KUALA LUMPUR: Emkay Group founder Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal Abu Bakar (pic) has passed away at the age of 73.
According to news reports, the veteran of the property industry died at the National Heart Institute and was laid to rest at the Bukit Kiara Muslim Cemetery yesterday.
Mustapha Kamal founded Emkay in 1983 and ventured into his maiden project in Taman Meru Jaya as well as his first privatised property development project in Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh.
The group is known for its developments in Cyberjaya, which are valued at more than RM2.5bil, via associate companies MK Land Holdings Bhd and Setia Haruman Sdn Bhd.
Meanwhile, senior minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali expressed his condolences to the family of the corporate figure and Emkay Group founder, Bernama reported.
“It is hoped that his soul is blessed with ‘husnul khatimah’ (a good ending) and placed among the pious. Al-Fatihah,” he posted on his Twitter account.
Contacted by Bernama, his daughter Felina confirmed that Mustapha Kamal passed away of old age at 7.45am yesterday at the National Heart Institute here.
Mustapha Kamal’s property company changed its name to MK Land Holdings Bhd after being listed on Bursa Malaysia (then known as Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange) in August 1999.
Born in Kampung Changkat, Pusing, Perak, Mustapha Kamal was given the nickname “King of Affordable Housing” as he was responsible for building more than 12,000 low-cost houses in Selangor and Perak.
The University of Malaya graduate was awarded an honorary doctorate of philosophy in sustainable property development by Universiti Utara Malaysia and an honorary doctorate of philosophy in business and entrepreneurship by Universiti Teknologi MARA.
Among others, he served as assistant district officer in Kuala Kubu Baru, Hulu Selangor, Kuala Langat and Petaling from 1971 to 1976.
He also held the post of deputy commissioner at the Selangor Land and Mines Department in 1978 before venturing into the private sector in the property field.
