Sriwani to redevelop Johor Bahru duty-free zone

The duty-free zone in Stulang close to the Malaysian city of Johor Bahru and one hour’s drive away from Singapore is to be enlarged and transformed into a one-stop business and shopping complex when the proposed development project “Stulang Bay Development” is completed by the end of 2004. New shop units, a leisure centre and more family facilities with waterfront restaurants will be created on the Straits of Tebrau.Kelana Megah is the subsidiary of Sriwani Holdings which developed and manages the duty-free zone, and is awaiting planning consent for the project.Kelana Megah’s executive director Daniel Looi said that the proposed development project would include the renovation of the existing duty-free mall which currently includes anchor tenant the ZON department store and supermarket occupying four levels with 120,000 sq ft (1,152sq m). Also featured in the zone are 180 individual brand shop units, a food court, market stalls and a discotheque and restaurants onboard the Eden Floating Palace. Brand stores include Royal Selangor, Fuji, Adidas, Nike and local electronics, gifts and craft retailers. The Sriwani-owned group also operates the Eden Garden Hotel with The Gallery shops and a Little Havana wine and cigar shop.Looi said that the development cost of the proposed project to be undertaken in five phases and is estimated at over $100m with a total development area of 200,000sq ft (18,587sq m). The zone, a major regional tourist attraction, has nevertheless been affected by the economic recession. “We need to move forward by maximising the use of our land and water in this area,” Looi said.

Looi said that the first phase is scheduled to begin in two or three months, involving an area of 30,000sq ft (2,788sq m) and costing over $0.5m. “We hope that after completing the entire project, the duty-free zone will be able to attract not only local tourists but more tourists from Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines,” he said.

The Johor Bahru tourism complex was opened by by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in April 1988 and officially declared a duty-free territory in May 1997.