Golden Land expands Kota Kinabalu presence with Putatan Gateway
by The Borneo Post Team · Borneo Post OnlineKOTA KINABALU (Sept 22): Golden Land Berhad (GLB) is strengthening its presence in Kota Kinabalu with the introduction of Putatan Gateway Socio-Industry, a 13.4-acre light industrial development featuring 43 two-storey light industrial factories in Putatan.
The development marks GLB’s second project launch in Kota Kinabalu, following its first project in the city, The Playground @ Kota Kinabalu, a commercial suites development launched on 14 June 2026.
With Putatan Gateway, GLB is expanding its Kota Kinabalu property portfolio into the light industrial factory segment, catering to businesses seeking modern, flexible premises for their operations and future expansion.
Positioned as Sabah’s first Japanese-inspired modern lifestyle industrial enclave, Putatan Gateway introduces a contemporary approach to light industrial development by combining practical industrial functionality with modern architecture, flexible spaces and a stronger emphasis on corporate identity.
Connectivity remains one of Putatan Gateway’s key propositions
Located along Kota Kinabalu’s growing southern industrial corridor, the development is approximately 1 km from the Putatan interchange of the Pan Borneo Highway, 5 km from Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) and 10 km from Kota Kinabalu city centre, and provides an additional advantage for companies involved in air freight, time-sensitive deliveries, import and export activities and regional business operations.
According to Stewart Yap, Chief Executive Officer of Golden Land Berhad,Putatan is increasingly emerging as a strategic southern growth corridor, supported by improving highway connectivity, proximity to KKIA and the continued growth of industrial and commercial activities in greater Kota Kinabalu.
“Putatan Gateway is positioned to capture this transition as the area continues to evolve into a more established business and industrial destination.
“We see an opportunity to create a new generation of industrial premises that responds to both the operational and corporate needs of modern businesses,” he said.
By bringing together strategic connectivity, flexible light industrial spaces and contemporary design, Putatan Gateway is positioned as the future business address for companies looking to establish or expand their operations in Kota Kinabalu.
Putatan Gateway targets SMEs, investors and industrial users
Putatan Gateway comprises 43 two-storey light industrial factories across two phases, with each unit offering built-up areas of about 4,650 sq ft per unit and land sizes ranging from 8,590 sq ft to 15,056 sq ft.
Phase 1 comprises 18 semi-detached light industrial factories, while Phase 2 comprises 22 semi-detached and three detached factories.
Designed to meet the evolving needs of businesses, the units offer flexible layouts and features that combine manufacturing, warehousing, showroom and office functions within the same premises.
Each factory has a nine-metre warehouse ceiling, 10 kN/m² floor loading for warehouse areas and 5 kN/m² for showrooms, while six-metre double-volume showroom spaces provide greater flexibility for customer-facing operations.
The premises are also mezzanine-ready, with potential additional space of about 1,020 sq ft, allowing businesses to expand as their operations grow.
Other features include modular and removable front wall panels for front loading, side entrances and roller shutters, dedicated parking, three-phase electricity, skylights and large windows for improved natural lighting.
Its Japanese-inspired modern architecture and industrial-chic design further set Putatan Gateway apart from conventional industrial developments, offering businesses premises that combine operational efficiency, flexibility and corporate branding.
Yap mentioned that the changing needs of businesses had influenced the planning of Putatan Gateway.
“Businesses in KK today increasingly require premises that can perform multiple functions. Beyond warehouse and factory, as well as showroom and office facilities, Putatan Gateway has also been designed with socio-industrial uses in mind.
“The units can also support lifestyle and community-oriented businesses,” he said.
This versatility enables Putatan Gateway to cater to a broad range of businesses, including distributors, logistics operators, automotive-related companies, building materials and hardware suppliers, furniture and interior businesses, electrical and engineering firms, e-commerce fulfilment providers, wholesalers and established SMEs seeking larger and more adaptable premises.
The development also caters to socio-industrial businesses such as cafés, fitness studios and wellness or recreational spaces.
It also provides an opportunity for businesses currently renting premises to own their own commercial property, while offering investors access to light industrial assets within the wider Kota Kinabalu-KKIA catchment.
Yap said Putatan Gateway reflects GLB’s broader commitment to creating developments that respond to evolving market and business requirements.
“Putatan Gateway is more than a conventional industrial development. It is a purpose-built business environment that brings together connectivity, functionality, flexibility and contemporary design to support businesses through different stages of growth,” he said.
Kota Kinabalu positioned for continued growth
The introduction of Putatan Gateway comes against a backdrop of stronger economic momentum and major infrastructure investment across Sabah.
According to the Department of Statistics Malaysia, Sabah’s economy expanded by 5.1 per cent in 2025 to RM88.8 billion, a significant improvement from the 1.2 per cent growth recorded in 2024.
The state’s construction sector grew particularly strongly at 28.3 per cent, while manufacturing expanded by 5.0 per cent and services by 4.5 per cent.
Kota Kinabalu is also set to benefit from several major infrastructure developments aimed at improving Sabah’s connectivity and logistics capacity. These include the upgrading of KKIA to increase annual passenger capacity from 9 million to 12 million and enhance airside facilities to accommodate rising cargo traffic volumes, continued improvements to the state’s road and highway network, and the ongoing expansion of Sepanggar Bay Container Port from 500,000 TEUs to 1.25 million TEUs.
These investments are expected to further strengthen Kota Kinabalu’s position as Sabah’s principal commercial, transportation and logistics gateway, supporting business expansion, trade and investment and, in turn, the need for well-connected modern industrial premises.
With Kota Kinabalu continuing to develop as Sabah’s principal commercial gateway and infrastructure improvements strengthening connectivity across the state, Putatan Gateway seeks to provide businesses and investors with an opportunity to establish a presence within an emerging southern business and industrial corridor.