WHEN Datuk Khor Chap Jen - CEO of mega property developer SP Setia - graduated from Universiti Malaya around 40 years ago, the neighbours in his hometown pooled money together to buy a congratulatory ad in the newspaper.

As a small-town family in Parit Buntar who were “not very well off”, graduating from university was a big deal. In fact, finishing secondary school was a challenge.

“I had 11 siblings living under one roof, so our house wasn’t a very conducive place to study,” said Khor, walking down memory lane on the main street in Parit Buntar, where his father used to be a shopkeeper.

But the school principal was very kind - he would let us come back to school every night to study, and the gardener would switch off the lights after us.”