LOCAL non-listed companies were in the spotlight at the 13th Star Outstanding Business Awards (SOBA) held to recognise their excellence and contributions to the Malaysian economy.
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are undoubtedly the backbone of the Malaysian economy, contributing 38.3% of the country’s gross domestic product and providing employment for 7.3 million people or almost half of the country’s labour force.
Besides encouraging excellence among the unsung heroes of the business world, SOBA 2022 celebrated the success of outstanding SMEs and highlighted the vital role they play in contributing to the economy as well as community.
Given the government’s commitment to developing homegrown enterprises, SOBA seeks to inspire and encourage local businesses to promote Malaysia and showcase its products and services to the world.
Winning at the SOBA 2022 Gala Night not only earned the businesses a unique trophy, but also allowed them to join a group of successful SOBA alumni who have seen significant growth since receiving their recognition for outstanding business success.
Last month in mid-February, SOBA 2022 kicked off the excitement with the second SOBA Prestige, an event that aimed to appreciate and facilitate networking.
Attended by over 100 people, SOBA Prestige celebrated past award winners, dating back to the first ceremony in 2010, and was an opportunity for SOBA alumni, partners, and sponsors to connect and network in an enjoyable yet fruitful networking affair.
Interestingly, in addition to a new judging platform, this year’s SOBA 2022 featured three new categories namely ‘Best e-Retail, Best Halal Product or Service and the top Individual Outstanding Achievement Award Elite Entrepreneur of the Year awards, bringing the total number of categories to 15.These new awards were introduced in order to pay tribute to SMEs that successfully embraced digitalisation as well as invested in building successful halal products or services which are valued by the public.
SOBA 2022 was graced by International Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, who believes SOBA has inspired homegrown, non-listed companies towards greater success by promoting business excellence and stimulating positive growth.
“Just as each of us needs a medical check-up every once in a while to ensure our health profile remains good, SOBA evaluates companies on a level playing field, which is an important, comprehensive ‘health check’ on their strengths, shortcomings and areas for improvement.”
“This helps them strategise to stay competitive and meet the demands of the evolving business landscape,” the minister said.
Tengku Zafrul believes, as the world moves towards a greener future, all organisations, large and small, must look at synergising their growth alongside the resounding global call for sustainability.
“Customers are increasingly dictating to suppliers to “Go green or go home!”. So, as policy makers, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry is helping our SMEs to not just survive, but also thrive in demanding, environmental, social and governance (ESG)-driven markets,” Tengku Zafrul said in his speech.
Having a similar opinion, Star Media Group Bhd
(SMG) group chief executive officer Alex Yeow said SMEs must continue to adapt and utilise new technologies to ensure future readiness of their organisation.“Beyond digitisation, best ESG practices should also be made a priority among SMEs. Companies that embrace ESG as part of their business DNA would have a competitive edge in the local and international market,” he said in his welcoming address.
Yeow said the unity government has reaffirmed that SMEs remain one of their utmost priority and concentrated efforts are channelled to support their growth.
Among the winners were Kenny Tan, the CEO of NSS IT Solution Sdn Bhd, who won the grand winner for Elite Entrepreneur of The Year, a new outstanding achievement award aimed to single out one of the six Par Excellence Entrepreneur of the Year winners (Male, Female and Young) in both the up to RM25mil and RM25mil and above company sales turnover tiers.
The 11-year old NSS IT Solution is mainly involved in the ticketing business for the public transportation sector.
Speaking with StarBizWeek, Tan said the group’s centralised ticketing system is used for express buses that travel interstate.
“NSS also provides an onboard global positioning system based ticketing system on 650 city buses across Peninsular Malaysia,” he said.
On the other hand, Che Siti Noraini Nuawi, the director of halal Japanese restaurant Nippon Sushi (M) Sdn Bhd, was named as the Female Entrepreneur Of The Year Par Excellence Achievement Award for Tier-1.
Speaking with StarBizWeek, Che Siti said she opened the first outlet of Nippon Sushi in November 2018 and it has now grown to 18 outlets across Peninsular Malaysia.
“By the end of next month, we will be opening a new branch in Johor Baru,” she said, adding that it is the group’s fourth branch in Johor which will bring the total branch across Malaysia to 19.
Meanwhile, on future plans, she said the group plans to open new branches in untapped key cities including Ipoh and Alor Setar.
Meanwhile, Ebright Sdn Bhd, who has a unique business of organising public speaking programmes to boost kids’ confidence level, bagged the Rising Star grand winner award.
Having started the business six years ago due to his passion, Ebright managing director Kevin Khoo said the group was only registered as a private limited company in 2021.
He believes that this award will be the source of motivation for its employers and colleagues.
“I am very honoured and happy that what we are doing here in Ebright is actually being acknowledged by the panel of judges,” Khoo told StarBizWeek.
Currently, Ebright has five branches scattered across Klang Valley, with close to a thousand active weekly students.
On future plans, Khoo said the group is targeting to set up 20 branches around the country by 2027. In the longer term, Ebright is hoping to penetrate into the Indonesian market.
Finally, for the most awaited award, the Malaysian Business of The Year, which consist of two tiers, were clinched by Delux Structural Works Sdn Bhd for Tier-1 or up to RM25mil annual turnover, while for Tier-2 or above RM25mil annual turnover, local dessert brand Secret Recipe Holdings Sdn Bhd succeeded.
Secret Recipe also took home five other awards, which included platinum for Best Brand, gold for Best Green Initiative, platinum for the newly introduced category Best Halal Product or Service, and gold for Best in Retail under Tier-1.
The company’s founder, Datuk Sim Leong Thun, was also named the Male Entrepreneur of the Year, receiving the Outstanding Achievement Award.
Secret Recipe managing director Patrick Sim Chee Hong said the local homegrown brand, which has 354 outlets currently in Malaysia, desires to have 400 outlets in the next two years.
Apart from that, the group is looking to expand its presence into different regions including the Middle East.
“I think being an older brand, you want to continue to stay relevant in the market,” Chee Hon said, adding that the group is turning 26 years old this year.
According to him, the group did not close down any outlets during the pandemic and in fact, it continued expanding.
Meanwhile, Delux founder and chairman Datuk Dylan Chui Saig Herg said the group which specialises in autogate and security door for residential homes has two showrooms currently, one in Puchong, Selangor and another in Johor.
On its future plans, Chui said the group is on the verge of relocating its current showroom in Puchong to a bigger showroom of 50,000 sq ft by this year.
“Definitely, an initial public offering is our final destination,” Chui concluded.
Also present at the awards ceremony were Credit Guarantee Corporation Malaysia Bhd president and CEO Datuk Mohd Zamree Mohd Ishak; Digi chief corporate affairs officer Joachim Rajaram; PKT Logistics Group group chief executive and managing director Datuk Seri Michael Tio; RHB Bank Bhd group community banking managing director Jeffrey Ng; TalentCorp group CEO Thomas Mathew and Malaysia External Trade Development Corp CEO Datuk Mohd Mustafa Abdul Aziz
The SOBA 2022 Gala Night, which saw over 900 attendees, was held at the Grand Ballroom of Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, with Carlsberg as the official beer sponsor.SOBA 2022 was organised by SMG with Credit Guarantee Corp Malaysia, Digi, PKT Logistics and RHB Bank Bhd as the main sponsors, TalentCorp Malaysia as a co-sponsor, and Matrade as the official trade promotion partner.
Supported by Bursa Malaysia, it is audited by BDO with 988 and Suria as official media partners.
For more information on SOBA 2022, call SMG Events at 017-231 1789 or visit www.soba.com.my
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