Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary: Successful Entrepreneur in Malaysia

Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar bin Al-Bukhary is the businessman and one of the notorious entrepreneurs. According to Forbes, Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary has property and assets which amounting $1.45 billion dollars and become ninth richest’s person in Malaysia and 32th in South East Asia. Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary is the only Muslim and Malay entrepreneur in Malaysia on the list of the top billionaire in Malaysia.

Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar bin Al-Bukhary was born on 1951 in Alor Star, Kedah. He’s the third son of 11 siblings. He received an early education in Alor Star but when he’s 9 years old, he was sent to his uncle, Syed Omar in Johor Bahru and received an education from standard 4 in primary school until Form 4 in secondary school. After that, he continues Form 5 in Saint Michael’s School at Alor Star. He didn’t continue his studies in university because of his family can’t afford him. He gains and learns about the business directly through the experiences since he was young. He’s started his career in business at 19 years old. His first business was sold meat. In 1972, he started his business in transportation after the permit has been approved. He used the lorry to start his business which is Syarikat Kenderaan Sentosa to transport rice. Syarikat Kenderaan Sentosa still exists till now. Then, he began to build a company. His first company is Syarikat Shah after he successfully got the contract to supply rice to FELDA, MARA Senama, Pernas Edar, Sergam Sdn. Bhd. Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar was a humble and very private person. He is not selfish to share the knowledge and experiences with others and inspired people in many ways and it’s the secrets of his success.

Proactive

Proactive generally intends to take action before it's time to act (Sudin Haron, 1990). In fact, this feature also involves the positive attitude of an individual or institution in planning or performing an action, which will be considered critically in advance again. This is to prevent the occurrence of something that absolutely requires the act in question. The action will not be done by the entrepreneur only after something has happened. These features prove that Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhari wise approach to ensure the success of a business project that has been designed by him. As an example, he ventured into the manufacture of military uniforms for the Ministry of Defence of 120,000 pairs of shoes and 330,000 pairs of uniforms. It has made him have made their mark in the field of garment manufacturing. Eventually he formed Amtek Division to manufacture shoes and Oriental Garment Uniforms clothing (Rosli Mahmood et al., 2010). Wisdom possessed by him in taking the opportunity given, cause he has also managed to remove shoes and military clothing designer Louis and Lee Cooper.

Visionary

Was known as a visionary, a business tycoon Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar did not stop at that point. In 1974, he bought a house the first store under a hire purchase agreement with the City Development Corporation (UDA). The following year, he expanded his business empire to establish the Shah as a supplier of rice to the FELDA, MARA namesake, Pernas Edar Sdn Bhd and Sergam having successfully obtained a license from the Board of Trade rice or Bernas Padi Negara. Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar described his success in business is the result of the government in implementing the New Economic Policy (NEP).

            Since then, the business owned by Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar continued to grow rapidly until he was awarded as one of the corporate leaders of the richest Bumiputera in Malaysia, thus gaining recognition from Malaysian Business as the 7th richest man in Malaysia in 2005 and the 50th richest in Malaysia in 2013 by Forbes recently

            Malaysian tycoon has been expanding his business empire with interests in the giant companies in Malaysia such as MMC Corporation Berhad, Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Bernas, Gardenia, DRB-Hicom, Bank Muamalat, Pernas, Malakoff Berhad, Johor Port Berhad and more , He is also known as a generous figure and humanitarian values ​​that are exceptionally high. For example, he established the Islamic Arts Museum, Yayasan Al-Bukhary, Al-Bukhary International University, and also Al-Bukhary complex. In addition, he also beautify Masjid Negara and sponsors the Malaysian pilgrims who can not afford to make the pilgrimage. Recently, this noble-hearted millionaire has built mosques in several districts in the state, besides in Alor Setar, Senai Airport, Johor and also in Jalan Pudu.

            As "Billionaire Benefactor", the pristine nature that nurtured since childhood by his parents, Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar was a humble man and was never selfish with the knowledge and the secrets of his success in business

Observant

Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary build his empire in Kuala Lumpur to take the opportunity to get business opportunities from the government. With this he managed to start the business essentials such as rice and sugar. Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar highly efficient intelligent observing market trends and take a chance. Due to his keen power of observation, he managed to penetrate the market with commodities such as rice and sugar to the public.

Yayasan al-Bukhary as the owner, who is also involved in various agro-based business, construction, engineering, infrastructure and ports, he wisely decided to analyze the market based on the results of the analysis. For example, in the 1980s, he took a wise move after observing the market in exchange for goods transport medium of his lorries to 'transport plane' which is one of her wealth. His keen power of observation is what contributed to his success and wealth now.

Open Risk Taker

Tan Sri Mokhtar a risk-taking open by opening multiple business opportunities in various fields. Although educational background so that only five levels, this is not an obstacle for him. His study did not reflect the level of his vast knowledge. He learned a variety of skills and experience in entrepreneurship when he was a young teenager. Example closest to Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar was when he helped his mother meniaga vegetables in the market and sell roti canai. In addition, he is also well versed in mathematics, helping his father take care of the books for about their business.

After undertaking livestock defeated his father, Tan Sri Mokhtar to take the risk to start a business selling unsold meat. He bought meat that is not sold, repackage neatly and thoroughly with ice and resell it at a restaurant Bumiputera entrepreneurs around Alor Setar. Here we can see the spirit of Tan Sri Mokhtar and his nature who dares to take the risk of open even though he knew it was possible to fail in this undertaking.

His success resell this meat for his belief member performs a variety of surge in entrepreneurship, including a loan to buy a truck to start a transport business as well as a variety of other.