Exemplary SMEs recognised
Maxvue Vision and Mega Fortis bag top awards at SOBA2016
KUALA LUMPUR: Maxvue Vision Sdn Bhd and Mega Fortis (M) Sdn Bhd were the grand winners at The Star Outstanding Business Awards 2016 (SOBA2016), walking away with the Malaysian Business of the Year award.
Dealing in branded cosmetic contact lenses, Maxvue Vision also won in the categories of Best Global Market and Best Brand, sweeping two of the six platinum awards in the below RM25mil sales turnover subcategory at the prestigious event last night.
Mega Fortis, a specialised designer and manufacturer of security seals, won two Gold Awards as well – in the Best Innovation and Best Global Market categories.
It also took the Silver Award in the Best Brand category of the above RM25mil sales turnover subcategory.
This year, for the first time, the awards were subdivided into enterprises that have a sales turnover of below or more than RM25mil, aimed at recognising the achievements of upcoming small and medium businesses.
In the below RM25mil sales turnover subcategory, the remaining four prestigious Platinum Awards were clinched by Securemetric Technology Sdn Bhd for Best in Marketing, MK Textiles Holdings Sdn Bhd for Best in CSR, 3R Quest Sdn Bhd for Best Green Initiative, and RBM Building Machinery Trading Sdn Bhd for Best Innovation.
Sunship (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Low Phooi Choon won the Male Entrepreneur of the Year title while Female Entrepreneur of the Year was Natalie Sit, CEO of Acestar Sdn Bhd.
Ban Lee Hin Engineering & Construction Sdn Bhd CEO Datuk Yu Chee Hong, as well as Forefront Studio Sdn Bhd CEO and director Darien Mah, received special men tions in the Entrepreneur of the Year category.
There was no platinum award winner for the Best Employer category but Forefront Studio managed to clinch the gold award while Acestar took the silver.
In the more than RM25mil sales turnover subcategory, Platinum Award winners were Brainy Bunch Sdn Bhd for Best Brand; Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd for Best CSR; Volcano Name Plate Sdn Bhd for Best Innovation; and Wawasan Agrolipids Sdn Bhd for Best Global Market.
Another big winner in the subcategory was Mega Fortis group CEO Ng Meng Poh who was declared Male Entrepreneur of the Year while MK Wedding Sdn Bhd founder and group manager Khiu Fu Siang was Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
DragonI Restaurant Sdn Bhd CEO Datuk Henry Yip and redOneNetwork Sdn Bhd chief sales officer Teh Beng Hock received special mentions in the Entrepreneur of the Year category.
Guestofhonour Transport Minister and MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said that while the country may be going through uncertain times, he believes that it will come out stronger than before through the growth of local, fast emerging companies that can help boost the economy.
“I hope the SMEs and other businesses in Malaysia can continue to give us feedback and improve our economic policies to further encourage economic growth,” he said.
Star Media Group Bhd group managing director and CEO Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai said the group would continue to support small and medium enterprises.
“SOBA aims to encourage homegrown business owners to go beyond boundaries, to be flexible and agile to create new products.
“We have a lot of new icons and superstars among our SMEs, with many inspiring figures to learn from,” he said.
SOBA 2016 pays tribute to small and medium enterprises striving to carve a niche for themselves.
It also aims to inspire and drive Malaysian enterprises towards excellence and outstanding achievement.
SOBA2016 is organised by Star Media Group with Ambank as its main sponsor, BMW Malaysia, Credit Guarantee Corporation and Matrade as cosponsors, with Connexion Conference & Event Centre as the official venue sponsor.