PENANG, March 11 (Bernama) -- Gurney Plaza Sdn Bhd, the owner of a premier lifestyle shopping mall in Penang, is investing RM83 million to build a new extension wing at its existing site at Gurney Drive, here.

Its director, Phuah Choon Meng said the new seven-floor wing would provide an additional 150,000 sq ft of prime retail space as well as 800 new parking bays.

He said the new wing, expected to be ready by the end of 2008, would be connected to the existing mall by a seamless joint for the convenience of all shoppers.

Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony officiated by Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon here Sunday, he said the ground floor up to the 3rd floor of the new wing would house shoplots while the basement and the 4th floor onwards would contain parking bays.

"What is good about the new wing is that it will be located next door to the newly opened G Hotel and this project proves that there is strong demand for retail space in our mall from both local and international brands," he added.

Six years ago, the company invested RM250 million to open the more than 700,000 sq ft shopping mall at Penang's popular seaside promenade and managed to woo almost 180,000 shopper traffic for one week during the year-end peak season.

Meanwhile Koh in his speech said that in recent years, Penang saw the emergence of many shopping complexes that provided a better lifestyle, good eating outlets and also places for shoppers to hangout.

"A few years ago, he said, someone complained that Penang did not have `happening' places and shopping activities were confined to only Komtar but now we have the Gurney Plaza cluster, Queensbay Mall cluster and soon the Time Square. These places offer a wide choice for different stratas to quality shopping with a good bargain," he added.

He encouraged the business community to work closely with the government to make Malaysia a better place to live.