KUALA LUMPUR: The Desa Damansara condominium in Damansara Heights, Kuala Lumpur, is home to the well-heeled, both expatriates and locals.
This upscale condominium built by Tan and Tan Developments, a subsidiary of the listed IGB Corp, was fashioned after the resort lifestyle, with its gently undulating walkways and paths among the lush flora.
The first of the development's two phases comprises 114 units housed in one tower block and nine 3-storey blocks. It was completed in 1994.
The second phase, meanwhile, has 132 units in two tower blocks. It was completed in 2003.
Usually quiet, the grounds of the Desa Damansara was recently thrust into the limelight with the ongoing trial of Malaysia's opposition leader and former deputy prime minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
It is at a unit located on the fifth floor of one of blocks that the 62-year-old is alleged to have sodomised his former personal aide, Mohd Bukhairi Saiful Azlan, on June 26, 2008.
The high-profile trial which has attracted even foreign observers, opened on Feb 3 with visitation to the scene of the alleged crime.
Away from the court case, the freehold Desa Damansara is located close to amenities like shopping and international schools in the nearby exclusive enclave of Mont'Kiara and Desa Sri Hartamas.
Values of this condo range from RM780,000 for a partly furnished 2+1 bedroom and 2-bathroom unit of 1,100 sq ft to RM2.2 million for a fully-furnished 3+1 bedroom unit of 3,200 sq ft, say real estate agents.
While the units are sold at top dollar, the yields used to be better, says real estate agent Eric Teo, who is familiar with the property.
A decade ago, a partly-furnished 2+1-bedroom with two bathrooms tower unit of 1,100 sq ft could fetch about RM5,000 in rental per month -- it is now only about RM3,500. This, explains Teo, is due to the increased and newer supply in Mont'Kiara and Desa Sri Hartamas.
Interestingly, selling prices of Desa Damansara remain strong; this is because few owners are cashing out.
Facilities available at the condo, according to real estate agents, include a gym, play ground, squash courts, tennis courts, swimming pools, wading pools, covered parking and round-the-clock security.
The project is managed by Kondo Servis Sdn Bhd, another subsidiary of IGB Corp set up in 1980 to manage all projects by Tan and Tan Developments.
Whatever it is, Desa Damansara is unknown no more.
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