AT the SOBA 2021 Gala Night, the winners of the Star Outstanding Business Awards (SOBA) 2021 were recognised as the cream of the local non-listed business community.
The nation’s finest non-listed companies demonstrated their mettle by being named a SOBA winner, another achievement to be proud of.
Besides receiving the distinctive SOBA trophies, winning at the SOBA 2021 Gala Night meant they joined the ranks of successful SOBA alumni, some of whom have grown by leaps and bounds since winning their outstanding recognition of business success and growth.
Since its start in 2010, SOBA has recognised more than 300 meritorious local non-listed businesses who have excelled in their fields.
Gracing the Gala Night were guest of honour, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, alongside Star Media Group Bhd
(SMG) group chief executive officer Alex Yeow, RHB Bank Bhd group chief marketing officer Abdul Sani Abdul Murad, PKT Logistics Group Sdn Bhd group chief executive and managing director Datuk Seri Dr Michael Tio, Credit Guarantee Corp Malaysia Bhd (CGC) president and CEO Datuk Mohd Zamree Mohd Ishak, Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade) deputy CEO (exporters development) Abu Bakar Yusof and Maxis Business head of SME Kevin Lee. Among the winners were Christina Tee Kim Chin, the founder and CEO of Cape EMS Manufacturing (M) Sdn Bhd, who won the Meritorious Achievement under the Female Entrepreneur of the Year category (above RM25mil annual turnover).
Cape EMS is a Johor-based provider of electronic manufacturing services (EMS) and precision machining services.
“I am very proud to receive this award. I have been in this (business) line for the past 35 years.
“Our products are 100% exported, mainly for the United States market, and clients include Mimosa (technology leader in wireless broadband solutions) and Eureka (vacuum cleaners),” said Tee.
Regarding the business outlook in the near term, she said the EMS industry was seeing robust growth and “we are very lucky to be in this industry.”
Tee added that the group’s business philosophy revolves around its employees and stakeholders, as “only people can create wonders.”
She pointed out that the group would continue to improve its environmental, social, and governance practices.
Tan Chee Jia from Syarikat Elektrik Siang Sdn Bhd (SESSB), on the other hand, won the Par Excellence Achievement under the Young Entrepreneur of the Year category (above RM25mil annual turnover).
Set up more than 40 years ago, SESSB has grown from a small home electrical appliances’ retail shop in Nibong Tebal, Penang to 16 retail outlets across the Northern region and Terengganu.
“I am a second-generation entrepreneur and have been in this field for 13 years. We keep thinking out of the box and now, all our outlets have their own Facebook pages, which they manage themselves,” said Tan.
He added that by end-2022, SESSB hopes to have expanded its network to 30 retail outlets.
“We are already looking at new locations in Terengganu.
“We also nurture young people to be entrepreneurs; so we have training programmes for our staff to prosper further in their careers,” said Tan.
Natasha Mah, chief of growth of Wide Tropism Trading Sdn Bhd, won the Par Excellence Achievement under the Female Entrepreneur of the Year category (up to RM25mil annual turnover).
Wide Tropism, which is based in Batu Caves, Selangor, is an importer and exporter of nuts, beans, seeds, raisins, dried condiments, spices, raw materials, snacks and organic products.
The company supplies organic and natural retail products to more than 1,000 outlets around Malaysia and is well-known for its organic brand, Love Earth.
In addition, Wide Tropism also provides services involving repackaging, original equipment manufacturing and brand distribution for business partners.
“We aim to educate people about healthy eating. Our vision and mission is we want every home to have our products,” said Mah.
She pointed out that with Love Earth, the company aims to provide the lowest cost possible and at the same time, the best quality for organic products.
“Definitely, our quality comes first. We have a policy of no pesticides and no preservatives,” said Mah.
In order to address consumer doubts about the authenticity of organic products, Mah said the company has a “transparent policy where its products have identification traceability.”
“That means we can trace where the products come from – which supplier, country and where it is packed.
“We want the product’s traceability, in order to ensure trust,” she said.
Regarding the company’s near-term plans, Mah said besides further business expansion in Malaysia, it was also looking at overseas markets, specifically in Asia.
Meanwhile, Datuk Dylan Chui Saig Herg from Delux Structural Works Sdn Bhd won the Par Excellence Achievement under the Male Entrepreneur of the Year category (up to RM25mil annual turnover).
Chui is the founder and chairman of Delux Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd, which manufactures and provides uniquely crafted trackless autogate system, aluminum folding gate, security safety doors and roofing systems.
The group, known as South-East Asia’s top autogate manufacturer, is based in Puchong, Selangor and invests extensively in research and development.
Its products adorn residences across Malaysia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Singapore, and Thailand.
“Customer satisfaction is critical for us. We want our products to provide the right solutions for our customers,” said Chui on his business philosophy.
As for challenges, he noted that being in the manufacturing industry, the group had to “persevere through the Covid-19 related movement restrictions” in the last two years.
Moving ahead, Chui said the group is planning for the largest showroom in Malaysia for its products and targets to be listed on the ACE Market by 2025.
SOBA 2021 is organised by SMG with CGC, Maxis, PKT Logistics Group and RHB as main sponsors and Matrade as official trade promotion partner.
Supported by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and Bursa Malaysia, it is audited by BDO with 988 and Suria as official media partners.
The SOBA 2021 Gala Night was held at One World Hotel Petaling Jaya, with Carlsberg as the official beer sponsor.
For more information on SOBA, call SMG Events at 017-231 1789 or visit www.soba.com.my.
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