RM6bil Mid Valley Southkey taking shape in JB

JOHOR BARU: Shopoholics in the Southern region will be thrilled as a new mall similar to Mid Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur will be set up here.

The RM6bil project named Mid Valley Southkey Megamall will be about 30% smaller than the megamall in Kuala Lumpur but will feature a similar design.

IGB Corp Bhd group managing director Robert C.M. Tan said that the project was a joint venture between IGB and Johor based Selia Pantai Sdn Bhd who had a 30% stake in the project.

“The first phase of the mall has officially started today and we expect the building to be completed by end of 2016.

“While the new mall may be slightly smaller than the original Mid Valley Megamall, it will have many enhanced features,” he said adding that a lot of improvements had been incorporated based on mistakes made in the construction of the first mall.

Tan said that Mid Valley Southkey Megamall would be built within the Southkey township area and would be built on 36 acres.

“Once completed, the mall will be largest shopping mall in Johor,” he said adding that the integrated development will include eight 30-storey tower blocks, four office blocks and one serviced apartment with 180 units.

The megamall itself will have six levels with about 12,000 parking bays for visitors.

“We target to receive an average of 2 million visitors in a month but we are still studying the local demographics to see what kind of outlets will be roped into the project.

“The mall will however include a cineplex, bowling alley and other similar leisure facilities that are available at the Mid Valley Megamall,” he said adding that three hotels including Cititel Johor Baru, Boulevard Hotel and The Gardens hotel would be included in the project as well.

“The Gardens hotel will be built in the second phase of the project as we plan to build another version of The Gardens Mall in Johor as well,” he said.

Meanwhile, Selia Pantai founder and group chief executive officer Datuk Mohamed Zaini Amran said that a lot of improvements would be done to the infrastructure leading to the mall.

“The road from Bakar Batu to Jalan Tebrau will be widened to six lanes and we will also be building direct ramps from the Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) leading into the megamall and exiting as well.”