January
In Jan 2023, the Group was awarded a JTC tender to develop and operate a new PBD on a 30-year land lease, through a joint venture in which Centurion holds 51%. This new PBD will be situated at Ubi Avenue 3 in the east of Singapore, a region with few PBDs, supported mainly by FCDs, and faces a shortage of quality bed supply. The expected development completion is in 2025, adding c. 1,650 beds
The Group secured an MOM management services contract to manage 5 Community Recovery Facilities in Singapore for a period of 6 months, extendable up to 12 months
October
Centurion Corporation announced a strategic partnership with KEZAD Communities, Abu Dhabi’s leading staff accommodation provider. The partnership was solidified with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on October 21, 2023 and serves as the foundation for a more extensive collaboration between Centurion and KEZAD Communities.
This partnership reflects Centurion’s and Westlite’s commitment to expanding its presence in the Middle Eastern accommodation market.
November
Completed Asset Enhancement Initiatives (“AEI”) at Westlite Senai, upgrading to apartment-style rooms and increasing capacity from 1,210 beds to 1,980 beds.
December
Centurion Corporation entered a sale and leaseback agreement with Malaysia’s public sector pension fund, Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan) [KWAP], for two of the Group’s Malaysia Purpose-Built Workers Accommodation assets, namely, Westlite Bukit Minyak in Penang and Westlite Tampoi in Johor.
Under the terms of the sale and purchase agreements, the two properties will be acquired by KWAP for a consideration of RM 227.0 million (approximately S$65.2 million). On completion of the sale and purchase agreements, Centurion through its subsidiaries will enter into lease agreements with KWAP to leaseback the Properties for a period of 15 years.
February
The Group announced it has secured a 10-year management contract for a 2,196-bed PBWA, Westlite Cemerlang in Johor, which is expected to commence operations in 3Q 2023
May
Asset Enhancement Initiatives completed at Westlite Tebrau adding 688 beds
September
The management contracts for the 2 Onboard Centres in Singapore which the Group has been managing since Mar 2021, came to end of term after a 6-month extension. The group has returned the properties to the government.
December
Asset Enhancement Initiatives completed at Westlite Tampoi adding 1,214 beds
March
Management contracts for two Migrant Worker Onboarding Centres (“MWOCs”) in Singapore commenced.
May
The Group’s third QBD Westlite Jalan Tukang in Singapore commenced operations with approximately 3,420 beds.
First of two acquired blocks at Westlite Pasir Gudang, Johor completed retrofitting and commenced operations with approximately 420 beds.
August
Asset Enhancement Initiative (“AEI”) of Westlite Toh Guan in Singapore commenced in August, to redevelop one block.
October
The Group’s fourth QBD Westlite Tuas South Boulevard in Singapore with approximately 628 beds commenced operations.
November
Second acquired block (out of two blocks) at Westlite Pasir Gudang in Johor, Malaysia commenced operations with approximately 470 beds after retrofitting.
Added three blocks to Westlite Tampoi in Johor, Malaysia with approximately 2,000 beds (reduced from 3,600 beds to comply with Department of Labour of Peninsular Malaysia’s (“JTKSM”) requirement after completion of AEI).
Use of Lease Extension at Westlite Toh Guan
Westlite Accommodation received an in-principle agreement from the Singapore Land Authority for an extension for the use of the existing lease at Westlite Toh Guan as a purpose-built workers accommodation for 25 years, from September 2032 to November 2057.
Securing Management Contracts from JTC
Westlite Accommodation secured a management service contract from JTC Corporation to manage three Factory-Converted Dormitories (“FCD”) comprising approximately 4,000 beds, for a period of six months with the option of another six months’ extension.
This contract is a pure management contract and beds managed are not included as part of the portfolio.
Our First Quick Build Dormitories
Westlite Accommodation was awarded a second contract from JTC Corporation, to master lease and operate four new quick build dormitories (“QBDs”), which comprise approximately 6,368 beds, for a term of three years with an option to extend by an additional year.
With this second contract, Westlite Accommodation became amongst the first to lease and operate QBDs in Singapore, which are part of a national programme piloting new specifications for migrant workers’ care and pandemic management in purpose-built dormitories in Singapore.
Marking Our Entry into Selangor
Westlite Accommodation secured a master lease from Perbadanan Kemajuan Negeri Selangor (“PKNS”), also known as Selangor State Development Corporation, to operate a purpose-built workers accommodation comprising approximately 6,044 beds, in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. The lease for the ready-built property has commenced in December 2020, for a tenure of 21 years with option to extend for a further 9 years.
Established Presence in Second Malaysian City
Westlite Accommodation received the Certificate of Completion and Compliance for Westlite Bukit Minyak, its first Purpose-Built Worker’s Accommodation (PBWA) in Penang. The 6,600-bed development is Penang’s first PBWA and increased Centurion’s portfolio of properties in Malaysia to seven.
20-year Solar Panel Agreement with Sunseap
Under the agreement, Sunseap installed solar panel systems on ASPRI-Westlite Papan workers dormitory in Singapore. This not only lowered the cost of operations but also helped reduce the dormitory’s carbon footprint by a third.
Further Expanding our Malaysian Portfolio
Westlite Accommodation began development of three additional dormitory blocks on a parcel of land adjoining Westlite Tampoi in Johor. This project, named Tampoi II, is expected to complete in 3Q 2020 and will add approximately 3,600 beds to Westlite Accommodation’s Malaysian portfolio.
Enhancing our Singapore Portfolio
Westlite Accommodation secured a 10-year lease, with an option to renew for another five years, for Westlite Juniper adding approximately 1,900 beds.
Developing a First in Singapore
Westlite Accommodation opened our biggest development yet at ASPRI-Westlite Papan, Singapore, a first-of-its-kind, 7,900 bed development in Singapore that advocates a “Live, Learn and Play” environment, comprising of a purpose-built workers accommodation as well as the Association of Process Industry (“ASPRI”) training centre to cater to the housing and training needs of workers.
Recognition from Ministry of Manpower
Westlite Woodlands won the Dormitory Awards 2018 under the Foreign Employees Dormitories Act regulated category. Organised by the Ministry of Manpower with the Dormitory Association of Singapore Ltd and the Migrant Workers’ Centre, the award recognises dormitory operators which exceed basic housing standards and adopt good dormitory management practices to enhance the quality of life for foreign worker residents.
Winning Project Greenback 2.0 Gold Partner Award
Westlite Accommodation was awarded the Project Greenback 2.0 Johor Bahru Gold Partner Award (2015-2016) by the Bank Negara Malaysia and the World Bank.
Expanding our Footprint in Malaysia
Westlite Senai II in Johor, Malaysia, began operations. In the same year, we successfully topped out ASPRI-Westlite Papan, Singapore.
Laying the Groundwork
Together with Lian Beng and the Association of Process Industry (“ASPRI”), we broke ground at the upcoming integrated worker accommodation and training site at ASPRI-Westlite Papan, Singapore. In the same year, we also achieved topping out status for Westlite Woodlands, Singapore.
A Banner Year
Accelerating our expansion, we opened Westlite Johor Technology Park in Johor, Malaysia, Westlite Mandai in Singapore, as well as completed construction of a new block at Westlite Toh Guan in Singapore. We also announced a joint development with Lian Beng and ASPRI that will become ASPRI-Westlite Papan. Over in Penang, Malaysia, we acquired land at Bukit Minyak and won an open tender for another plot at Juru.
Enlarging our Portfolio
Westlite Accommodation acquired two additional blocks of dormitories at Pasir Gudang in Johor, Malaysia. In the same year, we commenced operations at Westlite Senai, Johor, Malaysia. In Singapore, we successfully won the tender of a piece of Jurong Town Corporation (“JTC”) land that will become Westlite Woodlands.
Our First Presence in Malaysia
With the acquisition of a property each at Tebrau and Cemerlang, as well as two blocks of dormitories at Pasir Gudang in Johor, Westlite Accommodation made our entry into Malaysia. Additionally, we acquired land plot in Senai and in Tampoi Industrial Park, Johor, Malaysia. In Singapore, we continued our expansion by acquiring Westlite Tuas.
Modest Beginnings
Westlite Accommodation began its journey with its first 5,300 bed asset at Toh Guan, Singapore. In the same year, we also acquired a piece of land at Johor Technology Park, Malaysia.