SMC chief offers practical tips to young entrepreneurs
SIBU: Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Clarence Ting has stressed to young entrepreneurs the importance of knowing the legal aspects of starting any business.
Speaking at the Young Entrepreneur Forum at Kingwood Hotel yesterday, he said one of the first steps to be successful in their businesses is to be fully licensed.
“Remember, when you open your business, before you do anything, check out on the laws; the state laws regarding your business and municipal government law.
“We at the municipal level, we are there to help you if you do not know, we want to help you. There are many shops in Sibu particularly in the Food and Beverages (F&B) still open without license.
“And they complain that police are most corrupt, but police are not corrupt at all. It is because you cannot open without license, so the police come and give summons,” he said.
He reminded the participants that the purpose of starting their business is for the customers to come, not the police and enforcement officers.
He said customers would avoid shops that are constantly visited by the police.
“Do you think that if your shop is not licensed, your business will be good? Definitely not. In order to be successful, whatever do you, make sure you are fully licensed and is within the law,” he pointed out.
He also urged young entrepreneurs to be wellinformed on issues especially on the Macau scam.
He warned about anything that promises quick returns with high profit.
“There is no such thing in this world. I do not want to hear you go and make police report saying that ‘I am a young entrepreneur and I had been scammed’. That is why information is very crucial,” he said.
Ting also emphasized having enough human resources and a multi-racial team for their business to grow.
“If you have all Chinese partners, chances that you will fall, you will not grow. I can predict that most successful company in this group will be multi-racial company,” he said.
Meanwhile, First Vice District Governor for District 308A2 Lions Club International Kapitan Connie Loh said lions club is always devoted to serving youth as beneficiaries, working with youth as partners and empowering youth as future service leaders.
She said young people are fresh and full of ideas but they needed to be guided.
The forum is organised by Lions Club of Sibu Seduan. Also present at the event were president of Lions Club of Sibu Seduan Ling How Kang and organising chairman Willie Ling.