This well-loved Scandinavian furniture store is set to open two new branches in the coming years; one in Tebrau, Johor and another in Batu Kawan, Penang.  The Penang IKEA branch will be part of a large development project while the Johor branch is set to be “an anchor in an integrated shopping centre” which will include F&B outlets and speciality stores.

Penang Chief Minister, YAB Lim Guan Eng, announced:

IKEA in Batu Kawan, Seberang Prai will be part of 245 acre development helmed by a joint venture, Aspen-Ikano, formed by Aspen Vision Land Sdn Bhd and Ikano Pte Ltd. The RM4.8 billion development, called Aspen Vision City, is an effort to build up Seberang Prai as a future investment opportunity. The development will also include offices and residences.

The Chief Minister elaborated that the 245 acres will be developed in three stages over ten years, with IKEA and one part of a shopping mall being the first phase which takes up 30 acres.

In his statement, YAB Lim Guan Eng voiced the state government’s hopes that IKEA will make Batu Kawan, on mainland Penang, a more attractive area to live. The store is set to open in late 2018, so IKEA’s famed Swedish meatballs will soon be much closer to northern Malaysians on the West Coast.

But first, it seems Malaysians in the south of the peninsula and Singaporeans will get to enjoy IKEA’s first branch outside KL. The artists impression of the Tebrau Shopping Centre anchored by IKEA can be seen on the TJ Ong Architect website.

Although no official statement has been released, a quick search revealed that IKEA has also started hiring for the Johor branch. So, hopefully Malaysians might be able to enjoy flat pack furniture delivered to their homes.

See also: 7 shopping malls in Penang every shopaholic should visit

This article was originally published on 16th March, 12.45pm but we were alerted to an error regarding the construction of the IKEA in Johor, which in fact has not begun, and the article was edited on 17th March, 03.25pm.