FOR Tan Sri Ong Leong Huat, every key handed to a new homeowner carries a story – often of sacrifice, perseverance and hope.
The OSK Holdings Bhd founder and executive chairman understands the struggles many families face in homeownership today, because their stories mirror his own.
Growing up in a family of 12 in the rubber plantations of Kampung Merbau in Ayer Tawar, Perak, life was filled with hard work and uncertainty.
Each day at the crack of dawn, he followed his father into the rubber orchard to help tap latex.
The meagre earnings allowed the family to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table.
But rather than break his spirit, those early experiences built his character. They taught him the importance of resilience, discipline, and resolve.
They also forged his conviction that owning a home is not only one of life’s greatest milestones but also a dream that every Malaysian family deserves to realise.
Decades later, that philosophy would come to define his leadership of OSK Holdings, a multi- billion-ringgit conglomerate renowned for creating enduring value for people and communities.
Now, this responsible stewardship has earned him one of the nation’s most prestigious honours, the Property Man 2025 award by FIABCI-Malaysia.
The Malaysia Property AwardTM 2025 is bestowed only on top projects that exceed rigorous benchmarks of excellence.
Its Property Man title is the equivalent of a lifetime achievement award, reserved for individuals with exemplary vision, leadership and impactful contributions to the industry.
“Winning this accolade is truly humbling. For me, it’s not just a personal honour but recognition of OSK’s journey from modest beginnings to becoming a leading international developer.
“Holding the trophy hits home as it acknowledges decades of hard work, perseverance, challenges overcome, communities built and lives uplifted.
“I also extend my gratitude to the dedicated teams across OSK who bring our vision to life, our partners and banks for their trust, and our customers for believing in our developments.
“Finally, I thank FIABCI-Malaysia. This recognition motivates us to continue raising standards and improving Malaysia’s property industry.
“This award is truly a celebration of collective effort, and it inspires me to keep building with purpose,” a proud Ong shared.
Humble Beginnings
Ong’s story is one of grit and growth. After finishing school, he worked for over a decade in the financial industry.
He saved up a nest egg and made his first entrepreneurial leap in 1982 by acquiring a small stockbroking company, which would eventually grow into OSK Investment Bank.
But his love affair with property began slightly earlier. In 1976, together with his family, he embarked on his first township project in nearby Manjung, Perak.
Covering 70 acres and comprising 780 mixed units, it was a significant undertaking for its era.
That experience kindled his belief that property creates lasting value, shaping not just skylines but also lives.
Over time, OSK’s financial services and Ong’s property business coalesced into a single entity.
Today, the group has assets exceeding RM12bil and employs over 1,400 staff in Malaysia and Australia.
Despite diversification into other sectors, property remains at the heart of OSK’s vision.
“Communities endure long after market cycles pass,” explained Ong, whose modest background allows him to relate to families working hard to own their first home.
“A home is not just a physical shelter. It’s where families build their futures and where the next generation is inspired to pursue their own dreams.
“From the very beginning, I’ve always believed that developers carry a responsibility to house buyers, especially first-time owners who put their life savings into a property.
“This principle has guided how OSK plans and delivers projects, whether through affordable homes, integrated townships with schools and shops or green spaces that enhance quality of life.
“Our focus is not only on profit but on value creation and trust. When OSK delivers on its promises, we’re not just delivering a home but cultivating relationships that last for generations.
“That, to me, should be the true purpose of being in property development,” he said.
OSK Holdings founder and executive chairman Tan Sri Ong Leong Huat.
Weathering Storms
Few corporate leaders have endured and triumphed over as many economic storms as Ong.
Over his career, he has navigated four major events: the 1985 Pan-Electric crisis, the 1997 Asian financial crisis, the 2008 global financial crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Each carried a lesson.
“Every storm teaches you something new. The key to survival is prudence and discipline.
“From my financial background, I learned early on to maintain low gearing, preserve cash and never overstretch beyond your means,” he said.
This conservative approach ensured that the company was always able to honour its commitments to banks, suppliers, and customers, strengthening its reputation for integrity.
“Trust is built in difficult times,” continued Ong, who also described downturns as opportunities.
Typically, this is when land becomes affordable. With prudent planning, a company can position itself optimally for the next cycle.
“For example, during the Asian financial crisis, while many retreated, we strengthened our landbank and prepared for recovery.
“Each crisis demanded resilience and foresight, but the principle remained the same: protect the company’s foundations, safeguard stakeholders and emerge stronger when the tide turns. And it inevitably will,” he shared.
This philosophy has not only kept OSK afloat but helped it thrive, emerging stronger with each recovery.
Expanding Horizons
Under Ong’s leadership, OSK Property has grown into a name synonymous with quality and sustainability, with landmark developments across Malaysia and Australia.
Its boldest international venture came in 2017 with Melbourne Square, a transformative five-acre mixed-use precinct in Southbank within Melbourne’s CBD.
Conceived as an international flagship, its first phase delivered over 1,000 apartments across two towers, complemented by a retail podium anchored by Woolworths Supermarket, alongside Nido Childcare Centre and a 3,745sqm public park.
Completed in 2021 with a 99% take-up rate, Melbourne Square sets a new benchmark for Malaysian developers abroad.
Building on this success, OSK launched BLVD in 2023, the project’s second phase.
This 74-storey tower offers 591 apartments with extensive lifestyle amenities such as swimming pools, co-working spaces, wellness zones and private dining lounges.
Despite a challenging economic climate, the project has drawn strong interest.
Construction began in 2024, with completion targeted for 2028.
Together, Melbourne Square’s multi-phase precinct carries a gross development value (GDV) of AUD3bil (approximately RM8.23bil).
Future stages will add more residential towers, retail components, and potentially build-to-rent offerings.
OSK’s next Australian project, Queensbridge Place, also in Melbourne, is valued at AUD1.5bil and is set to become one of the city’s most significant urban regeneration undertakings.
Back home, OSK continues to enrich local communities with townships and developments that blend liveability with long-term value.
The 2,600-acre Bandar Puteri Jaya in Sungai Petani, for one, has grown into one of Kedah’s largest communities, while Harbour Place in Butterworth has become a household name.
The 1,700-acre Iringan Bayu in Seremban, Negri Sembilan, features a Wetland Park recognised at the FIABCI World Prix d’Excellence Awards 2025 earlier this year, underscoring OSK’s dedication to sustainability and green spaces.
Klang Valley projects like Shorea Park in Puchong and Ryan & Miho in Petaling Jaya, as well as TimurBay Seafront Residence in Kuantan, Pahang, further illustrate OSK’s versatility across lifestyle segments.
Other notable undertakings such as Taman Putri Kulai in Johor, Mont Callista in Sungai Petani, D’Majestic in Kuala Lumpur, and Mirage by the Lake and Pan’gaea in Cyberjaya reflect the developer’s signature blend of thoughtful design, connectivity, and quality craftsmanship.
Looking once more at his Property Man award, Ong quipped, “I believe the best is yet to come!”
From the rubber fields of Perak to the high-rises of Melbourne, Ong’s journey stands as a powerful reminder that success is built, not inherited.
His story is one of discipline, foresight and faith in hard work; his legacy one of communities built on trust and endurance.
“Financial markets rise and fall. But the homes we build, the lives we touch, those are what truly last,” Ong said.
