JOHOR BAHRU: AEON Co. (M) Bhd is looking at opening one or two more malls in West Malaysia in the next three years following improved consumer sentiments in retail market in Malaysia since last year.
Executive director Poh Ying Loo said as to date, the company has opened 27 malls nationwide with the latest one launched in Dato’ Onn yesterday, which was the sixth mall in Johor Bahru.
“We will be opening one in east Malaysia which is Kuching in the second quarter next year. In the next three years, one or two more location which will be in West Malaysia but we can’t reveal the details at the moment,” he told reporters after the opening ceremony of AEON Mall Bandar Dato’ Onn yesterday.
The new AEON Mall was officiated by the company’s chairman Datuk Iskandar Sarudin.
He said the company would be investing more than RM300 million for the Kuching mall, about the same investment in Dato’ Onn.
Poh said the company remained optimistic of the retail market in Malaysia amid the challenging landscape since last year as consumers became more cautious in spending.
“(But) generally, I think we see some slight improvement in (consumer) sentiment as compared to last year. We think going forward, even though it will be more players in the market, I think it should be enough for now for our business opportunities,” he said.
At the moment, he said the company is one of three leading retail players in the local market.
AEON Mall Bandar Dato’ Onn which is located within 25 minutes from Johor Bahru town centre comprises a built up-area of over 1.2 million square feet and has about 600,000 square feet of net lettable area to house 150 retail outlets, offering more than 500 jobs. — Bernama