Restoring the shine to an icon

KOMTAR — arguably Penang’s best known landmark — will be revitalised to become one of the top tourism draws in the state.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the state wanted to bring back the past glory of the iconic tower.

“At one time, it was the main shopping centre. We want to bring back its shine,” he said after launching the construction of a banquet hall at Level Five in Komtar.

Lim said work was in progress for the rebranding of the 65-storey tower.

“After almost 30 years of neglect, most of the shoplots and office spaces for the private sector have been taken up,’’ he said.

The banquet hall is part of Komtar’s revitalisation initiative undertaken by the Only World Group, which was entrusted with the project by the state government and the Penang Development Corporation through open tender.

Apart from the banquet hall, this project will also include the construction of two external high speed observation bubble elevators.

Levels 59 and 60 as well as 64 and 65 will be refurbished into international-class sky dining restaurants including an outdoor dining area.

Only World chairman and chief executive officer Datuk Richard Koh said the restaurant would be installed with a transparent floor to provide an impression that the patrons were dining in the sky.

Only World has pledged over RM50mil for the project and Koh was confident that it could reap returns from this venture, owing to the state’s growing clout as a tourist destination.

He also spoke highly of Penang’s tourism sector if the state could develop new must-see attractions.