GOASIAPLUS July 2018

Faces & Places
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT
Dato’ Sri Tan Aik Kiong
(Managing Director of
Aikbee Group); The
Pearl Kuala Lumpur
in Old Klang Road;
Children performing
Chinese traditional
drums; OACC Exhibition
Center; Eric Ch’ng
(Executive Director of
OACC); Pearl Shopping
Gallery
Lustres of The Pearl
You can never spell Old Klang Road without
mentioning The Pearl establishments in the
neighbourhood. Aikbee Group has played a part in
transforming this industrial town of Klang Valley
into commercial hubs and today’s residential
popular pick.
The Local Landmark
A family legacy is what we’ll call it. Started in the
1960s, the Aikbee Group has grown from the
logging industry in saw milling to become one of
the pioneers of property development in Klang
Valley. Unlike today, the area was remarkably
populated with various saw milling factories as
well as rubber factories back in the past.
The change follows distinctly when the late
Tan Sit Seng decides to close his factory and use
the land for commercial purposes. Following the
move, the place slowly sees a growth of residents
and signs of township. From that, he became a
trailblazer by diversifying the transformation to
Old Klang Road from being known as an industrial
town to what it is today; as often etched on
the lips of the locals, “Pearl Point”, a prominent
commercial landmark of Old Klang Road.
Aikbee Group’s well-known trio ventures Pearl
Point Condominium, Pearl Point Shopping Mall
and The Pearl Kuala Lumpur have been operating
since 1990s in the heart of Old Klang Road.
Striving to build on his father’s
accomplishments, Dato’ Sri Tan Aik Kiong works
hand in hand with his brother, Dato’ Sri Tan Aik
Chong as the Group Managing Director in making
the company’s vision comes to fruition. The
heirloom matures and continues to thrive under
the siblings’ effort to cultivate Old Klang Road
into an esteemed neighbourhood.
A Treasure of Comfort
The Pearl enterprises have set up to be
substantial cores of Old Klang Road with bustling
streets all around it. Therefore, another attraction
to The Pearl Kuala Lumpur is its perfect location
in the city with close distances to the magnificent
Petronas Twin Towers and accessibility to national
stadium and Sunway Lagoon.
As a nominee for World Luxury Awards
in 2017, the hotel also boasts of its nearby
convenience with Pearl Shopping Gallery. The
establishments have a link bridge joining the two
buildings for leisure times in ease for tourists.
You might find a twinkle of character in the
classic aspects of the buildings, channelling the
“old is gold” spirit with large lion statues guarding
the hotel as sentinels and tall red arch welcoming
you to the hotel. Keeping those few major
features, The Pearl Kuala Lumpur has transformed
over the years with an avant-garde registration
lobby and snazzy executive lounge and business
center for their travellers.
On the other hand, Pearl Point Shopping Mall
surprises the modern-day shoppers with vintage
trinkets shops, saloon, tattoo parlours and various
lifestyle stores in the outlet.
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