KUANTAN: Asian Pac Holdings Bhd (Asian Pac) is making its first foray into the East Coast with a proposed retail and lifestyle destination in KotaSAS, Kuantan’s emerging administrative and commercial centre.
Bringing together KotaSAS’s first shopping mall and a complementary lifestyle shoplot precinct, the development is envisioned as a new focal point for community life and local economic growth, anchored by connectivity to the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL).
Asian Pac’s subsidiary, Everest Pioneer Sdn Bhd has entered into a sale and purchase agreement and a joint development agreement with KotaSAS Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tanah Makmur Bhd, for the proposed development.
With an indicative gross development value of approximately RM 281.3mil, the project marks a significant step in KotaSAS’s evolution into a connected urban destination for residents, businesses and visitors. The estimated future GDV can possibly reach up to RM2bil.
Strategically located within KotaSAS’s Central Business District and within walking distance of the KotaSAS ECRL station, the precinct will advance the township’s transit-oriented development (TOD) vision.
Planned pedestrian connections will bring the mall, lifestyle shoplots and surrounding neighbourhoods closer together, creating a more convenient environment for people to shop, dine, work and spend time with family and friends.
The ECRL’s targeted commencement of commercial operations in December 2026 is expected to strengthen KotaSAS’s connections with the Klang Valley and other East Coast destinations. The proposed precinct will help translate this improved accessibility into economic activity within the township, positioning KotaSAS as a centre for connectivity and a welcoming gateway to Kuantan.
The development will combine the draw of a shopping mall with the energy of a lifestyle street. Retail, dining, leisure and commercial spaces are planned to serve everyday needs while creating reasons for people to visit, stay longer and return.
Together, these components will give KotaSAS a distinctive new destination and a stronger sense of place.
"Kuantan is changing, and KotaSAS is where that change is taking shape. We have built and run Imago in Kota Kinabalu for a decade and we know what a well-run destination does for a city”, said Asian Pac Holdings Bhd executive director Michael Mah.
“Our aim in Kuantan is a place people come to on an ordinary weekday, to eat, to meet, to work, to bring their families, not only a mall.
“KotaSAS has already become an important part of Kuantan's future. We see an opportunity to build on that foundation and create a destination where people come together, businesses grow and the community experiences something new.”
Tanah Makmur Bhd group chief executive officer Datuk Shahrul Nizam Abdul Aziz said, “This development is a strategic catalyst for KotaSAS’s next chapter as Bandar Baru Kuantan.
“Our TOD vision connects people to opportunity by bringing transport, commerce and community life closer together. With the KotaSAS ECRL Station at our doorstep, we have an opportunity to turn improved regional connectivity into lasting benefits for the people who live and work here.”
He added, “KotaSAS’s first shopping mall and lifestyle shoplot precinct will strengthen the township’s appeal while creating space for a new local economy to flourish.
“We want local entrepreneurs, retailers and service providers to participate in that growth, supported by new employment opportunities and a broader customer base. Asian Pac’s entry brings valuable retail expertise and a long-term development partner to help realise this ambition.”
Its mix of commercial spaces is intended to accommodate different business formats, helping homegrown enterprises grow alongside regional and national brands.
For the community, the development is envisioned as a shared destination for everyday convenience and social connection.
Its planned walkable layout will encourage movement between destinations and make it easier for residents, workers and visitors to enjoy more of what KotaSAS has to offer.
