NAZA Group founder and chairman dies of cancer in LA

The News Straits Time wrote:

KUALA LUMPUR, Fri:

Founder and Chairman of the Naza Group, Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin SM Amin, died Thursday morning in Los Angeles, California, of lung cancer at the age of 53. Nasimuddin, who is also chief executive officer of the conglomerate, had been receiving treatment for cancer at a private hospital in Long Beach since January this year, Consul Ahmad Asmawi told Bernama over the telephone from Los Angeles.

Ahmad said Nasimuddin's wife Puan Sri Zaleha Ismail and children were by his side when he passed away at about 9am Pacific time Thursday morning .

The Malaysian Islamic Society of North America will prepare his remains and hold a prayer at the Islamic Centre.

His remains will be embalmed and sealed in a casket to be flown to Malaysia on Malaysia Airlines MH94 on May 3 on its early morning flight at 1.40am, Ahmad said.

The Naza Group, formed in 1974, has 14 business divisions including motor trading, motorbikes, manufacturing, transport services, machine tools and parts, engineering, plantation, cigarette distribution, credit and leasing, water crafts, properties, hotel operation and insurance agency.

Naza Group is the franchise holder for Ferrari, South Korea's Kia, Peugeot, Brabus, Hamann and Ducati bikes in Malaysia.

It also holds the import permits for Mercedes-Benz and Mazda vehicles.

In August 2005, Naza opened its doors to a new automotive showroom which became the company's landmark - Naza Auto Mall.

The group has property development - TIDI Development Sdn Bhd - and hotels in Malaysia and Los Angeles, including Howard Johnson in Torrance and the Crowne Plaza Hotel in San Pedro, Los Angeles.

Born on Jan 25, 1955, Nasimuddin studied at Sekolah Menengah Tuanku Muhammad in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan.

He began his automotive business at the age of 21 with a capital of RM80,000 he had accumulated by working for his father who was in the contracting business.

He made his first million a year later by applying for government-issued Approved Permits (APs) to import used cars from Japan.

He was quoted as saying: "I have always loved cars since my teenage years. That is why I am in this business. My father's construction business was not my cup of tea."