“There is a method to the madness of Kevin Choo Chung Ing”. The self-confessed maverick had initially chosen to direct profession and attention to the digital world of information technology when he was unexpectedly caught in the destructive tidal wave of the infamous Y2K bug, whose domino effect rained global chaos on the IT industry. Leaving firewalls behind, Choo chose to convert his life-long passion for powerful engines into currency by joining the automobile industry under UMW Toyota. His meteoric rise in the torque-driven field provided the capital needed to invest in an apartment located in the much sought-after neighbourhood of Damansara Perdana. Choo reflects that subsequent transactions on the early investment had then gone on to trigger a serendipitous affinity to property development, “From that moment, a chord was struck and I fell in love with all things property-related.”

Behind eyes that twinkle with impish delight lies tenacity and grit, attributes that Choo brought from the outset to his inaugural development project, Medan Sentral Commercial Centre, in Bintulu, Sarawak. Although considered unprofitable because of high infrastructure cost involvement and unfavourable topography, Choo turned liability into leverage, confident that the strategic location of the pioneering project would eventually overcome perceived, short-term, physical limitations. In characteristic bullishness, he undertook championing the project whilst still recovering from a broken femur, the result of a freak sporting exercise. Choo reminisces, “I remember walking door-to-door promoting awareness for the project. Within the first two weeks of launching, we had managed to sell 80% of the 97 units of shops in Phase 1 at a price 15% higher than originally budgeted.” Currently a bustling hub, the success of Medan Sentral bears testimony to Choo’s long-range vision to trust instinct through the impossible.

For family-orientated Choo and his wife Emily, the birth of firstborn Christabelle, acted as a catalyst to centre operations in Kuching, Sarawak, the decision of which was firmly entrenched with the arrival of their second daughter, Annabelle. The unhurried pace of Sarawak’s Cat City did little to slow Choo down. With his father’s blessing, the brand-savvy visionary sought to build on a long-lasting legacy of existing family credentials in the property development market by forming Timber Land Properties Sdn Bhd in 2006. Over a decade later, Timber Land Properties’ ever-expanding portfolio across Sarawak includes commercial developments, high-rise office towers, service apartments and luxury residences. As it was with his debut project, so Choo continues to engage insight and imagination with his current projects, developing city peripheries and industrial fringes, proactively looking beyond obvious imperfections in favour of the bigger picture.

Choo has a deep appreciation for creative design. Nurtured from his teens, the interest led him to pursue formally equipping himself with instructive knowledge through the College of Fine Arts (as it was then known), whilst simultaneously studying for his Bachelor and Master degrees in Commerce at the University of New South Wales, Sydney. Choo carries his keen eye for aesthetically-pleasing lines into the design and concept of his developments. Understanding the wisdom and purpose behind traditional property dimensions and design, Choo takes cues from history to formulate the future. Far from reinventing the wheel, Choo identifies intentions previously constrained by the technology of its time in order to redeem it with improved materials and advanced engineering. Choo recalls, “Timber Land Properties’ first project in Kuching was Bayang Estate 2 on Jalan Wan Alwi. We had introduced an evolutionary new design inspired by houses in the 1960s, which incorporated a contemporary colour palette not previously delivered at a commercial level. The 41-unit project was a sold out success.”