KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 (Bernama) -- At the Closing Session of Perdana Leadership Foundation’s (PLF) CEO Forum on 1st November 2022, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad shared his thoughts on “What Does the Future Hold for Malaysia?” and said that, “We live in a time of great uncertainty but high connectivity. Through trade, banking, and travel, we are more connected to one another than ever before. This is good in many ways but it also makes it more likely that events in one part of the world will have bigger repercussions on the rest of the world…For businesses and even governments, it means longer-term projections and forecasting models may no longer be useful as they will be less accurate. Because of our connectedness with each other, the causes and consequences of events have become more complex and more widespread.”
 
Malaysia’s longest-serving Prime Minister also pointed out that Malaysian businesses need to incorporate more technology into its operations and spend more on research and development in order to improve productivity. “We were one of the earliest countries in South East Asia to go into the Knowledge Age in a big way through the Multimedia Super Corridor. The MSC has seen the birth of Malaysian tech companies and talent. But we have to keep up with advances and find the best combination of infrastructure, policy, and incentives if we are to move our economy up the technology chain,” he added in his address to the 300-odd business audience. Following his keynote, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad answered questions from the audience on education, mastery of English, green technology, and good leadership, in a Q&A session moderated by Tan Sri Nik Mohamed Nik Yaacob, Executive Director, PLF.
 
The ninth Perdana Leadership Foundation CEO Forum on 1st November 2022 brought together more than 30 CEOs, industry experts, and business leaders who discussed macro- and industry-specific issues related to “Major Trends Impacting the Malaysian Economy (and You)”. Over nine plenary and concurrent sessions, business and thought leaders shared experience and viewpoints on subjects that include technology in business, talent and manpower, renewable energy, public finance, logistics, and inflation.

The Forum opened with opening remarks by PLF’s Board of Trustees Chairman, prominent banker Tan Sri Azman Hashim. “The Malaysian business community plays a huge role in strengthening, fortifying, and reviving the economy. The PLF CEO Forum is where the business community can gather to discuss issues of common concern, such as economic policies, business trends, inflation, and the environment, as well as identify sectors that are growing in importance such as technology and logistics. With each Forum, (PLF) documents the points raised and compiles the notes for reference by policymakers,” Tan Sri Azman Hashim said.
 
He pointed out that while Malaysia has good economic fundamentals, there are headwinds impeding economic progress, such as the Russia-Ukraine war, inflationary pressures, China’s economic slowdown, and our domestic political uncertainties.
 
The opening remarks were followed by a Plenary Session featuring Tan Sri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh, Group Managing Director, MMC Corporation Berhad, Mr Eqhwan Mokhzanee Muhammad, CEO, AmBank Islamic Berhad, and economist Dr Nungsari Radhi. The session was moderated by Dr Yeah Kim Leng of Sunway University. Subsequently, Datuk Dr Shazelina Zainul Abidin, Director-General of the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) Malaysia, delivered a keynote address on “Global Conflicts and Their Impact on Malaysia”.
 
The event’s Concurrent Sessions covered logistics, technology, renewable energy, talent and manpower, inflation, as well as public finance, featuring speakers such as Mr Yeoh Keong Hann, Executive Director, YTL Power International Berhad, Ts Mahadhir Aziz, CEO, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), Ms Aireen Omar, President (Ventures), Capital A, Hajah Mahuran Saro Dato' Haji Sariki, Vice President Group Research, Development & Policy, and Malaysian Professional Talent, TalentCorp Group of Companies, Dato’ Azman Shah Mohd Yusof, CEO, Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, Prof Dr Jomo Kwame Sundaram, Senior Adviser, Khazanah Research Institute and  Datuk Emeritus Prof Dr Norma Mansor, Director of Social Wellbeing Research Centre, University Malaya
 
The Forum was organised by Perdana Leadership Foundation, an independent non-profit research, and archive leadership institution, with venue sponsorship by Berjaya Corporation Berhad and official venue at Berjaya Times Square Convention Centre. The Forum was also sponsored by Sime Darby Plantation Berhad as Platinum Sponsor, IJM Corporation Berhad, Kuala Lumpur Kepong Berhad, and CIMB as Gold Sponsors; Northport (Malaysia) Bhd, AEON Co. (M) Berhad, Malakoff Corporation Berhad, IRIS Corporation, Invisight PLT, Boustead Plantations Berhad and Bank Muamalat as Bronze Sponsors. MPH bookstores was a supporting partner of this forum.

Visit www.perdanaceoforum.com for more information.Tun Dr Mahathir’s Closing Address in full is published here, while Tan Sri Azman Hashim’s Opening Remarks can be accessed here. 

About Perdana Leadership Foundation
www.perdana.org.my

The Foundation is a non-profit organisation established in 2003 to document, disseminate, research, and archive materials related to the past Prime Ministers of Malaysia, and Malaysia’s nation-building history. The Foundation intends to become the premier institution for the study of Malaysia’s Prime Ministers and the central resource centre for research into national stewardship as well as a platform for reflection, debate, and discussion with distinguished figures in Malaysian leadership. Our Honorary President is the fourth and seventh Prime Minister of Malaysia, YABhg Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. To date, we have digitised more than 500k materials, half of which are available for free through our website www.perdana.org.my. Membership of our Perdana Library is free, and members also get to enjoy the library’s physical facilities located in Precinct 8, Putrajaya. 

SOURCE: Perdana Leadership Foundation

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--BERNAMA