Christian Memorial Park project opens for booking
KOTA KINABALU: The new developer of the Empire Paradise Christian Memorial Park has assured the public that the project is now free from any encumbrances.
Empire Treasure Club Sdn Bhd (the developer) managing director Tan Guan Soon said there had been some misconceptions over the development of the said project, which mainly revolved around its development plan (DP) approval, access road and a 16year-old legal tussle between the landowner and the bank.
“The general public thought that the approval for this project had been withdrawn by the relevant authority due to the strong protest by the nearby residents back in 2001,” Tan said.
“We wish to take this opportunity to clarify that the approval is still intact and valid until today, and there is no more legal tussle between the landowner and the bank. Interested purchasers and investors are welcomed to purchase or invest in our burial lots now,” he told a press conference yesterday.
Tan showed a letter that was issued by City Hall back in 2017 to confirm that the approval of the project is still valid.
The memorial park project made headlines in early 2001 after nearby residents strongly protested against it as the proposed access road approved by the relevant authority then would pass through their housing estate.
This eventually led to a halt on the development followed by a 16-year-old legal tussle between the landowner and the bank that granted the financial facilities for the development.
“The development resumed after the management of the developer was taken over by new shareholders and subsequently in February 2017, when the Kota Kinabalu High Court ruled in favour of the landowner and the developer.
“The developer then negotiated with the bank and reached a settlement agreement on the landowner’s outstanding banking facilities issue,” said Tan.
He added that the issue of access road had also been resolved whereby the relevant authority had allowed the developer to use the existing access road which is currently used by the nearby Roman Catholic Cemetery.
Developed on a 2.15-acre site adjacent to the existing Roman Catholic Cemetery near Taman Century at Jalan Penampang Baru, the said memorial park is designed to be eco-friendly, with emphasis on greening of its surrounding environment to enhance both its ecology and aesthetic value.
Tan disclosed that no chemical fertilisers will be allowed as only organic fertilisers will be used for the grass and flowers.
“To enhance the value of the burial lots in the memorial park, the new developer has made some amendments to the approved DP. A road has been constructed for the hearse and accompanying vehicles to have direct access to the burial ground in the memorial park,” he said.
Once completed, the memorial park will have 872 burial lots comprising above-ground (tomb-type) burial lots, single and double in-ground burial lots. To date, 220 lots in Zone 1 and 98 lots in Zone 3 have been completed and available for booking for Christians of all denominations.
“For sale of every burial lot, RM3,000 will be set aside from the purchase price for the Lifetime Maintenance Fund. For this purpose, an established local church will be appointed to manage and fund and undertake to upkeep yearround maintenance works for the memorial park,” Tan explained.
He said the memorial park would be officially launched after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
In conjunction with the upcoming launch, the memorial park will be offering a promotion whereby a purchaser or investor would only need to pay RM25, 000 now to own an exclusive burial lot, which is inclusive of the lifetime maintenance fee, legal fee and stamp duty for the Sale and Purchase Agreement.
“The other attractive offer is that, for every purchase of 10 burial lots, a purchaser or investor will be entitled to one free singletype burial lot when he has paid in full the purchase price during this promotion period.
“For investors who purchase our burial lots during this period, the two per cent transfer fee imposed on the sale price is also exempted when they sell their burial lots at a later date when the market price increases,” said Tan.
Interested purchasers or investors may contact 088727266 for more information on the Empire Paradise Christian Memorial Park.
Also present in the press conference was the owner of the said land Jeffrey Wong.