Photo shows Tun Musa (3rd left) and Toh Puan Faridah (4th left) flanked by Christina (4th right), Clarence (2nd left), Sylvia (3rd right), Hugo (left) and others, cutting the ribbon to mark the opening of the hotel on Wednesday (Aug 20).
Majulan Hotel – latest tourism boost in Penampang
PENAMPANG : Head of State Tun Haji Musa Haji Aman officiated the opening of the Majulan Hotel, Penampang newest hospitality landmarks, here on Wednesday.
Also present were the Governor’s wife Toh Puan Hajah Faridah Haji Tussin, Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew, Information Technology and Commercial Centre (ITCC) owner Datuk Seri Panglima Clarence Bongkos Malakun and wife Datin Seri Panglima Sylvia Malakun, Majulan Hotel chief executive officer Hugo Malakun as well as dignitaries.
The Majulan Hotel at ITCC was completed in May and opened its doors just recently.
It offers guests an exceptional blend of charm and modernity. Majulan Hotel features 163 rooms.
Chief Executive Officer Alexander Hugo Malakun said the hotel was envisioned to complement the tourism industry in Penampang and across Sabah, enhancing accommodation offerings and supporting increased tourism activity.
Majulan Hotel marks the final addition to the ITCC Complex, which includes the ITCC shopping mall, office blocks, and Manhattan Suites.
The hotel features 163 rooms, a swimming pool, gym, café, restaurant, rooftop viewing deck, and several event spaces, designed to cater to both leisure and business travellers.
Majulan Hotel completes the ITCC Complex and will serve as a vital addition to the area’s hospitality infrastructure.
“With growing demand for rooms during events at the ITCC ballroom, we saw the need to bring this project to life,” said Hugo.
The hotel’s strategic location and modern amenities are expected to attract both domestic and international visitors, while also contributing to local economic growth and employment.
Hugo added that the opening of the hotel had created job opportunities for residents in the surrounding district and opened doors for promoting locally made products from the Penampang community.
He also said that the expanded accommodation offerings would help elevate the district’s tourism industry by meeting the growing demand from visitors.
Chairman of Sabanilam Enterprise and Chairman of the ITCC Complex, Datuk Seri Panglima Clarence Bongkos Malakun, expressed confidence that Majulan Hotel would significantly boost Penampang’s economy.
He added that the hotel is also well-positioned to support increased tourism activity in anticipation of Visit Malaysia Year 2026, aligning with national efforts to welcome more domestic and international visitors.
One of the most striking features inside the hotel is a large sculpture of a mountain view, prominently displayed along the staircase.
The artwork portrays the scenic landscape of Mount Kinabalu, set within a village backdrop representing Sabah’s native communities.
Hugo said the sculpture was created by a skilled artist from China who captured the essence of ancestral life in Penampang.
The piece pays tribute to the district’s natural beauty and cultural heritage, reflecting the everyday scenery familiar to its early inhabitants.
The name Majulan was inspired by the ancestors of Clarence, particularly his grandfather.
The family chose the name as a way to honour their heritage and preserve the memory of familial bonds across generations.
