All eyes on new Property Man

WHO will be 2006 Property Man of the Year? 

Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng

Well, while many of us are still guessing, this coveted award that has grown in prestige over the years has seen an illustrious list of recipients that reads like a Who's Who in the real estate industry. 

The International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI) Malaysian Chapter will once again name the winners at its annual FIABCI Malaysia Property Awards at a gala dinner on Sept 4, and as usual the climax of the evening will be to know who's the lucky person to be conferred the Property Man of the Year Award.  

He or she will join 13 other individuals since the inception of the FIABCI Property Award of Distinction in 1992. The name was changed to Malaysia Property Award last year. 

The Property Man of the Year recipients supposedly share one thing in common. They are exemplary developers as well as successful entrepreneurs with a good track record. 

StarBiz spoke to several past recipients of this prestigious award. 

According to the 2001 winner, IOI group chairman Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng, receiving the award could not have been sweeter as the group was among the pioneers in developing the once remote Puchong into modern, vibrant townships. 

Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal Abu Bakar feels that the FIABCI award is synonymouswith getting a world-class recognition for one's involvement in the industry

(IOI also won the best hotel development award for its Putrajaya Marriott Hotel in 2004) 

“In 1990, rather than naming our development something else, we decided to be direct about its location and worked towards making Puchong an acceptable suburban and fashionable address. The availability of large tracts of land made it easier to plan comprehensive and attractive townships,” he said. 

The awards also helped developers to strive harder to create projects of high standards, thus contributing to the advancement of the property industry in the country, he said. 

“It is an honour to receive the awards from FIABCI Malaysia and to be honoured for doing something I enjoy is indeed a good bonus. However, it can be a double-edged sword. It provides a sense of accomplishment and, at the same time, complacency may set in,” he said. 

Datuk Mohamed Mansor Fateh Din

Lee said the awards boosted the group's confidence in promoting its products and the drive to further improve itself to face challenges in increasing customers' expectations. 

MK Land Holdings Bhd executive chairman Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal Abu Bakar feels that the FIABCI award is synonymous with getting a world-class recognition for one's involvement in the industry. 

“It bestows the recipient with tremendous contentment for all efforts and contributions to the industry. It certainly strengthens our belief in our capability and motivates us to work harder,” he said. 

Winning the award in 1997, Mustapha Kamal singled out the company's ability to complete low- and medium-cost housing and commercial units in Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh within cost and ahead of schedule, and revolutionised the benchmark in property development. 

“This project was very dear to me as we managed to sell and hand over all 2,773 units when the country was hit by recession in 1986 and 1987,” he said. 

Having been in the industry for 24 years, the “king of low-cost houses” is among the few bumiputra entrepreneurs in property development to have come this far. 

“The recognition has motivated me to strive harder to get quality products and complete them on or ahead of time,” he said. 

Glomac Bhd group executive chairman Datuk Mohamed Mansor Fateh Din said the award was an attestation of its contribution to the property industry through innovative design and quality products by a dedicated staff. 

Homes of IOI’s Bandar Puteri Puchong as seen from atop a hill

“Glomac has been credited for turning Kelana Jaya into a much sought-after address in Petaling Jaya,” he said. 

Since 1992, it has completed four commercial developments – Glomac Business Centre, Kelana Business Centre, Kompleks Kelana Centre Point and Glomac Square.  

Mohamed Mansor said the award, which he received last year, had certainly boosted Glomac's reputation as a “winning” developer and this had helped to generate higher sales. 

“The award is a yardstick to measure our company's achievements in terms of product quality and innovation, and management services. Personally, the recognition is a culmination of my many years of working in the property industry and also the contribution from my partners and staff,” he said.