A night to remember

The MPA 2008 winners on stage with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.

PETALING JAYA: It was a memorable night for Naim Cendera Holdings Bhd managing director Datuk Hasmi Hasnan at the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) Malaysia Property Award 2008 (MPA 2008) on Wednesday.

Hasmi is the first Sarawakian and east Malaysian to win the new Property Man of the Year award.

Organised by the FIABCI Malaysian Chapter, this is the 16th year of the awards.

Dubbed the “property Oscars”, the awards also acknowledged 10 property projects in a glittering ceremony held at One World Hotel.

The event was graced by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah, and attended by more than 1,000 foreign and local guests.


The arrival of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin (second from right) and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah (in red) at the MPA 2008 accompanied by FIABCI Malaysia president Richard Fong (left), MPA 2008 organising chairman Yeow Thit Sang (second on left) and FIABCI Malaysia evaluation chairman Yu Kee Su.

Hasmi said the group would consider selling more affordable property units as the market would be soft due to the slowing economy.

“This is a challenge for us. We have not launched any new project because we have to see how difficult the economic situation gets. Currently, we have some ongoing projects in Miri and Kuching,” he said.

Hasmi also hoped to venture into the property sector in Peninsular Malaysia should the opportunity arise for reasonably-priced land.

YTL Land & Development Bhd executive director Datuk Yeoh Seok Kian said the company would be launching more projects in Sentul next year.

“The 300-acre land bank in Sentul will keep us busy for at least six to seven years,” he said.

Meanwhile, SP Setia Bhd group managing director and chief executive officer Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin said participation in the award was an opportunity to see where the company stood in the market.

“Today, Malaysia has many prominent developers. I am very proud that local developers are as good as the international players.

“We will keep improving ourselves. In today’s competitive environment, we must always be ahead (of our rivals),” he said, adding that the company had 20 ongoing projects.

Urusharta Cemerlang Sdn Bhd (the owner and developer of Kuala Lumpur Pavilion) chairman Tan Sri Zainol Mahmood said retail development needed the support from tourists.

“We are looking to have some projects in Penang as it is a popular tourist destination,” he said.

By The Star