I’m Hawarie, CEO of AHB Group. Long before families trusted me with their building budgets, I cycled to the factory gates in Lahat with a basket of Mum’s kuih, the snacks she made to sell. That was where I began to understand what it takes to earn the money we spend.
PMr. Mohd Hawarie bin Tan MuziCEO and Managing Director, AHB Group
INTRODUCTION
When I fed Mum on her birthday.
My brothers and sisters and I got together for a meal on Mum’s birthday. As I lifted a spoon to her mouth, I thought of the basket of kuih we used to carry on our bicycle.
I’m the eldest of seven. In Lahat, Perak, our day began around 3.30 in the morning. I helped Mum get the kuih ready. By 6.15 we had packed the basket and were on our way. The factory workers started at 6.30. If we were late, we could miss our customers for the morning.
As a boy, all I knew was that Mum needed someone to pedal. Sitting at that table, I thought about all the mornings she and my late father had spent earning a living for the seven of us.
Mum and me, years ago. Mum held the microphone and I stood beside her.On Mum’s birthday. This time, it was my turn to feed her.
I used to pedal that bicycle with Mum’s kuih in the basket. I saw how early she got up to earn a living. Now, when a family puts its savings in my hands to build a home, I think of those mornings. Their savings, in my care.
Ipoh · Before 2004
I used to drive for Abang Zul.
Before people knew him as YB Dato’ Haji Mohd Zolkafly bin Harun, I knew him as Abang Zul. When we worked together at SSF Corporation, a property developer in Ipoh, he had yet to receive the title of Dato’. I was an office coordinator.
Some days I was his driver. On others I went to the land office to follow up on the company’s paperwork. When a house came up for sale, I helped promote it. I thought about whatever needed doing that day. It never crossed my mind that one day I’d be managing building projects for my own clients.
With Abang Zul during my time with PERKOBF Perak.
The story behind this photo
In 2004, I joined the Ministry of Housing and Local Government. This photo came later, when I was deputy president of the Perak Class F Contractors Association (PERKOBF). The blue and white shirt I’m wearing was our association uniform.
Looking at this picture, I remember two jobs people trusted me to do. In the early days, I drove Abang Zul wherever he needed to go. By the time we stood together for this photo, contractors in Perak had entrusted me to speak for them.
When families come to AHB to build on their own land, I understand why they want to know who is handling their land matters and what happens next. I used to be the one at the counter following up for my employer. Today it’s up to me to make sure homeowners get an answer from my team.
Thank you, Abang Zul, for giving me that chance. So much of what I do today began with work that felt ordinary at the time.
2007 · Cuci4U
We used to share a plate of rice.
In 2007, my wife, Haryana Yunos, opened a small laundry called Cuci4U. I was still working for the government.
Later, we ran a catering business and school canteens in Ipoh through KLFood Industries. Sometimes we shared a plate of rice to save money. It was one of the memories I shared when our story appeared in the press in 2016.
As the business grew, so did our responsibilities. At first we counted what we had to spend on the two of us. Once we had employees, other families depended on the business too.
Today, Haryana and I work on the same team at AHB Group. I lead operations. As Executive Director, Haryana helps set our direction, coordinates the team’s work and reviews the results. When I think of that shared plate of rice, I also remember who took the first step by opening that little laundry.
By the time I started looking for a business opportunity, I had worked for a property developer in Ipoh. My government work had also taken me into housing and rural development.
My opportunity in construction came when I took over Kumpulan Ali Husin Bros. The group dates back to 1982. Tuan Haji Ali Husin laid its foundations, and his siblings carried the business on before I took over.
I’ve led operations since 2012. Today, Ali Husin & Bros Group Sdn. Bhd. is known as AHB Group. Together, my team and I have expanded our civil engineering work and built homes for families on land they own.
When a payment comes in, I think of those factory workers heading out early in the morning. We see a figure on the company statement. The homeowner knows how long it took to save it. That’s why I want families to know who is looking after their site, what work is finished and what a change of plan would mean for their budget.
Key handover & AHB Group homes Memories with our clients
From the first plans to handing over the keys
As CEO and Managing Director of AHB Group, I lead a team that designs and builds homes on land our clients own. Two of our earliest decisions are which layout works for the family and what they can afford.
In Tanjung Malim, a house we designed around an Indoor Zen Garden brings natural light into the living spaces. I spoke to Kosmo! about that project.
When material prices rise after the contract is signed.
As Perak chairman of Persatuan Kontraktor Perumahan Malaysia (PKPM), the housing contractors’ association, I’ve spoken about why rising costs hit small contractors particularly hard. Suppose a contractor has agreed to build a house for a fixed price. As materials and machinery hire become more expensive, the contractor needs more cash to keep going. A delayed payment for completed work can hold up the purchase of materials for the next stage.
In an interview published by Harian Metro on 22 March 2026, I called for faster payment of contractors’ claims and for a review of contract prices on projects already under way. For a family waiting for the keys, a payment arriving on time helps keep work moving on site.
Association of Construction Project Managers Malaysia
The professional title PMr.
After earning my CCPM, I was admitted as a Certified Member of ACPM and was awarded the title PMr. My membership certificate was issued on 31 October 2026.
Recognition at the Bumiputera Business Excellence Awards 2025 marks a milestone in my journey with AHB Group in residential design and construction. Watch the video from AHB Group.
Three questions to ask before paying a contractor.
Take these questions to your first meeting. Write down the answers so you and the site team have a common record.
Who will oversee the work on my home?
Ask for the name and role of your point of contact. Find out who supervises work on site and who can make a decision when a problem comes up.
How will I hear about progress?
Agree on how often you’ll receive updates. When the team sends photos, ask them to explain what they have finished and what comes next.
What happens if I want to change the plans?
Ask for the proposed change, the extra cost and the effect on the completion date in writing. Review and agree on the change before work begins.
Selected coverage
In the news.
In 2016, Haryana and I spoke about the tight budget we lived on while building our business. Ten years later, reporters were asking me what rising construction costs meant for families hoping to own a home.
