Malaysia’s Legoland to get Asian touch

JOHOR BARU, July 12 — In 2012, you might be able to drive across the Second Link to Johor Baru and, in 15 minutes, catch a view of the Petronas Twin Towers, India's Taj Mahal, Cambodia's Angkor Wat and Singapore's Merlion — all at one go.

If these iconic edifices do pop up, however, they will be a bit smaller than usual. And they will be made up of tiny plastic bricks.

These are the sights being considered at Asia's first Legoland, which is slated to come up at the Iskandar Malaysia development region in three years' time.

Unlike the four other Legolands elsewhere — in Germany, England, Denmark and the United States — Legoland Malaysia is expected to boast an Asian theme, giving the familiar world of bricks a touch of local flavour.

Some 30 million Lego bricks will be used in the RM750 million theme park, which will boast more than 30 rides, shows and attractions, from roller coasters and boat rides to adventure walks.

Legoland Malaysia is one of the many projects in the Iskandar development region which the government wants to build up as an economic, leisure and residential hub.

Covering 23ha, or about the size of 30 football fields, it will be a 15-minute drive from the Tuas Second Link.

More details are being worked out, with construction slated to begin later this year, but its developer, Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB), says the entrance fee will be “affordable for a family of six”.

Despite the global economic crisis and competition from other theme parks, IIB is convinced that Malaysia's first theme park will do well.

Well enough, in fact, for the government-backed IIB to revise its projected visitors numbers upwards — from 1 million a year to 1.4 million.

Malaysians are expected to make up half of these, with foreigners — mostly Indonesians and Singaporeans — making up the other half.

“When we assessed what we wanted to build, we looked at many operators, even Disney,” IIB's chief executive Arlida Ariff told The Sunday Times recently.

“But Disney, let's face it, would cost more than RM750 million. We felt that for a decent price, we're getting a quality theme park, with viable returns.”

Those returns may have to take into account the challenges brought about by the global downturn, which has already hit some projects in Iskandar Malaysia.

Last month, Dubai-based developer Damac Properties pulled out of a high-profile deal with state developer UEM Land, citing the financial crisis.

Arlida acknowledged the challenges, as well as the stiff competition Legoland Malaysia will face from other theme parks like Hong Kong's Disneyland, Singapore's upcoming Universal Studios and Australia's Dreamworld.

These, she pointed out, catered to an older crowd, leaving the younger audience out of play.
Legoland is targeting children aged two to 12.

“Sure, Legoland is not as well-known as a theme park, but we all played with Lego while we were growing up,” she said.

There is also some good news for adults: The theme park is reportedly expected to create some 5,000 jobs.

Production director Tim Burnell of Merlin Entertainments, which will manage the park, was in Johor last week to recruit for some of the jobs.

The company was looking to hire model makers, who can earn anywhere between RM1,400 and RM5,000 each.

It is something that architecture graduate Ibrahim Rahmat, 20, hopes to do.

Last week, he took a 12-hour bus ride from Perlis to Kuala Lumpur for the interview, which involved three rounds of making models using Lego bricks.

“I really want this job. I think I'll love the working environment,” he said. — Straits Times