Business

Tuesday August 4, 2009

IIB mulls over three theme parks for Iskandar Malaysia

By ZAZALI MUSA


JOHOR BARU: Iskandar Investment Bhd (IIB) is looking at having three theme parks in Iskandar Malaysia, including Legoland Malaysia, said president and chief executive officer Arlida Ariff.

Legoland will be the main theme park with the other two supporting parks, she said.

“Different theme parks cater to different segments of visitors as this will be better rather than just having one park in our development,’’ Arlida told reporters recently after announcing six successful applicants hired as “model shop associates” at Legoland Malaysia in Nusajaya.

The model shop associates will help build Lego models at the park.

Arlida said the company had been discussing with several foreign theme park operators to set up parks in Iskandar Malaysia but declined to elaborate further.

IIB had taken into account past failed attempts by local operators to set up theme parks, she added.

“We ran a feasibility study and market research before announcing the project (Legoland) and the same things apply for the other theme parks,’’ she said, noting that Legoland Malaysia catered for children aged between two and 12 years.

IIB senior vice-president Muhammad Zainal Ashikin said work on Legoland Malaysia would start next March with the project expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2012.

He said the company planned to have a tie-up with major airlines and travel operators from the region as part of its strategy to attract visitors to the park.

The US$200mil park, to be built on a 23ha site, is a joint venture between Merlin Entertainment Groups and IIB. It will be the first Legoland park in Asia.

There are currently four Legoland parks around the world – in Billund (Denmark), Windsor (near London, Britain), California (United States) and Deutschland (Germany).

The six successful Legoland Malaysia model shop associates announced by IIB are Lee Khai Yuen, Pang Chueng Shuong, Ahmad Yazid Sumisdan, Khadzlan Hairani Ali Omar, Mohd Firdaus Rahiman and Khairunadia Kamarudin.

They were selected from 84 shortlisted candidates from all over the country in competition and interviewing sessions conducted by Merlin Entertainment Group last month.

All six will undergo a 10-week training programme in California from Sept 1, and upon returning they will assist master builders build Legoland models at Legoland Malaysia.

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