Malaysian developers pledge improvements and better practices as they receive recognition

The International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) Malaysia Property Award 2008 saw a new record this year with Naim Cendera Holdings Bhd’s (Naim Cendera) top man winning the Property Man of the Year award. Managing director Datuk Hasmi Hasnan is the first Sarawakian and East Malaysian to be awarded the title.

Held at One World Hotel, Bandar Utama, this past November, the annual award recognises prominent local property players for their achievements in property development. Organised by FIABCI Malaysian Chapter, this is the 16th year of the awards.

Besides the Property Man of the Year award, 10 other awards were presented at the ceremony, which was officiated by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin and Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah, and attended by about 1,000 guests.

Hasmi, whose award puts Naim Cendera and Sarawak’s developments in the limelight, said the group may sell more affordable property units in view of an economic slowdown.

“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,” said Hasmi. He also hopes to expand the business to Peninsular Malaysia should Naim Cendera be able to acquire reasonably-priced land.

The other big winner for the night was YTL Land & Development Bhd (YTL) with two awards in the Residential – High Rise and Residential – Low Rise categories.

YTL’s executive director Datuk Yeoh Seok Kian revealed that the company would launch more projects in Sentul next year. “The 300-acre land bank in Sentul will keep us busy for at least six to seven years,” said Yeoh.

Other recipients of the night included G Hotel Sdn Bhd, which won the Hotel Development category for its G Hotel in Penang; Hap Seng Realty (Auto) Sdn Bhd, which won the Industrial Development category for its Hap Seng Star Mercedes-Benz Autohaus Service Centre in Kinrara, Selangor; S P Setia Bhd in the Master Plan category for its Setia Eco Gardens project in Johor, and Kuala Lumpur Sentral Sdn Bhd in the Office Development category for 1 Sentral Kuala Lumpur.

S P Setia Bhd group managing director and chief executive officer Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin said participating in the award provided the group a chance to see where the company stands 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,” said Liew.

Meanwhile, Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa in Penang won the Resort Development award, while Kuala Lumpur Pavilion Sdn Bhd’s shopping mall – Pavilion Kuala Lumpur – won the Retail Development award.

Tan Sri Zainol Mahmood, chairman of Urusharta Cemerlang Sdn Bhd, said retail development needs support from tourists and that it is looking to have projects in Penang since the island is a popular tourist destination. The company is the owner and developer of Kuala Lumpur Pavilion.

In the Specialised Project category, the winners were Hap Seng Realty (Autohaus) Sdn Bhd and ISG Asia (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd for the Hap Seng Star Mercedes-Benz Autohaus in Kuala Lumpur and The Royal Bank of Scotland Bhd in Penang, respectively.

The FIABCI Malaysia Property award nominations are screened by an evaluation committee comprising evaluators who are senior executives from companies and corporations involved in the real estate industry. The evaluation takes about two months to check out and be verified on site.

Evaluation findings are then be submitted to the Evaluation Committee for two rounds of review, discussion and endorsement before proceeding to the final selection, which is later judged by a panel of eminent judges.