How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected Malaysian businesses and how best can our economy recover in the post-pandemic phase?
The Perdana Leadership Foundation CEO Forum 2021 on 20th and 21st October 2021 brought together business leaders and industry experts to address these concerns as well as to provide insights and opinions on the theme “Business in the New Normal”. With more than ten plenary, concurrent, and keynote sessions, the Forum was a lively platform for idea-exchange and networking. There were keynote sessions by Datuk Dr Hishamshah Bin Mohd Ibrahim, Deputy Director General of Health Malaysia (Research & Technical Support), Ministry of Health Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Mustapa bin Mohamed, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy), & Tan Sri Dr Jemilah Mahmood, Executive Director, Sunway’s Centre for Planetary Health.
“The years 2020 and 2021 are very challenging for businesses in Malaysia, with most sectors recording record drops in revenues. Given the very unique circumstances posed by the pandemic, I believe it is even more important that business leaders, managers, and executives exchange their experience and views. Looking at the distinguished panellists and keynote speakers of the Forum, I am sure the discussions will provide needed insights and direction,” said Tan Sri Azman Hashim, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Perdana Leadership Foundation.
The topics that were discussed at the Forum were wide-ranging, from the macro perspective in the plenary to industry specifics at concurrent sessions. The sessions covered travel & tourism, SME digitalisation, retail sector challenges as well as employment issues, including a session on the impact of youth on business and politics. Speakers included Tan Sri Dr Lin See Yan (Zeta Advisory), Prof Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram (Khazanah Research Institute), Emeritus Prof Datuk Norma Mansor (Malaysian Economic Association), Tan Sri Dato’ Soh Thian Lai (Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers), YM Raja Teh Maimunah Raja Abdul Aziz (Wholesale Banking, AmBank Group), Datuk Dr Hamzah Kassim (the iA Group), Mr George Lee (Innov8tif Solutions), Mr Adam Yee (Siemens Malaysia), Mr Rizal Nainy (SME Corp), Mr Shafie Shamsuddin (AEON Co.), Mr Fong Wai Hong (StoreHub), Dato’ Azman Shah (Northport (Malaysia) Bhd), Mr Mohd Syukri Ahmad Sudari (Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF)), Ms Qyira Yusri (UNDI18) and many more.
And of course, the Forum’s highlights was definitely the Closing Keynote Address by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on “Malaysia: Top Priorities for an Improved Future.”
Sponsored by CIMB (Platinum), Bina Puri, DRB-HICOM, Iris Corp, KLK, and Westports (Gold), and
Ambank, EY, Invisight, and Maybank (Silver), the event is the eighth CEO Forum organised by
Perdana Leadership Foundation, and its first online edition.
