KUCHING: The Sarawak Outstanding Entrepreneurship Award 2019 was presented to DPI Holdings Berhad executive chairman and managing director Peter Chai @ Choy Mui Seng during the Sarawak Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (SCCI) 68th annual dinner on Friday at Imperial Hotel here.
The award, which was first launched in 2014, aims to recognise and celebrate past recipients of the annual Sarawak Entrepreneur of the Year Award (EOYS) whose entrepreneurial spirits and achievements have continued to grow, inspire and make a difference to the community.
Meanwhile, six entrepreneurs received EOYS awards under the Master Entrepreneur category.
The recipients were Woodman Group of Companies managing director Datuk Seri Law Kiu Kiong, Syarikat Sri Minyak Tenaga Sdn Bhd executive chairman Datuk William Tiu Sii Chuon and Serba Dinamik Holdings Berhad group managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Dr Ir Mohd Abdul Karim Abdullah representing Sarawak Chamber of Bumiputera Entrepreneurs (DUBS).
Also awarded with EOYS this year were Group Engineers Malaysia Sdn Bhd director Kuek Eng Mong representing Kuching Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Shin Yang Group of Companies chairman Tan Sri Datuk Ling Chiong Ho representing Sarawak Housing and Real Estate Developers’ Association (Sheda) and Chemsain Konsultant Sdn Bhd director Chan Woon Peng representing SCCI.
From its launching in 2004 until the end of last year, more than 55 entrepreneurs have been presented with EOYS awards.
“This award recognises outstanding entrepreneurs in Sarawak ― the movers and shakers in the state who will drive Sarawak towards becoming a high-income state by 2030,” said SCCI deputy president Datuk Philip Ting during his speech at the ceremony.
“It also recognises the success of up-and-coming entrepreneurs while also encouraging the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the state,” he added.
According to him, the EOYS awards emphasise five criteria which must be present in the person being honoured, such as their demonstration of outstanding leadership, vision, dedication and intelligent risk-taking for the enterprise they led.
“They must achieve significant company milestones and also have clear corporate culture, values and initiatives that meet the needs of Sarawak,” said Ting.
In addition to this, he said the award recipients had to perform well financially in the company they led.
“The final criterion is the social corporate responsibilities that these individuals promote in the organisation that they lead,” he said.
EOYS Awards 2019 is organised by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development in association with SCCI and Ernst & Young.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, International Trade and Industry, Industrial Terminal and Entrepreneur Development assistant minister Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais and SCCI president Datuk Abang Abdul Karim Tun Openg.
