When peace negotiations started in the early 1990s to end the war in Cambodia, and even before the Win-Win policy firmly placed the Kingdom on the path to peace and restructuring, Malaysian entrepreneurs and investors arrived on the country’s shores when Phnom Penh streets were strewn with garbage and no streetlights but confident of changes to come and with it, opportunities.
For some years, they were the largest investors, with official data showing that from 1994 to 2001, Malaysian investments comprised nearly a third of all investments and nearly 80% of total ASEAN investments.
In February 2022, the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) registered a total of 162 Malaysian investment projects worth a staggering $3.2 billion.
Cambodia, despite being one of the fastest-growing in the region and the world, continued to deal with many problems due to the legacy of war and the genocidal regime, particularly landmines.
Oknha KM Tan (L) handing the mock-up cheque to CMAA First Vice President Ly Thuch. KT/Chor Sokunthea
The transformation of the country, especially Phnom Penh, the country’s capital was rapid with new areas being cleared for development and the construction of condominiums.
The capital now has tarred roads and artisan cafes/eateries line the streets.
Such developments augured well for Malaysians in Cambodia where they have made their presence felt until this very day, and though they may have come for business as was their intention when they first arrived, that one-way street to earn US dollars in cash, soon led to it to be accountable not only to themselves and their stakeholders but to the public as well.
They found it in themselves to return some of their earnings to society, to help rebuild the country, to the people, each in their way. It was a duty that the Malaysians saw that their actions had to have a tangible impact on society.
Their contribution to Cambodia’s trade and business sector had come to include much-needed assistance to the local Khmer Rouge survivors besides assisting the country to head forward, as it recovers from the destruction of war.
In February 1993, the closely knitted Malaysian community in Cambodia formed a Malaysia Club and it was focused on social events – celebrating Chinese New Year, Hari Raya, Deepavali, and Merdeka functions as a way to get together Malaysians living in Cambodia was founded.
Malaysia, as one of the “Five Friends” of Cambodia, was, and still is strongly committed to assisting Cambodia in dealing with obstacles hindering the country’s progress.
On July 2, 1997, the Malaysian Business Council of Cambodia (MBCC) was formed but the first function of MBCC was not a pleasant one as it was an evacuation of Malaysian nationals from Cambodia a few days later on July 6.
It was a tumultuous period in Cambodia’s long history of turmoil. A total of 700 Malaysian and other nationals were evacuated by our Royal Malaysian Air Force’s C-130 airplanes over three days.
MBCC’s members aided in the evacuation and helped coordinate this evacuation successfully, earning the praise of many foreign nationals.
Some MBCC members stayed on and their businesses remained open even during the difficult time.
Peace was soon restored and MBCC members returned to Cambodia and resumed their jobs and businesses.
Under the auspices of the Malaysian Embassy in Cambodia, MBCC started gathering Malaysian-owned businesses and conducted business networking sessions and social gatherings.
With the growth of MBCC’s prominence so did its corporate social responsibility which went from strength to strength.
CSR is now at the core of MBCC’s identity which is shown through several humanitarian initiatives launched by the body.
In MBCC president Okhna Tan Khee Meng’s words, “We started humbly 30 years ago, and we have grown together with the country and play our part in investments, as well as human resources development, technology and skills transfer as well as playing our active part in promoting environment, social and governance activities in Cambodia.
“We also have to support the Royal Government of Cambodia, to pay back society, to make a better Cambodia.
“MBCC and the Malaysian community in Cambodia have bonded deeply with Cambodia and her people. Many of us have been living, working and doing business in Cambodia for almost three decades, and some Malaysians consider Cambodia home with their second or even third-generation families here,” Tan said.
One of MBCC’s most noble CSR contributions was when it soldiered for Cambodia in its fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, an invisible enemy threatening millions of lives around the world sending shock waves through the world economy and triggering the largest global economic crisis.
Despite facing economic calamities from the pandemic that included major impacts such as staff layoffs, reductions in operating hours, business closures, and increased debts, as well as total lockdowns, MBCC members banded together and reached out to the Malaysian community.
General Hun Manet handing the certificate of appreciation to Oknha KM Tan. KT/Chor Sokunthea
Despite the constraints of Covid-19 precautionary regulations, some $13,000 was raised, and contributions in kind were collected.
Medical supplies that included 70,000 face masks, face shields, surgical gloves, N95 masks, and drinking water were later presented to the Ministry of Health.
MBCC also gave food items and surgical masks to the Ministry of Environment for its untiring work in preserving the environment and embarking on natural resources protection activities.
“Malaysians consider themselves as being part of Cambodia and as such, have a strong sense of responsibility in assisting Cambodia,” Tan said.
“MBCC always actively engages with government agencies and other stakeholders in various concerned areas, of which Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) is one of the key areas that MBCC is currently working with its members and other sister business associations to promote sustainable ESG activities through joint and connected efforts of regulators, private sectors and financial institutions,” Tan said.
The most recent CSR programme by MBCC is its contribution to the government’s vision of making Cambodia landmine-free by 2025.
MBCC became a strong advocate for the demining cause and involved itself in Cambodian Mine Action Authority (CMAA) activities with member Khmer Times as its mainstay, and in so doing became the first foreign business chamber in the country to assist Cambodia in its demining effort.
In August last year, MBCC held a charity gala dinner to raise funds for demining purposes, the first of its kind in Cambodia. It received incredible feedback, as the tickets were sold out quickly.
MBCC had to twice increase the number of tables, first from 30 to 40 and then to 50 when requests for table and individual tickets kept rolling in.
The gala dinner proved to be a major success with 500 attendees raised and $67,700 raised for demining a village Kampong Speu province. Guest of honour was Royal Cambodian Army Commander General Hun Manet who provided $10,000 to take the collection to $77,700.00.
“We need to do something to help those who are living in landmine-contaminated areas so that they can move freely and do more farming so that they can eke out a living for themselves and at the same time contribute to Cambodia’s economic growth.
“Everyone can contribute to the issue, either individually or collectively, and by spearheading this initiative, we hope it will create an effect beyond the gala dinner,” Tan said.
In another initiative, MBCC, in cooperation with Khmer Times and Wing Bank, has launched a ‘4,000-riel campaign’ to further aid demining activities.
“We are not stopping with the gala dinner. We now have the 4000-riel campaign that will enable people to make small contributions as every riel and dollar counts to rid every square metre of Cambodian land of land mines,” he said.
Tan added that MBCC together with Khmer Times, is partnering Wing Bank on the campaign to help achieve Cambodia achieve its goal of becoming free of land mines by 2025 will be initiated.
Tan said MBCC’s CSR programmes will continue to help the people and the country like how “Khmer Times, our MBCC member and CMAA media partner, sponsored the demining effort in Veal Village of Kampong Speu province’s Kong Pisei district, and making the village landmine-free.
Malaysian Ambassador to Cambodia Datuk Eldeen Husaini Mohd Hashim said helping Cambodia and its people has always been his mission, and as Malaysia’s top diplomatic representative in Cambodia, he will keep pushing the Malaysian community to do more and give back to society by having provided a stable and peaceful atmosphere for them to invest and work.
“Malaysia came to Cambodia immediately after the war ended here. Malaysia was Cambodia’s friend at that time; we are Cambodia’s friend now, and we will remain to be Cambodia’s friend forever,” Ambassador Eldeen said.
Ly Thuch, the First Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), is gratified with MBCC’s continual support.
“Demining is considered by the government to be a top priority, and the ultimate is to clear the path for the development of the country,” Thuch said.
“Demining is especially to reduce the loss of lives and provide safe land for the people. 2022 has been a year of great success in demining because of the support of our government, our ally countries and the private sector,” Thuch said.