From Kuala Selangor to luxury hotels worldwide — This family's legacy lives on

New Straits Times

a day ago

THE huge smile. It's the first thing I notice about Pei Xien Yeoh. Then, the unmistakable voice. Even as I step into the cool embrace of Pangkor Laut Resort's all-day dining restaurant, grateful for a reprieve from the sticky island heat outside, it's impossible to miss her.
There's a brightness to her presence; a warmth that radiates before she even speaks. She reminds me, in more ways than one, of her gregarious father, Datuk Mark Yeoh Seok Kah — executive director of YTL Corporation Bhd and the formidable force behind YTL Hotels' steady rise.
The resemblance isn't only in the voice or the ease with which she laughs, but in the way she draws you in — with the easy confidence of someone who has never known small rooms, and yet with none of the detachment you might expect from a fourth-generation scion of one of Malaysia's most storied business families.
She beams as I approach, rising from her seat to greet me with a firm handshake and an even bigger grin.
"You look like you could use a drink," she exclaims, waving a waiter over.
Just hours earlier, I'd seen her on the beachfront, cheering on competitors at the Chapman's Challenge — an annual race held in honour of British soldier Colonel Freddy Spencer Chapman, who famously escaped Japanese troops through these very jungles during World War 2.
Then, she was clad in a plain white T-shirt and light blue jeans, long hair a little damp with sweat, skin glistening in the afternoon sun.
"I love milestone years," says Pei as we settle in, adding sagely: "… because they kind of remind you of everything that came before."
This year is one of them — the 80th anniversary of Chapman's escape and the 70th anniversary of YTL's founding.
And for Pei, it's more than a corporate milestone. It's personal. It's history wrapped in memory, carried from one generation to the next.
"As a Yeoh," she continues, "… the weight is heavier. I work hard not for the money, but for the legacy. For what my grandfather built. And for the people who built it with him."
Her grandfather was Tan Sri Yeoh Tiong Lay, the man whose name is stitched into Malaysia's economic story — a titan of industry who, even at the height of his empire, made time for his family.
Pei remembers growing up next door to him and spending time with him every week.
Shares Pei: "Even though I'm the youngest, I had 16 good years with him. My grandfather was a great lover of history, much like my father. Because of that, all of us in the family grew up knowing the story of how my great-grandfather left Kinmen — which was part of China then, though it's now considered Taiwan — at the age of 18."
She continues: "He made his way to Klang, where he began working as a bookkeeper for a man who owned a planking business. In time, he married the owner's daughter, and they moved to Kuala Selangor to start their life."
The family, confides Pei, takes great pride in those roots — in being from Kuala Selangor.
"When my grandfather was alive, he would make it a point to drive there every weekend to buy fish from the local market. It wasn't just about the produce; it was about ensuring we supported the small businesses and the people who had stood by us through the years. He believed in honouring those ties, in nurturing relationships that go beyond transactions," she recalls softly.
And that spirit of looking after the people who look after you is something she herself carries, and it has become a big part of what drives Pei — even though it's not always easy work.
Brows furrowing, she recalls the oft-told story of the 1970s financial crisis, when the family risked losing it all.
"My grandparents pawned their gold and jewellery to honour contracts when others ran. It paid off in the end, but more than that, it taught us that your word is your bond."
Those lessons were drilled deep. And while Pei might carry the ease of privilege, she also shoulders the weight of inheritance. It's something she's always been conscious of, even as she carved her own path.
"It was all part of the master plan," confides Pei with a grin, recounting her years abroad.
At 16, she left for the United Kingdom, finishing sixth form before earning a degree in History, Politics and Economics from University College London.
But even then, the expectation wasn't to waltz straight into the family business.
"I wanted to prove to myself I could thrive without the name," she admits, shrugging her shoulders lightly.
And so, for two years, she did — as a management consultant with Deloitte Malaysia.
It was a world of high-stakes projects and long hours, a place where her last name meant little.
"It was the best decision I made," she reflects, adding: "It taught me how to manage people and expectations, and deliver under pressure. Skills that I use every day now."
When the call came last December to return, she didn't hesitate.
"I came back willingly. It felt like coming home."
But it wasn't a simple homecoming, though, as the YTL Pei returned to was a company racing ahead.
New hotel openings in Japan and Australia, artificial intelligence (AI) integrations and ambitious expansions were reshaping the hospitality landscape.
"It's been a crazy time to come in," she admits, chuckling heartily.
"We have 38 properties now, with a few more coming. Every morning, I read through all the guest comments — what I call my happy hour, even though it's not an hour anymore."
But amid spreadsheets and strategy decks, Pei holds tight to something less tangible.
"Hospitality is about people. Data can tell you what's happening, but it won't tell you why."
It's a philosophy inherited from her father, a man whose booming voice and sharp mind she reveres, and whose warmth, she insists, is often overlooked.
"People think he's intimidating because he's loud," she says, beaming broadly before adding: "But he's got the kindest heart. He always says — people first. Take care of your team, your guests, the community. The profits will come."
BOND OF FAMILY
That ethos runs deep in the family. Smiling, Pei recalls childhood holidays at Pangkor Laut, long before she imagined she'd one day help oversee its legacy.
"A lot of people ask if it's lonely being an only child, but no. I have 26 cousins and now with the great-grandchildren, there are 30 of us. We grew up as one big noisy unit."
Dinners were never quiet affairs.
Shares Pei: "There's no such thing as separating work and family. Business decisions get made at the dinner table. Everyone chimes in. That's how it's always been."
It was, she reflects, an unconventional but intentional upbringing — the sort that's designed to prepare her for the weight she now carries.
Chuckling, she recounts how, as a child, she'd beg for DVDs at Speedy Video.
"My parents made me pick one a month. It was their way of teaching self-control — you can have anything, but you need to steward it well."
The lesson stuck. Even now, as she manages people, budgets and the delicate politics of family business, she's acutely aware of what's been entrusted to her.
The responsibility is vast.
"A lot of us were born with a head start," she says candidly, adding: "We didn't live through the crises our grandparents did. But we're constantly reminded of those sacrifices, so we don't grow complacent."
Pei's admiration for her grandfather is evident as she reiterates: "He was a man of few words, but he'd always remind us to let our work do the talking. He always believed integrity mattered more than anything. Whatever agreement you enter, keep your word. That's what built this company."
A RESPONSIBILITY
Today, as Pei steps deeper into her leadership role — overseeing strategy, transformation, people and culture, even YTL Hotels' foray into artificial intelligence (AI) — those principles anchor her.
Eyes flashing passionately, she says: "We have to innovate, but not lose the DNA. You can automate bookings, but you can't automate kindness."
Her father, now in his 60s, remains her greatest mentor and critic.
"We butt heads sometimes," she confesses with a laugh, adding: "He calls himself a technological dinosaur. He's got the spirit for change, but sometimes I have to show him how."
Despite their occasional clashes, the bond is undeniable.
"He's my boss, my father and a cheeky friend," confides Pei, elaborating: "At work, if he doesn't agree with an idea, he'll make it known. But it's never personal. At the end of the day, it's about making decisions for the good of the group, the staff, the legacy."
Asked what's the best advice her father has ever given her, Pei shares: "He's given plenty, but I think one of the best pieces of advice he's ever given me — and the one he reminds me of often — is to never stop learning. He recently turned 60, a milestone in itself, but his mindset has always been that it's okay to be wrong, as long as you keep learning from it."
Elaborating, she says: "He believes you should never aim to be the smartest person in the room. Instead, surround yourself with people you can learn from, people who challenge your thinking. It's a mentality rooted in humility, in staying open, and in recognising that wisdom often comes from the most unexpected places."
When asked how she defines success, Pei doesn't mention profits or property counts.
She reflects: "For me, it's about love. How much your people care about you, about the brand, about what we stand for."
It's a belief she sees lived out in YTL's long-serving employees.
Adds Pei, pride lacing her tone: "We have people who've been with us 30, 40 years. It's not just loyalty — it's love. And if your team loves where they work, your guests will feel it too."
That, she believes, is what sets YTL Hotels apart.
"We were here first and we know this industry inside out. But you can know everything and still get left behind.
"So, we have to lead. Not just measure what's happening, but set the temperature," she adds passionately.
As for the next 70 years, Pei is determined to keep telling stories — of people, of place, of struggle and triumph.
She confides: "I want to document the little stories. The man who laid the first pipe on Pangkor Laut. The housekeeper who's worked here since day one. The local fishermen who bring us fresh anchovies. These are the stories that matter."
Suffice to say, she's proud of where the brand is headed, with new properties rising in Thailand, Australia and Japan.
But she understands that growth means nothing if the heart of it is lost.
"We can get as big as we want," Pei says quietly, adding: "… but if we lose our soul, we lose everything."
It's a lesson she carries in her bones — her grandfather's grit, her father's fire, and her own steadfast belief in the worth of people.
"As long as we lead with integrity, love our people, and never forget where we came from," she adds, rising to leave, "we'll be alright."
The smile lingers as she bids me goodbye, already turning to tend to a staff member waiting discreetly nearby.
Duty calls, as it always has in this family. And with that same easy warmth and quiet resolve, she walks away — carrying not just a name, but a promise.