Passion, synergy drive Koh Brothers

THE construction industry is in for a shake-up that could spell the end for some smaller or less-prudent firms, Koh Brothers Group's chief executive officer Francis Koh predicts.

Outfits which refuse to break from tradition or which lack the wherewithal to lean more heavily on machinery and prefabricated materials to become leaner with manpower are the most vulnerable, he adds.

Koh Brothers, however, has been able to generate strong performances this year, thanks to its pursuit of the magic of synergy - past, present and future - and a passion for the job, he tells The Business Times. "Construction is in my blood," he declares.

The challenge facing the industry is not one of lack of demand: the value of construction contracts is expected to be between $28 billion and $34 billion this year. The challenge is also not one of opportunities: in…