CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow congratulated Berjayapak Sdn Bhd for its success story as it celebrated its 35th anniversary dinner at Hotel Equatorial.
“The road to success is filled with a lot of challenges and a lot of obstacles but with persistency, perseverance, collaboration, unity and for Lay Peng (Berjayapak chief executive officer Ooi Lay Peng), maybe the grace of God, you make it happen,” Chow said in his speech at the hotel on March 23.
“I am sure many of us can identify with your story as we were born into poor families. Our parents struggled to put food on the table and ensure we’ve basic education so that we could embark on our career in the future.”
Seeing the several awards won by the company, Chow said the family, the team, business associates and government agencies played a hand in the company’s success.
Chow continued: “You’ve worked wonders. The company was recognised in 2017 as one of the top 100 SME fast moving companies in Malaysia.
“The company was the recipient of the prestigious Golden Bull Award for being an outstanding SME in Malaysia.
“Last year, Berjayapak was invited to participate in the Global Wood Packaging Forum in Minneapolis USA and was recognised by the leaders in the global forum as Malaysia’s market leader in the wood packaging industry.”
Earlier, Lay Peng had told the staff members as well as guests how she and her husband decided to come back from the United States to assist her father and founder of Berjayapak, Ooi Chang Seaw, during the company’s hard times in 2015.
She said she was thankful of the sacrifices made by her father in sending her to study in the United States in an era when boys were more valued in traditional Chinese families.
She also acknowledged the contributions of the company’s 330 employees, business partners, suppliers and customers.
Also present at the celebration were Berjayapak founders Ooi Chang Seaw and Ooi Eng Leng, Board of Directors John Ooi and Lee Soon Swee, Penang Port Commission chairman Jeffrey Chew, Malaysia Productivity Corporation (MPC) director Dr Mazrina Mohamed Ibramsah, MPC assistant manager Kasturi Devi, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) director Yusni Md Yusop and MIDA deputy director Kartine Gunasaygaran.
The other notable guests were Malaysia Timber Industry Board representative Muhar, Malaysia Wood Industries Association president Goh Chee Yew, Penang Furniture and Timber Association president Henry Kong, Malaysian Pallet Association president Richard Tan and Jawi assemblyman H’ng Mooi Lye.
The celebration was also a memorable occasion for three employees who received long-term service award.
The recipients were senior finance executive Choong Swee Leng, packer Abd Hamid (both 20 years) and general manager Eric Ong Kah Hong (15 years).
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix and video by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi