IT mall to spur Komtar's revival

GEORGE TOWN (Penang): The iconic Komtar which used to be the centre of commerce and hub of activity will soon to restored to its former glory.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said come September, Komtar, built in the 1970s will be 95% occupied by a 4-storey IT mall as an anchor tenant in one of its wings which used to house the Aktif Lifestyle/Yaohan supermarket. The other anchor tenant is the Pacific Hypermarket and Departmental Store which started operating last year.

Venice Gateway Sdn Bhd with a paid up capital of RM1 million has signed an 18 year lease for 100,446 sq ft of space for the IT mall which will offer 250 shoplots selling computers and peripherals, telecommunications products, cybercafes, service centres, among others.

"After a long awaited revival, Komtar will now be restored to its former lustre with more tenants coming in with the state government's efforts to bring life back into Komtar," Lim said after witnessing the tenancy agreement between Venice Gateway and Info Melia Sdn Bhd, a fully owned subsidiary of PDC Premier Holdings Sdn Bhd.

Venice Gateway executive director Danny Wong said the IT Mall, with an RM10 million investment will be the largest in the northern region. Wong was the founder of Low Yat Plaza's concept as an IT mall in Kuala Lumpur in 1999.

He has targetted the IT mall at Komtar to serve not only the northern region but also Asean countries. To date, 50% of the shoplots have already been taken up and Wong is looking at China-based small and medium industry electrical and electronics manufacturers to come onboard.

"They have the technology and this mall can provide the platform for them in Asean," he added.