Merlin Hotels and the Rise and Dissolution of Malaysia Luxury Hospitality Industry
Timeline Description 1957 Lim Foo Yong initiated the development of the first Merlin Hotel in Kuala Lumpur to mark Malaya independence. 1963 Merlin Hotels was established and listed in 1964, positioning itself as a luxury hospitality brand in Southeast Asia. 1972 Merlin merged with Faber Union to form Faber Merlin, gaining access to strategic land […]
SDS Group, Unlocking Value from Liquidated Assets in Malaysia’s Food Industry
Timeline Description 1987 SDS Group Berhad was founded by Tan Kim Seng and Tan Kim Chai, starting as a local bakery business. 2019 SDS was listed on Bursa Malaysia ACE Market and later transferred to the Main Market in 2023. 2020 London Biscuits Berhad entered liquidation, with its Plentong assets sold to Pacific Petcare backed […]
ViTrox, The Rise of Malaysia’s Semiconductor Inspection Champion
Timeline Description 2000 ViTrox Technology was founded with initial capital of RM20000 by three engineers. 2004 to 2009 Company rebranded as ViTrox Corporation and transitioned from MESDAQ to Main Market listing. 2010 to 2020 Expanded globally, serving semiconductor, EMS, and industrial clients across multiple regions. 2022 to 2023 Launched Industry 4.0 solutions and established ViTrox […]
CP Axtra, The Group Behind Village Grocer, B.I.G., and Lotus’s
Timeline Description 2004 Ong Kim Too founded Village Grocer in Bangsar, introducing a premium grocery concept. 2014 Navis Capital Partners acquired a majority stake and established The Food Purveyor to consolidate brands. 2017 Village Grocer Holdings acquired B.I.G, expanding into lifestyle supermarket formats. 2020 CP Group acquired Tesco Malaysia and rebranded it as Lotus’s Malaysia […]
Yayasan Selangor and the Revival of a Dormant Bukit Bintang Landmark
Yayasan Selangor, A sleeping landmark in Southeast Asia’s Little Shibuya Timeline Description 1970 Yayasan Selangor was established to fund education through commercial assets. 1973 Bangunan Yayasan Selangor was completed as a key income generating property. 2012 Plans were initiated to redevelop the building into a boutique hotel, leading to tenant clearance. 2012 Redevelopment stalled due […]
Sungei Wang Plaza and the Evolution of Malaysia Urban Retail Landscape
Sungei Wang Plaza, Evolution of Malaysia Urban Retail Landscape Timeline Description 1975 Sungei Wang Plaza construction began under Cheong Kok Lim on the former BB Park site. 1977 Sungei Wang Plaza opened as Malaysia largest shopping centre, introducing indoor entertainment concepts. 1990 The mall reached peak footfall, becoming a central retail hub in Kuala Lumpur. […]