PATCHAY.COM has confirmed the opening of IKEA's 2nd Malaysian store in Kuala Lumpur.

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This comes a week after franchise holder and Singapore-based Ikano Retail Asia confirmed the opening of Thailand's first IKEA store later this year and a proposed plan for second and third Thai outlets within the next 5 years.

Similarly and subsequently, IKEA has confirmed the opening of its second store in Kuala Lumpur by 2013 and third store at Johor Bahru, Malaysia's second largest city, within the next few years.

It was further speculated that a fourth store will be in Penang.

The second Kuala Lumpur store will be built within the redevelopment of government quarters in Jalan Cochrane. Work is expected to start soon once after the civil servants residing there vacate their homes by June 2011.

Back in 2000, Boustead Group developed its jewel township Mutiara Damansara by bringing in IKEA's first megastore in Asia and building Ikano Power Centre (now renamed as IPC Shopping Centre) adjacent to it.

It was reported that 1Malaysia Development Board (1MDB), the land owner of the government quarters in Jalan Cochrane has awarded Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT) to build apartments for government servants in the said area. Interestingly, LTAT is the single largest shareholder of the Boustead Group.

This time the IKEA store will be connected to a proposed integrated development which will also feature a shopping mall, serviced apartments, a hotel and the proposed underground MRT station.

The proposed integrated development will be undertaken as a joint venture with IKEA's local franchisor, Ikano Corp Sdn Bhd.

Was just looking at my My Pictures folder and thought these photos gave me some sense of joy.

I'm the one in grey at the centre, and opening the biggest mouth :)

In 2010, it was reported that Malaysia was looking to build two 1,000 megawatt nuclear power plants by 2022 to counter an "imbalance" in its energy supplies.

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Today Japan, a proud nation with over 60 years of experience in nuclear power, is on the brink of a radiation leakage (that could lead to a nuclear disaster) following a 8.9 magnitude earthquake-cum-mega-tsunami.

Before the disaster, the Malaysian Government has agreed in principle to venture into nuclear power and radioactive-enrichment technology with the setting up of Malaysia Nuclear Power Corporation under its Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) announced in January 2011.

An over-dependence and diminishing supply of coal and natural gas are some of the main reasons cited for deploying alternative source of power such as nuclear.

Electricity is heavily subsidised in Malaysia, thus a viable source of energy is vital to meet its growing energy needs and to fulfil its 'predicted' reputation as a developed nation by 2020.

Malaysia does not have uranium deposits, despite several speculations that a northern state has discovered the resource.

The first nuclear power plant is expected to be commissioned by 2022. An official decision on the construction of the plant could be made as early as 2012 with state energy company Tenaga Nasional Bhd eventually operating it.

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Finally, PATCHAY.COM believes Malaysia, at this juncture, is not ready in managing a nuclear reactor.

What do you think?

For more pics, visit

http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/03/earthquake-in-japan/100022

I think God is very angry.

The end of the world in 2012?

A Special Presentation

Words like "GREEN", "SUSTAINABLE", "HUB", "HIGH-INCOME", "MOBILITY" and "LIFESTYLE" are some of the most common terminology used in today's print media.

No doubt, things are getting trendy these days. The youth today have totally different expectations of their dream homes. Never would our parents have thought of jargons like "ecological and sustainable living" becoming part of our homes, and in turn becoming part of our lives.

And this is the case, that I've decided to bring up some rendering of our future homes and workspaces, especially those that incorporate the elements of nature, the outdoors and the indoors.

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PATCHAY.COM finds out this week 20 environment that best suite the above mentioned words, for today and tomorrow.

1. Balakong integrated housing scheme

2. Batu Tiga integrated development, Shah Alam

3. Artistic rendering of tower at Jalan Mahameru

4. The "23 Diagonal Towers" shaped like a flower comprises future housing via individual floating antennas

5. Proposed scheme of an integrated project

6. Proposed lakeside lifestyle concept

7. The MRT megaproject is poised to initiate more cluster or integrated projects

8. Mixed development 1

9. Mixed development 2

10. Green developments and eco-friendly living increasingly becoming a norm

11. Maju Infinity, a development along KL-Seremban Highway

12. Nadayu Bandar Sunway

13. Destined to be a new landmark in Petaling Jaya

14. Putrajaya Waterfront

15. A large scale housing development at Bandar Sri Damansara slated for 2012

16. Urban modernism incorporating workplaces for Shah Alam

17. Proposed medical-themed redevelopment of Tabung Haji complex at Kelana Jaya

18. The Airie, hillside sanctuary at Bandar Sri Damansara

19. NAZA Group plans future integrated development known as The Catalyst in Puchong from 2012 onwards

20. Entertainment, dining and shopping therapy for USJ residents

Image source: Various