Splashing fun and frolic in Samarahan

THE Summer Lagoon Water Theme Park and serviced suites in Kota Samarahan near Kuching are slated for a grand opening by the middle of next year.

Construction of Phase Two of the integrated resort began following the opening of the shopping mall portion last month.

Tetap Majumas Sdn Bhd managing director Datuk Lee Chee Hui said the design of the theme park was by the same team behind Sunway Lagoon in Kuala Lumpur.

“Building something like this, you need external expertise. You can’t find locals who are good enough to build a water theme park,” Lee told The Star yesterday.

“Safety is our number one concern. After all, this is a public attraction, which we hope would be of international standards.

“You cannot simply go, ‘Eh, I want this here, this tall and this big’ (in terms of construction). It has to be safe.”

Lee said the waterpark — which will uniquely be on level four, above a carpark that is being built separately from the shopping mall — would feature 26 facilities including a wave pool.

Details are still being kept under wraps. Lee even declined to reveal the size of the pool and the height of the tallest structure.

“All I can say at this point is that we are going to have five or six big (water) slides.

“We also don’t want to reveal the proposed entry fee, except to say that buying them online would be much cheaper.”

Nevertheless he disclosed that the waterpark could accommodate up to 10,000 people a day, with a maximum 5,000 people at one time. It will be open from 10am to 10pm.

“Most people would probably spend a maximum of four to five hours at the park, so we can accommodate two ‘cycles’ a day.

“We will open till late because we know some people care a lot about their skin and would prefer to come after the sun goes down.”

The park would be staffed by some 200 people, he said, adding that advertising and marketing efforts would seek to attract regional travellers.

Portions of the mall, which includes multipurpose halls, and the waterpark would be available for private functions like weddings.

“Our development concept is to have everyone under one roof. There’s also a cineplex, which is due by October.

“It will be the largest in Sarawak and Sabah, with 12 halls — seven of which will be fixed with 3D screens.

“When we began planning, we looked at what was around Kuching and also took into account what was being offered in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.

“The market is extremely competitive these days.”

On the serviced suites, Lee said it would be equivalent to a four-star accommodation. “We are aiming for the serviced suites and the waterpark to open together.”

A future phase includes another hotel and an expansion of the waterpark on ground level, he added.

The Summer Shopping Mall, which opened its doors last month, features about 400,000sq ft of commercial space, and has an occupancy rate of 60% so far.

Lee said it should reach 95% soon.

“About 15% of the total floor area is now for food and beverage (F&B). Once the waterpark opens, perhaps F&B would comprise another 10%.”

For more information, visit the summermall.com.