Luxury island plan for Rebak

KUALA LUMPUR: DRB-HICOM Bhd is drafting plans to turn Pulau Rebak in Langkawi into a holiday magnet for the rich and famous.

The group wants to develop a "boutique" luxury holiday concept there to match the likes of The Residences at W Bali, Bvlgari Residences and Banyan Tree Ungasan in Bali, Six Senses Private Residences in Vietnam, The Yamu in Phuket, W Residence in Koh Samui and St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort in Abu Dhabi.

"The time has come for Malaysia to have luxury holiday residences that can woo the rich and the famous globally to pick Pulau Rebak as their preferred holiday destination," DRB-HICOM group managing director Datuk Seri Mohd Khamil Jamil said in a statement yesterday.

Mohd Khamil said Pulau Rebak's strategic location and the government's plan to upgrade the holiday haven to be on par with the world's top holiday islands would serve as a catalyst to its aspirations.

"The launch of the Langkawi Tourism Blueprint by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak recently, entailing an estimated RM5 billion investment over the next five years, was a welcome initiative.

"I'm confident with the blueprint, coupled with the cooperation and participation of all parties, the government's estimate to double tourism revenue to RM3.8 billion via the arrival of three million tourists to Langkawi by 2015 will be realised," Mohd Khamil added.

The absence of an ultra luxury concept property development on a local holiday island has provided an opportunity for DRB-HICOM to explore the prospect, he said.

"We have been discussing the Pulau Rebak development plan since 2009 and the feedback received from international development consultants, residential property owners and world-class holiday companies is very encouraging," Khamil added.

By Business Times