Soon after Luis Gomes of Goa, India and Folker Mittag of Germany’s visit to South Korea, K. Haridas, responsible for Initiatives for Change (IofC) in Malaysia, Member on the Board of the Business Ethics Institute of Malaysia (BEIM) and Executive Director of APHEM prepared and organised a well thought-out program for them in Malaysia. Together with his wife Tia and daughter Dr. Sukanya, he hosted them at their home from Feb. 21 to 27, 2013.
Luis and Folker expressed their gratitude to the BEIM for arranging
(1) an Official Meeting with the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-Operative and Consumerism, of Malaysia at Putrajaya, lead by their Director Dato Mohamed Elias Bin Abu Bakar together with other members of the Ministry and the BEIM. They were happy to hear that the Ministry presents “Ethics Awards” to Corporations that exhibit best ethical practices;
(2) another Meeting with Datuk Dr. Mohd Tap Salleh, President of the Institute of Integrity Malaysia (IIM) together with their Private Sector Director, Mohd Nizam Bin Mohd Ali, Dy. Director Mohd Rezaidi Bin Ishak and Members of the BEIM,
(3) a time of interaction with the BEIM Board Members during their Board Meeting on Feb. 25, 2013 and
(4) A Luncheon Talk at the Royal Lake Club, KL, where Luis and Folker addressed over seventy individuals from several corporate organisations.
CII and others attended. Those present listened carefully to the presentations, expressed interest in the CIB 2013 International Conference. The afternoon ended with a lively questions and answers session. Luis and Folker hope that there will be an official delegation from the Ministry, IIM and the BEIM apart from other leaders from business and industry, as well as selected individuals who would come as speakers to share their ethical practices at CIB 2013.
It was also an opportunity for Folker and Luis to have time with IofC Malaysia by
(a) attending their Meeting,
(b) spending quality time with some of their key members including Haridas and Tia, Dr. Robert Chen, Chairman of the Organising Committee for “Tools for Change KL 2013″, Ng Chui Cheng in KL, Patrick Sta Maria in Genting Highlands followed by lunch at the APHEM Boarding School, Bharat Avalani, where they met the Regional IBC Director, Unilever (Malaysia) Services Sdn. Bhd., amongst others. They expressed gratitude to each one they met in Malaysia and for all the care they received.
The highlight of their visit was
(i) an interaction with Tam Wah Fiong, Chairman of Thumbprints Ltd, at his printing factory in Rawang, an Industrial Town. He practices honesty and integrity in his business. His company has received the Business Ethics Excellent Award 2010/2011, ASEAN 2011 Most Admired Company – CSR, SOBA 2011 Platinum Award – Environment, Asian Print Award 2010 – Environmental Printer of the Year. They advertise within and outside their office “No Cheat, No Lie, No Bribe” – Clear statements of what they stand for.
(ii) the appointments of Supramaniam Sinnasamy JP of the BEIM and K. Haridas of IofC as CIB Representatives in Malaysia.
They also experienced part of the Chinese New Year, enjoyed a variety of Malaysian food and admired a beautiful Malaysian cultural program.
This visit re-enforced their inner spirit that it is possible to be competitive and yet be ethical in business.