Viewpoints by Past HBSACM Presidents

Preamble | Raja Tan Sri Muhammad Alias was born in Negeri Sembilan in 1932. From a very young age, Raja Alias was drilled in the values he espouses religiously until today, that is: “Work hard, lead an honest life, care for people, assist them when they need your help and never betray their trust.”

A graduate of University of Malaya, Singapore, he joined the government service in 1958 before being seconded to the Federal Land Development Authority or FELDA in 1966. He attended the Harvard Busines School Advanced Management Program (AMP) in 1975.

Raja Alias was with FELDA for 35 years from 1966 as Deputy Chairman until his retirement from the post of Group Chairman in June 2001. He remains active in plantation development through various public listed companies, notably as the Chairman of Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd.

On Harvard Business School

We went to the program in Boston earlier. We were very impressed with the program. There was so much to learn. The place was a repository of knowledge. The men and women you met there were high-level people in various industries. The contacts with those people were very useful. It was an eyeopener to us. When I came back, I told the government to send a lot of people from the government service to this program. Unfortunately, they sent people who were about to retire. Our concept was to send the younger people between the ages of 45 and 50 who would serve the government for at least another 10 years. But gradually a lot of local companies also started sending people. That was useful.

On HBSACM programs

It was not easy to bring the program over here. Harvard was not prepared to operate in other countries but Malaysia was one of the countries it was willing to work with. The demand from here to go to Boston was quite big but the cost was very high. So it was better to bring the lecturers to Malaysia and have more people benefit from the program. We got more middle-level people to participate in this program. I think that was a very good move. We managed to bring Harvard here. It was well recognised and well supported. Some 2,700 people have gone through the program. They have contributed to the development of the country. We like to continue the program so that more people will be trained. Strategy is an important area. In my days, we never talk of a strategy officer or director. There was none. I see the standard of (corporate) management in the country has improved. We have made progress but it has taken us more than 60 years. We need a Club like this to support this program to build up more people.

“I do not regret going there”

The exposure to the program was very useful. When I was there I used to sleep after 2am because there were so many things to read. I was very young then. And I thought, if I could go there, there was no reason why others should not go, too. I do not regret going there. I learnt a lot and I was very grateful to Felda for sending me to that program. When I was in a position to recommend others to do the same program, I did it willingly and happily. And that was how Felda was built. They are the pillars of Felda which we built.

RAJA TAN SRI DATO’ SERI UTAMA MUHAMMAD ALIAS RAJA MUHAMMAD ALI

President 1977/79

“Most of the alumni of the Club are very successful leaders in their own field, industry or organisation. So with their vast experience and expertise, they are able to impart their knowledge to their managers. This helps develop Malaysia in terms of nationbuilding and turning it into an advanced economy.”

NG SING HWA

President 1980/81

LILLIAN TOO

President 1981/82

Preamble | Lillian Too is an author, television personality and feng shui practitioner from Malaysia. She has written more than 200 books on feng shui, which have been translated into more than 30 languages. Her books have sold more than 6 million copies around the world.

An MBA graduate from the Harvard Business School in 1976, Lillian embarked on a career in the corporate world and became the first woman in Malaysia to head a public listed company. In 1982, she became the first woman in Asia to be appointed CEO of a bank (Hong Kong’s Dao Heng bank). After her stint in banking, she worked with prominent Hong Kong tycoon, Dickson Poon, as executive deputy chairman of his group of companies.

On the role of HBSACM

The alumni of HBSACM, especially those who went for the AMP, every single one is in an executive position either as managing director or chairman, running key institutions in Malaysia in the last 40 years. The Club’s own SMDP attracts key middle-level and upper management people every year. This has been going on since 1980, and we didn’t even get a grant. It is a significant achievement.

On Harvard Business School

Harvard Business School has been consistent in the quality of education that it offers. The case methods are original and something that we have to spend some time on to explain and discuss. Case methods make Harvard Business School very unique. It is the only business school in the world that fully uses case methods.

What I feel is missing

There are things we wanted to do that we didn’t succeed in doing. For example, we never managed to get more people from Malaysia to go for the Harvard MBA program. I feel like a failure. I wanted to push more Malaysians to take the MBA program. We have to teach them how to apply. There is a method to get into these top schools and there is a method to get into Harvard Business School. Malaysia is a great country but why aren’t we getting more people into top schools?

What Harvard MBA has taught me

It made me think global. 40 years ago, I didn’t think just of Malaysia or Asean. I was thinking global. Whatever I was going to do, I would do it global because you get the worldview when you go to Harvard Business School. Also, it makes you feel that you can achieve anything because it is empowering. Harvard Business School makes you feel really special. The graduates became CEOs, founders and entrepreneurs and they built big businesses. The aspect of helping people is always there. Harvard graduates do these things. And we have a very strong alumni network through Harvard Bulletin, where we keep up with what our classmates are doing every month.

DATO’ MUSTAFA MD ALI

President 1984/85

“I attended the AMP in 1978 for seven weeks and 1979 for six weeks. I was the vice-president in 1983 and that was the year we organised a very big training program in Genting Highlands. The following year, when I assumed the presidency, we set up the Harvard Business School Alumni Club Foundation. We have more than RM1 million in the Foundation and occasionally, we do award scholarships to deserving students.

Once you go to Harvard, you listen more to your subordinates. That’s what I found out. Before that, I was very dominating. When you return from Harvard, you listen to other people’s views and you work together as a team.”

TAN SRI DR MOHD NOOR ISMAIL

President 1986/87

“Structurally, the strong members of the Club have kept it going for 43 years. The desire to strengthen the fraternity is great. Most presidents were corporate leaders who could contribute a lot to the Club. This is in line with the Harvard Business School’s mission of developing corporate leaders into entrepreneurs. We are solutionoriented rather than problem-oriented as heads of various organisations. We are ahead of change, rather than managing change.

DATUK NG CHENG KUAI

President 1991/92

“When I went for my AMP 102 and I linked up with a lot of professors, I built my own network. One of the things that was significant was I wrote a letter to Tun Dr Mahathir (the then prime minister) and Tun Daim (Zainuddin). In subsequent years, many government scholars went for the AMP. Harvard has a very powerful worldwide network and we must learn how to optimise it.”

By all accounts, the success of Harvard Business School Alumni Club of Malaysia can be attributed to a strong foundation laid by “Tan Sri G” or “Super G”, as he is fondly known. Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam, the co-founder of Westports Malaysia – one of Asia’s biggest ports – has been a staunch supporter of the Club. He went to Harvard Business School in 1982/83 when he was with the Malaysian Tobacco Company to attend the Advanced Management Program (AMP). And he himself helmed the Club twice in 1992/93 and 2003/15. That made him the longest-serving president of the Club. Tan Sri Gnanalingam is the current executive chairman of Westports Holdings Malaysia Bhd, one of Malaysia’s leading port operators. But it was business education that was close to his heart and his Harvard Business School stint had been useful in growing his port business. He once explained in an interview how he turned diverse challenges into resounding successes. “Go to Harvard Business School. When I was there, we used to do case studies on different industries every week, and at the end of 200 cases you realised that there are only a few things that matter. One is people. You do not have the right people, you can forget about the entire thing.” Even Westports used the Harvard model. “We enlisted the help of two professionals and did it Harvard Business School-style. We did a lot of research on why our boxes are going to Singapore, what it’s offering them and what our customers want.”

“We had a simple concept – that we could be competitive by showing our customers how they could cut down on costs by using Westports,” he told Bernama. “There is no question about the Harvard faculty, the alumni, the students and the benefactors of Harvard having used their powers to improve the lives of people here and around the world,” he told the Malaysian news agency.

How do you see the role and contribution of HBSACM and its members in nation-building?

Even though the Club has 200 members who went to Harvard Business School, it has contributed to the development of 2,200 senior managers through the Senior Management Development Program (SMDP). That is a very important contribution as it develops young leaders who will lead the nation in the future.

What do you think of your main achievements and initiatives of HBSACM under your leadership?

Introducing free membership and no annual subscriptions. This is because we were confident that we would be making enough money from other activities. Introduction of the Asean SMDP on alternate years and with a week-long program duration.

How has Harvard Business School shaped and influenced your world outlook and your career?

I believe that HBS has taught me how to become a leader not only in terms of working life but also in my personal life. HBS has taught me how to be comfortable in becoming a leader and also taught me the importance of business decision-making skills as a leader. I strongly believe in the HBS program. Westports has contributed six participants to the program yearly. To date, 220 members have attended this program.

TAN SRI DATUK G GNANALINGAM

President 1992/93 & 2003/15

DATUK OTHMAN YUSOFF

President 1997/98

The Harvard Business School Alumni Club of Malaysia (Club) was established on a strong foundation by its founding members on July 19, 1977.

Under the leadership of the present President and 26 past Presidents, together with the Executive Committee, members and the Malaysian community at large have benefited significantly from the Club’s educational programs, social and recreational activities.

I am humbled and fortunate to have been in the Executive Committee since 1985 to witness the success of the Club’s Executive Education Program, sanctioned by the Harvard Business School, Boston, Massachusetts, in building professionalism in business management in both Malaysia and the ASEAN region. The 28 Programs, Senior Management Development Program and ASEAN Senior Management Development Program, which have spanned 35 years, helped to nurture and develop more than 2,700 senior managers in their careers and accomplishments. These Programs have also attracted participants from ASEAN member countries, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Namibia and others. The Club also hosted Dinner and Luncheon Talks to share the knowledge and experiences of distinguished speakers like the Honourable Mr Lee Hsien Loong, the Prime Minister of Singapore, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Tun Daim Zainuddin, Prof Ted Levitt, Jack Welch, Prof Richard Vietor, Prof Warren McFarlan, Prof Sunil Gupta, Prof Mihir Desai and many others. The Club continues to promote the Executive Education Programs at the Harvard Business School in Boston. Many participants, upon completing the SMDP and ASMDP, attended AMP, OPM and other Executive Education Programs at the Harvard Business School.

Utilizing funds from the Club’s Foundation, the Club awarded Manager of the Year, MBA scholarships, a Gold Medal to the Best Student from local business schools, computers and books to schools and made donations to charitable organizations. The Club owes its continued existence to the passionate Executive Committee and enthusiastic members who support the educational, social and recreational activities.

MOHD NIZAR IDRIS

President 1999/2000

“I think the Harvard Business School alumni have contributed to the development of Malaysians in multinational corporations (MNCs). I actually went to Harvard from England. I was a candidate from England. I learnt a lot and that helped me in my job. It opened up the company’s eyes to the possibility that Malaysians “Boleh”. We opened the eyes of many and we owe that to Harvard. When you go to Harvard, you realise that your playing field is global. So you get rid of the local mindset. As far as the Club is concerned, we have done a lot to educate Malaysians, directly and indirectly. But we also have to raise the standard of business education in Malaysia.”

RAJA DATUK SHARIFUDDIN ABIDIN

President 2002/03

“The biggest contribution by the Club to the nation is the SMDP with more than 2,500 attendees. These people are the core group and you know where they are right now. We developed them when they were younger. We have also organised ‘The manager of the Year’ award to recognise the best in the corporate world. We also initiated studies on specific topics.”