The mega merger of Sime Darby Bhd, Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd and Golden Hope Plantations Bhd in 2007 has created the country’s largest property group in terms of landbank and ongoing developments.

SIME Darby Bhd is a well-diversified conglomerate with operations in 20 countries and 70% of the group’s income is derived from outside Malaysia. In comparison its property subsidiary, Sime Darby Property Bhd, with footprints in six countries, derives only 10% of its income from overseas.

THE main growth driver for Sime Darby Property Bhd in the coming years will be the development of Sime Darby Vision Valley (SDVV), according to managing director Datuk Tunku Badlishah Tunku Annuar. The ambitious development has been conceptualised in line with the National Physical Plan which calls for the development of the Kuala Lumpur Conurbation.

Sime Darby Property Bhd wants to change the concept of developing properties by putting safety and security as the top criteria to gain buyers’ confidence. President and group chief executive Datuk Seri Ahmad Zubir Murshid said the group had so far invested about RM15mil to enhance the security and safety at its existing townships and would extend the concept to its other new township developments.