style="text-transform: uppercase;">Kota Kinabalu: The first all-on-ground-floor shopping mall in Sabah, the KK Mega Mall, will be completed end of next year, with 65 per cent of available units already sold.The single-storey international concept was conceived based on new international shopping mall trends in Australia, US, Canada and New Zealand, said Robert Ling Tiong Chai of Ideal Prestige Sdn Bhd, which is developing the shopping mall.

According to Ling, the company is confident about the prospects of the KK Mega Mall, which is located along the "migratory" route of people bound from the north and from the east coast.

"We estimate about 50,000 people pass by Tanjung Lipat daily.

Furthermore, surrounding the KK Mega Mall are housing estates and six major schools with 20,000 students, thus adding to the mall being a focal point that offers the widest range of goods and entertainment," he said.

The latest shopping mall is being built near Maksak (Sabah Civil Service Recreational Council) Hall, opposite the Sabah Trade Centre, here.

Ling, who is Executive Director of Ideal Prestige, told Daily Express that the main advantage of the shopping mall is its unique all-on-the-ground-floor concept, which has proven to be the in-thing in other countries, especially in the West.

He said the KK Mega Mall is not only set to become the city's latest commercial hub but will also set a new trend for shopping malls in the country owing to the concept.

Ling said another unique feature would be a 1,400-foot wide boulevard abutting the mall resembling the renowned Bintang Walk in Kuala Lumpur.

There would be two atriums covering a total floor area of 15,000 sq ft to cater to special performances, product promotions and competitions, among others, he said.

He said together with retail units, supermarket, fast-food centres, food court, departmental stores and amusement centres all located on the same floor, the KK Mega Mall will provide for about 1,500 car parking lots on three floors above. The development will also incorporate eight blocks of five-storey condominiums.

To be built on an area roughly the size of 10 football fields surrounding the existing Maksak Hall and office would be a 12-storey 200-room hotel and a 10-storey office block as well as a Maksak Civil Service Museum.

In this respect, Ling said the project is a joint-venture with landowner, Maksak, while the main contractor is Golden Kinabalu Sdn Bhd.

"We are confident the KK Mega Mall will become the commercial hub for the city," said Ling

On Saturday, Ideal Prestige held a New Year celebration on site. Present to entertain guests were Ideal Prestige's Managing Director Tiong Sie Liing, Project Manager Charlie Chan and Finance Manager Cyndi Lin.