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Kota Kinabalu: Meta Bright Group Berhad launched its maiden commercial project in Kota Kinabalu - Damai Suites - with a gross development value (GDV) of RM148 million. 

About 20 per cent of 256 boutique units ranging from 303 to 560 sq. feet, including retail lots, in a 16-storey building have been booked during the launch of its sales gallery in Damai, here, Saturday. 

Meta Bright Group Berhad, formerly known as Eastland Equity Bhd (MBGB), is a Bursa-listed company with core businesses in hospitality, investment properties, property development, leasing, financing and energy. 

FBO Land (Setapak) Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of MBGB, jointly undertakes the Damai Suite project with Sabah Economic Development Corporation (Sedco), Sabah Urban Development Corporation (SUDC) and City Hall (DBKK). 

The building, right in the heart of Damai, features a five-story automated car-park providing 215 parking bays to enhance parking availability in the bustling commercial centre. 

Damai Suites is slated for completion in the second quarter of 2026. The views offered face either Bukit Padang or Tanjung Aru and prices start from RM375,500 to RM770,500.

Meta Bright Group Berhad Managing Director Lee Chee Kiang said three floors starting from the 12th will house Renai, a five-star hotel. 

Pricing for fixed monthly rental suites on said floors will begin at RM1,700.

“We promise to deliver a good job and try our best to minimise and mitigate for any troubles caused to nearby residents. We hope they won’t complain to Luyang Assemblyman Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe. 

“Kelantan-based Renai Hotel will become another addition to Sabah’s line-up of five-star hotels. I am sure that with the help of Phoong, Luyang can be elevated to another level,” he said in his speech.

Officiating the sales gallery, Phoong, who is also State Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister (MIDE), said Luyang, once regarded as an ageing community area, is now becoming prime land attracting younger folk. 

“Urbanisation and commercialisation is inevitable. New projects will create new landscapes and subsequent criticism. 

“This project’s construction will cause inconvenience to residents and shop owners because it’s very narrow. 

“But I’m not seeing it through biased lens. There are plenty of projects like these in advanced countries like Japan or Taiwan. It’s okay, but the construction standard is something that must be emphasised. 

“It’s not impossible to see a 100-storey building in Foh Sang one day,” he told a press conference. 

Other housing developments in Luyang like The Logg and Harrington Suites, he said, had made away with swamps and squatters.

“I understand Luyang residents are cautious because the standard of production in Sabah might not be on par and that is why we need to set that standard. Lee has given me his assurance on this. 

“I have also brought this matter up to the Mayor during a courtesy call on Friday. We have agreed that developers must collaborate with City Hall to ease traffic congestions for any development. 

“Since no one can stop urbanisation, this should be taken into account by developers,” he said.

On the proposed park turned condo development in 88 Marketplace which had stirred dismay among residents there, Phoong said 24-hour public accessible sky parks is a viable option as seen in hybrid style malls in Tokyo, Japan. 

“In politics it is not a yes or no or a zero sum game. We need to continuously find alternative ways forward,” he said, referring to the eyesore of the dilapidated and grimy Sinsuran buildings in town.