KTS committed to promoting, sustaining Stihl’s business in East Malaysia, Brunei
KUCHING: KTS Group of Companies ( KTS) is committed to promoting, sustaining and protecting Stihl’s business in East Malaysia and Brunei.
Its managing director Dato Henry Lau said Stihl’s business “has become our way of business life and our pride. And we can rely on Stihl to be equally committed come sunshine or rainy days,” he said at the KTS- Stihl 50th anniversary gala dinner at KTS Garden here on Saturday.
Lau said KTS began introducing Stihl products in Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei way back in 1968.
“That was 50 years ago and today, Stihl products not only dominate the forestry market, it has also become a household name synonymous with reliability, high performance, good value and good after- sales service.”
He added that the relationship between Stihl and KTS started with a handshake and a one-page agreement, after which they never looked back. He took pride in announcing that this ‘golden relationship’ precipitated from mutual trust and confidence in weather ing chal lenges, financial crisis and rampant competition.
“Of the 50 years of relationship, I was tasked to be involved for about 15 years at the front line of the Stihl business and another 10 years of supervisory role.
“I experienced immense benefit from the philosophy of Stihl’s business conduct to the credit of one particular Mr Hans Peter Stihl (German industrialist who was head of Stihl from 1973 to 2002), whom I came to trust and respect without reservation.
“In fact, many times Mr Peter Stihl responded generously to my request for his advice on business management, family pa r t icip at ion towa rd the success of Stihl business and reading of German and world economies. His air of confidence, gentlemanliness and sensibility are his benchmark.
“The ability of Stihl in maintaining its excellence continuously in its products in spite of rapid change of time in today’s environment exemplified perfectly in the succession of Mr Peter Stihl’s role,” pointed out Lau.
Representing Stihl were Advisory Board of Stihl Holdings chairman Dr Nikolas Stihl and member Selena Stihl.
At the dinner, Nikolas handed over RM970,000 to the Sarawak United Association of Chinese School.
Boards of Management secretarygeneral Kong Chong Men while Selena presented RM530,000 to the United Association of Private Chinese Secondary Schools Committees Sabah chairman Datuk Yong Kyok Ming.
Witnessing these presentations were Minister of International Trade and E- Commerce and Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh as well as Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Datuk James Chan.
KTS also took the opportunity to extend appreciation to 31 Stihl dealers who had been with the company for at least 22 years.
The most notable recipient, Syarikat Guan Chiong ( S) S/ B, has been in partnership with KTS for 50 years. Representing the dealer company to receive the long- service award was Kieu Bik Siong.
KTS deputy managing directors Temenggong Datuk Vincent Lau and Stephen Lau and light machinery department general manager Augustine Ling were among those present.