BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dato’ Baharon Bin Talib, a Malaysian, aged 70, is the Independent Non-Executive Chairman of MSGB. He was appointed to the Board on 8 March 2022.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from University of Malaya in 1975.
In October 1975, he began his career as an Assistant District Officer in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan where he was tasked to assist the district officer to administer the office. He was then posted to State Secretary Office under Economic Planning Unit (“EPU”) as an Assistant to State Secretary to assist director of EPU in preparing paper works in 1980.
In 1981, he was transferred to Ministry of Home Affairs as Principal Assistant Secretary. During his tenure as a Principal Assistant Secretary in Ministry of Home Affairs, he was involved in handling matters relating to national registration and immigration. In 1985, he was seconded to Immigration Department as a Director Immigration of Kelantan where he oversaw the issuance of passports, matters related to border and checkpoint. Thereafter, he was transferred back to the Ministry of Home Affairs as Principal Assistant Secretary in 1998 where he took on responsibilities to assist to formulate policy for foreign workers.
In 2003, he was seconded again to Department of Immigration as a Director of Immigration in Sabah. In 2009, he received Excellence Service Award by Ministry of Home Affairs. He retired in 2010.
He was appointed as an Executive Director of ARB Berhad in February 2021, a position he presently holds. He is also a director of various other private limited companies.
Chew Sing Guan
Managing Director
Chew Sing Guan, a Malaysian, aged 73, is the Managing Director. He was appointed to the Board on 18 May 2021.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Hawaii in 1973. Thereafter, he started his career as a Corporate Finance Assistant with Malaysian International Merchant Bankers Berhad in December 1973 where he was tasked to assist in corporate finance related work. In March 1974, he was promoted as a Corporate Finance Officer.
He left Malaysian International Merchant Bankers Berhad in June 1975 to join his family business, namely Sharikat United Book Sdn Bhd, a book publishing company, where he was responsible for day-to-day business operations in 1982.
Between July 1982 to September 1987, he joined Larut Tin Fields Berhad (now known as WCE Holdings Berhad), a company listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (now known as the Main Market of Bursa Securities). During that period, he was appointed as the Managing Director of Larut Tin Fields Berhad, where he was responsible for managing the company’s business operations. In October 1983, he was appointed as the director of Hidong Estate PLC, a company listed on the London Stock Exchange, which was principally involved in the production of natural rubber and oil palm fresh fruit bunches before it ceased its business operation when it disposed its lands and plantations in 2006. Hidong Estate PLC is now an investment holding company more specifically in fixed income deposits and quoted securities.
In June 1992, he emerged as a substantial shareholder and a director of Mercury Securities through an acquisition from Mercury Securities’ previous shareholders. Since then, he has been overseeing all aspects of the business of Mercury Securities. Under his leadership, Mercury Securities has expanded its stockbroking segment from its Head Office located at Butterworth, Pulau Pinang to additional 6 branch offices in Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Lebuh Pantai, Bayan Baru as well as Sarawak over the years.
As an active promoter of the Malaysian stockbroking industry, Chew Sing Guan is currently the President of the Association of Stockbroking Companies Malaysia (“ASCM”), a position which he has assumed for the 12th term since his admission into the executive committee of ASCM in 2008. He is also a member of the Bursa’s Market Participants Committee as well as Securities Market Operations Committee. Chew Sing Guan also represents Mercury Securities as a council member in the Malaysian Investment Banking Association.
Presently, he is also the Executive Director and Chairman of Hidong Estate PLC as well as a director of various other private limited companies.
Dato’ A. Rahman Bin Safar
Non-Independent Non-Executive Director
Dato’ A. Rahman Bin Safar, a Malaysian, aged 68, is the Non-Independent Non-Executive Director of MSGB. He was appointed to the Board on 18 May 2021. He is also a director of Enrogetz (one of the Substantial Shareholders).
He graduated with a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from University of Malaya in 1977, Diploma in Accounting from University of Malaya in 1979 and a Master of Business Administration from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in 1990. He has been a member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (“MIA”) since 1983.
He joined Accountant General’s Department of Malaysia in October 1979 as a Treasury Accountant where he was involved in accounting function such as monitoring cash-flow, maintaining financial records and providing financial advice. During his 17 years of tenure in Accountant General’s Department of Malaysia, he was placed in various governmental bodies including Finance Division of the Ministry of Finance where he was responsible for developing policies for securities industries including policies in relation to merger and takeover.
In July 1996, he was seconded from the Ministry of Finance to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Berhad to serve as a Financial Controller where he was responsible for the financial management, financial accounting and reporting, as well as financial operations of Kuala Lumpur International Airport Berhad. Subsequently, he left Kuala Lumpur International Airport Berhad to join KLIA Consultancy Services Sdn Bhd as a Vice President under Corporate Services Division in January 2001 where he was responsible for overseeing financial related matters. In January 2008, he was seconded from KLIA Consultancy Services Sdn Bhd to KLIA Premier Holdings Sdn Bhd to serve as a Vice President under Corporate Services Division, a role he presently holds. He is responsible for overseeing financial related matters of the company.
He joined our Group in October 2003 as a Non-Executive Director of Mercury Securities, in which he provides guidance for the overall internal control risk management framework.
Save for MSGB, he does not sit on the board of directors of any other public listed companies. He also holds directorships in several private limited companies.
Chan Kim Hing
Independent Non-Executive Director
Chan Kim Hing, a Malaysian, aged 56, is the Independent Non-Executive Director of MSGB. He was appointed to the Board on 8 March 2022. He is also the Chairman of the Audit and Risk Management Committee, and a member of Nomination Committee, as well as Remuneration Committee of MSGB.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from Monash University, Australia in 1991. He is a member of CPA Australia since February 1992 and he subsequently became a fellow member since June 2015. He is also a Chartered Accountant and has been a member of the MIA since December 1994.
He started his career with Arthur, Andersen & Co. (now known as Ernst & Young PLT) in Malaysia in July 1991 as a Staff Assistant where he was involved in financial, management and computer audits, compliance review and due diligence audit, internal controls, as well as merger, acquisition and restructuring. He had successfully completed special advisory and consultancy jobs on accounting, reorganisation of front and back office’s operation and trading activities as well as systems migration/automation for companies in Malaysia.
In May 1994, he left the audit firm to join M&A Securities Sdn Bhd (“M&A”) as an Accountant to head, manage and supervise the accounting, finance and treasury departments. He was promoted to the Executive Director of Operations in March 2001 where he oversaw the operations and business development activities. Subsequently, he was promoted to the Executive Director cum Head of Operations in September 2007 to oversee the finance, treasury, corporate finance, margin financing, credit control, IT systems and business development. In 2009, as a corporate nominee of M&A, he was appointed to the Management Committee of the ASCM and served ASCM until 2012. During his tenure with ASCM, he also held the position of Honorable Treasurer of ASCM. In January 2013, pursuant to the internal restructuring of M&A, he became the Branch Head of Operations in Ipoh to oversee M&A’s Ipoh branch office’s management, operation, and reporting function.
He left M&A in January 2016 to focus on his private interest in restoration and conservation works on Kapitan Chung Thye Phin Building (also known as Arlene House), curation and establishment of a history and heritage museum named Made in Ipoh. The restoration, conservation and museum works were successfully completed in March 2020.
Aside from MSGB, he is also an Independent Non-Executive Director of Imaspro Corporation Berhad as well as a director of various other private limited companies.
Datin Chua Suat Khim
Independent Non-Executive Director
Datin Chua Suat Khim, a Malaysian, aged 64, is the Independent Non-Executive Director of MSGB. She was appointed to the Board on 8 March 2022. She is experienced in the operations and management functions in the professional accounting bodies and private education industry. She is also the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee, and a member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee, as well as Nomination Committee of MSGB.
She obtained her Master of Business at The University of Newcastle, Australia in June 2006. She has been a member of Malaysian Institute of Accountants since September 1989 and a fellow member of Chartered Institute of Management Accounts since August 2001. She is also an ASEAN Chartered Professional Accountant since October 2017. Since 2019, she is also an affiliate member of the Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia (“ICDM”). In 2020, she obtained her Affiliate Board-Ready status from ICDM.
She began her career with Tai Soon Heng Construction Sdn Bhd as an Accountant in October 1982 where she managed and prepared accounts of the company. She left Tai Soon Heng Construction Sdn Bhd in April 1983 and joined Arby’s (M) Sdn Bhd in May 1983 as an Accountant where she was responsible for managing accounts of the company. In October 1983, she left Arby’s (M) Sdn Bhd and joined ABO Holdings Sdn Bhd as an Accountant. Subsequently, in August 1986, she joined Markas Sdn Bhd as a Personal Assistant to the company’s Managing Director to provide administrative support to the Managing Director such as assisting in coordinating meetings.
She left Markas Sdn Bhd in June 1988 and joined MBf Management Sdn Bhd in July 1988 as an Accountant where she was responsible for accounting and administrative function. Between 1991 and 1993, she was transferred to other companies within MBf Holdings Berhad (“MBf Group of Companies”) where she helmed various managerial position such as finance manager as well as administration manager. In 1994, she was promoted as Senior Finance & Administration Manager of Garden International School Sdn Bhd, an educational arm of MBf Group of Companies. In 1995, she was promoted as Assistant Vice President of Garden International School Sdn Bhd and subsequently in September 1996, she was further promoted as the Vice President, where she oversaw the administration of purchasing department, administration department, human resource and training department. She left Garden International School Sdn Bhd in May 1997.
In June 1997, she was with Limkokwing Institute of Creative Technology as an Assistant Director for a short period before she joined Degree Development Sdn Bhd in October 1997 as the Director of Operations, where she was tasked to set up a college. She left Degree Development Sdn Bhd in October 1999.
From November 1999 to June 2004, she was the Vice President (Operations) of Mantissa (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd. She was responsible for the daily operations of Mantissa Institute (now known as Mantissa College), which is an institute of higher learning institution.
In July 2004, she joined MIA as the Chief Operation Officer where she was responsible in leading, directing and coordinating the operational activities of the MIA, including strategic and effective management and development of the MIA’s Support Services/Operations. With the restructuring of MIA in July 2016, she was re-designated as the Executive Director of Membership and Operations where she was responsible for membership affairs, administration and human resources. She left MIA in October 2018.
She joined Joyful Steps Sdn Bhd as the Head of Finance and Administration in January 2019, a position she held until December 2021 where she was responsible for overseeing financial matters, reviewing tax submission and account management.
In September 2019, she worked as the Director of Corporate Services on retainership basis at The Malaysian Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“MICPA”) where she was responsible for finance, membership and administration functions through managing executive council meeting, day-to-day operation, audit and tax submission as well as membership matters. Her achievement in MICPA included the establishment of MICPA’s corporate office to oversee the council and executive council meetings and the operations of membership, finance, as well as education and training function of the MICPA. She left MICPA in August 2020.
In January 2022, she was appointed as the Head of Good Shepherd Mission Hub in The Sister Superior of the Good Shepherd Nuns, Malaysia, a position which she presently holds. She is responsible for the management of Good Shepherd Mission Hub such as financial planning and management, human resources planning and management, risk management, as well as property and facility management.
Save for MSGB, she does not sit on the board of directors of any other public listed companies and/or private companies.
Himahlini A/P M. Ramalingam @ Yalumallai
Independent Non-Executive Director
Himahlini A/P M. Ramalingam @ Yalumallai, a Malaysian, aged 43, is the Independent Non-Executive Director of MSGB. She was appointed to the Board on 8 March 2022. She is also the Chairman of the Nomination Committee, and a member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee, as well as Remuneration Committee of MSGB.
She graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from University of Malaya, Malaysia in 2004. In May 2005, she was admitted an as advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya.
She commenced her pupillage with Messrs. Lee Hishammuddin (now known as Messrs Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill) as a pupil-in-chambers in June 2004 and was retained as a legal assistant in May 2005. She was promoted to Partner of the firm in January 2012 where she led a dispute resolution team specialising in banking & insolvency litigation and defamation. She left the partnership in May 2016.
She took a short break and was thereafter appointed by Perbadanan Insurans Deposit Malaysia (“PIDM”) as a Consultant where she provided consultancy services to PIDM’s legal division between August 2016 to November 2016.
In October 2016, she set up Messrs. Himahlini & Co. as a sole proprietor where she handled dispute resolution matters. Thereafter, she formed a partnership in March 2017 and changed the name of practice from Messrs. Himahlini & Co. to Messrs. Himahlini & Loh in April 2017. Upon the dissolution of Messrs. Himahlini & Loh in February 2021, she established her current legal firm, Messrs Himahlini & Co., where she handles dispute resolution specialising in corporate and commercial litigation, insolvency and defamation.
Save for MSGB, she does not sit on the board of directors of any other public listed companies and/or private companies.