Hunza Properties, a prominent real estate business in Penang, has been shaping the skyline since 1998. With notable developments like the award-winning Gurney Paragon Mall, Greenlane Heights, and the ambitious Penang International Commercial City (PICC) set for completion in 2026, the company’s success is evident. However, the inspiring story of the man behind Hunza Properties, Dato Seri Khor Teng Tong, remains largely untold.
The Humble Start of Dato Seri Khor Teng Tong
It’s hard to imagine that Dato Seri Khor Teng Tong, now a successful tycoon, once lived an impoverished life. Born into a family so poor that they were evicted from their home by landowners despite their dire situation, Khor’s early years were marked by hardship.
“Two times, I remember the landowners chasing us out, in the kampung, then the fishing village. I was about eight or nine. In my mind and heart, I was thinking, we are so poor and they’re still chasing us. My mother died when I was five and my father sacrificed a lot for us,” Dato Seri Khor Teng Tong recalls.
Raised by his single father, a fisherman, he witnessed immense parental sacrifice. With 11 children to feed, his father’s burden was overwhelming. Despite the challenges, Khor considered himself fortunate to receive formal education up to Standard Six. Determined to lift his family out of poverty, he started working at a young age.
“When I was 13, I read a book by Sun Yat Sen where he said, ‘China is so poor. How do I find a way to turn the country around so the people can have a better life?’ I kept that in my mind and the most important thing for me was how to turn my family around,” he shares.
Building Dreams
Dato Seri Khor Teng Tong’s commercial journey began at 16 when he founded Syarikat Soon Seng Fisheries. Soon after, he ventured into exporting frozen seafood, establishing Soon Seng Frozen Foods Sdn Bhd, which provided 3,000 jobs in Perak. Despite lacking business knowledge, Khor was committed to learning everything about running a food export business, from processing and marketing to shipping materials.
“I knew nothing. I didn’t know about foreign exchange. English also I could not speak,” he admits.
He was lucky when a contact from Japanese trading house brought his company into the international arena. “He made a lot of money from us. We were also very happy and appreciated what he did for us.” he shares.
The business grew and his company began exporting seafood to Europe and Australia. The expanding enterprise sealed his reputation in the industry. In 1979, Dato Seri Khor Teng Tong moved to Penang for his children’s education and developed an interest in property development. Despite a rough start, his entrepreneurial spirit prevailed.
“To be honest, we did not build good houses for people when we started. We faced lots of difficulties. It was only after we came to Penang island in the 1980s and knew more about the business that we began building quality houses,” Dato Seri Khor Teng Tong reflects.
Giving Back to the Community
Over the decades, Dato Seri Khor Teng Tong has built a legacy with Hunza Properties, constructing over 10,000 units of houses, shophouses, condominiums, medium-cost apartments, and low-cost flats. Honored at the World Chinese Economic Summit 2017 and recipient of numerous awards, Khor’s success is a testament to his hard work and dedication.
credit: NST
Throughout his career, he has remained committed to helping poor communities. For the 500 families displaced by the PICC project, Hunza Properties provided a free unit for each household, with discounts for additional units if needed.
“I thought back to when I was poor — it was exactly the same,” he says.
Now retired, Dato Seri Khor Teng Tong serves as the group executive adviser, content with his achievements and devoted to spending time with his grandchildren. His life story is a powerful example of breaking the cycle of poverty and using personal success to uplift others.
“Being able to do something to help makes me feel happy,” Dato Seri Khor Teng Tong concludes.
Source: here
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