DATUK ENG SOO MIN, managing director of Kueen Lai Group of Companies, has been involved in a wide variety of businesses over the years. From a car dealer handling the import and export of auto parts in 1982, he ventured into the plantation business in 1997 and eventually into property development in 2002.

KUALA LUMPUR: PPB Group Bhd’s mixed development in Puteri Harbour, Iskandar Johor with RM1.5 billion in gross development value is taking shape and expects to start contributing to the group’s earnings next year.

PETALING JAYA: AmFIRST Real Estate Investment Trust (AmFIRST REIT) is looking at revising the rental rates for The Summit Subang USJ mall in Subang Jaya by 40% to 50%, after the completion of its RM80 million refurbishment exercise in July next year, said Am ARA REIT Managers Sdn Bhd acting chief executive officer Zuhairy Md Isa.

KUALA LUMPUR: The construction sector’s output this year looks set to surpass last year’s RM93 billion, fuelled by ongoing and new public sector projects.

The sector has seen a year-on-year growth of 20% for the first quarter, boding well for the entire year’s prospects, Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) president Matthew Tee said yesterday.

KUALA LUMPUR: The first mega-store that will house both department store-cum-supermarket operator Aeon Co (M) Bhd and Aeon BiG (M) Sdn Bhd’s hypermarket chain could be ready in two years.

Aeon Co (M) managing director Nur Qamarina Chew Abdullah said the maiden megastore will be  outside the Klang Valley.

LONDON: Investors are shifting their focus to Build-to-Rent scheme properties, regional investment stock and the forward purchase of stock direct from developers, due to the lack of existing investment stock in London, according to CB Richard Ellis (CBRE)’s first quarter in financial year 2014 (1QFY14) UK Residential Investment report.“A significant proportion of the established London-specific

KUALA LUMPUR: UOA Hospitality Sdn Bhd will be launching a hotel in Bukit Ceylon, Kuala Lumpur, according to its head of hospitality Anita Khoo.“We are planning to launch a hotel in Bukit Ceylon in the third quarter of this year.

MAKASSAR (Indonesia): Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc’s Four Points by Sheraton brand will make its debut in Indonesia by May 2015.The Four Points by Sheraton’s hotel in Makassar is being developed by IMB Group and will mark Starwood’s entry into Sulawesi island.“As Southeast Asia’s largest economy and the world’s fourth most populous country, Indonesia is one of the [fastest growin

KUALA LUMPUR:  More foreign small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are expected to set up offices in the country in the coming years as office supply increases.“Since 2009, the Malaysian economy has gradually moved towards 100% foreign ownership companies. [This is mainly because office] space is still relatively cheaper in Malaysia as compared with other neighbouring countries.

BEIJING: China’s real estate investment grew at a slower annual pace in the first four months of 2014, while sales continued to drop from a year ago, official data showed on Tuesday, adding to signs of cooling in the property market that is also dragging the broader economy.