DSPN recipient Chiah (centre) flanked by his wife Yeoh and son Kan Xuan after the ceremony at Dewan Sri Pinang in Penang.
FEDERATION of Goldsmiths and Jewellers Associations of Malaysia (FGJAM) president Chiah Hock Yew has dealt with glittering materials all his life, but one medal is precious above all else.
He received a Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (DSPN), which carries the title of Datuk, in conjunction with Penang Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak’s 73rd birthday celebration.
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“This is an accomplishment of a lifetime and words cannot express how happy and proud I feel.
“I have to thank everyone who supported me on my journey, including my wife Yeoh Bee Ching and son Kan Xuan,” Chiah said after the ceremony in Dewan Sri Pinang, Penang, on Thursday.
He was appointed president of FGJAM in April this year, after serving as deputy president from 2018 to 2021.
Currently, he is also vice- president of the Malaysian Gold Association (MGA) and president of the Heng Woh Penang Chinese Goldsmiths Employee Union.
Previously, he also served as president of the Province Wellesley Gold and Silver Ornament Merchants Association from 2015 to 2018, and then secretary from 2018 to 2021.
But he has been in the gold and jewellery sector for almost three decades, having founded Jin Huo Gold and Jewellery Industries (M) Sdn Bhd in 1997 and now serving as its managing director.
Under his leadership, the company won the Malaysia Gold Design Award for three years running between 2016 and 2018.
It is also set to open a new factory in the Batu Kawan Industrial Park later this year.
In these various capacities, he has helped propel the industry forward through various innovations and also put local jewellers on the global map with far-reaching promotional activities.
“Since my early years, I’ve been helping to organise many seminars and trade shows.
“This showed the world that Malaysia is among the best gold designers and producers in the world.
“Unknown to many, our country is one of the top 10 gold exporters in the world.
“And of the overall local market share, Penang alone contributes some 70% of it,” Chiah pointed out.
He is also passionate about introducing new technologies and developments to what can be a rather conservative industry.
“Going into Industry 4.0, we need to keep up with the latest trends and ensure that our products are just as appealing and exclusive as those produced elsewhere in the world,” he added.
A total of 1,380 awards and medals were conferred in the investiture ceremonies this year.
