This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on December 7 - 13, 2015.
DESPITE the obstacles he has faced over the years, Datuk Tan Say Jim, IRIS Corp Bhd group managing director and CEO, never gave up on his vision to establish a company that would benefit communities. Period.
“I never gave up,” he told The Edge, holding the chiselled glass orb he was awarded at the Ernst and Young (EY) Entrepreneur of the Year 2015 Malaysia Awards gala last Thursday.
“I had hard times, yes, but I never thought of stopping or giving up because there is always a pot of gold at the end. You have to believe in yourself.”
Tan clinched the Malaysia EY Entrepreneur of the Year (EOY) 2015 and Master Entrepreneur of the Year 2015, beating 20 other nominees.
He was awarded the coveted titles in recognition of his efforts at IRIS Corp. Since the company’s incorporation in 1994, it has pioneered the world’s first electronic passport and national multi-application smart card with the implementation of the Malaysian electronic passport in March 1998, and MyKAD in 2001.
In 2006, the company introduced the Autopot system, an environment-friendly farming solution designed to supply water and nutrients to the exact needs of a plant. IRIS Corp has also ventured into renewable energy, industrialised building systems and education.
Tan, who was instrumental in the diversification of the company, will represent Malaysia and join more than 60 other country winners to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur of the Year (WEOY) award at the annual WEOY event in Monte Carlo, Monaco, in June 2016.
Tan said he was humbled by his win, but doubtful that IRIS Corp would be able to compete with other international players at the WEOY. “Looking at past winners like [AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri] Tony Fernandes and Top Glove Corp Bhd, what IRIS Corp has achieved pales in comparison. I am really nervous at the enormity of winning this award. I will be competing with international entrepreneurs from 65 countries.
“But I cannot go to Monte Carlo with a defeatist attitude. I certainly will do my best, prepare myself mentally and have an absolute belief that I can do it.”
As confident and resilient as Tan was from the get-go, things were different for CoolBlog group of companies executive director Jerrene Pang, who clinched the EY Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2015 title.
After the bubble tea business — the East Asian dessert that has taken the world by storm — she set up in Singapore in 2007 failed, Pang wanted to fold her hands on more than one occasion.
But she credits her husband, who is also her business partner, for being her anchor and pulling her back on track when she faltered in spirit.
“Especially as a woman, when your children are young, you have to juggle your career and your kids. But I have a very supportive husband, whom I think of as a mentor. Every time I faced difficulties, he was always there for me. This is the man I wouldn’t divorce at all,” she laughs.
She moved back to her hometown of Johor Baru and opened a small CoolBlog outlet in 2008. She worked hard while her husband helped out with raising their two children (who are now 11 and 12 years old) and set them on the path to success.
The company now has a presence in Indonesia and has garnered a partner in Ekuiti Nasional Bhd (Ekuinas), the government-linked private equity fund management company.
Ekuinas purchased a 60% stake in CoolBlog Sdn Bhd for RM50.8 million in July last year.
“When we first started, we just wanted to survive,” Pang said. “We never thought that one day ... now we have 350 outlets ... I never thought I would have a presence in Indonesia.”
CoolBlog operates a franchise or licensing model, helping entrepreneurs to have a sustainable business serving quality affordable beverages and desserts, with more than 25 flavours and 300 different products across Malaysia and the region. Pang said the company has attracted interest from potential international partners in the Philippines, the Middle East and China, but she is cautious about expanding the company’s footprint just yet.
In addition to the three awards, EY also presented two awards for entrepreneurial excellence — Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year 2015 to Timothy Tiah, Netccentric Ltd CEO, and Technology Entrepreneur of the Year 2015 to Liew Choon Lian, MDT Innovations Sdn Bhd group chairman and CEO.
International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed officiated at the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2015 Malaysia Awards gala.
EOY Malaysia programme director Philip Rao said the entrepreneurs who won the top honours this year are exceptional.
“They all have different niches in what they do, they all have impacted the economy in different ways and each of them has a very different story to tell,” he said.
Rao said Tan will make an impact at the WEOY awards Monte Carlo next year.
“It is not about winning. Every country needs security, every country needs better housing, agriculture and every country needs better education and he’s hit it all,” he said.
EY Malaysia country managing partner Datuk Abdul Rauf Rashid said this year’s awards saw the most shortlisted nominees in 14 years, since the inception of the awards.
“It suggests that we are not running out of successful entrepreneurs, which is a good sign,” he said.
Budding entrepreneurs should remain resilient and patient despite the challenges, especially in the current economy, he added.
“Stay focused on the market, never lose sight, continue to work hard, be vigilant and take advantage of opportunities.”
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