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Properties from a Feng Shui perspective: Part 193
By David Koh and Joe Choo | Jun 3, 2011
Feng Shui: New Mall
Our Environology tour of the Klang Valley currently takes us to Petaling Jaya’s Section 19. Seen on a map, particularly Google Maps, Section 19 looks like a blob that oozes between Sections 17, 20, 21 and SS 2. If one does not know better, one might think that Section 19 is “leftover” space after prime land in the aforementioned sections was delineated! (For Google map reference, please log on to http://maps.google.co.uk/ and search for “Kuala Lumpur”.)
It is also possible that Section 19 was originally a land buffer flanking Sungai Penchala. It could have been deliberately left undeveloped as riverbanks were prone to flood and soil erosion problems. Nevertheless, as Sections 17, 20, 21 and SS2 prospered, the pull was likely too strong to resist. With advances in construction technology, developers probably argued, flood and erosion could be mitigated.
In our previous article, we discussed the northern segment of Section 19 covering Ken Damansara up to the Jasmine Towers. As we continue southward, we can still find Section 17 and SS 2 flanking the east and west sides, respectively.
Jalan 17/41, 43 and 45 sit on a hill overlooking Section 19. Here, there are several rows of terraced houses and two blocks of shops. Though inconspicuous due to some large trees and giant signboards, the shops here do very good business. There is an Indian curry restaurant here that does roaring business. This is not surprising because the landform is very conducive: It has a higher back and low front, and faces the Penchala River to boot.
However, houses along Lorong 17/21A, B, C, D and 45A are lined perpendicular to the river, with a sideways slope. In this situation, properties facing south tend to do better than those facing north because they follow the river’s flow direction.
Household connection
A sideways slope also has other ramifications. According to the I-Ching or Book of Changes, each sector of the house represents a specific member of the household. North-west represents the father; south-west, the mother; east, eldest son; south-east, eldest daughter; north, middle son; south, middle daughter; north-east, youngest son; and west, youngest daughter. The highest sector will benefit the corresponding member while the lowest sector will indicate another member faring poorly.
Although these roads are called “Lorong” or lanes, they are not cul-de-sacs. This is a good thing as earth energy is allowed to move freely through this area. Lorong 17/21A in particular continues up to Jalan Harapan which comes from the “Rothmans Roundabout.”
Jalan Harapan is a strange road because traffic here flows mainly into Jalan 19/8 enroute to the SS2 area. Very few cars actually make the journey up to the end where it meets Lorong 17/21A and Jalan 19/13. Those that do find it very difficult because traffic from SS2 rarely slows down, let alone stop, before turning right into Jalan Harapan. It is almost as through Jalan Harapan bends left toward SS 2 and the rest of it is an appendage!
This strange confluence of traffic is not good from an Environology perspective. The movement of traffic and energy is chaotic and does not permit a smooth flow. This is probably why the shop-houses along Jalan 19/13 appear to stagnate for so long. The difficult navigation compounds the problem.
Traffic here is expected to worsen now that a new mall has been completed in the neighbourhood. The SStwo Mall is actually located in Section 19 and serviced by both Jalan SS2/72 and Jalan 19/13. The former is suitable for visitors coming from SS2 while the latter is better suited for traffic coming from the Rothmans Roundabout.
Fresh energy
The mall is very new and thus infused with fresh energy. It is also quite strategically located, in the midst of an established suburb and thriving nightlife nearby in SS2. It has quite a good mix of retail and food and beverage outlets.
In terms of landform, the mall sits right next to the Penchala River. The river is straight and provides no embracing benefits of a naturally curved river. By the same token, the mall does not suffer from any “elbow effects.”
The ideal direction for the mall to face is east, directly towards the river. This is why it is a good thing that Jalan Harapan has been extended beyond Lorong 17/21A and Jalan 19/13, to service the mall. However, something needs to be done to regulate or recalibrate traffic flow at the Jalan Harapan-19/8 junction. Otherwise, this bottleneck may thwart the mall’s progress.
Outlets that face the river are likely to do well, as are those that face south, parallel to the river’s direction of flow. The west side of the mall seems dedicated to food outlets, complete with alfresco or sidewalk dining, which seems to be a popular thing among urbanites these days. These outlets face a stretch of Jalan SS2/72 that is reasonably quiet and permits kerbside parking. In short, it has all the makings of a hit. However, outlets facing west have their backs to the river and they face higher land – the gradient may not be very obvious but it is there. Such an orientation is considered not conducive in Environology. With proper marketing and promotion, all new malls attract curious visitors. These places are infused with new energy created by their construction and the moving-in of tenants. They are further enhanced by a continuous stream of visitors whose very presence induces fresh energy into the premises.
If such crowds can be sustained, malls are likely to do well for quite a while. However, the effects of landform forces will be felt over time. This becomes most apparent once crowd numbers fall (perhaps due to economic downturns) below a certain critical mass. Then, the mall loses lustre and begins an inexorable downward slide.
Outlets that face east and south are likely to do well even in the long term, barring mishaps such as floods, of course. It would be interesting to see how the outlets facing west fare over time though. If all goes well for them, business will soar and they will remain there for years. If not, visitors will be captivated by the frequent openings of new restaurants with different delights to partake in. However, the previous operator would have suffered tremendous losses.
Next, we will look at neighbouring properties of SStwo Mall and hotel that looks like a slice of wedding cake.
*This series on Feng Shui and real estate properties appears courtesy of the Malaysia Institute of Geomancy Sciences (MINGS). David Koh is the founder of MINGS and has been a Feng Shui master and teacher for the past 36 years.
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