Dear Members,

I am honoured to be your incoming President, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank and acknowledge the leadership provided by our Immediate Past President U Mun Liang and last years’ Exco members. I would also like to congratulate and welcome each and every one of my newly-elected Exco and committee members for the 2021-2023 terms as well.

I have had the opportunity to meet and network with many of our members. However, for those that I have yet to interact with, allow me to share a few highlights of my involvement with MIIP. My experience spans 30 years in various public-listed companies providing operations leadership, and championing the development and implementation of strategic plans across stock broking, home appliance distribution, manufacturing, retail, and interior design. Currently, I am Chief Operations Officer for A&A Concept Design & Contract Sdn Bhd. Since 2017, we have been actively participating in MIIP’s organised activities and event, and joint as committee members for the 2019-2021 terms.

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted our lives, created new norms and restrictions which have had a huge impact on our economy, our social lives and our association’s activities. Nothing is the same anymore, and we have had to go back to the drawing board and re-think our strategies and action plans – it’s a time for us to reflect.

Amidst these challenges, as an association we have demonstrated resilience and adapted. We have been leveraging on digital capabilities to conduct webinar, virtual meetings, our AGM and voting, as well as other activities. As businesses and communities embrace digitalisation, we also have to embrace technology as a tool to communicate and engage with our stakeholders. As an organisation, we need to harmonise people, technology, and business processes to support digital transformation.

For 2021–2023, our focus will be on “Engagement”, to support each other and stay connected despite the restrictions. The next two years come as a challenge for myself and the Exco team as we continue to develop and improve value that better reflects our industry and is beneficial to our members. Our next focus is to ramp up our membership. As in the case of other associations, many of our members are moving towards retirement. In view of that, we need to attract youth into the associations, and that should start at the sub-committee level which is involved in the continuous recruitment of new members and various activities.

Throughout the year, MIIP will be organising educational webinar sessions and networking event with individual partners within our industry. MIIP has a wealth of knowledge, and when combined with networking opportunities, priceless long-term relationships can be built. Educational webinars scheduled throughout the year will provide knowledge, technical assistance as well as networking opportunities related to Interior industry partners, showcasing our members’ new products. My Exco and I are excited about the opportunity to deliver value to all our members.

This year, we will also be hosting two major activities which will enable our members to make submissions for the MIIP awards and the long-awaited Gala dinner.

As the new executive committee, I also look forward to a productive and successful presidency, and I invite each of you to participate and, most importantly, get actively involved in all MIIP activities. Together we can certainly achieve another vibrant year for MIIP.

Thank you.