Business awards launched to promote entrepreneurial excellence

The Star

With the theme of “Powering Tomorrow: Driving Sustainable Growth” the Star Outstanding Business Awards 2025 continues to recognise and honour businesses and entrepreneurs that have excelled in their quest for success and achievement.  Launched at Menara Star on June 5, the event was attended by sponsors and partners, with Star Media Group CEO Chan Seng Fatt at the helm, together with chief operating officer Lydia Wang.  Read more at https://bit.ly/4dPIpW5  WATCH MORE: https://thestartv.com/c/news SUBSCRIBE: https://cutt.ly/TheStar LIKE: https://fb.com/TheStarOnline

Transcript

00:00With the theme of Powering Tomorrow, Driving Sustainable Growth,

00:06the Star Outstanding Business Awards,

00:08Sober 2025 continues to recognize and honor businesses and entrepreneurs

00:12that have excelled in their quest for success and achievement.

00:16Launched at Menara Star on June 5,

00:19the event was attended by sponsors and partners,

00:22with Star Media Group CEO Chan Seng-Fat at the helm,

00:25together with Chief Operating Officer Lydia Wang.

00:28The event was also graced by Sober 2025 sponsors CGC Malaysia,

00:34PKT Logistics, RHB Bank and U-Mobile,

00:38together with official trade promotion partner MarTrade,

00:41as well as the award's strategic and working partners.

00:44In his welcome speech, Chan pointed out

00:46that since Malaysia officially assumed the ASEAN chairmanship on January 1st this year,

00:51the country is at a strategic inflection point in its regional journey.

00:55This leadership role serves as a powerful springboard to strengthen regional integrations,

01:04enhance market diversification, and advance economic diplomacy.

01:11It is an unstandard opportunity for our businesses to venture into new markets,

01:17forge dynamic cross-border partnerships and elevate our competitive edge on a global scale.

01:26In a statement, CGC President and CEO Datuk Mohamed Zamri Mohamed Ishak

01:32emphasized that CGC is committed to empowering Malaysian micro-SMEs

01:36and supporting platforms like Sober 2025 reflects that mission.

01:41Meanwhile, PKT Logistics Chief Revenue Officer Kwon Yujin advised that in times of uncertainty,

01:47SMEs should be able to flex and adapt to the situation,

01:51that they should stay close to the powers of the market and innovate a way out

01:54or adapt to changing needs.

01:56PKT is a homegrown company, so we were once an SME, a struggling SME.

02:05And right now, you know, after so many years of growth, 51 years of growth,

02:10we have, I think we can argue that we might not be classified an SME anymore.

02:16So along the way, you know, we had lots of ups and downs,

02:20we had lots of things that we learned along the way and we feel honoured to be able to share it

02:27at any platform, especially one that is Sober, such a celebrated event,

02:33such a good gathering of eminent and even upcoming names in the SME sector.

02:39We'd love to share our experience, also actually absorb some things that,

02:43wherever we can from the participants.

02:45RHB Bank Group Corporate and Business Banking Managing Director Wendy Ting

02:50shared that for businesses to stay competitive in the current economic climate,

02:54they should embrace digital transformation and AI,

02:57invest in sustainability and green growth,

03:00enhance their cyber security and data resilience,

03:03prioritise human capital and upskilling,

03:06and leverage government and private sector support.

03:09SMEs are the backbone of Malaysia's economy,

03:12contributing nearly 38% to the national GDP

03:15and employing over 7 million Malaysians.

03:19Our continued support for Sober and similar platforms

03:22reflects our commitment to advancing SME excellence as a national economic priority,

03:28reinforcing our purpose-driven role.

03:31As a purposeful and responsible financial institution,

03:34RHB is committed to enabling progress for all.

03:38By recognising SME's success,

03:40we reinforce our role not only as a financial partner,

03:44but as a catalyst for business growth and innovation in Malaysia.

03:48U-Mobile Chief Information Officer Neil Tomkinson said,

03:52Sober is a timely platform to spotlight how SMEs are adapting

03:55to major shifts in tech and customer expectations.

03:58In 2025, trends like AI enablement, cyber security and digital agility

04:05will determine business longevity.

04:08U-Mobile is here to walk alongside them on that journey

04:12with solutions that are designed

04:14to make digital transformation accessible and impactful.

04:19The launch also announced

04:21six Sober ambassador appointments for this year

04:23from business association experts and past winners.

04:26Sober Awards 2025 will be presented

04:28in 18 categories in two separate tiers,

04:30one for below RM25 million

04:32and another for RM25 million and above.

04:36Also included is the Micro Sober Micro Recognition Awards,

04:40which recognises local micro brands or businesses

04:42with annual turnover of less than RM300,000.

04:46Sober 2025 is organised by SMG with CGC,

04:51PKT Logistics, RHB Bank and U-Mobile as main sponsors

04:55and Matrade as the official trade promotion partner.

04:59It is audited by BDO,

05:01while radio stations 988 and Surya are official media partners.

05:06For details, visit www.sober.com.my.

05:21For more information, visit www.sober.com.my.

Category

Transcript

Recommended