Yang Berhormat Dato' Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Minister for Women, Family and Community Development

Yang Bhg Dato' Syed Amin Aljeffri
President of Kuala Lumpur Malay Chamber of Commerce and the Organising Chairman of Malaysia Business Leadership Awards 2009

YABhg Tun Ahmad Sarji and YABhg Toh Puan Sagiyah Salikin

Yg Berusaha Encik Shahul Hameed bin Shaik Dawood
Deputy Organising Chairman of Malaysia Business Leadership Awards 2009 and Group Chief Executive Officer, My Events Sdn Bhd

Your Excellencies Ambassadors of Foreign Missions, esteemed Award Winners, respected members of the Kuala Lumpur Malay Chamber of Commerce, members of the media, ladies and gentlemen


1.    My wife and I thank the Kuala Lumpur Malay Chamber of Commerce for inviting us to join all of you this evening. We are indeed very pleased to be here. Tonight we celebrate the accomplishments of some of our most distinguished entrepreneurs and corporate leaders whom are, in many cases, household names and national icons in their own right. We hold all of you in high respect and awed admiration for the hard work and strong leadership you have shown through the years.  


2.    The lives of politicians are full of ups and downs, twists and turns. But what has kept us going is our determination to make the lives of our fellow citizens’ better, to make things better for our communities and for the Country, in whatever small ways that we can. In this journey of life, I can understand the hardship that businessmen go through to get where they are. There are times when bankers do not want to see you, your suppliers chasing after you, and your families (wife) angry with you! As a politician, we are used to having sleepless nights, I am sure you have had your fair share too.

3.    The Awards are deserving recognition for the achievements and heights that all of you have scaled. I am sure the road to success was not easy. Tonight’s crowning glory would not have been possible without many years of planning, hard work, and with much sacrifice. I salute your perseverance and tenacity to attain your dreams and ambitions.

Ladies and gentlemen

4.    Since the introduction of the New Economic Policy, the Government’s commitment to raise the Bumiputra’s participation in the economy has been steadfast. This commitment which is the bedrock of this Government’s mandate is unshakeable and without compromise. This is my promise to you.

5.    However, it is time that we provide our support in such ways that it would provide a more equitable distribution of wealth and economic opportunities to the Bumiputra community without neglecting our non Bumiputra fellow citizens. We will continue to support Bumiputras whom are committed to participate in ways and means that are compatible to the realities of the marketplace.

6.    We will, in a prudent and phased manner, reduce the Government’s participation in the local economy. We want to see more competition in the domestic industries, not from Government supported companies but from entrepreneur-run entities. You know your business better. You are our engines of growth, you lead the economy.

7.    The Government’s job is to provide the most conducive environment for businesses to flourish. It is the Government’s job to ensure that there are adequate, and not excessive, regulatory controls to ensure there is fair play and justice in the market place. We will strengthen our public institutions. We will provide confidence. This is our role.

Ladies and gentlemen

8.    I have just returned from APEC Singapore. Talking to the various finance ministers there, I found there was consensus in a number of areas. I am cautiously optimistic of the global economic recovery and this view was shared by many. There are indeed a number of signals which indicates that the worse is over but we are not out of the woods yet.

9.    This global crisis that we are facing is not the first that we have experienced. In fact, there has always been an economic and financial crisis every decade or so, in 1984, 1997 and of course, now, that began last year. Such is the nature of a market economy.

10.    Moving forward, we have to be prepared. We have to build our capabilities and capacities. We have to be resilient and possess a sustainable business model that is able to withstand the harsh vagaries of a cyclical economic turmoil.

11.    In this regard, we need to ensure that we are not too dependent on any single market. We have to expand our reach beyond our traditional markets. We know that the barrier to the global marketplace is high. It is not easy to penetrate international markets where there are already established companies with established financial positions, strong brands and a trained pool of managerial talent.

12.    It is a tough world out there. But I am confident that Malaysian companies are able to spread their wings, soar to the skies above, beyond the confines of our home, and make us proud. I am confident that our captains of commerce, finance and industry will take us where we want to go.

13.    The destination is clear. Our Prime Minister has set his goal to transform this country into a high income economy. I believe that we, as 1 Malaysia, led by the very people assembled in this room tonight, have the capability and the capacity to lead the way.

14.    We are not out of these woods yet but over the horizon, there is a bright shining light, a future that embraces all Malaysians. Our children, mine and yours, will thank us for leaving them a Malaysia that is strong, a confident Malaysia, a Malaysia that provides equal chance for success for all Malaysians. In these endeavours, you have our support. With God’s kind grace, we will get there.

15.    My heartfelt thanks to the Kuala Lumpur Malay Chamber of Commerce, for having the vision and foresight in establishing tonight’s Awards. It is long overdue. I look forward to see this Awards dinner to become an annual event in our calendar.

My heartfelt congratulations to tonight’s recipients. You have made your family, your community and your country proud.

Ladies and gentlemen, I will no longer delay you from your dinner.

Thank you.