After
had my brisk walk I went to Alamanda at 9.30 and I knocked the door. After pay
my phone bills then I went MPh. Realized I bring the free voucher from government,
I grabbed the book which I really adore to read. The biograpghy of Syed Mokhtar,
the richest Malay tycoon . I hate to summarize this book because it’s too thin.
Its only at 179 pages, I finished the
book only at 2 hours at Starbucks while waiting Rock movie.
Here
are some the gist of the book:-
His
first company is Syarikat Kenderaan Sentosa
set-up in 1972 at the age of 21.It was named after the hotel where he
was staying. He was just kind of young and driven bumiputera the government was
looking to groom to raise Malaysia participant in newly launched NEP
His
first secured Mara loan to buy Mercedes lorries in Jalan TAR had an easy
repayment terms about RM 100 per month.
He
was pursued by Chinese to offer him to lease unused lorry permits under Alibaba
arrangement but he reject it. To him, he believe on equity not the liquidity and
totally disagree of Alibaba arrangement because it kind beak the bridge of
trust and betray the Malay.
He
employed a Chinese manager. At that time he believe in chopstick management, the
key of Chinese success which is one to run the business and another manage the
finance. In three years he manages to pay off the loan.
He
recognize to better work with Chinese rather that against them though he weill
never surrender any equity to Chinese.
His
second business rice trading with Lembaga Padi Beras and he owned Bukhary Sdn Bhd at the age 23 with majority share of 52 %. He then,
breakthrough the Chinese domination in rice trading supply chain. At that time
he already owned a shop lot at Teluk Wan Jah.
He
has many time approached by Lim Goh Tong to stake his share in companies but
herefuse to accept due his strong paradigm. Till now he just drive Proton
Perdana and live in very simple way. The book also describes how KJ and the
clan want to kill his bussines due to the game changing in politics. He expand
the business in Middle east and the prince of Dubai had quoted “it’s only Syed Mokhtar if I want to deal
with Malaysian businessman,”.
The
best thing in this book is when counter back the media when people said he is one
of the cronies granted by UMNO he then
said “ people don’t realize how difficult
they were and how hard to fight with to get them. By the time I met Dr. Mahathir
in 1997, I was already a success ful businessmen. I never abused the
relationship. Dr. Mahathir gives a fair hearing but there is no green lane with
him.”
His
CFO also commented “every cent is in the
system “
This
book is so inspirational and delivered side by side with Malaysia history and
the government approaches. Neither opposition nor what political background
were you are, just believe that Syed Mokhtar is the Malay successful man we should
proud of him.
Don’t
just justify what he gets; evaluate what he gives to the nation.
