KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 5): Ikano Centres' Klippa Shopping Centre in Batu Kawan, Penang, will undergo further expansion with the construction of a 20,000 sq ft Decathlon standalone flagship store, whose groundbreaking ceremony was held on Jan 26, according to a statement on Monday. The outlet at Klippa Shopping Centre will be the sporting goods retailer's second store in Penang.
Ikano Centres commercial director Arnoud Bakker said, “The groundbreaking ceremony marks the beginning of another chapter in Klippa’s development, contributing to our aim of being the heart and hub of the Batu Kawan township, located in Aspen Vision City — poised to become the first smart city in North Malaysia and one of the most exciting growth areas in Malaysia. Our commitment to expanding our portfolio and Klippa itself is unwavering. We are on a continuous journey of growth, adding new dimensions to our centres to enhance the experience for our community."
In the same statement, Decathlon Malaysia chief executive officer Jiao Li said, “This groundbreaking symbolises our shared dedication to providing an enriched experience for the Batu Kawan community and beyond. At Decathlon, our purpose is to move people through the wonders of sport. We believe in creating spaces that can bring the pleasure and benefits of sports to as many as possible the local citizens, and our partnership with Klippa exemplifies this commitment. We are truly honoured to contribute to the happiness and health of the growing Batu Kawan community and look forward to becoming an integral part of this community."
In addition to the retail outlet, Ikano Centres has also unveiled the Soccer Experience @ Klippa Batu Kawan, Powered by IKEA, at the shopping centre. The project will span approximately 170,000 sq ft, and will include two pitches with an 11-aside open airfield, a 7-aside covered field and a clubhouse.
“We are thrilled to kick off this phase of our development with the commencement of Decathlon’s construction and the introduction of our latest addition, Soccer Experience @ Klippa Batu Kawan, Powered by IKEA, to our destination. This inclusion diversifies our retail offering, specifically tailoring our offer to cater to the needs of Batu Kawan’s fast-growing community,” said Bakker.
“At Klippa, we’ve already opened a wide array of offerings, including a full-fledged grocery store, soon a petrol station with an F&B drive through concept, more F&B outlets, and other amenities that have become integral parts of the community’s daily life. In line with Klippa’s phased-development approach, this expansion focuses on creating offerings that are relevant to the growing community, rather than constructing spaces solely to fill vacancies.
"With a 99% occupancy rate in the initial phases of Klippa, we are confident in moving forward with the next phases of development. This is just the beginning, and we look forward to introducing more diverse and innovative offerings in the future to create a destination for the many," he added.
With an estimated gross development value (GDV) of RM1 billion, Klippa Shopping Centre currently comprises 50 tenants and targets to attract another 300 tenants. It currently spans 660,000 sq ft of retail and will have 800,000 sq ft once fully completed in 2025.
Klippa Shopping Centre is part of Ikano Centres’ Klippa mixed-use development. The entire development has a GDV of RM3.5 billion and spans 51 acres. Launched in 2019, the development is expected to be completed over a period of six to nine years.
In addition to the shopping centre, the Klippa development will also have residential components, which will have an approximate GDV of between RM2 billion and RM2.5 billion, and comprise 4,000 to 4,500 residential units.