RM500m waterfront city by 2010

An artist’s impression of the Kota Kinabalu City Waterfront project.

KOTA KINABALU: A RM500 million mixed seafront development is poised to change the face of this bustling and vibrant city.

Expected to be completed by 2010, the Kota Kinabalu City Waterfront (KKCW) development will, among others, feature the key attraction of a 2km-long boardwalk, to be built using eco-friendly materials, rising above the sea on stilts.

The KKCW is set to be a thriving waterfront pedestrian walkway that will seamlessly connect a variety of retail, lifestyle, residential and hotel establishments.

The project is being developed by Waterfront Urban Development Sdn Bhd (WUD) in collaboration with the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK).

It was unveiled during the launching of the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi last Tuesday.
Abdullah also witnessed the signing of the tripartite agreement for the KKCW development between WUD, Kuwait Finance House (Malaysia) Bhd and a consortium of Middle Eastern and Malaysian investors.

WUD managing director Reymee Mohamed Hussein said in line with the preservation of the environment, the KKCW development would incorporate environment-friendly features.

This will include hi-tech lighting, energy-conserving air conditioning systems and solar-powered pedestrian lighting.

Reymee said the KKCW master plan was conceptualised in collaboration with DBKK.

It is in line with the state government's endorsement for synergistic smart partnerships that leverage on the private sector's dynamism and the stewardship of public entities.

"The project is in line with SDC and DBKK's overall urbanisation and development masterplan, which is primarily to increase the role of coastal cities as catalysts for modernisation and development in Sabah," he said.

The project was envisaged after detailed studies were done on several thriving world-class international waterfront attractions such as Darling Harbour (Australia), Cape Town Waterfront (South Africa), Victoria Harbour (Hong Kong), Canary Wharf (London) and Clark Quay Riverside (Singapore).

The development will also spur economic growth for Kota Kinabalu and provide employment and new business opportunities to local residents and businesses.

"WUD designed this development to unlock the potential of the city's waterfront and be comparable with other worldclass waterfront development," Reymee said.

The KKCW project is expected to attract high-end tourists as it aims to be among the world's great seafront destinations.

By New Straits Times (by Joniston Bangkuai)