Malaysia Google Zeitgeist 2008 & Gamuda Bhd
What Malaysians Searches On Google In 2008
Notwithstanding that 2008 was mostly a year of heavy political overtones – what interests me are the few brands that stood out.
The one that pique my interest is Gamuda Berhad.
Gamuda Berhad is involved primarily in construction, property development and concessions. One of their biggest corporate moves in 2008 was the formation of Gamuda Land Vietnam Limited and the building of the Yen So Park. With an estimated GDV (gross development value) of RM8 billion over 8 to 10 years, the park is said to include a convention centre, commercial facilities, a five-star hotel, residential units and parkland on 327 hectares around Yen So Lake in the south of the city.
Many will remember Gamuda Berhad for their Kota Kemuning project, almost single-handedly built that township from ground zero and weathered through the 1998 financial crisis. Way before the rest of the herd along the likes of Mah Sing Group came in much later to bank on the lands around the area.
Much like how Subang Jaya is associated with Sime Darby, Kota Kemuning is Gamuda. Building a township – takes a lot of guts for a property developer to do just that. With it comes the price of inherent branding and the question of how much would you pay to build a brand.
A good brand will continue build through the bad times. That’s what a leader would do. That’s what Tony Fernandez has commited to do. That’s what Francis Yeoh recently did. And that’s what Gamuda has built over the years. And Google Zeitgeist 2008 shows just that.
Which brand would shine in 2009′s Zeitgeist?
