Agong confers honour that carries Tan Sri title on Sibu-born corporate figure
SIBU: The 88th birthday celebration of the Yang diPertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah this year would remain a significant day for Datuk Tiong Su Kuok.
The King conferred the Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM) honour, which carries the title ‘Tan Sri’, on the prominent businessman during the investiture at Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, held in conjunction with the celebration.
The award was bestowed upon Tiong in recognition of his contribution, both in business and social fields.
His current corporate portfolio includes being the president of SK Tiong Group of Companies, chairman of CCK Consolidated Holdings Bhd and executive chairman of Nam Cheong Ltd.
The accomplished entrepreneur started his business as a fishmonger with only $3.40 to his name six decades ago.
The Chinese philosophy of ‘rising to the top through sheer, hard work and determination’ had been his mantra since day one — one that spurred him through the years to becoming the successful individual that he is today. His trade nowadays includes fish and prawn coldstorage, processing of aquatic products, organic tiger prawn farming, aquaculture, poultry processing, shipbuilding and ship leasing, property development as well as distributorship of food and beverages—all are thriving and expanding.
As far as his coldstorage business was concerned, Tiong began with Sarawak Coldstorage Company and later, incorporated Central Coldstorage Sarawak Sdn Bhd, while the Kuok Sui Sea Products Industries (S) Sdn Bhd was his first aquaproducts coldstorage and processing operation.
His coldstorage business was listed on Bursa Malaysia as CCK Consolidated Holding Bhd.
Today, his retail chain under the CCK Fresh Mart flagship,specialising in selling aqua-products and frozen foods, can not only be found here, in Kuching and Miri, but has also expanded to Sabah andPeninsular Malaysia, as well as to Jakarta and Pontianak, Indonesia.
It has also established a sausage manufacturing factory.
CCK Fresh Mart also supplieshalal products and has since established itself as a major player in the coldstorage and frozen food market in Malaysia.
Under Tiong’s leadership, the business ventured into shipbuilding, launching Nam Cheong into the international shipbuilding arena. He partnered with China shipbuilders to construct high-technolgy offshore support vessels.
In recognition of its commitment, Nam Cheong was honoured with the ‘National Shipping Industry Excellence Award’ from Malaysian External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade). It also gained a spot in the ‘Malaysia Top Corporate Directory’.
Tiong’s investment in property development has resulted in various ventures here, in Kuching, Bintulu, Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia.
His company participated in the Southern Industrial and Logistics Clusters (SILC) in Johor, where it developed the modernised ‘SK1 Commercial Centre’.
Nam Cheong is listed on the Main Board of Singapore Stock Exchange as Nam Cheong Ltd.
As a member of local society, Tiong does not forget to contribute to his community.
He served as the president of Sibu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sarawak; as well as deputy president of Federation of Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia.
He was also nominated by then-prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as a member of the Second National Economic Consultancy Council (Mapen II).
Tiong also served as the chairman of Sibu Foochow Association, president of Federation of Foochow Association of Sarawak, president of Federation of Foochow Association of Malaysia, as well as president of World Federation of Fuzhou Association.
It was a memorable year for him in 2005 when he was the president of all four levels of Foochow associations — Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia and world — simultaneously.
Tiong further served as president of Sarawak Zhang Clan Association, president of Federation of Zhang Clan Association Malaysia, honorary treasurer and charter member of World Zhang Clan Association, treasurer of United Chinese Association Sarawak—Sibu Division, honorary life chairman of Sibu Central Market Hawkers Association, honorary life president of Sibu Division and Meradong District Union of Hawkers Association, honorary life chairman of Kuching Fish Dealers Association, honorary life president of Federation of Sarawak Hawkers Associations, advisor of Sarawak Fishery Vessels Association, and also honorary life advisor of Malaysia Hawkers and Petty Traders Association.
In education, Tiong holds the chairmanship of SK Methodist Sibu Board, directorshipin SMK Methodist Sibu Board, and deputy chairmanship of SJK Thai Kwang Sibu Board.
He had been board chairman of SJKC Nan Kiang Sibu, SJKC Uk Daik Sibu and Ling Mee Ing Kindegarten, honorary advisor of Wong Nai Siong Secondary School, as well as honorary board chairman and director of many other schools.
He has also made donations and contribution to China, particularly to his ancestral homeland in MinQing — among them establishing Tiong Kung Chuan Kindergarten at Bai Ding Village, constructing and expanding Education Building at Bai Zhong Secondary School in Bai Zhong town, setting up Datuk Tiong Su Kouk and Datin Wong Bak Hee Students Scholarship, setting up Teacher’s Award, Subsidy for Needy Education Fund as well as incentives to render financial assistance to needy students, and also provision of rewardsto excellent teachers.
Tiong also established a tertiary education fund named him and his wife Datin Wong Bak Hee, under Sibu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Within his group of companies, he also set up Employees Children Education and University Scholarships.
Tiong had also established the ‘Project for Love Education Subsidy Fund’, donated to the education loan fund under Sibu Foochow Association, set up Foochow Association Tiong Kung Chuan Members’ Children Subsidy and also the Tiong Su Kouk Fund for needy children.
His ‘Love Fostering Programme Grant’ enters its fifth term this year — a programme Tiong established during his tenure as president of Sibu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, under the chamber’s subsidiary Hua Shang Economic Corporation (Sibu) Bhd, aimed at helping students in need.
Tiong also established Tiong Su Kouk Fund for churches and made contributions to Christian ministries through Tiong Kung Chuan Ting Chuo Kiew Methodist Theological Education Fund, which was named after his parents.
Tiong and his wife are blessed with three sons and a daughter.