INAUGURAL NANYANG EMERGING ICON AWARDS HONOUR OUTSTANDING LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS

PETALING JAYA, Jan 19 (Bernama) -- The inaugural Nanyang Emerging Icon Awards 2025 today recognised 52 outstanding entrepreneurs for their significant contributions to the country’s economic and social development.

Themed ‘Mencipta Kecemerlangan, Menerajui Masa Depan’ (Creating Excellence, Leading the Future), the awards aim to honour exceptional achievements in business leadership, innovation and digital advancement, corporate social responsibility (CSR), as well as brand excellence and strength.

Founder and chairman of Nanyang Icon Holdings Datuk Calvin Khiu said the awards serve as a platform to recognise emerging talents and aspiring entrepreneurs who dare to innovate and build sustainable businesses.

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“We hope the awards will serve as a catalyst for more local entrepreneurs to step forward, build confidence and expand their potential at both the national and international levels,” he told reporters at the award ceremony here today.

Also present were ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASEAN-CCI) president Datuk Dr Sohaimi Shahadan and Negeri Sembilan Local Government Development, Housing and Transport Committee chairman J. Arul Kumar.

Khiu said the inaugural edition of the awards drew strong competition, with 142 nominations received, of which only 52 individuals were selected to represent their respective companies.

“Today, we can see many young people and entrepreneurs receiving recognition. The competition was indeed intense, and this reflects the quality and strong potential of local entrepreneurs,” he said.

On the evaluation criteria, Khiu said companies were assessed based on financial performance, including three-year audited reports, growth and profitability, while those with consistently declining performance were not considered.

The ceremony, organised by Nanyang Icon Holdings in collaboration with Nanyang Siang Pau as the official media partner, also aimed to provide opportunities for local entrepreneurs and companies to gain recognition at both the national and international levels.

The Nanyang Emerging Icon Awards are divided into three main categories, namely individual, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and brand innovation, as well as the top category.

Among the recipients of the Nanyang Legacy CSR Icon Honour was Public Bank Berhad managing director and chief executive officer Tan Sri Dr Tay Ah Lek.

 Meanwhile, the Personal Achievement – Outstanding Business Leader (Government Sector) award was won by Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) director-general Datuk Suhaimi Sulaiman.

In addition, the Nanyang Personal Excellence Award was presented to 10 entrepreneurs, including representatives from Exgreat MSE Marketing (M) Sdn Bhd and Nik Electronic Sdn Bhd.

The Nanyang Culture Icon category was won by Yap Ying Jun of Resonant Music Academy, while the Nanyang Innovation Icon Award went to Loh Zheng Tao of Bucket List and Vacations Sdn Bhd.

-- BERNAMA