PAPAR, Sept 27 — Papar’s first five-star hotel, InterContinental Sabah Kota Kinabalu Resort in Melinsung, is expected to begin operations in December 2027.
Papar Member of Parliament Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the RM1 billion project, developed by Taiwan-based Sinyi Group, covers more than 80 acres (32.4 hectares), with IHG Hotels & Resorts as its operating partner.
Based on a briefing by the developer, he said overall construction progress stood at about 34.1 per cent as of September 2026, while the main hotel had reached 47.7 per cent completion.
“The main hotel is targeted to begin operations in December 2027, followed by the entire resort in 2028. Upon completion, the project is expected to create about 700 new jobs,” he told reporters after visiting the project site here today.
Armizan, who is also domestic trade and cost of living minister, said the project was planned to have 418 rooms and accommodation units and was expected to become an international-standard tourism destination in the district.
Armizan said efforts to attract the investment began in October 2021 when he joined several Sinyi Group directors and district officers to visit a number of potential sites for resort development.
“Sinyi Group finally chose Papar for its investment to develop an international-standard tourism destination, the InterContinental Sabah Kota Kinabalu Resort,” he said.
The project progress visit was also attended by Kawang assemblyman Datuk Seri Gulamhaidar Khan Bahadar and local leaders, who received a briefing from the developer before inspecting construction work at the site.
“My hope from the beginning has been for this investment to deliver benefits beyond the development of a resort. It should create jobs for local people and generate economic spillovers for food, transport, supply and tourism service operators in Papar,” he said. — Bernama
