Imperio Residence (皇萱湾 イムペリオ レジデンス) at Melaka (マラッカ) [Malaysia Property] No.6

Malaysia’s UNESCO World Heritage City – Melaka: Should You Invest in Malacca’s New Urban Development Areas?

Revitalizing the Historic City of Malacca: A Mixed-Use Development Project Featuring Commercial Spaces, Shopping Malls, Hotels, and Residential Units – Imperio Residence (located within Hatten City)

Malaysia is still in the midst of a construction boom for new condominiums. Are you focusing solely on the timing of your investment? Don’t you think it’s equally important to catch the right property when it becomes available? That’s exactly what I believe. While the many properties I’ve previously featured were concentrated in Kuala Lumpur, this time I’m introducing Imperio Residence in Malacca—a prime opportunity that has emerged at just the right moment. This is the sixth installment in our series. We’ll continue to showcase “great properties” that appear at “great timing.” Under the theme “Malaysia Property Tour,” we’ll introduce Malaysia’s real estate market and also organize property tour trips.

Jom! (Malay for “Let’s go!”) Let’s head to Malaysia to see the reality of its property market firsthand!

■ Why Invest in Malacca? What Makes Malacca So Attractive?

A beautiful UNESCO World Heritage city that has thrived on diverse trade for centuries. Located on the southern west coast of the Malay Peninsula and facing the Strait of Malacca, Malacca flourished as a key hub for maritime traffic and trade. The Malacca Sultanate was established in the 15th century, and the city later came under Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial rule. Its unique cultural tapestry—shaped by diverse cultures, languages, ethnicities, and the union of Chinese immigrants with local Malay women, giving rise to the distinctive Peranakan community—led to its inscription as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 2008. Hold on a second! These are still the traditional impressions of Malacca. So, let’s take a fresh look at today’s Malacca from the perspective of “Why invest in Malacca?” Let’s TABINIKO!

Perspective 1: The Travel Industry in Malacca

With a population of just under 900,000 (plus approximately 200,000 foreigners and 120,000 students), Malacca welcomes 17.8 million visitors annually. Looking at the 2018 visitor statistics, Malaysian tourists topped the list at around 11.33 million (66%). The top countries of origin for international visitors were China (around 1.77 million, 31%), Singapore (around 1.59 million, 27%), Indonesia (around 810,000, 14%), Taiwan (around 140,000, 2.4%), and Vietnam (around 110,000, 2.1%). Malacca’s travel attractions continue to grow, with the government aiming to reach 20 million annual visitors. Additionally, the city is capitalizing on the medical tourism trend, with hospitals promoting medical travel packages and constructing new medical centers. Malacca’s travel industry is on a positive trajectory.

Perspective 2: Industrial Parks

There are also five industrial zones: Batu Berendam Industrial Free Trade Zone, Ayer Keroh Industrial Estate, Cheng Industrial Park (home to Panasonic), Jasin Industrial Park, and Alor Gajah Industrial Estate. Surprising, right? Malaysia’s largest solar power production plant, the country’s biggest swallow processing factory, Southeast Asia’s largest glass factory, and the region’s biggest chip factory are all located in Malacca.

Perspective 3: The Mega Project – Melaka Gateway (Royal Port)

The most iconic large-scale port integrated development project in Malacca. Comprising two artificial islands, one natural island (Pulau Panjang), and a reclaimed island extending into the sea, the project plans for a cruise terminal, commercial and entertainment districts, residential areas, a high-tech industrial park, a free trade zone, as well as a deep-water port, container terminal, and shipbuilding facilities. It is estimated to attract 2.5 million tourists annually, create 40,000 to 45,000 jobs, and generate RM1.19 trillion in revenue for the state of Malacca. With overseas investors pouring in—particularly Chinese and Middle Eastern capital—and Malacca situated along the economic corridor proposed by China’s Belt and Road Initiative (OBOR), the Malacca Gateway is said to surpass the port of Singapore. Malacca remains a place of growing attention.

Point 4: Accessibility

About 2 hours by car from Kuala Lumpur, 2.5 to 3 hours by car from Singapore, and around 45 minutes by plane. It’s a popular travel destination not only for Malaysians but also for Singaporeans.

There is also the High-Speed Rail (HSR) project connecting Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, which was once suspended but is scheduled to be re-announced from late May 2020 onwards. The seven stations on this new bullet train line are Bandar Malaysia, Sepang-Putrajaya, Seremban, Melaka, Muar, Batu Pahat, and Iskandar Puteri in Malaysia, and Jurong East in Singapore, linking Kuala Lumpur and Singapore in approximately 90 minutes. The fourth station, Melaka, is expected to be about 30 minutes from Bandar Malaysia. The Ayer Keroh area in Melaka is the planned construction site.

Flying into Malaysia from other countries is also quite convenient, as travel times are relatively short. For instance, it takes about 4 hours from Hong Kong and Shenzhen, and around 5 hours from Taiwan. Flights from Shanghai, Beijing, and South Korea take approximately 6 hours, while journeys from Japan and Dubai last about 7 hours. Travel from Australia takes roughly 9 hours, and from Seattle in the USA, it’s about 19 hours.

Point 5: The Enduring Allure of Malacca’s Unique Charm

It is the rich historical backdrop that makes Malacca so unique—a place where the cultures, languages, ethnicities, customs, and cuisines of the Portuguese, Dutch, British, Malay, Chinese, and Indian communities have intertwined and coexisted. In particular, the Peranakan culture (also known as Baba Nyonya, or 峇峇娘惹), born from the intermingling of Malays and Chinese, holds an irresistible allure. Its distinctive language, attire, cuisine, use of color, and decorative elements are truly captivating. With its charming hues, unique Baba Nyonya dishes, and towering heritage buildings inscribed as World Heritage sites, Malacca preserves its traditional charm in a way that keeps drawing you back. No wonder you’ll find yourself wanting to visit Malacca again and again!

Point 6: Expectations of rising land prices and property values

With the advancement of development projects for luxury hotels, residential properties, and shopping malls, there is growing expectation for land prices and property values to rise. Various Malaysian developers are actively advancing their projects. In the Kota Laksamana area, in addition to The Sail (一帆风顺 The Sail) developed by Sheng Tai International, there is also the large-scale development project Impression City, developed by Yong Tai, as well as the completed Encore Melaka (又見馬六甲). The latter features an opera theater completed after Chinese top director Zhang Yimou (Chang Yi Mou), renowned for his success in directing numerous opera stage productions, visited Malacca multiple times. This project is expected to contribute to the annual increase in tourist numbers. Furthermore, Hatten City (惠勝之都) developed by the Hatten Group in the Melaka Jaya area, which we would like to introduce this time, is also rolling out several projects, gradually transforming Malacca.

So, what do you think? Has your impression of Malacca shifted? It’s also crucial to check out the surrounding area and local conditions of the property you’re considering for investment! Now, let’s take a closer look at Imperio Residence (Imperio Residences).

■ “1. Imperio Residence (Imperio Residences at The Pearl)” :

As of June 2020:

“Property Location + Station & Building Surroundings Information”:

Imperio Residence (皇萱湾 イムペリオ レジデンス) is located in the Taman Melaka Raya area. Wait, where is that? Most people probably haven’t heard of it, but it’s just about a 7-minute drive from the UNESCO World Heritage City.

For reference, it’s approximately a 16-minute drive to Melaka International Airport (also known as Batu Berendam Airport), a 3-minute drive to the massive Melaka Gateway (皇京港) project site, a 17-minute drive to Ayer Keroh—the planned site for the High-Speed Rail (HSR) connecting Kuala Lumpur and Singapore—and a 12-minute drive to Melaka Sentral (the main bus terminal).

Travelers coming from Kuala Lumpur by car will first enter Melaka through Ayer Keroh. This district is home to several key attractions, including the Malacca International Trade Centre, Malacca Botanical Garden, Malacca Bird Park, Malacca Crocodile Farm, Malacca Zoo, and Mini Malaysia & ASEAN Cultural Park. In recent years, the area has been beautifully developed and is now a popular tourist destination.

What is Taman Melaka Raya (タマン マラッカ ラヤ)? To further develop Malacca, the Malacca government began land reclamation projects in the 1980s, expanding the state’s area by 4,000 acres. These reclaimed areas include the Klebang, Kota Laksamana, and Melaka Jaya districts. As a UNESCO World Heritage city, available land is limited. The reclaimed land close to the historic city center is particularly valuable, and Melaka Jaya stands out as a district with high potential for Malacca’s continued growth. With the large-scale mixed-development project Hatten City (惠勝之都) currently underway, it is an excellent location for investment in Malacca.

Imperio Residence (皇萱湾 イムペリオ レジデンス) was completed in 2019. It is just one part of the large-scale mixed-use development project, Hatten City (惠勝之都). Hatten City is an integrated mixed-use development that seamlessly combines a mall, condominiums, hotels, office towers, resort facilities, and retail stores, all developed around six unique themes. There is a growing expectation that the population will increase as the mall and new residential units are completed.

Because of its proximity to the UNESCO World Heritage city, commercial zones are forming and living infrastructure is being improved. Furthermore, as various investors and global brands enter the market, there is strong anticipation that both the tourism and medical tourism industries will thrive. In fact, there are Japanese investors who have invested in shop lots in Malacca. Malacca is a popular destination for both Japanese tourists and long-stay visitors.

According to the Malacca government’s urban planning roadmap up to 2035, the population is projected to grow from the current approximately 900,000 to 1.5 million, the number of visitors is planned to reach 25 million, and per capita GDP is targeted to rise from the current USD 9,148 to USD 21,221. Consequently, development is steadily progressing. Imperio Residence (皇萱湾 イムペリオ レジデンス) is a “great property” that has emerged at the “right time.”

Regarding its location, it is about a 7-minute drive to the UNESCO World Heritage city, approximately 3 minutes to Malacca Gateway, and around 17 minutes to the planned High-Speed Rail (HSR) site in the Ayer Keroh area. The location is impeccable.

“Property Configuration + Ownership”:

Imperio Residence (皇萱湾 イムペリオ レジデンス) is a serviced apartment. It comprises Block A (494 units) and Block B (456 units), totaling 950 units. Unit sizes range from 40.41 sqm / 435 sqft to 81.38 sqm / 876 sqft, with 13 different unit types available (note: availability for two of these types, Type F1 and F2, measuring 118.08 sqm / 1,271 sqft, requires confirmation). The building stands 33 storeys high.

Here is an overview of the Hatten City development: Imperio Residence features a mall called Imperio on its basement 2 and ground to 3rd floors, with residential units above, offering exceptional convenience. Another residence, Silverscape Residences, is connected to the 8-storey Elements Mall. Additionally, a commercial walkway called Broadwalk is planned for shopping. As for hotels, the development will include Hatten Suites, which is connected to Elements Mall, and a DoubleTree by Hilton with 265 rooms.

Property Ownership: This is a Leasehold (leasehold tenure). This article mainly introduces Imperio Residence (Imperio Residence at Royal Wharf).

“Developer (Real Estate Company)”:

Hatten Group (惠勝集团) was established in 2008 (having originally founded Lian Bang Venture Sdn Bhd in 2004) and has been active in the fields of real estate development, sales, investment and management, as well as hotel management. Today, the group has also expanded its reach into the education and healthcare sectors.

You might recognize the name Hatten, Japanese readers! Yes, it means [ Development ] in Japanese! The name was given by Mr. Eric Tan (Dato’ Wira Eric Tan / 拿督威拉陈永发), a Singaporean-born father, together with his second son, Dato’ Colin Tan (拿督陈俊廷). The company is currently managed by these two men alongside their eldest son, Dato’ Edwin Tan (拿督陈秉煌).

The group places great importance on L.I.V.E.S. (Lifestyle, Investment, Values, Environment, Sociability), which serves as its core vision. After successfully rebuilding Dataran Pahlawan Malaka in Malacca in 2005 and establishing the city’s premier shopping mall, Hatten has continued to develop various real estate projects in the area. Dataran Pahlawan Malaka has grown into a mall that attracts 18 million visitors annually.

Since then, the group has developed several key properties in Malacca, including the Hatten Hotel with 704 rooms featuring the state’s first sky bar, the ESTADIA Hotel with 200 rooms themed around Nyonya culture, and the Hatten Palace with 500 rooms.

Other notable projects include Vedro by the River, Hatten 6.7, Hatten 9.3/MICC, Rico City, Harbour City on Pulau Melaka, Eton House International Pre-school Melacca, the Satori Health Centre, and Uni City in Selangor. The group is also actively involved in charitable initiatives through its Hatten Cares activities.

In particular, Hatten City (惠勝之都) aims to create a landmark destination comparable to Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands. Just looking at the architectural plans, it’s truly impressive! Dato’ Colin Tan (likely the CEO), who frequently appears in magazines, is married to a wife from Malacca and is still young at just 36 years old.

5 Reasons Why You Should Buy & Invest in Imperio Residence

[ Reason 1 ]

Malaysia’s World Heritage Sites: The One in Malacca with an Address Known Around the World

Imperio Residence (皇萱湾 イムペリオ レジデンス) is located in the Taman Melaka Raya (タマン マラッカ ラヤ) area, just about a 7-minute drive from the UNESCO World Heritage city center. Key attractions are all within close proximity: the iconic red-brick church at the main Dutch Square (originally a Christian church, now the Malacca History Museum), Peranakan-style shophouses, vibrantly decorated trishaws, St. Paul’s Church perched on the hill, the 16th-century Portuguese-built Porta de Santiago (A’Famosa) fortress, the bustling Jonker Street shopping district, and other historic landmarks. Being right in the heart of Malacca truly highlights its value.

[ Reason 2 ]

Supermarkets, restaurants, and essential living amenities are well-equipped:

Just a 15-minute drive from AEON and Tesco, the area is well-equipped with various restaurants and lifestyle amenities. It is also conveniently close to essential facilities such as banks, hotels, medical centers, hospitals, and schools, as well as several major development projects, including UNESCO World Heritage sites. Key nearby attractions include the Encore Melaka (Melaka Again) opera stage, as well as the integrated development projects Impression City, Hatten City, and Melaka Gateway.

[Reason 3]

Expectations for the Kuala Lumpur–Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) and popular tourist attractions:

The High-Speed Rail (HSR) connects Kuala Lumpur to Malacca in just four stops, significantly cutting down travel time. It’s now much easier to reach Malacca from KL. With the Malaysian government’s target of 20 million tourists and the tourism industry thriving, including the growth of medical tourism, visitors are arriving in Malacca via convenient sea, land, and air transport. It’s no exaggeration to say that Malacca is becoming a major gathering spot for people.

[Reason 4]

Hatten City’s Massive Project:

This massive Hatten City project features a shopping mall, condominiums, hotels, office towers, a resort, retail outlets, and more. It is widely expected that foot traffic will surge once the mall and new residential units are completed. Its proximity to the UNESCO World Heritage city is fostering the development of a vibrant commercial district. As living infrastructure continues to improve, and as investors and global brands move in, there is growing anticipation that both the tourism sector and the medical tourism industry will thrive.

[Reason 5]

The promise of rising value and exclusive perks available now:

Several condominiums within the Hatten City project are already completed, while various other construction works are still underway. The Melaka Gateway and the resumption of the High-Speed Rail (HSR) are both pending official announcements. There is a strong sense of anticipation that property values will rise as each project nears completion. Imperio Residence (Imperio Residence) is currently offering an abundance of exclusive incentives. We look forward to hearing from you.

■ “2. Rooms”

There are various room types available.

(1) IMPERIO BELLO SUITE (Type A1, A2, A3, A4, A5)

Area: 40.41 sqm / 435 sqft (Sizes A1 to A5 vary, ranging from approximately 435 sqft to 466 sqft.)

→ There are five distinct design options for studio rooms, including those with a balcony and those with a bay window.

(2) IMPERIO Dual-Key Suite (Type B)

Area: 71.62 ㎡ / 771 sqft

→ This is a Dual-Key type. A Dual-Key unit features a single main entrance but splits into two completely independent living spaces with separate entry doors. Each side is equipped with its own lockable door (left and right). Essentially, it’s divided into a spacious 1LDK and a studio-style 1-room unit. Naturally, both sections come with their own kitchens. For investors, the larger 1LDK can be used as your personal residence, while the studio unit can be rented out for additional income. Please note that the partition door may not be pre-installed, so you might need to arrange for its installation yourself. Be sure to verify this on-site.

(3) IMPERIO VIDA SUITE (Type C1, C2, C3)

C1, C3 Area: 56.39 sqm / 607 sqft (C2 size is 625 sqft.)

(4) IMPERIO SKY VILLA (Type D1, D2)

D2 Area: 78.03 ㎡ / 840 sqft (D1 size is 869 sqft.)

→The biggest appeal of this room type is the small dip pool and courtyard, offering a truly luxurious feel.

(5) IMPERIO GRANDE SUITE (Type E1, E2)

E1, E2 Floor Area: 81.38 ㎡ / 876 sqft

→ 2-bedroom layout with sea views overlooking the Strait of Malacca.

(6) IMPERIO GRAND SKY VILLA (Type F1, F2)

F1, F2 area: 118.08 ㎡ / 1,271 sqft

→ This 2-bedroom layout comes with a small dip pool and a courtyard.

(7) Cabana Detached House

Car Park (58.52 ㎡/630 sqft) + Ground Floor (172.98 ㎡/1862 sqft) + 2nd Floor (133.59 ㎡/1438 sqft)

→It has transcended luxury. We need to verify whether it is actually available for sale.