logo
LBS Bina chief returns to Cardiff University as distinguished alumni speaker

LBS Bina chief returns to Cardiff University as distinguished alumni speaker

KUALA LUMPUR: LBS Bina Group Bhd group executive chairman and president of The Federation of Hokkien Associations Malaysia, Tan Sri Dr Lim Hock San, returned to Cardiff University, United Kingdom – his alma mater – with pride and purpose, delivering a powerful keynote as a distinguished alumni speaker during the university's 2025 graduation ceremony.
Speaking before a captivated audience of over 1,000 graduates, Lim shared a moving and motivational address, weaving together personal reflections, leadership lessons, and heartfelt encouragement. His return to the university where he once walked the halls as a young student marked a poignant full-circle moment in his life and career.
Lim graduated from Cardiff University in 1982 with First-Class Honours in Civil Engineering, a foundation that propelled him into a lifetime of achievement. During his student days, his talent and drive were already evident – he earned Second Prize in the British Steel Corporation Competition for his innovative design of a football grandstand made using hollow steel sections, showcasing early signs of the visionary thinking that would later define his career.
From those beginnings, Lim embarked on a bold entrepreneurial journey, starting with a modest truck transportation business before building it into the multi-award-winning LBS Bina Group. Under his leadership, LBS has become a pioneering force in Malaysia's property development landscape, known for creating affordable, people-first townships that empower communities and improve quality of life.
In his address, Lim reminded the graduates that the road to success is rarely straightforward.
"Success rarely comes in a straight line," Lim told the graduates.
"There will be sharp corners, detours, and moments of doubt, but your integrity, your values, and your grit will carry you further than you can imagine. What you build with your life matters, so build it well."
He urged the class of 2025 to face the future with resilience and intention. "As you step into this next chapter, embrace uncertainty with courage. The world needs your ideas, your energy, and your leadership."
A decorated industry leader, Lim has received more than 100 accolades throughout his career, including the Honorary Doctor of Management from UNITAR International University in 2023 in recognition of his outstanding contributions to nation-building and leadership excellence. He currently serves as an adjunct professor at UNITAR, where he continues to mentor and inspire future leaders.
Cardiff University expressed its heartfelt appreciation to Lim for returning to share his insights and life story and congratulated the graduating class on their academic milestone – encouraging them to move forward with purpose, passion, and perseverance.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Finance Ministry confirms no impact on existing EPF withdrawal rights amid new proposal
Finance Ministry confirms no impact on existing EPF withdrawal rights amid new proposal

The Star

timea day ago

  • The Star

Finance Ministry confirms no impact on existing EPF withdrawal rights amid new proposal

PETALING JAYA: The Employees Provident Fund's (EPF) proposed shift to a monthly pension payout scheme will not affect the withdrawal rights of existing members, says Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying. She said the new structure, if implemented, would only apply to new EPF contributors, while existing members could voluntarily switch to the new system. Lim explained that the EPF's proposed account restructuring was aimed at ensuring contributors have a more stable and sustainable income stream after retirement. "Under the proposal, members' savings would be divided into two components: one portion that can be withdrawn flexibly at any time, and another that would be paid out gradually over time until fully utilised," she said in a Facebook post on Saturday (2 Aug), Lim said that this was still an early-stage proposal and had not been finalised. She stated that the Madani government remains committed to listening to public feedback and would conduct thorough engagement with stakeholders before making any decisions. 'The objective is to help Malaysians manage their retirement savings in a more structured, fair and sustainable manner,' she said. Previously, the EPF said that any decision regarding the introduction of a monthly pension-style payout scheme would be made only after consultations with key stakeholders and evaluation of the long-term implications. The proposal, which forms part of the government's initiatives under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), was still under review. In the interim, the EPF has confirmed that existing rules and withdrawal mechanisms remain unchanged.

Legoland Malaysia eyes growth with JS-SEZ and tourism initiatives
Legoland Malaysia eyes growth with JS-SEZ and tourism initiatives

The Sun

time2 days ago

  • The Sun

Legoland Malaysia eyes growth with JS-SEZ and tourism initiatives

ISKANDAR PUTERI: Legoland Malaysia is positioning itself to benefit from growing cross-border activity within the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) alongside increasing tourism initiatives ahead of the Visit Johor Year 2026 (VJY 2026) campaign. Legoland Malaysia Resort vice-president Cs Lim said the rising prominence of the JS-SEZ as an economic gateway between Johor and Singapore presents Legoland Malaysia with new growth opportunities to attract more tourists in the coming years. 'If this initiative grows and more companies set up or relocate here, it will naturally bring more people to the area. 'When that happens, we can expect more visitors coming to explore the surroundings, including Legoland Malaysia,' he told Bernama after officiating the new Miniland Singapore here on Friday. The event was jointly officiated by Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs vice-consul Lim En Wei and Johor Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC) director Nurazlin Abu Talib. First introduced in 2012, Legoland Malaysia's Miniland Singapore has been reimagined in celebration of Singapore's 60th anniversary. The refreshed attraction features 16 impressive new models built from over 1.5 million Lego bricks. Highlights include iconic landmarks such as the Marina Bay Sands, the Singapore Flyer, the Merlion Fountain, as well as the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome. Meanwhile, Lim said Legoland Malaysia has continued to reinvest in facilities and attractions to enhance visitor experience and stay competitive in the evolving tourism landscape. He said Legoland's role in drawing domestic and international visitors is expected to further support economic activity in Johor. He added that the company has seen a steady increase in visitors over the years, buoyed by strong demand from its resident market, namely Malaysia and Singapore, which account for about 60 per cent of total visitors. The remaining 40 per cent comprises tourists from Indonesia, China, the Philippines, Australia and South Korea, among others. Lim said Legoland Malaysia remains upbeat about its outlook for the second half of the year and into next year, which will see both VJY 2026 and Visit Malaysia 2026 campaigns running concurrently. 'We're already making preparations, including fine-tuning our queuing and ordering systems, and we are also making sure that we have sufficient technical expertise at hand,' he added. - Bernama

Supply chain bane for vegetable farmers
Supply chain bane for vegetable farmers

The Sun

time2 days ago

  • The Sun

Supply chain bane for vegetable farmers

PETALING JAYA: Inflation may have eased to 1.1% in June 2025 but vegetable prices are still rising, highlighting persistent bottlenecks in the supply chain and the complex role of intermediaries in shaping food costs. Key produce such as red chillies, cucumbers and French beans recorded steady month-on-month price increases despite overall deflation in the vegetable subgroup. The disconnect has prompted concern among farmers, economists and consumer groups who warn that the current distribution model benefits intermediaries more than producers or the public. Federation of Vegetable Farmers Association Malaysia (FVFAM) president Lim Ser Kwee said retail price hikes are not necessarily being reflected at the farm level. 'For example, the price of red chillies in Kulai increased from RM16.40 to RM16.62 per kilogramme between May and June while tomatoes and kailan also showed similar upward trends. 'Yet, in areas like Cameron Highlands and Kota Tinggi, farm-level prices have remained flat or seen only marginal gains,' he said. Lim attributed the disparity to a long-standing network of intermediaries – including wholesalers, market agents, transporters and cold chain operators – who dominate the supply chain. 'Farmers lack bargaining power and depend heavily on agents or wholesalers to reach markets. There's also a lag in farmgate prices adjusting to retail trends,' he said. He added that farmers remain burdened by high logistics, labour and agricultural input costs. These expenses are often passed on to consumers, but not reflected in actual grower profits. 'Many farmers don't have access to cold storage, efficient transport or even real-time market pricing, making it hard to optimise returns.' To address the imbalance, FVFAM has proposed three structural reforms: creating direct-to-market sales platforms under farmer cooperatives, introducing daily reference prices for major vegetables and restructuring wholesale markets by capping commissions and promoting shorter supply chains. 'Farmers earning fair returns and consumers paying reasonable prices are foundational to national food security,' Lim said. Universiti Teknologi Mara agricultural economist Assoc Prof Dr Fazleen Abdul Fatah echoed these concerns, noting that rising vegetable prices are not solely driven by import dependency or general inflation, but by systemic challenges in production and distribution. 'Even though most vegetables are grown domestically, factors like post-harvest loss due to plant diseases, poor soil quality and climate variability affect yields,' she said, adding that limited harvests reduce supply and drive up prices. Fazleen said input costs, including fertilisers, pesticides and manual labour, have also continued to rise, further pushing up prices before produce even leaves the farm. 'Transport from farm to collection centres and retail outlets also contributes significantly, especially when the supply chain involves multiple layers,' she said. On average, she estimated that farmers receive only 20% to 40% of the final retail price, with the remainder going to intermediaries. 'These middlemen – wholesalers, market agents and logistics handlers – often dominate the distribution process, taking profit margins at each stage. The more fragmented the supply chain, the higher the final price, even though the farmer's profit remains minimal.' However, Fazleen said strengthening direct-to-consumer models could provide a way forward, if supported by proper infrastructure. 'Empowering cooperatives and online platforms to connect farmers with end-users can reduce price distortion. 'Regulatory guidelines on intermediary profit margins could also prevent excessive markups,' she added. According to the Statistics Department, food and beverage inflation in June stood at 2.1%, while the vegetables subgroup recorded a further decline – from -5.5% in May to -7.2% in June. Despite that, key vegetable items such as cucumber, red chillies and French beans saw month-on-month price increases of up to RM1.38 per kilogramme. With farmers still struggling to break even and consumers feeling the pinch, experts warn that unless structural reforms are prioritised, food affordability and agricultural sustainability will remain difficult to reconcile.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store