Langkawi’s 99 reclaimed islands project on track, says Sanusi

 

A still from the Widad@Langkasuka project video shows an artist’s impression of the reclamation project by the wave breaker area at Padang Mat Sirat in Langkawi. (File pic)

ALOR SETAR: A private company reclaiming 810ha of land off Langkawi has already paid commitment fees of RM4.5 million to the Kedah government, the state assembly heard today.

Menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor (PAS-Jeneri) said the Widad@Langkasuka project’s main proponent, Widad Business Group Sdn Bhd (Widad), had also entered into an agreement with a company in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on March 30.

He said Widad signed an agreement with Bin Zayed International LLC (BZI) to form a special purpose vehicle to be called Widad BZI Sdn Bhd.

The joint venture will see a cluster of 99 islands to be built at a cost of US$9.6 billion (RM40.2 billion), according to a report by news portal, Arabian Business.

BZI is a subsidiary of a group founded by Sheikh Khaled Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family.

Sanusi said BZI was selected as a strategic partner due to its experience and good reputation in the UAE and internationally, through their high-impact investments, development projects, and solid financials.

He said planning permission for the project had been submitted to the Langkawi Municipal Council on Aug 14.

According to Sanusi, the project would be divided into two phases.

“The first phase will be carried out over a four-year period until 2025, with a RM4.5 billion gross development value. It will have clubhouses, a golf club, gated bungalow communities, double-storey homes, condominiums, malls, business complexes, bazaars, and a hotel.

“The second phase will have eight components, such as arts and cultural centre, immigration complex, hotels and resorts, a theme park, medical centre, a higher education institution and an aeronautical centre,” he said, adding that it will take 15 years to complete.

Sanusi gave these details in response to an oral question by Tan Kok Yew (DAP-Derga), who then asked about the commitment fees paid by the proponents of the project.

Earlier this year, Sanusi had announced the reclamation project, touting it to be the game-changer in the northern region. - FMT