One Borneo on track for soft launch in March

By New Straits Times

1BORNEO, the first shopping and lifestyle complex in Sabah and Sarawak, is on track for its scheduled soft opening in March.

The complex in Kota Kina-balu, which has a 1.5 million sq m shopping complex, four hotels and an underwater world, is scheduled to be open for its soft launching at the end of March.

Centre Management director Wong Chee Hwa said the shopping mall is 87 per cent leased to 200 tenants, and they are working to lease out the remaining space by the time the mall opens.

"We will be handing over the premises for renovation to the anchor tenants and smaller tenants throughout the month of November, that will give them a few months to get ready for the opening," said Wong.

"Tune Hotel is scheduled to open by January while the other three hotels - Novotel, Best Western Courtyard and Mercure, are pushing to open by April."

The Shanghai company developing the underwater world also aims to be ready by then.


1Borneo is the first shopping centre in its class in Sabah and Sarawak, complete with entertainment outlets and spa and fitness centres. A hovercraft will transport visitors from the city centre to the complex, about 20 minutes out of town.

Phase two of the project, four condominium towers with 1,008 units, will be ready in about two years.

"We are confident we will be able to meet this deadline," said Wong.

He was speaking to reporters in Kota Kinabalu at a preview of the Ramajuta group's Platinum Club membership in cooperation with Genting Worldcard Sdn Bhd.

The Platinum Club card will give members special privileges and discounts at stores in Warisan Square as well as 1Borneo, in addition to exclusive hotel rates and points rewards.

Their collaboration with Genting Worldcard will mean members get privileges in over 300 third-party merchants with over 2,000 outlets in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.

The card, which will be launched in December, will have three categories - Prestige, Trendy and Tourist - each designed to cater for different markets.

"We are aiming to get 20,000 Prestige members and 30,000 Trendy members next year, and up to 150,000 tourist members per month.

"Although there is a joining fee for the Prestige card, the advantages are worth it," said Wong.


An artist's impression of 1BORNEO, the first shopping and lifestyle complex in Sabah and Sarawak