This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on August 12, 2019 - August 18, 2019

Kuala Lumpur Metro Group announced the development of its latest resort, Lexis Hibiscus 2, together with Menteri Besar Inc Negeri Sembilan, on July 29.

“We are excited to once again partner with the Lexis Hotel Group for our latest iconic project, Lexis Hibiscus 2,” said Kuala Lumpur Metro Group chairman Datuk Mat Hassan Esa in a press release during the official signing ceremony that was witnessed by Port Dickson MP Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“Leveraging their [Lexis Hotel Group’s] expertise as a trend-setting hospitality company, coupled with strong local market knowledge, we believe Lexis Hibiscus 2 will emulate the success of Lexis Hibiscus (Port Dickson) and [it] is set to surpass Lexis Hibiscus’ current positioning as the largest water homes development in the world,” said Mat Hassan.

Scheduled to open in 2024, the 5-star luxury resort has an estimated gross development value of RM500 million and will feature 582 water villas and 178 sky pool villas. Like at Lexis Hibiscus, each villa will come with its own private dip pool for exclusivity and privacy.

Lexis Hibiscus 2 will feature a sunken aquarium with a built-in restaurant — the first-of-its-kind in Malaysia — and a musical fountain. Its grand ballroom — the largest in Negeri Sembilan — will be able to accommodate 2,000 persons.

There will also be Hibiscus Walk, a unique outdoor shopping and dining destination featuring rows of street food stalls offering authentic Malaysian cuisine.  

“Upon completion, Lexis Hibiscus 2 will bring approximately 400,000 tourists annually to Port Dickson. If each tourist spends an average one-night stay of RM600, this will generate tourist receipts of RM240 million per annum and will benefit the local communities and enhance Port Dickson’s international appeal as a leading tourist destination,” Mat Hassan said.

He added that the opening of Lexis Hibiscus 2 will strengthen the Lexis brand in the seaside town of Port Dickson. “We will work closely with the government to promote tourism in Port Dickson for discerning leisure and business travellers from the FITs (free independent tourists), tour series, corporate and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) segments, both locally and abroad,” he added.

Lexis Hibiscus 2, like Lexis Hibiscus, is nestled along Pasir Panjang beach. About an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur International Airport and the Kuala Lumpur city centre, the resort will extend outward into the Straits of Malacca in the shape of the national flower.

According to the press release, Chief Minister of Negeri Sembilan Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said Menteri Besar Inc was given a 20% stake in Lexis Hibiscus 2 in return for 32ha of land.

“The state government also gains from the land premium paid by Kuala Lumpur Metro Group, which will pay 42 fishermen affected by the project. Each fisherman will also receive RM1,000 a month for five years,” he explained.

Lexis Hibiscus 2 will be managed by the Lexis Hotel Group, whose existing property, Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson, holds two Guinness World Records, for “The most swimming pools in a resort” and “The most overwater villas in a single resort”.

To date, Kuala Lumpur Metro Group’s properties — Lexis Port Dickson, Grand Lexis Port Dickson and Lexis Hibiscus Port Dickson — have brought in 5.2 million tourists, half of whom were from 156 countries.

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