Long before he became one of Malaysia’s prominent business leaders, Clement Hii was a nine-year-old boy selling Chinese newspapers by the roadside in Sibu.
He would wake up early, sell the papers and then head to school. It was a modest beginning, far removed from the universities, listed companies and major property developments he would one day lead.
By the age of 19, he had reportedly become chief editor of The Borneo Post, one of East Malaysia’s leading English-language newspapers.
But journalism was only the first chapter of his remarkable journey.
Clement Hii would later return to college as a working adult, acquire a struggling institution with only six students, and help build it into one of Malaysia’s largest private education groups.
Today, Tan Sri Clement Hii is a leading figure behind two Bursa Malaysia-listed companies, SEG International Bhd (SEGi) and HCK Capital Group Bhd.
This is the story of how a newspaper vendor from Sibu kept learning, evolving and creating new opportunities.
Clement Hii Started Working At Just Nine Years Old
Born and raised in Sibu, Sarawak, Clement Hii received his first taste of entrepreneurship at an age when most children were still focused entirely on school.
At nine, he began selling Chinese-language newspapers by the roadside every morning before attending classes.
The work may have appeared small, but it placed him inside the world of news, stories and communication from a young age.
By 19, Hii had risen to become chief editor of The Borneo Post. He subsequently held senior positions at several newspapers and built a long career in the media industry.
Decades later, the boy who once sold newspapers would serve for two years as executive deputy chairman of Star Publications, now known as Star Media Group, until the end of 2010.
It was an extraordinary progression, but his life was about to move in a completely different direction.
Returning To College At 32
Many people assume education must follow a fixed timeline. Clement Hii’s journey showed otherwise.
At the age of 32, despite already having an established career, he returned to college to pursue an external law degree.
He later graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Wolverhampton in the United Kingdom.
However, instead of simply using the qualification to change careers, he made an unexpected decision that would alter the direction of his life.
After graduating, Hii acquired the higher education institution he had attended in Kuching.
The college reportedly had only six students at the time.
The unusual move earned him the nickname “Hii who bought his college.”
For many, taking over an institution with so few students might have appeared too risky. For Hii, it became the starting point of something much larger.
How Clement Hii Helped Build SEGi
Clement Hii began growing the small college before it was later acquired by PRIME College in Petaling Jaya.
He became group chief executive officer in 2000. The business subsequently completed a reverse takeover of the Systematic Group of Colleges, an education provider originally established in 1977.
Hii eventually took a controlling stake in the listed entity, which became SEG International Bhd, the company behind SEGi University & Colleges.
He joined the company’s board as an executive director in September 2001 and became chief executive officer the following month. In January 2009, he was redesignated as group managing director.
Today, SEGi operates a flagship university campus in Kota Damansara and several college campuses across Malaysia.
Its wider portfolio has also expanded beyond tertiary education to include K-12 schools, technical and vocational education, digital learning platforms and healthcare services.
What started with a college of only six students had grown into a diversified education group serving students from Malaysia and other countries.
Clement Hii Ventured Into Property Development
Having established his presence in education, Clement Hii went on to build a second major business platform.
He founded and controls HCK Capital Group Bhd, a Bursa Malaysia-listed group involved in property development, landbanking, technology platforms and investments.
HCK Capital was originally listed in August 2000 as Golsta Synergy Bhd. Its earlier businesses included industrial engineering and rubber trading before the group changed its focus to property development and investment.
Under Hii’s leadership, the company became known for its “education city” developments, which combine educational institutions with residential and commercial components.
According to his official website, HCK’s ongoing and upcoming developments have a combined gross development value of at least RM15 billion.
The website also states that SEGi and HCK have a combined market capitalisation of approximately RM2 billion, although market values will change according to their share prices.
Continuing To Invest In His Businesses
Even after decades in business, Hii has continued to make major investments in the companies he leads.
In 2023, his investment vehicle spent approximately RM50 million to acquire an additional stake in HCK Capital.
A year later, he strengthened his control of SEG International by acquiring a 20.55% stake for RM112.98 million in cash from private equity firm Navis Capital Partners.
The acquisition increased his ownership of the education group and triggered a mandatory takeover offer for the remaining shares.
These transactions reflected more than ownership. They demonstrated his continued confidence in the businesses he had spent years developing.
A Journey Defined By Reinvention
Clement Hii’s story is not simply about building successful companies. It is also about refusing to be limited by one beginning, one profession or one stage of life.
He went from selling newspapers to leading newsrooms. He returned to college in his thirties, then acquired the institution where he had studied. He moved from journalism into education before expanding into property, technology, investment and healthcare.
Along the way, he received honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Sunderland, the University of Southern Queensland and his alma mater, the University of Wolverhampton.
Each chapter of his journey prepared him for the next. His experience in journalism strengthened his ability to communicate, while returning to college as an adult deepened his appreciation for education.
From a nine-year-old newspaper vendor in Sibu to the leader of two listed business groups, Clement Hii’s journey is a reminder that humble beginnings do not determine how far a person can go.
Sometimes, the next opportunity does not arrive through a familiar door. It begins with the courage to learn again, change direction and build something others may not yet be able to see.
In Hii’s own words: “We are the writers of our own story. We make our endings, for good or bad.”
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