Factory Outlets in Malaysia

Malaysia Factory Outlets

Over the years, numerous factory outlets in Malaysia have opened, and this has become a trend for shopping for Malaysians and visiting tourists.

Malaysians have always travelled overseas to shop, and in the last five years, international brands have made their way into Malaysia, offering cheap factory outlet shopping here.

Factory Outlets in Malaysia

These factory outlets in Malaysia are located in different states, and some of them require some travelling to get to them.

However, with the Malaysian economy going strong for specific sectors, others have been invited to consider opening in Malaysia as the country is trying to brand itself as a shopping hub. 

I would also like to remind you not to be confused with some local Malaysian brands as the companies have named themselves as factory outlets like Factory Outlet Store (FOS), which is on a tiny scale and more to retail as you can find them in just about any of the shopping malls in Malaysia.

Below is a list of the Factory Outlets found around Malaysia;

Johor Premium Outlets is Malaysia's first premium factory outlet (Image from Gaya Travel).

1. Johor Premium Outlets (JPO)

The first proper factory outlet to enter Malaysia is the Johor Premium Outlets or JPO, as most locals call it. Their strategy was to open in Johor, which neighbours Singapore and in the up-and-coming development of the Iskandar Region.

The Johor Premium Outlets opened in December 2011 and has catered to most Malaysians and Southeast Asians. In terms of volume, JPO sees an average of 4 million visitors yearly, which include locals and tourists and brands you can find here range from most international and local names.

The beauty of JPO is that it is located in Iskandar, near Legoland Malaysia and some other smaller theme parks and attractions. As the first factory outlet in Malaysia, and under Simon Genting's group, they have made a name for themselves, catering to many tourists visiting Malaysia. 

Johor Premium Outlets
Location: Nusajaya, Johor
Website: http://premiumoutlets.com.my/

One of the outlet stores is at Mitsui Outlet Park in Sepang, KLIA.

2. Mitsui Outlet Park KLIA Sepang

The second-largest factory outlet to open in Malaysia is the over-anticipated Mitsui Outlet Park KLIA (MOP), which opened in May 2015.

This was the talk of the town back then as many consumers in the Klang Valley were excited as it would only take one hour to drive to this new Japanese-named factory outlet on the way to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport or KLIA.

The MOP also serves as a shopping stop for travellers who are transiting at KLIA or KLIA2 and for travellers leaving Malaysia to have one last shopping stop before they reach the airport. 

Mitsui Outlet Park KLIA offers shoppers 128 shopping outlets occupying a massive area of 25,000 square meters. In contrast, the location of this outlet is perfect as it is strategically located just 6 km from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport and the new KLIA2.

One of the highlights here is Japan Avenue, which is a place that exhibits and promotes authentic Japanese products, technology, cuisine, service, and entertainment. All items are imported directly from Japan and are branded as a space to experience Japanese culture.

By 2021, Mitsui Outlet Park KLIA Sepang will be the largest outlet mall in Southeast Asia. A total of 190 shops will be available after the expansion, supposedly completed by 2018. 

Mitsui Outlet Park KLIA
LocationA'Famosa, Selangor
Website: https://www.mitsuioutletparkklia.com.my/

Freeport A'Famosa Outlet Village in Melaka (Image Source: Azyyati Liah).

3. Freeport A'Famosa Outlet Melaka

This is the latest factory outletA'Famosa in Malaysia, where this London-based company has teamed up with the A'Famosa group to bring this factory outlet to Melaka.

Opened in November 2015, Freeport AFamosa Outlet plans to target 2.5 million visitors by the first year. This is also the first pMalacca'she factory outlet, where the architecture of the outlet is themed on Malacca's Dutch heritage.

Walking around here, you will see a series of open-air plazas that feature a windmill, fountains, gardens and a beautiful carousel.

This factory outlet in Melaka also takes up around 180,000 square feet and houses around 70 tenants, which include known brands like Clarks, Nike, Esprit, Puma, Geox, G2000, Cotton On, Carlo Rino, Forever 21, Samsonite, Saccor, Folli Follie, Camel and many more including kids stores, food and perfumes. 

Phase 2 of Freeport AFamosa Outlet is scheduled to open in 2018, where another 40 retail stores are being added, bringing the total to 110 outleA'Famosa This place is also about two hours drive from Kuala Lumpur in the A'Famosa Resort en route to Melaka, Johor, and Singapore.

Freeport AFamosa Outlet
Loccation: Alor Gajah, Melaka
Website: http://www.freeportafamosa.com/

Design Village in Penang is the first factory outlet in Penang. (Image Source: Design Village Facebook Page).

4. Design Village Penang

Design Village also brands itself as Malaysia's biggest outlet mall, located only five minutes from the Penang Second Bridge near Batu Kawan. This outlet mall is also the first of its kind in the northern region of Malaysia, catering to locals and tourists since December 2016.

Artist Impression of Penang's Design Village. (Image source: Design Village Facebook Page)


Design Village will feature luxury fashion labels, premium and high-street brands, kids' products, sports and outdoor selections, F&B outlets, cafés, and speciality lifestyle stores. In total, 150 stores are planned in an area of 400,000 square feet.

The landscape will be themed as a tropical garden setting to suit the Malaysian climate, and the single-story semi-open-air mall will feature Malaysia's weather-sheltered walkways for visitors.

Malaysia's most significant Adidas outlet will open here, while the first outlet stores for Aldo and Bata will also be one of the tenants. Other branded retailers include Banana Republic, Guess, Padini Concept Store, Sacoor Brothers, Samsonite, and Starbucks.

The Travel For All Outlet store is for travellers and leather lovers; the first Leather Made Outlet store will also be opened here. Design Village Outlet Mall will provide daily shuttle services to and from hotels and the airport.

Design Village Outlet Mall is also developed by PE Land, which also owns and runs The Spring Shopping Mall in Kuching, Sarawak and operates under a mixed-use site that will include a hotel and high-end condominiums.

Design Village Penang
Location: Batu Kawan, Penang Mainland
Website: http://designvillage.today/

Genting Premium Outlets, artist impression (Image source: Resorts World Genting).

5. Genting Premium Outlets (GPO)

The latest factory outlet in Malaysia to open in 2017 is the much-talked-about Genting Premium Outlets (GPO), which is also part of Resorts World's plan to make Genting Highlands the entertainment and shopping hub of central Malaysia.

This project will also complement the new upgraded Genting theme park. The Genting Premium Outlet is located in Awana, the lower section of Genting Highlands and will be supported by several hotels and a new cable car system. 

Genting Premium Outlets is sized at 600,000 square feet in gross area and also houses 150 local and international designer names that will be tenants, making this one of the top premium factory outlets.

Brands include Michael Kors, Aigner, Salvatore Ferragamo, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Burberry, Canali, Coach, Ermenegildo Zegna, Furla, Guy Laroche, Polo Ralph Lauren, and many more tAsia'sre; you know you will be getting some of the best brand names here.

The GPO will also be known as Southeast Asia's first premium outlet alongside the 20th Century Fox World Genting theme park. It is only an hour's drive from Kuala Lumpur city to get here. Update: 20th Century Fox never opened in the end.

Genting Premium Outlets
Location: Genting Highlands, Pahang
Website: https://www.premiumoutlets.com.my/genting-highlands-premium-outlets

Oriental Village in Langkawi was the first factory outlet concept, which did not do well but is still there today.

6. Oriental Village Langkawi, the First Factory Outlet in Malaysia

For the record, the first factory outlet in Malaysia was in Langkawi in early 2000, when the Oriental Village was opened to cater to the enormous tourist influx of Langkawi. However, the factory outlet business model could have done better. Eventually, it was forced to change its concept to just another place with stores selling local handicrafts, clothes, etc.

If you are heading to the Langkawi Cable Car or Langkawi Skybridge, the Oriental Village will be the first thing you see. There is hope for tourism numbers to increase in Malaysia as the Ministry of Tourism has indicated that they are indeed working extra hard to bring in more tourists over the years, with China being one of the main targets.

However, with a population of only 30 million in Malaysia, many are concerned about the need for more shopping malls and factory outlets, which may not be a novelty anymore, especially with the growth of online shopping.

Oriental Village Langkawi
Location: Langkawi Island
Website: https://panoramalangkawi.com/oriental-village/

Silverlakes Premium Outlet
The new Silverlakes Villae Outlet in Batu  Gajah, Perak.

7. Silverlakes Village Outlet

This is the latest factory shopping outlet to open and is called Silverlakes Village Outlet. This shopping and entertainment concept is located in the up-and-coming town of Batu Gajah, whHorizon'sly a 20-minute drive from Ipoh.

Silverlakes Village Outlet opened in September 2023 and will fully open by the end of the same year, with an aggressive marketing concept to create a multiple-concept lifestyle area. This includes bazaars, events, family activities, launches and many more. The concept is also shopping with nature.

Silverlakes Village Outlet
Location: Batu Gajah, Perak
Website: http://www.silverlandcapital.com/core-businesses/property-development/silverlakes-retail


Bonus: Planned Factory Outlets in Malaysia That Never Made It

Below are some of the planned factory outlets in Malaysia that have yet to happen. There was much hype about some International brands interested in opening in Malaysia, and the projects never materialised for some reason.

To give you an idea of who wanted to come to Malaysia, below are some of those who never made it.

Kuala Lumpur International Outlet (KLIO) at Cyberjaya (Artist impression by Horizon Group).

1. Horizon Village Outlets (HVO)

Another massive factory outlet in Malaysia that is set to make headlines is the Kuala Lumpur International Outlet or KLIO, initially planned in 2014 and scheduled to open in 2016 or 2017.

But to date, after we checked online, news or information has yet to surface on this massive branded factory outlet project. It was stated in a press release a couple of years ago that the construction would begin in September 2014, with the grand opening slated for 1 July 2016.
Update April 2017: Horizon Village Outlets will open in 2018.

Kuala Lumpur International Outlet Horizon Village Outlets Sepang is a joint venture with Horizon Group Properties and Mainstay Holdings Sdn Bhd, a local property and construction firm with plans to build a 400,000-square-foot factory outlet in the Cyberjaya district of Selangor.

One of their brandings is that a large portion of KLIO will be focused entirely on luxury brands. 140 stores are also planned for KLIO, catering to luxury or near-luxury brands selling all kinds of merchandise in a luxurious European-style setting. 

KLIO HVO will have six entrances from the car park, including the drop-off area, and all the outlets will be located one level above. Retailers include famous names like Coach, Nike, and Polo – while other brands like Hugo Boss and Burberry offer previous season's collections at discounted prices.

The entire project is designed by an international team of architects from Ross Adams USA who worked on Horizon's stable of outlets in the United States. To date, no additional information is available; therefore, we are just including this as a reference for the future if their project is still on.

Website: http://www.horizongroup.com/

Sunway Ipoh Premium Outlets. (Artist impression by Sunway Group)

2. Sunway Ipoh Premium Outlets / Lost World Shopping Mall

Another much-awaited factory outlet in Ipoh is being planned, but there needs to be more clarity over what it will be called. To date, there are a few names; one is Sunway Ipoh Premium Outlets, the other is Lost World Shopping Mall, and one more is Tambun Factory Outlets.

This RM300 million project is spread over 35 acres of land near the Lost World of Tambun, Ipoh's popular water park and will adopt the same concept as Sunway Resort City in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

This massive project will also feature popular luxury outlets like Michael Kors, Coach and Kate Spade in a 600,000 square feet area. Also branded as an integrated city, Sunway Ipoh Premium Outlets or Lost World Shopping Mall will have a hotel, theme park and shopping mall. Plans also include 8 premium outlets, 10,000-20,000 square feet each.

There has yet to be an official announcement on when the Ipoh factory outlet will open. Still, a recent report in the local newspapers mentioned that the Lost World Shopping Mall was to open between 2017 and 2019.

The Two Rawang Outlet Mall. (Artist impression by DA Land)

3. The Two Shopping Outlet Mall Rawang

A massive mega project called The Two Outlet Mall in Rawang, Selangor, is also taking shape, and this will be one of the largest projects to date. This integrated lifestyle concept features a shopping mall focusing on entertainment, dining and shopping through integrated developments such as an outlet mall and indoor and outdoor theme parks.

The Two Rawang will also be built on a massive 24-hectare piece of land, slated as ambitious but exciting, with a target of attracting local and international tourists who travel along the north-south expressway. Besides the factory outlet, the main attraction here will be the largest indoor theme park in Southeast Asia, also designed by the Sanderson Group.

The Two Shopping Outlet Mall is being built and operated by DA Land and will comprise a RM 5 billion theme park, wholesale city, and outlet mall. It will be Selangor's only integrated lifestyle project catering to locals and tourists.

The project was also officiated and launched by the Malaysian Minister of Tourism. Overall, if the project moves smoothly, we could see The Two Rawang opening in 2018 or 2019.

Website: http://www.daland.com.my/

Conclusion

To learn more about shopping places in Malaysia, read this article on shopping malls in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, highlighting the best places to shop in KL.

But for the shopaholic or tourist, a visit to Malaysia will definitely make you visit at least one of these factory outlets, mainly to see what kind of offers there are, especially with the currency conversions, so have a great shopping time here.

Malaysia Asia

Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school. Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards). After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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