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Prominent Malays Named As Potential Candidates For Elected President

Mr Mohamed Salleh Marican’s declaration of his interest in running in the upcoming presidential election is not a total surprise.

As a prominent, successful Malay entrepreneur, his name is among several talked about in recent weeks as a possible presidential hopeful for the September election.

Meanwhile, two other figures seen as potential candidates – former minister Abdullah Tarmugi and Bank of Singapore chief executive officer Bahren Shaari – told The Straits Times they were not keen on standing for the election.

Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob, 62, who is widely considered a front runner, did not respond to queries from The Straits Times.

Mr Mohamad Salleh, explaining his intentions, told The Straits Times in an e-mail yesterday: “I believe I have done well for myself in business and would like to step up and give back to society in a much larger way.”

When contacted, two other prominent individuals from the Malay community touted as potential candidates confirmed they were not eyeing the election.

Mr Bahren, 54, told The Straits Times in an e-mail: “I am humbled to have my name mentioned as a potential candidate for this year’s presidential election by various media. It is always a privilege and honour to serve the nation.

“At the moment, my focus is on growing the business of Bank of Singapore with my team and deriving the synergies from our recent acquisition of the wealth and investment management business of Barclays Bank PLC.”

Mr Abdullah, 72, said it is “unlikely” he will run in the election.

“I had considered contesting earlier and many had in fact encouraged me to do so. But it is unlikely that I will contest. I have my reasons,” he said, declining to elaborate.

Other names that have been mentioned include Mr Shafie Shamsuddin, 46, the chief executive officer of PT Trans Retail, which operates Carrefour supermarkets in Indonesia.

Mr Shafie, who could not be reached for comment, was named outstanding overseas chief/senior executive of the year at last year’s Singapore Business Awards.

He is the first non-Frenchman named in 2011 as an executive director of the global supermarket giant Carrefour, taking charge of talent management and organisational development.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

June 1, 2017
Mohamed Salleh Marican – An Inspiration To Investors And Entrepreneurs

Truly an inspiration to investors and entrepreneurs alike, Mr Mohamed Salleh Marican (or Mohamed Salleh S/o Kadir Mohideen Saibu Maricar as he is registered at the SGX) is the very embodiment of the epigram, “try and try until you succeed”. Undaunted by a first failed business, Mr Salleh put up what is now Second Chance Properties, and hasn’t looked back since.

Now the company’s CEO and Executive Chairman as well as its founder, Mr Salleh is also a Spiking Sophisticated Investor. An SGX announcement last January put the post-transaction percentage of his direct and deemed shares of Second Chance Properties at 57.78%, and 8.45% respectively.

If There’s a Will…

Mr Salleh began as an entrepreneur in 1974, when he established a menswear tailoring business which he was compelled to shut down soon afterwards. He tried again just five months later by opening Second Chance, sticking to the menswear segment but switching to ready-to-wear retail. His determination paid off, and in less than 10 years, he had four outlets in Singapore.

By 1988, Mr Salleh had adopted franchising, affordable pricing and a Western fashion image for Second Chance, which enabled him to grow the company to include 18 stores in Singapore and 7 stores in Malaysia.

Mr Salleh’s first major award proved to be a double-edged sword, as winning created awareness of Second Chance as a local brand. As sales dropped drastically, he decided to change strategies again, and close 21 of his 25 stores. By 1992, he had diversified his business into ladies’ ready-to-wear for Malay women. The new line, dubbed “First Lady”, is still a bestseller today.

Mr Salleh then followed up First Lady’s success with Golden Chance, which retails gold jewellery. Soon afterwards, during the Asian financial crisis, he again diversified his business to include property, which turned out to be his most successful venture yet. Property now accounts for over 60% of the company’s profits, with rental income being the top contributor.

Today, Second Chance has over 200 employees working in 50 stores in Singapore and Malaysia. After listing on the SESDAQ in 1997, Second Chance moved to the SGX Main Board in 2004.

Mr Salleh has since won several other awards, including the Inaugural Malay Businessmen Award from the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Berita Harian; the Entrepreneurship Excellence Award from Lianhe Zaobao and the Entrepreneurship Development Centre of Nanyang Technological University; the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, and the Best CEO Singapore Corporate Award.

Mr Salleh in Action

Mr Salleh’s latest trading activities include increasing 1 million deemed shares of Second Chance Properties at SGD0.25 at the end of last January. A few days before, he had also increased 291,500 deemed Second Chance shares at SGD0.252.

Follow the investing action of Mr Mohamed Salleh S/o Kadir Mohideen Saibu Maricar at https://spiking.com/v/mohamedsalleh, and track Second Chance Properties’ performance at https://spiking.com/sgx/528-second-chance-properties-ltd.

Source: https://blog.spiking.com

June 1, 2017
Who Is Mohamed Salleh Marican?

Mr. Mohamed Salleh Marican is the Founder of Second Chance Properties Ltd. and serves as its Chief Executive Officer and also served as its Executive Chairman since November 30, 2013.

Mr. Marican has 33 years of retail business experience. He served for 3 years at National Service and left with the rank of Lieutenant.

He served as the Chairman of Second Chance Properties Ltd. until December 2007. He has been Executive Director of Second Chance Properties Ltd since August 5, 1986. He serves as an Executive Director of Second Chance Properties Ltd..

In 1988, he won the inaugural Malay Businessman Award, jointly organized by the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Berita Harian.

In 1996, Mr. Marican received the Entrepreneurship Excellence Award that was conferred by Lianhe Zaobao and the Entrepreneurship Development Centre of the Nanyang Technological University.

Source: www.bloomberg.com

June 1, 2017
2nd Chance CEO Mohamed Salleh Marican: I Hope To Run For President

The founder and chief executive officer of Second Chance Properties, Mr Mohamed Salleh Marican, 67, has said he hopes to run for president.

He told The Straits Times in an email on Wednesday (May 31) that he will be collecting the application forms required to contest the presidential election in September.

Mr Mohamed Salleh’s name had been bandied about in recent weeks as a potential candidate for the upcoming election, which will be reserved for Malay candidates. His company is the first owned by a Malay/Muslim to be listed on the Singapore Exchange.

“It is encouraging to know that many have considered me as a potential candidate,” he said.

“The short answer is that, I believe I have done well for myself in business and would like to step up and give back to society in a much larger way. The position and influence of the Elected President will have a great impact on whatever activities he or she choose to promote.”

He added that he “can also fulfill the call of most Singaporeans who desire a truly independent Elected President, one who is untainted by party politics”.

Under changes to the Constitution approved last November, candidates from the private sector must have been the chief executive of a company with at least $500 million in shareholders’ equity, on average, for the most recent three years.

Second Chance Properties’ shareholder equity was between $254.3 million and $263.25 million in the past three financial years, which is lower than this requirement.

However, the Presidential Elections Committee has the discretion to certify that a candidate who does not automatically meet the criteria can stand, if it is satisfied that he has the experience and ability to effectively carry out the functions and duties of the office of the President.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

June 1, 2017
At Least 64 Killed, 320 Injured In Kabul Diplomatic Quarter Blast

A massive blast rocked Kabul’s diplomatic quarters during the morning rush hour on Wednesday (May 31) the latest attack to hit the Afghan capital.

Afghan officials said at least 64 people have been killed or wounded by a suicide car bombing, according to AFP.

A huge plume of smoke could be seen rising from the area but it was not clear what the target was and there was no immediate confirmation of any casualties.

Witnesses said dozens of cars were blocking roads and some wounded people could be seen.

FRENCH AND GERMAN EMBASSIES DAMAGED

The French and German embassy in Kabul were also damaged in Wednesday’s car bomb attack, said French minister Marielle de Sarnez, who added there were no signs at this stage of any French victims.

“There has been some material damage in the French embassy, as well as in the Germany embassy,” de Sarnez, who is France’s European affairs minister, told Europe 1 radio on Wednesday. She added she had no information on any possible casualties at the two missions.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the attack came as the resurgent Taliban are stepping up their annual “spring offensive”.

Huge blast in Kabul’s diplomatic quarter on Wednesday AFP/AFP

The Islamic State group has also claimed responsibility for several recent bombings in the Afghan capital, including a powerful blast targeting an armoured NATO convoy that killed at least eight people and wounded 28 on May 3.

Pentagon chief Jim Mattis has warned of “another tough year” for both foreign troops and local forces in Afghanistan, where more than one third of the country is outside of government control.

The blast was the latest in a long line of attacks in the Afghan capital. Kabul province had the highest number of casualties in the first three months of 2017 thanks to multiple attacks in the city, with civilians bearing the brunt of the violence.

Source:http://www.channelnewsasia.com

May 31, 2017