KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 19): Malaysian state-owned investment arm Khazanah Nasional Bhd said its planned Anantara Desaru Resort & Villas in Johor would carve a position within the luxury hotel segment.

Anantara Desaru is a joint venture (JV) between Minor Hotel Group and Khazanah unit Themed Attraction Resorts & Hotels Sdn Bhd. Anantara Desaru will be located along the Desaru coast, which fronts the South China Sea.

Themed Attraction group managing director Tunku Datuk Ahmad Burhanuddin said: "Desaru Coast has been conceptualised as the gateway to this premier luxury destination, with impressively expansive property such as Anantara Desaru Resort & Villas planned with picturesque architecture overlooking the South China Sea."

"This collaboration is set to catapult Malaysia into the global tourism market while ambitiously honing its position within the luxury segment," he said in a statement today.

According to Tunku Ahmad Burhanuddin, Anantara Desaru, which is due for launch in 2018, will comprise 103 rooms and 20 three- and four-bedroom villas.

Facilities will include restaurants and bars, two swimming pools, a lounge and meeting rooms.

Prior to the statement, The Edge Malaysia business & investment weekly (Edge Weekly) reported about the Khazanah-Minor collaboration in the US$58 million (about RM242 million) Anantara Desaru.

Edge Weekly, quoting Minor public relations and communications director Mark Alan Thomson, reported today that Anantara Desaru would see Minor and Themed Attraction holding 60% and 40% stakes in the JV respectively.

Minor is the hospitality unit of Thailand-listed Minor International PCL.