‘I HAVE NO OTHER IDOLS BUT YOU, DR MAHATHIR’ – CRINGEWORTHY OR NOT, THAT’S WHAT HK BILLIONAIRE SAYS HE TOLD PM: ‘IF DR SUN YAT-SEN THE FATHER OF CHINA, THEN DR MAHATHIR IS FATHER OF MALAYSIA’

Billionaire developer of luxury homes near KLCC says he is confident that investors will return to Malaysia.

Hong Kong tycoon Chao Sze-Tsung asks Dr Mahathir Mohamad to autograph a copy of Mahathir’s memoirs “A Doctor in the House”. (Pic: Yayasan Patriot Malaysia)

PETALING JAYA: Hong Kong billionaire property developer Cecil Chao Sze-Tsung is confident of renewed hopes of better investment prospects in Malaysia now that the country “is in good hands”.

Chao expressed confidence in Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, whom he described as his “idol”, and Mahathir’s team of young leaders in their efforts to restore the country’s economy.

Speaking at a ceremony to mark a donation of RM650,000 to the national debt fund, Tabung Harapan Malaysia, Chao said Malaysia had new hopes under its new leadership and would grow fast.

Chao’s property development company Cheuk Nang (Holdings) Ltd has a billion-ringgit investment in a luxury real estate development of more two million square feet in luxury residential towers near KLCC. The development, called Cecil Chao Centre, is expected to be completed this year.

He said today that he believed that Malaysia could expect investments to return under Mahathir’s leadership.

“It is the same like us, a new hope, like how we first invested in China, it was a poor country,” he told reportes after the ceremony at PPBM headquarters.

Chao added that he has no other idols but Mahathir. “That was what I told him earlier. To me, I have no other idols. That is why we have decided to come to Malaysia to invest RM1 billion, to show our confidence in the country’s leadership under this new government,” he said.

Chao also brought a copy of Mahathir’s memoirs, “A Doctor in the House” to be autographed by Mahathir.

“I think, if you say the father of China is Dr Sun Yat Sen, I think he (Mahathir) is the father of Malaysia. He brings new hope and I believe that the change he brings will be in a good way,” he said.

Today’s donation to Tabung Harapan Malaysia was made by Yayasan Patriot Negara Malaysia with contributions from the Asia Pacific Platinum Business Club and others.

A mock cheque for RM650,000 was handed to Mahathir, who is PPBM chairman, by YPNM chief executive Muhammad Zharif Johor.

Zharif said YPNM had set a target of only RM250,000, but was overwhelmed by the amount achieved today. Some of the money contributed was from sales of the PATRIOT car number plate.

Tabung Harapan Malaysia was launched on May 30 for the public to help pay off the national debt. So far RM154 million has been collected.

– FMT