“Entrepreneurship is at the core of economic development in a country, and a programme that applauds and recognizes successful entrepreneurs is therefore wonderful. It helps to create role models for the youth of the country. Eliminating bias using an external selection process is a good idea. The globality of the programme sets international benchmarks.”

Mr Piyush Gupta is the Chief Executive Officer of Citibank Berhad and Citigroup Country Officer for Malaysia since October 2002.

Mr Gupta’s career with Citibank spans over 20 years, during which he has held various positions in India, London, Singapore and Indonesia. Between 1998 and 2000, Mr Gupta was the Country Corporate Officer for Citibank Indonesia, during which he had served as a member of the Indonesian Government’s Debt Restructuring Committee as well as Chairman of the Foreign Banks’ Association.

Prior to his appointment in Malaysia, Mr Gupta had served as the Regional Head of Acquisitions and Internet Businesses for Citibank’s Corporate Banking Group in the Asia-Pacific region. @ Sept 03

Puan Mariam Tun Sulaiman is the Chairman of the Federation of Women Entrepreneur Associations Malaysia. She is also the immediate past President of the National Association of Women Entrepreneurs of Malaysia (NAWEM).

Currently the Managing Director of IBYO (M) Sdn Bhd, an IB Your Office Global Business Center Network franchise system for Malaysia, she was the Managing Director and a shareholder of Rampai-Niaga Sdn Bhd which holds the Malaysian franchise for the renowned UK-based skin and hair care retail chain franchise, The Body Shop. She is also the Director of Cravings Café Sdn Bhd and Managing Director of Animale Collection (M) Sdn Bhd. Puan Mariam also sits on the Small & Medium Industries Development Corporation Board under the Ministry of International Trade & Industry.

Puan Mariam has a consuming interest in the plight of women in business and she continues to speak locally and abroad, on subjects relating to the role of women in business.@ Sept 03

Encik Md Nor Ahmad is the Chief Regulatory Officer of the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange assisting the President in the day-to-day management of the Exchange in matters relating to Finance & Administration, Enforcement of Listing Requirements and Corporate & Legal Affairs. Prior to assuming this position, En Md Nor had also held numerous imperative positions within the stock exchange.

Formerly attached to the Accountant General's Department, En Md Nor had served in various governmental bodies. En Md Nor holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Wellington and is a member of the Associate Chartered Accountant of New Zealand and the Malaysian Institute of Accountants. @ Sept 03

“This Award programme provides a platform to showcase our homegrown entrepreneurs and allows us to express our appreciation to these entrepreneurs for their contributions and sacrifices made towards various field of national development. It also provides the Ministry an important opportunity to learn from these successful entrepreneurs …to develop strategies for national entrepreneurial development.”

Cik Halimah is the Deputy Secretary General (Development) of the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development.

Prior to assuming this position, she was the Under Secretary for the Entrepreneur Training Division as well as for the Entrepreneur Development Division. She was also attached to the Ministry of Rural Development from 1989 to 1994 as well as with the Ministry of Finance from 1972 to 1986.

She holds a Masters in Social Science from the University of Birmingham in United Kingdom as well as a degree from University Malaya. She also holds a diploma in Development Finance from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom.@ Sept 03

“This Award programme highlights the entrepreneurial culture of Malaysians.”

Dr Abu Talib Bin Bachik is the Vice President, Client Services, Multimedia Development Corporation.

Prior to holding office in this capacity, Dr Abu Talib was the President of Streetmarkets.com Sdn Bhd. He had also held numerous positions in the civil service including serving as the Deputy Director General (Development) Malaysian Rubber Board.

Dr Abu Talib holds a Master of Science degree from the Louisiana State University, USA and a Doctorate in Agriculture Science from University of Gent, Belgium. @ Sept 03

Mr Ho Kay Tat, 44, has been in journalism for 17 years. He spent 6 years with the New Straits Times group, where he reported extensively on Malaysian politics. In 1990, he joined the Kuala Lumpur bureau of Reuters and covered mainly economic, corporate and money market news. Subsequently, he served as the KL correspondent for the Singapore Business Times in 1994 where apart from reporting, he hosted a weekly column on Malaysia called “Market Matters”.

He joined The Edge initially as Editor in August 1996 and is now its Editor-in-Chief. He is also the Editor for the Edge Singapore and Asia Inc, a regional business publication. Kay Tat also sits on the Board of Nexnews Bhd as its Executive Director.

Kay Tat majored in Political Science while studying at the Science University in Penang, Malaysia with a minor programme in Mass Communications. @ Sept 03

“The Award Programme is very important and serves to highlight the entrepreneurial caliber of Malaysian business people…… encourages more Malaysians to identify success with not just capital utilization, intellectual effort and hard work, but equally with the ability to innovate and the desire to achieve. ”

Tan Sri Dato’ Francis Yeoh is the Managing Director of the YTL Corporation Group of Companies, which comprises five listed companies with a combined market capitalization in excess of US$3 billion, spanning core activities from power generation and transmission, integrated water and sewerage facilities, property and hotel development, cement manufacturing, construction contracting to e-commerce initiatives.

Under Tan Sri’s leadership, the Group achieved many significant firsts and has won many local and international excellence awards. Apart from serving on numerous Boards and Business Councils, Tan Sri Francis also promotes arts, music and sports.

Tan Sri Francis holds the distinction of being the inaugural Malaysian Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2002. Tan Sri Francis represented Malaysia at the third annual Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year® Awards in Monte Carlo in June 2003. @ Sept 03