ADVISOR TO MRCA AND PRESIDENT OF MCA MRCA 8TV ENTREPRENEUR AWARDS NIGHT

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Malaysian Retailer Chains Association (MRCA) and 8TV for their partnership in hosting and organising the inaugural MRCA 8TV Entrepreneur Awards.

As advisor to MRCA, I am pleased that the association has come a long way since its inception in 1992. The quantum leap transformation is testament of the power of collaboration, coming together as a team to harness synergy amongst like-minded industry players, particularly from the retail chain sector.

MRCA and its members have successfully braved economic downturns that threaten the retail industry. When the going gets tough, it is easy to take the easy way out, thrown in the towel and blame external elements such as the economy. Alternatively, one can display resilience, think on your feet and out of the box and adapt to market needs.

Ladies & gentlemen,
The path to success is often fraught with danger and challenges. One should look at long-term strategies that add value to your business instead of taking short cuts for short term gains, these I believe, makes up the soul of most of the success stories we will witness this evening.

Today, I am proud to notice MRCA member stories in every shopping mall and street in the country. In fact, the success of MRCA is evident not only in its 4,500 stories in this country. Stores that proudly carry the Malaysian brand can be found in airports and beyond our shores.

This goes to show one thing – the success of our Malaysian businesses is largely dependent on our ability to be competitive, not just in the red sea within the boundaries of Malaysia but in the blue ocean out there.

Ladies & gentlemen,

In MRCA’s website, there is a showcase of success stories – a roll of members making it within the Malaysia Books of Records for the largest leather retail-chain, later filter & treatment product, corn & ice-cream franchise, Jewellery Retail, among others.

With your look-outside our country attitude, I am confident that more MRCA stores will be being ranked in World Record Books soon, and perhaps 8TV can celebrate a new category next year about our home-made businesses making it big abroad.

Competitiveness among our entrepreneurs and business community can and should be harnessed by a fertile ground that provides opportunities for anyone who is keen to be in business to be the best that he can be, to be the best in the competition and to be the best in a boundaryless world.

Ladies and gentlemen,

One of the success story of MRCA is reflected in its provision of more than 30,000 job opportunities in this country.

But we must aim higher. Every business, no matter what you sell or provide, is a people business. To be truly competitive at the world stage, we must ensure that our people are sufficiently skilled and knowledgeable.

In this regard, MRCA may want to explore further the collaboration with the Technical Resources and Internship Network (TRAIN) programme. The customised programme programme will see MRCA providing the industry input into the customised courses offered by over 100 skills institution under the TRAIN programme. I believe the 1,500 students undergoing the TRAIN programme will also benefit greatly from possible internship collaboration with MRCA members. This will certainly close the ‘gap’ between industry needs and the supply of talent and human capital.

To have the best talent and people moving and moulding our retail industry and Malaysian brands, regardless or the colour of one’s skin, or the religion he or she preaches, or who in authority one knows will, I believe, ultimately define our Malaysian new economic model.

Ladies & gentlemen,

I laud MRCA member’s unity and their willingness to share, network and pull resources together without reservation. I noticed this encouraging attribute when engaging the association as a dialogue partner of the Economic caucus of the 1Malaysia Community Alliance (1MCA) NGO Liaison Council.

I can assure you that if we are sincere in reaching out to friends and dialogue partners outside our circle or comfort zone and move away from ad-hoc consultations in favour of forging genuine partnerships to find solutions to many of the challenges affecting us daily.

As President of MCA, a component Party of the ruling Government and as a Minister, I am reminded of what the great management sage, Drucker said: “Instead of seeing Government as a partner we fear, I think we should see them as a partner we welcome.” For this partnership to work, our collaboration must be sincere. There is no big brother here nor arbitrary terms dictated by a single party.

Together, I am confident we can open many doors to multiple solutions. Your views as dialogue partners will be actively sought after and presented at multiple platforms in Government.

We need no slick advertisements or catchy slogans to brand Malaysia. I am confident that we will be able to pull our strengths and resources together to provide good and efficient service regardless of race or religion, the One Malaysia brand will shine inside out….naturally.

To Izham and 8TV, I applaud you for joining in this celebration and thank you for your continued support of the TRAIN skills development programme mentioned earlier.

To the finalists tonight, your success stories will continue to inspire us all to the best that we can be. Success is sweeter if the challenges are greater. Congratulations!

1. Largest Leather Retail-Chain - Bonia Corporation Bhd
2. Largest Convenience Chain Store - 7-Eleven Malaysia Sdn Bhd
3. Largest Water Filter & Treatment Product Chain Store - Delcol United Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd
4. Largest Optical Chain Store - England Optical Group (M) Sdn Bhd
5. Largest Hypermarket - G.C.H Retail (M) Sdn Bhd (GIANT)
6. Largest Herbs & Healthcare Product Chain - Hai-O Raya Berhad
7. Largest Confectionery Retail Chain - King’s Confectionery Sdn Bhd
8. First Local Fast Food Franchise - Marrybrown Fried Chicken Sdn Bhd
9. Largest Music Entertainment Chain - Music Valley Sdn Bhd
10. Largest Corn & Ice-Cream Franchise - Nelson’s Franchise (M) Sdn Bhd
11. Largest Health Check & Care Equipment Retail-Chain - Osim (M) Sdn Bhd
12. Largest Medical Testing Services Chain - Pathology & Clinical Laboratory (M) Sdn Bhd 
13. Largest Jewellery Retail-Chain - Poh Kong Holdings Bhd
14. Largest Costume Jewellery Retail Chain - Sinma Jewellery Centre Sdn Bhd
15. Largest    Chain of Lingerie Specialty - The Lingerie Shop
16. Largest Timepiece Retail Chain - Time Galerie (M) Sdn Bhd