GEORGE TOWN: After almost six years, Metrojaya is closing its sole Metrojaya store in Penang located at Island Plaza from Feb 20. The store opened in September 2005.

A Metrojaya spokesperson based at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur said the decision to cease operations was due to the major renovations planned by the complex  management for the Island Plaza Shopping Mall starting in April.

“In view of the massive renovation programme which will impact the overall performance of Metrojaya store in Island Plaza, the management of Metrojaya has decided to cease operations of this store with effect from Feb 20.

“Metrojaya will continue to explore suitable business opportunities to operate in Penang as we believe that this market holds tremendous growth for its retailing business,” added the spokesperson in an e-mail in response to queries from The Edge Financial Daily.

She added that Metrojaya would continue to operate its chain of specialty stores in Penang, namely the Reject Shop in Gurney Plaza and Sunway Carnival and Living Quarters at Gurney Plaza.

Staff working at the Metrojaya store would not be laid off but would be offered continued employment with the company.  

“As we have a number of specialty stores in the northern region, the staff will be redeployed,” said the spokesperson.

Metrojaya is a leading home-grown Malaysian retailer with more than 35 years of retail operations.

It has seven department stores and more than 70 specialty stores under the names of East India Company, Somerset Bay, Reject Shop and Living Quarters. In total, it has over 1 million sq feet of retail space in Kuala Lumpur, Johor Baru, Penang and Sabah and Sarawak.

This article appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, February 7, 2011.