Aeon Malaysia, part of the Japanese retail group, plans to expand its network to Sabah and Sarawak states on the island of Borneo over the next three to five years, reports www.thesundaily.my.
Commenting on the move, managing director Nur Qamarina Chew Abdullah said the firm was looking at possible sites having identified "big opportunities" in the two East Malaysian-owned states.
"We believe Aeon Malaysia could modernise the retail landscape in East Malaysia and the East Coast," she said, adding that the company plans to open two shopping centres a year.
Aeon Malaysia is also planning to invest in new shopping centres and upgrading selected existing outlets on the Malaysian Peninsula, its core market.
New shopping centres are planned in Kedah, Penang and Johr in 2014 and 2015, the report said. A new shopping centre in Perak is also scheduled to open by the end of this year.
