(From left) Perak State Legislative Assembly for Hulu Kinta member Muhamad Arafat Varisai Mahamad; Perak State Tourism, Industry, Investment and Corridor Development exco Loh Sze Yee, Perak State secretary Datuk Ahmad Suai-di Abdul Rahim; Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad; Sunway Group founder and chairman Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah; Ipoh Mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin; and Perak State Economic Development Corp CEO Datuk Redza Rafiq at the groundbreaking ceremony of Sunway Ipoh Mall, held at Sunway Onsen Hospitality Suites at Sunway City Ipoh, Perak, on Thursday, Aug 1, 2024. (Photo by Shahrill Basri/The Edge)

IPOH (Aug 1): Sunway Malls, the retail arm of Sunway Bhd (KL:SUNWAY), on Thursday commenced the construction of Sunway Ipoh Mall, which is part of the larger Sunway City Ipoh township development in Ipoh, Perak. 

Sunway City Ipoh is a 1,350-acre township comprising residential, commercial, educational and hospitality components. 

With a total development cost of over RM1 billion, Sunway Ipoh Mall will be developed on an 18.88-acre parcel and will span over one million sq ft of net lettable area (NLA) across four storeys. The mall will comprise 350 retail lots and 3,000 carpark bays. 

The mall is expected to be completed in 2027 and will house Perak’s first ice-skating rink, an exhibition centre, a 36-lane bowling centre, a multipurpose sports centre, a gourmet garden, and a 10-hall cinema with a seating capacity of approximately 1,500.

In his welcome address, Sunway Group founder and chairman Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah said, “Sunway Ipoh Mall is poised to become the largest mall in Ipoh. This mall is strategically located along the North-South Expressway, so those passing through the highway can drop by and do their shopping here. It might be better than going to the R&Rs (rest and refreshment). Besides locals, Ipoh also has seen a surge in international tourists in recent years. I believe if we do it right, we will be able to get [more] tourists to visit the city”.

According to Sunway Malls chief executive officer HC Chan, the mall is expected to have two or three supermarkets, a few department stores, a cinema and several food and beverage (F&B) outlets. Chan also hopes to bring in local Ipoh and Perak street or hawker food vendors to be part of the mall’s tenant mix. 

“With the addition of this mall, Sunway Malls’ northern region [portfolio] will form 29% of our total net lettable area, up 14% from the current 15%,” Chan added.

The groundbreaking ceremony was officiated by the Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad. In his speech, Saarani said he recognises the importance of public-private partnerships such as this, where the private sector plays a crucial role in driving economic and social development. 

“Ultimately, my vision is to elevate Ipoh into an international metropolis and reclaim Perak’s rightful place as one of the most economically advanced states in Malaysia. The government of Perak is proud to provide our full support behind this transformative project that will redefine the landscape here,” he said.

To this, Cheah commented that “The state government’s Perak Prosperity Plan 2030 outlines an ambitious agenda to drive sustainable, inclusive, and equitable economic development throughout the state. As a proud son of Perak, I am honoured to play a role in developing this piece of land and contribute towards the Eastern Development Corridor of Ipoh, and Sunway will continue to be a strong and long-term partner of the state government”.

When asked about the upcoming plans for Sunway Ipoh City, Cheah said the developer will be rolling out projects worth RM4 billion in gross development value over the next ten- to 15 years. Some upcoming developments he mentioned include Sunway University, a hotel and a convention centre. He added that Sunway Medical Centre Ipoh, which is currently under construction, is on track to be open and fully operational by early 2025. 

To date, about 950 acres of Sunway City Ipoh have been developed, with the remaining 400 acres expected to be developed over the next two decades, said Cheah.