Corporate figure Mustapha Kamal dies

KUALA LUMPUR: Renowned corporate figure Tan Sri Mustapha Kamal Abu Bakar died today. He was 73.

His daughter Felina said Mustapha Kamal died of old age at the National Heart Institute at 7.45 am.

She said her father's remains arrived at their Petaling Jaya home at 10.15 am for funeral arrangements and will be buried at Bukit Kiara Muslim cemetery after zohor prayers.

When met, Felina said her father was admitted to IJN on July 23 after he complained of chest pain.

All close family members were at his bedside when he breathed his last, she added.

Mustapha Kamal, who was born in Kampung Changkat, Pusing, Perak, was once nicknamed 'king of affordable housing' as he was responsible for developing more than 12,000 low-cost houses in Selangor and Perak.

His property company changed its name to MK Land Holdings Bhd after being listed on Bursa Malaysia (then known as Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange) in August 1999.

At the beginning of his career, the Universiti Malaya graduate and recipient of Honorary Doctorate of Philosophy in Sustainable Property Development from Universiti Utara Malaysia and Honorary Doctorate in Business and Entrepreneurship from Universiti Teknologi MARA, among others, served as assistant district officer in Kuala Kubu Baru, Hulu Selangor, Kuala Langat and Petaling between 1971 and 1976.

Mustapha Kamal also held the position of deputy commissioner of the Selangor Department of Land and Mines in 1978 before joining the property industry.

-- BERNAMA