Wisma Tun Fuad Stephens, along Jalan Tuaran in Karamunsing might be refreshed into a hotel in the near future to cope with the influx of tourists into Kota Kinabalu.

SHAREDA President, Mr Chew Sang Hai, commented in an interview with Property Hunter recently that there is a plan conceived by the Sabah State Government to convert Wisma Tun Fuad into a hotel.

"As you know, we have shortages in hotel rooms, therefore, I support the government's innovative initiative to turn Wisma Tun Fuad into a hotel" said Chew, adding that the oversupplied in office spaces can be converted into other innovative products - hotels being one of them.

"I am also involved with Gaya Borneo Hotel, as a consultant. It used to be a block of office towers before it was converted into a hotel. And now, the hotel is almost always fully booked" shared Chew.

The concept of turning Wisma Tun Fuad into a hotel is still in its early stages but Chew is in full support saying, "Office space is in oversupply so to convert this product into hotel space which is in short supply is very innovative."

The Ministry of Local Government and Housing and some of its departments have relocated to Wisma Innoprise in mid-August last year, while the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment and the Ministry of Community Development and Consumer Affairs are expected to move to the new Sabah State Administrative Centre (PPNS) soon.

As reported in Borneo Post recently, four ministries and their respective departments will be moving out from Wisma Tun Fuad Stephens, which was built in 1984. The State Government-owned complex, comprising three identical 11-storey buildings has a total built-up area of 138,000sqft.