SEREMBAN: The Seremban Sentral project, to be built under the Transit-Oriented Development concept in the heart of the city, has commenced with the construction of a 250-bed world-class private hospital, a sprawling lifestyle mall, and a more than 20-storey office tower, all to be built under Phase One.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said the first phase of the integrated development, covering a total area of 8.3ha, will be completed in five years.
"The entire project, with an estimated gross development value of RM2bil, is set to become a catalyst for development in this part of Seremban.
"I am certain it will contribute significantly to the state's target to secure some RM1bil in revenue by 2030," he said at the groundbreaking ceremony for the project.
In May, the Railway Assets Corporation, a federal statutory body under the Transport Ministry and the owner of the land, signed an agreement with the Sunway Group to develop the area into a mini-township.
Sunway Group was successful in its tender bid as it had given the highest value in terms of returns to the RAC and the cost it paid for the land was even higher than the government’s valuation.
Loke, who is also the Seremban MP, said the fact that the groundbreaking ceremony for the massive project took place less than seven months after the signing of the MoU and that the Seremban Municipal Council approved the building plans within nine days shows how committed both the state government and the ministry were to the project.
Also present at the event were Sunway Group founder Tan Sri Sir Dr Jeffrey Cheah, the ministry secretary-general and RAC board of directors chairman Datuk Jana Santhiran Muniayan and RAC chief executive officer Datuk Azhar Ahmad.
Loke said Sunway Group's investment was a "game changer" as the construction of a new railway station currently being built in Seremban would be more meaningful if there was a Transit-Oriented Development next to it.
He said apart from the Sunway Medical Centre, which will have more than 40 medical specialists and hundreds of other medical personnel, the 1.2mil square feet modern mall and an office tower with 300,000 sq feet space, more commercial and residential towers such as serviced apartments covering a 3.2mil sq feet area will be built under phase two and completed within 15 years.
"The development to be implemented will also emphasise the conservation of the original railway station area, which has important historical value in the development of Seremban city," he said.
Seremban Sentral, he said, was not just another physical development, but a new renaissance that will help revolutionise Seremban's economic and urbanisation ecosystem.
Loke added that some 2,500 new jobs will also be created in the retail, property management, logistics and services sectors.
He added that Seremban was also set to gain from the launching of the Electric Train Service between Johor Baru and Kuala Lumpur on Dec 12.
Cheah, in his speech earlier, said Sunway intended to be a strong, supportive and long-term partner in the ambitious agenda to drive sustainable, inclusive, and equitable economic development in Negri Sembilan.
He believes that Sunway's track record of excellence and its reputation for delivering on its promises were a key reason why it had been entrusted with developing Seremban Sentral.
"Our word is our bond, and as we journey into the future, together with Seremban and Negri Sembilan, we will do so with integrity as our guide, humility as our virtue and the pursuit of excellence as our choice," he said.
