Datukship recipient plays key role in building Sabah roads
KOTA KINABALU: Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Pembinaan Azam Jaya Sdn Bhd, Jonathan Lo Chaw Loong, was conferred the Panglima Gemilang Darjah Kinabalu (PGDK) state award, which carries the title ‘Datuk', on October 6 in conjunction with the 65th birthday of the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sabah, Tun Juhar Mahiruddin.
He was previously appointed as Justice of Peace by Tun Juhar on October 5, 2013.
Jonathan, the eldest son of Pembinaan Azam Jaya Sdn Bhd's Managing Director Tan Sri Joseph Lo Tain Foh, is one of the key figures that contributes to the growth of the Company, which is one of the main players in the road construction industry in Sabah.
Jonathan had his primary and secondary education in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah and completed his tertiary education in United Kingdom.
Upon returning from the UK, he joined his father in expanding the business and capabilities of Pembinaan Azam Jaya Sdn Bhd.
Apart from being the CFO of Pembinaan Azam Jaya Sdn Bhd, Jonathan holds many main positions in other road construction and development companies such as Azam Jaya Development Sdn Bhd, Pembangunan Sinaran Mutiara Sdn Bhd, Realworth Marketing Sdn Bhd, Azam Jaya Land Sdn Bhd, Azam Jaya Properties Sdn Bhd and Jayawanto Sdn Bhd.
Equipped with excellent leadership qualities and financial skills, he has overseen the completion of several projects over the years, including the two flyovers at Jalan Kolam (2015-2017); the dual carriageway tunnel at Sepanggar (2011-2015); interlinking bridge at Kuala Penyu (2010-2012); and the Karamunsing flyover phase one to three (2001-2008).
His willingness to change and improve has seen him taking part in transforming the company into a ‘Class A' Malaysian Turnkey contractor which mainly undertakes construction and road maintenance works under governmental contracts.
Jonathan was also instrumental in lobbying the government to take up the idea of linking nine main intersection junctions with flyover interchanges. He and his team have successfully secured five flyover interchanges at the Luyang intersection, Inanam intersection, Lintas intersection, Lido intersection and Jalan Penampang Bypass intersection.
The company is currently undertaking the construction of roads for the Pan Borneo Highway project from Putatan to Inanam (2017-2020); upgrading and construction of the roads of Jalan UMS and Jalan Sepanggar including the four-tiered intersections at Jalan Kingfisher, Jalan UMS, Rampayan and Jalan Sepanggar (2017-2020); construction of flyovers at the junctions of Jalan Penampang Bypass, Lido and an elevated U-turn at Lintas Plaza junction (2017-2019); and construction of shoplots at Sikuati, Kudat (20172019).
One of Jonathan's development companies, Azam Jaya Land Sdn Bhd is also currently building light industrial warehouses dubbed The Factory@Inanam, which is slated to be completed next year.
On the other hand, Jonathan has been doing philanthropic work by donating and sponsoring educational and medicinal institutions, old folks' homes, organizations for the physically handicapped and other charitable causes.
The beneficiaries include Yayasan Nur Jauhar, Yayasan Tun Ahmadshah, Yayasan Kebajikan Suria, Yayasan Sindrom Down Kiwanis, STTSS, Tolumis Care Centre, Taman Didikan Kanak Kanak KurangUpaya, Sri Pritchard, Kinarut, Seri Mengasih Centre, Sabah Association of Senior Citizens, Sabah Cheshire Home, Sabah Thalassaemia Association, Bukit Harapan, St Theresa Hostel, Kota Marudu and Holy Family Residence for Senior Citizens, Papar.
Jonathan is also the President of SJK (C) Chung Hwa Kota Kinabalu Parent-Teacher Association, which is a role he seriously cares about as he wants to use this as a platform to encourage and promote achievement in the education sector.
Furthermore, Jonathan has been actively contributing to the Lo Clan Association, Hakka Association, Sabah Tshung Tsin Alumni Association, Sabah Shooting Association, Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce and Kota Kinabalu Basketball Association.
He aspires to expand his charitable work state-wide through setting up a foundation whereby funds raised from charity dinners or events are entrusted to the trustees of the foundation who then identify suitable charitable projects to assist, especially in the areas of general welfare, medical assistance, education and community enrichment.