Ask anyone in Sandakan, Sabah, about Wah Mie Group and they’ll know it well. For many, it’s more than a household name—it’s home. Known officially as WMG Holdings, it is Sandakan’s largest property developer, with a market share of more than 50 per cent in commercial real estate. Over the past three decades, WMG has shaped the region, building around 500 homes each year—more than 15,000 homes in total—ranging from low-cost apartments and starter homes to high-end detached and semi-detached houses as well as condos. Listed on Bursa Malaysia in 2017, WMG Holdings has since kept its focus on property development as well as the wholesale and retail of building materials.
At the helm of this powerhouse is Datuk Quek Siew Hau, WMG’s Executive Chairman. Towering both in stature and presence, Quek shares his insights on the group’s latest venture, Parklane Gardens, which took home the 2024 SHAREDA Excellence Award for Value Innovation in Landed Property Development. Housing, he says, is everything—especially landed property. Sandakan’s middle class is expanding and, with it, the appetite for family homes is stronger than ever.
WMG Holdings has come a long way since its beginnings. Quek’s father founded the company with a foresight that was rare at the time: he saw that Sandakan’s housing needs were outpacing the ability of individuals to build their own homes. “Back then, people bought land and built their own houses. Developers were building, but it was never enough,” Quek recalls. “And affordable housing? In those days, all housing was affordable. And today, those prices have increased tenfold, at least.”
For Quek, the appeal of landed homes has surged in recent years following a decade of condominium fatigue. “Condos were great. They offered security, you didn’t need to worry about upkeep and they came with facilities,” he says. “But in the past five to eight years, we’ve seen landed properties outpacing condos. There’s a glut now in condos, but the prices are high and many buyers are gravitating back to landed homes. These properties are appreciating faster and meeting a renewed demand.”
In recent years, WMG Holdings has placed a strong emphasis on landed property development. These include two Parklane projects in Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu, both of which have delivered a combined total of 400 terraced houses. For example, each home in Parklane Gardens in Sandakan features high-end finishing and generous layouts, all within reach of schools, shops, offices and major roads. It’s a design tailored for growing families who are planting their roots in Sandakan.
Quek’s secret to staying ahead is foresight, but he doesn’t consider it luck. “Even at 68, I’m still learning,” he says. “You can say anything you want and your subordinates will follow. But this is not the leadership I practise. Real leadership means making sound, thoughtful decisions and that means constant learning. I always tell my team, if you don’t know, ask. Share what you know and ask what you don’t, no matter how old you are. That’s how you improve. That’s how you elevate the whole company.”
This philosophy applies as much to his personal life as it does to his leadership. For Quek, learning is a way of life. “I’m interested in everything,” he says, “from global politics to the economy, health and even golf.” Whether it’s YouTube or TikTok, he finds new information anywhere he can.
At the end of a busy day, Quek winds down in his own way. Relaxing in a cosy spot at home, phone in hand, he scrolls through videos and catches up on the world. He laughs, describing the scene: “That’s my way to relax. And that’s how I keep learning.”
Datuk Quek Siew Hau is the Executive Chairman of WMG Holdings. His latest project, Parklane Gardens in Sandakan, Sabah, is the gold recipient of the Value Innovation in Landed Property Development Excellence Award at the SHAREDA Excellence Awards 2024.
Stay tuned to read more stories about other SHAREDA members: Datuk Chua Soon Ping, Datuk Susan Wong, Datuk Matthew Tan, Gilbert Ee, Wilson Loke, King Hong, Datuk Seri Panglima Tang and Soh Wai Fong.
Photographed by Xerxes/Awesome Image
Make up and hair by Celin Chin
Art Direction by Penn Ey, Chee
