There has always been a strong correlation between construction sector and economic growth of Malaysia. The contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP) of the nation as well as its socio-economic advancement by the construction sector is substantial through capital accumulation, revenue generation and employment creation, among others. Here, Top 10 of Malaysia gives a brief take on its list of the top construction companies in Malaysia that have been at the forefront of nation-building.
UEM Group Berhad
Being one of the largest construction companies in Malaysia, UEM Group Berhad is well known for large scale infrastructure projects. Led by Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Izzaddin Idris, it has completed infrastructure, transportation and building projects in Malaysia. UEM is known to be Malaysia’s largest infrastructure construction group. Focusing on expressways, township and property development, engineering and construction, and asset and facility management, UEM also has branches in India, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the Middle East. Its well-known projects include the Plus Malaysia Berhad Expressway (PLUS) Expressway, Penang Bridge, Butterworth-Kulim Expressway, North-South Expressway Central Link, East Coast Expressway Phase 2 and Malaysia-Singapore Second Crossing.
YTL Corporation Berhad
Founded by Tan Sri Yeoh Tiong Lay, YTL Corporation Berhad is one of Malaysia’s largest contractor construction company and integrated infrastructure developer with branch offices at the United Kingdom, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, Japan and China. Managing Director, Tan Sri Dato’ (Dr) Francis Yeoh Sock Ping, leads YTL together with its four listed entities, YTL Power International Berhad, YTL Land & Development Berhad, YTL e-Solutions Berhad and YTL Hospitality REIT. YTL mainly focuses on construction contracting, cement manufacturing, property development & investment, hotel development and management, e-commerce initiatives and also internet-based education solutions and services. YTL is also an owner of Paka & Pasir Gudang Power Stations, two gas-fired joined cycle power plants.
IJM Corporation Berhad
Founded by Yap Lim Sen and established in 1983, IJM Corporation Berhad is a product of a merger between IGB Construction, Jurutama and Mudajaya in 1983. Its CEO and Managing Director, Dato’ Soam Heng Choon leads IJM and its main services which include property development, manufacturing, infrastructure concessions and plantations are carried out both locally and globally. Its core business projects include construction, property development, manufacturing and quarrying, infrastructure concessions and plantations. IJM has now increased its offices to Indonesia, India, United Arab Emirates and China. Among its famous projects are e-GATE, PJ8, Aviva Green, Bandar Utama at Sandakan, Nusa Duta and Holiday Villa in Subang Jaya.
Gamuda Berhad
Established in 1976 and founded by Dato’ Lin Yun Ling, Gamuda Berhad focuses primarily on engineering and construction, infrastructure concessions and property development. Its works can be found abroad and also in Malaysia. It has also won several awards such as the Gamuda Berhad, Builder of the Year Award, Malaysian Construction Industry Excellence Awards (MCIEA) 2016 and Best Corporate Responsibility (CR), Initiatives Award in the Big Cap companies’ category at The Edge, Billion Ringgit Club (BRC) Corporate Awards 2016. Among its famous projects are Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and property development such as TwentyFive.7, Gamuda Gardens, Kundang Estates, Bukit Bantayan Residences, Highpark Suites, Gamuda Biz Suites, The Robertson, Jade Hills, Horizon Hills, Madge Mansion, Gamuda Walk, Kota Kemuning, Bandar Botanic and Valencia.
Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB)
Led by Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din, Group Managing Director, which was formerly known as Perak Carbide in 1969, MRCB emphasises on property engineering and construction, infrastructure, concessions, environment and building services. Currently being one of the leading urban property developers, MRCB is the pioneer of Malaysia’s Transit Oriented Development, as it won an award for the Kuala Lumpur Sentral CBD project. It also won several awards such as the Property Insight Prestigious Developers Awards 2016 for Top 10 Developers Award and Best Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Award. Among its famous projects are Penang Sentral, KWASA Sentral, KL Sentral CBD, PJ Sentral Garden City and Cyberjaya City Centre.
WCT Holdings Berhad
Founded by Peter Taing Kim Hwa and Wong Sewe Wing, WCT Holdings Berhad was originally known as WCT Earthworks and Building Contractors way back in 1981. Now guided by its Managing Director, Dato’ Lee Tuck Fook, WCT is an investment company that invested in WCT Berhad which specialises in engineering and construction works focusing on earthworks, construction of highways, building and related infrastructure works while providing management services. On the other hand, WCT Land focuses on property development, investment and management mainly in residential properties development, integrated townships and commercial properties. It is also engaged in the ownership and management of hotels, shopping malls and concession assets. Among its projects are Sprint Highway at Jalan Maarof, Paradigm Garden City, Waltz Residences, Aronia Apartments, Trifolis Apartments, Getaway at KLIA2 and Bukit Tinggi Shopping Centre.
WCE Holdings Berhad
Founded in 2000 and directed by Datuk Oh Chong Peng, WCE Holdings Berhad specialises in manufacturing and trading industrial products and building materials as well as property investment and construction contracting. It is known for the completion of the West Coast Expressway (WCE) project by its subsidiary West Coast Expressway Sdn Bhd. WCE also has succeeded in developing a mixed development project at Bandar Rimbayu located next to Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam.
Hock Seng Lee Berhad (HSL)
Hock Seng Lee Berhad (HSL) was founded in 1960 by three brothers of the Yii family and the company was named after the first dredging vessel purchased. Helmed by its Managing Director, Dato Yu Chee Hoe, this company is now the leading company in marine engineering and it also focuses on civil engineering and building construction firm based in the East Malaysian state of Sarawak. It also specialises in mass land reclamation and dredging, building tunnels, bridges, roads and even flyovers. HSL is also in charge of flood mitigation, ensuring sufficient water supply for rural areas and other marine structures. By far, HSL has transformed much swamplands into modern housing and industrial estates, tourist resorts, commercial centres, international seaports, airports and highways. Among its famous projects are Pan Borneo Highway, Jalan Song Flyover, Third Mile Underpass, UITM Mukah, Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre, Samalaju Water Treatment Plant, Kuching Wastewater Treatment Plant, Samalaju Raw Water Intake and Tanjung Manis Deep Sea Port.
Mudajaya Group Berhad
Headed by James Wong Tet Foh, Mudajaya Group Berhad was part of the merger of IJM in 1983 and was later obtained by Tiararibu, a Mulpha international subsidiary in 1993. Its main focus is designing and building power plants in the construction and property sectors. Mudajaya’s field of endeavour includes construction, property development, manufacturing, trading and works in the power sector. It has also won several awards such as the ISO 9001:2008 Certification for Mudajaya Group Berhad (“Mudajaya”) and ISO 9001:2008 Certification for Mudajaya Corporation Berhad (“MJC”). Among its famous projects are Mudajaya Tower, KL-Kuala Selangor Expressway (KLSE), Tune Hotel, Villa Angsana Condominium, Batu Kawah New Township and 10 Damansara Heights Boutique Bungalows.
Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd
Founded in 1972 by Tun Haji Mohamed Taib Ibrahim and Mac Ngan Boon @ Mac Yin Boon, Muhibbah Engineering (M) Bhd’s services include infrastructures, local and international civil and structural engineering works. Its area of expertise include building works, airport and airline support facilities, oil and gas, marine and port construction, building ships, fabrication works, waste heat recovery system, concession and defence and security. It was also the first construction company to receive the ISO 9002 certification in 1995 in the construction sector. It has also received several awards such as One Million Manhours Safety Awards for Project Proposed of A Petroleum Hub & Bunkering Facility at Reclaimed Island off Tanjung Bin, Johor – Malaysia and 500 Manhours Safety Award & 1,000,000 Manhours Safety Hour for project YLNG Jetty and GRP Outfall Pipelaying Works & Other Associated Works at Bal-Haf, Sana’a – Yemen.
