KUALA LUMPUR: Ahmad Zaki Resources Bhd (AZRB) founder Tan Sri Wan Zaki Wan Muda passed away at the age of 75 on Tuesday evening.
Wan Zaki started his career in public service, holding multiple roles in state-owned enterprises in Pahang and Terengganu, ultimately serving as managing director of Pesama Timber Corporation Sdn Bhd, a Terengganu state entity.
He then left in 1984 to grow Ahmad Zaki Sdn Bhd's engineering and construction ventures where his leadership saw the company listed on Bursa Malaysia in 1999 through AZRB, establishing it as a leader in commercial construction, infrastructure, and public projects in Malaysia.
He served as AZRB executive chairman and later as executive vice chairman, before retiring in July 2021 to assume the role of group advisor.
Wan Zaki also chaired Chuan Huat Resources Bhd from 2002 to 2013.
His legacy endures through AZRB's prominent role in Malaysia's construction industry which under his leadership became a major player in Malaysia's commercial construction, infrastructure and public projects.
The group was involved in several major projects including Jambatan Putra in Kuantan, Pintasan Saloma in KL, Universiti Teknologi Petronas and the Sultan Ahmad Shah Medical Centre in Pahang.
AZRB received the "Builder of the Year" award at the Malaysia Construction Industry Excellence Award in 2017, along with a "Best Project Award" and "Green Construction Award" for its work on Menara Kerja Raya.
The group's share price has fallen 4.35 per cent year-to-date (YTD) and a drop of one sen over the past year.
The stock closed at 22 sen on Wednesday, giving it a market capitalisation of RM141.56 million.