Hatten adds a distinct Malacca flavour on SGX

FRESH after completing their national service, siblings Colin and Edwin Tan were labelled "crazy" for buying overpriced land in a Malaysian state 10 years ago for commercial development - they drew incredulous laughs from friends and frowns from Mom for giving up tertiary studies (their pursuit of degrees would eventually be accomplished) to build the biggest mall and hotel in "sleepy" Malacca.

For sure, they must have also felt the sharp pang of fear that their gut-driven plan could fail.

But the founding brothers of Hatten Group had the last laugh on Feb 28. Upon the backdoor listing of the property development arm Hatten Land on the Singapore Exchange's second board Ca…