HABIB JEWELS PIONEERING HOTEL INDUSTRY

By Siti Syazana Abdul Rasad

KUALA LUMPUR, July 2 (Bernama) -- Habib Jewels, a household name in Malaysia
in gold business, is pioneering into a new industry -- hotel industry.

It has invested RM8 million (US$2.48 million (US$1=RM3.22) in a middle-class
hotel in Kota Baharu which will be completed by end of this month.

Kota Baharu is the capital city of east coast Kelantan state in Peninsular
Malaysia/

The 32-room hotel is a trial project that will provide an opportunity for
Habib
Jewels to move forward in the hotel industry, said Meer Sadik Habib,
managing director of Habib Jewels.

"If the hotel project succeeds, we intend to open several hotels next year,"
he told Bernama at the stock clearance sale.

The hotel, currently 80 per cent completed, will house a Habib Jewels outlet
and a showroom besides a manufacturing facility adjacent to the hotel.

On the sale, Meer Sadik said jewellery are being offered at more than 70
per cent discount.

Less than a gramme of 916 gold is sold for only RM15, he said.

Concurrent with the ongoing World Cup football, Meer Sadik said they have
brought in diamonds from South Africa and was selling them at very reasonable
prices.

Some 15,000 people are expected at the three-day sale from Friday.

-- BERNAMA