Titijaya to Revive Abandoned UMS Hostel Project with RM105 Million Sabah Asset Acquisition

KOTA KINABALU (Nov 24) — Titijaya Land Bhd (KL:TITIJYA) has proposed the acquisition of two property assets in Kota Kinabalu for RM105 million, paving the way for the revival of a long-abandoned student hostel project at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).

The move positions Titijaya as the white knight for the long-stalled development involving Blocks B1 and B2 of Kolej Kediaman Pelajar UMS Numbak, an initiative first announced in May.

Titijaya Steps In as White Knight Developer

“We are proud to have been selected as the white knight to revive this project, marking our third successful revival of an abandoned or sick project in Sabah,” said Titijaya group managing director Datuk Lim Poh Yit.

The incomplete hostel buildings—left abandoned for years—will be revived to provide safe, comfortable and affordable accommodation for UMS students. Titijaya emphasised that the initiative directly supports the university’s growing population of over 18,000 students, addressing a pressing shortage of quality campus housing.

A Public–Private Partnership to Support Education Needs

The project is framed as a private-public partnership (PPP), designed to strengthen collaboration between the government, industry players and academic institutions. This strategic blend of support aims to ensure that student facilities meet modern standards while easing financial and operational burdens on the university.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir visited the site on Saturday, joined by UMS vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor and Titijaya’s senior management, underscoring the federal commitment to seeing the project revived.

Wider Market Context: Demand for Quality Accommodation & Mixed-Use Revivals

The revival aligns with nationwide trends where developers are increasingly stepping in to rescue abandoned projects—similar to how urban redevelopment is strengthening demand for commercial property in KL, office space in Bukit Jalil, and industrial-focused investments such as industrial land in Selangor, factory assets in Puchong, and industrial property in the Subang area.

These segments continue to attract investors looking for resilient long-term value, mirroring Titijaya’s strategy of rejuvenating assets with strong underlying demand.