JOHOR BARU: A new retail mall is set to become a key feature of Coronation Square, the landmark integrated development rising in the heart of the city’s Ibrahim International Business District (IIBD).
Developer Coronade Properties Sdn Bhd has appointed global real estate manager CapitaLand Investment Ltd (CLI) to shape the retail vision for the upcoming Coronation Square Mall, which will form part of the RM5bil development.
The mall would sit next to the Bukit Chagar Rapid Transit System Link station within the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), offering direct cross-border connectivity once the line is operational.
The appointment comes shortly after CLI’s lodging arm, The Ascott Ltd, was named operator of Ascott Coronation Square Johor Bahru, the development’s hotel tower.
With CLI now involved in both retail and hospitality components, the company is expected to contribute its experience from managing more than 70 malls across Singapore, Malaysia and China.
Coronade Properties chief executive officer Kok Wai Seng said the collaboration would give the project access to CLI’s established networks and commercial know-how.
“Partnering with CLI gives us access to deep retail expertise and a strong tenant network.
“With CLI’s proven track record of delivering successful retail destinations across the region, we are confident that Coronation Square Mall will thrive as Johor Baru city centre’s largest one-stop lifestyle destination, where discovery, community, and connection come together,” he said in a press release.
CLI group chief strategy officer and chief executive officer of commercial management Ervin Yeo said the partnership with Coronade Properties marks a significant step in shaping the future of retail in Johor Baru.
“By leveraging our commercial management expertise and ecosystem strengths, we aim to create a vibrant, world-class destination that sets a new benchmark for cross-border retail.
“This collaboration will also be a bridge for Singapore-based retailers to enter Johor Baru together with CLI, along with brands from our global retail network,” he added.
The 1.25 million sq ft mall will anchor Coronation Square’s eight-tower masterplan, which includes premium offices, a fully sold residential component and the Ascott-managed hotel.
Construction of the mall is expected to begin next year, with completion targeted for 2029.
Positioned as the first major project to kick-start the 101.1ha IIBD, Coronation Square is positioned as a catalyst in Johor’s push to elevate Johor Baru into a global city and strengthen its role within the JS-SEZ.
