Malaysia - Better placed for medical tourism within 3 years

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah's healthcare services will be boosted with the setting up of a private hospital - Gleneagles Kota Kinabalu Medical Centre - the anchor component in the RM590 million mixed integrated commercial development called Riverson along the coastal highway near Sembulan, here.

The private hospital run by Asia's largest private hospital chain, Parkway Group, will have 250 beds and six operating theatres once the whole development by local developer, Riverson Corporation Sdn Bhd, is completed in three years.

Riverson Corporation Managing Director, Ben Kong, said the Gleneagles Kota Kinabalu Medical Centre, alone costing nearly half the gross development value, is a joint-venture between Riverson, Sabah government's investment arm, Warisan Harta Sdn Bhd and Saham Murni.

He said the private hospital would have 95 specialists offering the people of Sabah more options in getting quality healthcare services locally.

The private hospital would also have a 24-hour Accident and Emergency Department and Trauma and Intensive Care Centre.

At the same time, it would allow Sabah to promote medical tourism capitalising on potential tourists from nearby countries, who normally go to Singapore.

"Having an internationally renowned medical centre as the main anchor for Riverson is indeed a prestige and a great advantage to the city and its community," said Kong.

Besides the private hospital, the Riverson's three other main components are the 3-storey retail shops called Riverson Walk, a tower of 6-storey office suites called Riverson Suites and a 7-storey tower of small office home office (SoHo) called Riverson SoHo.

Riverson Walk, he said consists of 247 retail outlets with sizes ranging from the smallest unit of approximately 100 sq ft to the largest unit of 937 sq ft, specially tailored for small boutique retail businesses, a concept similar to Singapore's famous 313 @ Somerset, Orchard Road and Empire Subang in Subang Jaya.

The Riverson SoHo consists of a block of 152 units of one to two bedroom suites and duplexes.

"Each SoHo can also be converted for use as a home office, which is perfect for individuals keen to work from the comforts of their own home," he said.

As for the Riverson Suites, he said it was designed to cater to the ever-evolving business needs of Sabah's fast growing business environment.

According to Kong, the development, which had already started groundworks, had created a record of sorts since it was also the first time that a Sabahan company is guaranteed by a Federal bond.

Riverson Corporation Sdn Bhd sealed the agreement with Danajamin Nasional Berhad for the RM200 million five-year Private Debt Securities programme. It was witnessed by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.

The bond programme has been rated AAA by the Malaysian Rating Corporation Berhad (MARC).

Kong who was formerly Executive Director of the Wah Mie Group for 11 years and had overseen the construction of Sutera Harbour Resort as well as Grace Ville here said the Riverson would be a new addition to Kota Kinabalu city as the city grew outwards.

"It is strategically located along the coastal highway, just 10 minutes from the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, within the central business district, and enjoys the marvellous seaside views of Sabah's famed golden sunset and the soothing blue waters of the bay beyond the beautiful Tunku Abdul Rahman Islands," he said.

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