KUALA LUMPUR: With hi-tech becoming the status quo for new shopping centers in Malaysia, the country has officially launched its first “green” shopping mall in an effort to combine environment and the shopping experience. Retailers, the government and environmental experts hope the new facility, Setia City Mall, created to save energy and water, will be a success and a construct that can be followed by other builders in the country. The mall will be the first of its kind to receive the Malaysian Green Building Index accreditation with a provisional Silver Certificate. “We oriented the building so it doesn't get too hot and harvest rainwater to water the landscaping,” said its development director Robert Spinks. The building also comes with green car park bays, which can recharge electric cars. “As soon as the cars are sold, the bays will be ready,” said Spinks. Besides the accreditation, the mall is also the first in the country to provisionally receive Singapore's Building and Construction Authority's Green Mark gold award. The mall in the Shah Alam and Klang area, officially opened on Saturday and saw hundreds of visitors. It houses some 250 stores, including Harvey Norma, Golden Screen Cinemas and Parkson.. SP Setia president and CEO Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin expressed pride in the project, which is fully tenanted. “With over 700,000 sq ft of lettable area, the mall will create more than 2,000 jobs.” He added that a convention hall, the largest in the Klang Valley, will also be built in Setia Alam. Setia City Mall was jointly developed by SP Setia and Asian Retail Investment Fund. Residents say they are excited about the new project, and believe in the mission. “I am definitely going to go there to watch movies. I want to promote something that will help the country,” one local resident told Bikyamasr.com.
