SANDAKAN: The new commercial focal point here, Sandakan Harbour Square, is poised to further strengthen the town’s position as a major commercial and tourism hub in Sabah.
“Most importantly, the RM500 million Sandakan Harbour Square will continue to be the enabler and catalyst for Sandakan’s economic growth, business activities and urban development,” said IREKA Development Management Sdn Bhd president/CEO Lai Voon Hon.
He said that eight years on, they are nearing completion of the Sandakan Harbour Mall and the Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, which are the Phases 3 and 4 respectively, making yet another new era for Sandakan town.
“Building the first modern shopping mall and having the first internally branded business hotel within one development is indeed a heartfelt achievement. But IREKA is not alone in the journey to this success, and we would not reach this milestone without the support of SMC as well as the Sabah State Government since its inception in 2003 to continuously enhance the value of these developments,” he said during the topping up ceremony for Harbour Mall Sandakan and Four Points by Sheraton and signing ceremony of anchor tenant yesterday.
Sandakan Municipal Council (SMC) president Datuk James Wong, who was present at the ceremony, said that SMC would continue to support investment that will bring major development or significance changes to the town.
He said that in addition to their continuous effort to revive the town’s former glory, it is their aspiration to further strengthen Sandakan’s position as Sabah’s second biggest urban metropolis.
“With the foresight of the developer, ICSD Sdn Bhd, development manager IREKA Development Management Sdn Bhd and together a joint-venture with SMC, it has indeed revived the town as one of the key tourist and economic destinations,” said Wong.
He said that the key priorities of SMC had always been to act as a catalyst for the modernization and growth of Sandakan town, enhancing it as a tourist destination and reinvigorating Sandakan into a bustling commercial centre.
He added with the completion of the Sandakan Education Hub and the Harbour Mall, Sandakan would provide more than 4,000 working opportunities and more people wouldvisit Sandakan Harbour Square bringing in more revenue for the town.
The ceremony also witnessed the tenancy signing ceremony of Parkwell as anchor tenant of Sandakan Harbour Mall, alongside renowned brands such as BATA, GNC, The Body Shop, Tomei and SOX World.
Also present were Chuck Abbott, Regional Vice President for South East Asia of Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels & Resorts, and Allan Soo, Managing Director of CB Richard Ellis (Malaysia).
The auspicious topping up ceremony was held at the 26th floor of the mall and the hotel tower, which are scheduled for opening at the end of the year and early 2012 respectively.