TRANSFORMING KUANTAN LANDSCAPE
Project to be fully completed by 2035
ELEVEN years ago, Kota SAS Sdn Bhd (KSSB) initiated a plan to develop a new integrated planned township. To be known as Kota Sultan Ahmad Shah (Kota SAS), the project here would incorporate a modern transportation network that included the RM55 billion East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project.
According to the company’s executive director Tengku Amir Tengku Ibrahim, Kota SAS aimed to transform the Kuantan landscape to be more conducive and dynamic and increase the community’s quality of life.
He said the township aimed to provide infrastructure facilities for investors to generate business and job opportunities, as well as to create a safe and harmonious community.
“A high quality and efficient infrastructure is vital to ensure the success of the innovative plan for Kota SAS Bandar Baru Kuantan (Kuantan New Township).
“The development of the township is based on the core principles of environmental friendliness and facilities,” said Tengku Amir, who is also a member of Tanah Makmur Bhd (TMB) board of directors.
KSSB is a subsidiary of TMB. He estimated that the township’s gross development value would amount to RM5 billion when the residential and commercial properties, as well as infrastructure, were completed.
He said the cost of infrastructure work, which began in 2008, was RM43 million.
“Kota SAS is a planned and integrated township comprising the best administrative centre, commercial centre and residential area in Pahang.”
Tengku Amir said full development would take 18 years, which is by 2035.
The company is projecting a population of 30,000 in Kota SAS, besides the 9,000 working here, with 1,400 residential units completed and occupied by 3,000 residents, he added.
Tengku Amir said the Pahang government had given its approval
by injecting RM415 million in investment for the development of a new state administrative centre, currently being implemented and expected to be completed by 2020.
“The construction covers one block of state administration building, one block of Federal Government building, state assembly building and the office of the Pahang menteri besar.
“When completed, about 1,000 government officers would be transferred from Wisma Pahang to the new state administrative centre here.”
He said in March, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had announced the ECRL project to kickstart economic development in the East Coast states, in line with efforts by the East Coast Economic Region (ECER).
“Kota SAS has been chosen as one of the primary ECRL stations in Pahang.
“It is hoped that Kota SAS Central will make the township become a transportation hub and commercial hub, among others.”
He said work on the railway would begin this year and it is estimated that Phase 1 of the ECRL project covering Pahang would be completed by 2021.
“This would bring a positive impact in transportation services to the residents of Kota SAS and surrounding areas.
“Today, we are heartened that the prime minister is launching the ECRL groundbreaking that aims to connect the East Coast states with the Klang Valley.
“This is testament to the support and close cooperation enjoyed by the Malaysian government and the developer of Kota SAS, in ensuring the success of the ECER programme.”
Tengku Amir said that aside from transportation facilities, KSSB planned to create other projects, involving the Pahang Contingent Police Headquarters, Masjid Negeri 2, health and medical facilities, commercial centres, shopping centres and recreational centres.
He said the company had carried out its corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts for Kota SAS residents, such as the construction of Imam Ash-Shafie Mosque, which functions as a place of worship and a community centre.
“In terms of the education sector, the development of Kota SAS took into account national schools, secondary schools, private schools and Chinese schools, where a memorandum had been signed between Kota SAS (the company) and the stakeholders of SRJK (C) Panching.”
Tengku Amir said the company had also established the Kota SAS auxiliary police unit.
“We are thankful to the Royal Malaysian Police for allowing the establishment of Kota SAS Auxiliary Police to help the police in curbing crime and create a safe environment for the Kota SAS community.
“We hope that the development (township project) can help realise the dream to make Kota SAS a Kuantan new township that can be shared, and is of benefit to all residents of Kuantan and the state.”