK Land
Founded in 2013, KSK Land is a wholly-owned subsidiary of KSK Group Berhad, an established Malaysian investment holding company. With an existing presence in the general insurance business across Southeast Asia with KSK Insurance Indonesia and KSK Insurance Thailand, and its tech ventures portfolio under ‘KSK Ventures’ with startups such as Sunday and Carmana, KSK Group expanded into the property development market in Malaysia with KSK Land. A future-forward player in the international real estate scene, with a focus on lifestyle, design and placemaking, KSK Land’s maiden development, 8 Conlay, reflects the company’s vision to craft bespoke properties that prioritise design, craftsmanship and lifestyle.
About Rick Joore
Originally from The Netherlands, Rick Joore has made Kuala Lumpur his home for the past 8 years. With a background in F&B and hospitality, Rick is an award-winning mixologist and budding entrepreneur who has co-founded 3 businesses in the heart of KL. Rick will share how he has made JOLOKO his happy place in KL together with his wife Kit, and their dogs.
Rick currently co-owns Afro-Caribbean restaurant and bar, JOLOKO, Licky Chan and the Poke Guy – an ice-cream parlour and tattoo shop, and co-manages CHOCHA. Foodstore and BOTAK.Liquor in Chinatown. He also previously had a hand in establishments like Mr. Chew’s Chino Latino Bar, Brasserie Fritz, and under the Troika Sky Dining umbrella – Fuego, Coppersmith, Cantaloupe, Strato & Claret.
About Dr. Ceelia Leong
Dr. Ceelia is the co-author of the Kuala Lumpur Creative and Cultural District Strategic Master Plan (KLCCD), which focuses on revitalising downtown KL by enhancing its existing cultural assets and incubating new creative content.
She obtained her PhD from Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan in sustainable development, heritage management and Geographic Information System (GIS). At Think City, she leads the urban data, policies and strategies, including the development of an online urban analytics platform visualising Malaysian cities using diverse data sources. These interactive maps allow the public to explore their cities in interesting ways, gaining insights on topics like the impact of climate change on the community, especially the increasing temperature in major cities, cultural and creative industries, public space safety, inclusivity and walkability, community resilience towards Covid-19 and more.
Source: KSK Land (Press release)
