By The Borneo Post onSabah
Susan (second left) and Vanessa (left) in a photo with Dr Edward (second right) and others after the meeting.
PAPAR (April 18): A proposal will be made to a leading higher learning institution in Malaysia to establish a branch at Parklane City.
WSG Group managing director Datuk Susan Wong Siew Guen met with Dr Edward Johann Leong at Benoni Show Gallery yesterday, who is going to propose to a major tertiary education provider in Malaysia to set up a branch in Papar.
Dr Edward worked as a pilot in Australia, before he served as the chief operating officer for a Saudi-based airline. He later joined Genting Hong Kong as the executive vice president, and was a lecturer at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and associate professor at the University of Canberra and International Institute of Management for Australia. He then decided to focus on education and psychology, and is currently committed full-time to charity work, specifically on helping underprivileged children who are struggling with mental health issues.
To this end, Dr Edward will set up learning centre at Parklane City in the next three months to cater for children with special needs, including kids with autism and dyslexia. The centre will not only provide education to special needs children but also train them to be employable in the future, he said.
In his meeting with Susan, Dr Edward said he intends to bring a major leading education player to Papar.
He said the tertiary education provider has plans to establish a branch in Sabah but it never materialized.
“Papar has one of the best locations for an education hub because it is neither too far nor too near, like Cyberjaya. It is only 30 to 40 minutes away from Kota Kinabalu.”
He also proposed a medical centre to be set up as well.
Dr Edward, who hails from Papar, said his dream is to make Papar an education centre and improve the lifestyle of youths in the district.
He pointed out that youths are reluctant to stay in Papar after they have completed their secondary school education, opting to move to Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur instead.
By creating opportunities in Papar, youths will be willing to stay and work in their hometown, he said.
“My dream is to make Papar a desa contoh, or exemplary district, an example for all other districts.
“This could not have been done without the foresight and vision of Datuk Susan Wong, with her developments in Papar under her company, WSG Group.
“Anyone who comes to Papar is amazed by how different Papar is compared to other districts.”
Meanwhile, Susan said Benoni Commercial Centre and Parklane City are her dream projects because she could design and plan the developments properly on the 100-acre of land that is now known as Benoni New Township.
She said the land was acquired from Kapitan Chen Chee On, who saved her mother from a lifetime from hardship during World War II. The fact that Papar is the hometown of her mother, Datin Seri Panglima Chen Si Mui, made the developments in Benoni even more meaningful to Susan.
“My mother wanted a cinema in Papar so I have built that for her. Now she comes grocery shopping in Papar every week.”
On another note, Susan said she has designated a land for college three years ago, and had pitched to many higher education providers but none has materialized to date.
She hoped that Dr Edward’s proposal to the tertiary education institution will turn out to be good news.
“Even if it is not, we will try other institutions. One day, we will have a college in Parklane City,” she stressed.
The company also organized a get-together with teachers in Papar at its show gallery on Friday, in conjunction with the Raya celebrations.
Rosmadi Hasmail, focal person of Papar District Education Office (PPD), said the WSG Group is a strategic partner of the office, who has always provided generous support to the programmes organized by schools and PPD.
“Datuk Susan is a kind and caring person,” he said, while expressing his gratitude for the contributions by the company to education in the district.
The visitors were briefed on the company’s latest projects in Parklane City, namely Tower B of Parklane Residences Lifestyles Condominium that was launched recently.
Parklane Residences Lifestyles Condominium has four towers and 860 units in total. Each tower stands 19 storeys tall with 215 units.
The newly-launched Tower B offers two layouts – two bedrooms and two bathrooms between 620 sq ft and 680 sq ft, and three bedrooms and two bathrooms with built-up areas of 1,000 sq ft, 1,050 sq ft and 1,100 sq ft.
The two-bedroom units are priced between RM246,000 and RM293,000, while the three-bedroom units are available from RM378,000 to RM398,000.
Residents of the condominium will enjoy close access to the Pan Borneo Highway, as well as a wide range of facilities such as a swimming pool, children’s playground, indoor badminton courts, gymnasium and 24-hour security service. The condominium has a leasehold of 999 years, and each unit is entitled to a covered parking lot. The project is expected to be completed in mid-2026.
Parklane City also offers a wide range of retail, food and beverage (F&B), recreational and other amenities, such as 10Star Cinemas, McDonald’s drive-thru, CKS Grocery, Secret Recipe, 4Fingers, electronic and electronics shop, vehicle workshop and a shopping mall.
A&W Restaurant, Burger King and Domaio will soon open their outlets in Parklane City as well, and retail giant Parkson will be established three years later. A new sports arena with badminton and pickleball courts will be ready by the end of 2026.
Susan added that a banquet hall above 10Star Cinemas will be officiated by the Member of Parliament for Papar, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, on April 28.
“After the launch, Paparians will have a banquet hall to host wedding receptions, birthday parties and other events,” she said.
Also present was WSG Group director Vanessa Wong.
