A towering entrepreneurial leader ...

Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hashim has been described as a towering entrepreneurial leader. He was the President and Chief Executive of Johor Corporation (JCorp) for over 28 years (January 1982 to July 2010).

Under his leadership, JCorp became a “very complex business conglomerate”,  emerging as one of Malaysia’s leading entity.

It was involved in more than 280 companies with over 65,000 employees. Eight of the companies were listed on Bursa Malaysia and one on London Stock Exchange.

Among notable JCorp companies are KFC Holdings Malaysia Bhd, QSR Brands Bhd (owner of Pizza Hut and Ayamas in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia and Mumbai), KPJ Healthcare Bhd, the market leader in the business of Medical Specialists in Malaysia, and Kulim Malaysia Bhd, which owns the largest oil palm company in Papua New Guinea that is listed on the London stock market.

Tan Sri Muhammad Ali is also known for his valuable contributions to integrate Islamic values and principles into business.

He had introduced a number of concepts that had made significant impact such as “Jihad Bisnes”, “Entrepreneur Amanah” and “Corporate Waqf”.

At an executive talk organized by the National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN) today, he shared his thoughts and experience on entrepreneurial leadership in public sector.
Apart from corporate architecture such as responding to challenges and constraints, he also spoke about empowering people as well as corporate culture and values.

Ten Bernama senior officers were among representatives from the various government agencies and departments who attended the two-hour talk.

Senior manager Centre of Excellence Syed Khedher Ismail described the talk by Tan Sri Muhammad Ali, 66, who is Malaysian Islamic Chamber of Commerce (MICC) President as  “very interesting”.

“He certainly touched on many issues right from leadership, branding, human capital – entreprenuerial skills to corporate restructuring.  For 28 years since January 1982 being the CEO of JCorp, he managed to transform what a SEDC should be operating in,” said Syed Khedher.

Starting with RM10 million loan in 1970, JCorp market cap in 2010 was a staggering RM18.1 billion.

“Tan Sri also mentioned about ‘business jihad’ . That too is equally important. It means if we are pushing for greater businesses, we at Bernama need to sacrifice to give our best shot in everything we do.

From  the top to bottom and vice versa. A two way flow in business. And that also include more international business partnership to position Bernama successfully abroad, perhaps,like how Tan Sri positioned his Ayamas with KFC.

And how he shrewdly went for the people's touch when JCorp did not invite a VIP to officiate its taking over of 400 KFC restaurants but instead a girl, Hui Yin. The press had reported  about the girl who was about to undergo a hole-in-the heart surgery with the headline: 'Saya nak makan KFC & dapat jantung sihat’,” said Syed Khedher.

After taking over KFC restaurants in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei in 2006 -- the largest restaurant chain, it became a global brand power and "number one" in Asia in 2007 and 2008.

It opened 12 restaurants in Cambodia and 10 in Mumbai, India -- all halal.

"There were people who said I was interested to take over KFC because I wanted to replace the old man (Colonel Sanders)!" he quipped.

Tan Sri Muhammad Ali also cleared the misperception of many that the corporation was filled with "anak Johor", meaning Johor-born. 

He requested "anak Johor" in the audience to raise their hands and after they did, he told them that they still could not stake the claim.

"At JCorp, there is only one 'anak Johor'," he said, smilingly and showed a power-point mugshot of Ahmad Zaki bin Johor, Pelaburan Johor Berhad manager.

"Even then he was born in Perak...but the message is we have to allocate trust to those most deserving," he added.