For Dr. Lee Ville, it’s all about balance.
“Surgeons get called up at 3, 4am,” he said, smiling at the memory. “I didn’t see how that would be very healthy in the long run.”
A graduate of Penang Medical College, Lee had always wanted to be a doctor since secondary school. But during his housemanship, the “balance” simply wasn’t there. He found that he enjoyed surgery (“I like to be hands-on”) but beyond that, the hours were getting to him. So when his father invited him to join the family’s properties business, he decided to give it a shot.
Today, Lee is the director of New Bob Group of Companies, which has a diverse portfolio in property development and management; its subsidiary, New Bob Realty, was the first real estate agency in Penang. Under his guidance, the company is determined to help potential homeowners achieve a semblance of balance in their lives by pushing the development of eco-friendly properties that make full use of the natural environment while being energy efficient. Lee sat down with Penang Monthly to chat about the property landscape in Penang, and where the industry is headed.
