Bringing PD back to life

PORT Dickson has always been a sleepy oil refinery town that served as a weekend getaway for city dwellers.
Located about 32km from Seremban and 90km from Kuala Lumpur, Port Dickson used to produce charcoal, but it was later developed as a small port by the British during the Straits Settlement period.
Port Dickson used to buzz with new hotels and resorts in the 1990s, but due to the Asian financial crisis of 1997 many of these projects stalled, leaving many unfinished buildings scattered along the coastline.
As the economy improved, some of the projects were revived and Port Dickson is regaining its charm.
Leading the pack is TSR Capital Bhd, through its wholly owned subsidiary TSR Ocean Park Sdn Bhd.
The construction and civil engineering company secured a grant of up to RM57.4mil under a facilitation fund agreement it sealed with the Government and Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Bhd.
In a filing to Bursa Malaysia, TSR said the grant would also be used for the construction cost of a new ocean theme park and garden, a hotel with 250 rooms and service suites, convention centre and 100 units of water chalets together with the necessary facilities and infrastructure.
“Port Dickson is the designated National Resort Beach Town and City of the Armed Forces of Malaysia,” said TSR Capital development manager Ng Kim Keong.
Covering 63 acres, PD Waterfront includes a duty free/customs and immigration zone, a commercial zone, a health care zone, a tourism zone (inclusive of theme park and waterfront boardwalk) and an international convention centre.
“We are looking to revitalise Port Dickson. Our first phase will cover 80,000 sq ft of retail and commercial space. We will have a Starbucks and Mcdonalds,” said Ng.
The resort-style apartment will have a five-storey commercial space and a 10-storey residential area.
“We are also looking to have a local university in Port Dickson two years from now and we are looking to capture 40% of the overseas market,” said Ng.
The group is also expected to cover the upgrading works for the treatment of stormwater drainage system within identified catchment areas surrounding Port Dickson city centre for the project.