The President's Report AGM 2020

Dear Members and Friends,

As I conclude my first year and second term as President of AMBC Victoria (I held the position of President from 2008 to 2012), we find ourselves in very difficult times with the impact of the COVID-19 virus and the restrictions that we have all been put under.  Many of our functions, seminars and networking events had to be cancelled or deferred until a later date.  However, I am pleased to report that we did manage to conduct events up until March 2020 including:

As I conclude my first year and second term as President of AMBC Victoria (I held the position of President from 2008 to 2012), we find ourselves in very difficult times with the impact of the COVID-19 virus and the restrictions that we have all been put under.  Many of our functions, seminars and networking events had to be cancelled or deferred until a later date.  However, I am pleased to report that we did manage to conduct events up until March 2020 including:

• Networking drinks and nibbles after the 2019 AGM at the Malaysian Consulate-General in St Kilda Road
• Providing a briefing to delegate members attending a MATRADE visitation program to Melbourne in August 2019
• Involvement in the MIDA Investment Mission to Melbourne with the then Malaysian International Trade and Industry Minister, the Hon. Datuk Darryl Leiking MP
• As President, I attended the Victorian Government’s Victoria Global dinner promoting food products and services to Australian and Malaysian companies
• In September, AMBC Victoria celebrated Malaysia Day with a dinner at the Bayview Eden Hotel
• I had the pleasure as the newly elected President of AMBC Victoria to have a one-on-one meeting with HE Mazita Marzuki, Malaysian Consul-General to Victoria
• In October, AMBC Victoria held a briefing with Mr Leigh Howard, Deputy Commissioner for Victoria in Malaysia
• In November, Moray & Agnew hosted a seminar on Hotel Construction in Melbourne
• In December, we held our Christmas Breakup at The Bank on Collins
• Unfortunately, in February 2020, we had to cancel our annual Yum Cha luncheon that was scheduled to be held at Red Emperor Restaurant in Southbank
• In February, AMBC Victoria participated with MATRADE in a briefing on MIHAS – the Halal Products Exhibition that was to be held in KL in September 2020
• In March, networking drinks which was held at Daha Bar in Melbourne

The COVID-19 virus restrictions of 2020 meant that the AMBC Victoria was unable to conduct any events from March onwards.  We know how important it is to give value-for-money to our members for their membership subscription to the Council.  In light of this, your AMBC Victoria Board passed a resolution to suspend invoice subscriptions until January 2021 where invoice amounts will equal a 6 months’ subscription to 30 June, 2021.  The normal invoicing cycle will recommence again in July 2021 to cover 2021/2022 fiscal year.

Earlier this year, we learnt of the passing of Mr V. T. Lingam.  Mr Lingam was the second President of AMBC Victoria and the longest serving.  I first met Mr Lingam in 1991 when I attended my first AMBC Victoria function.  I was trying to prospect for new clients as I was doing project work for a Canadian client in Malaysia and Mr Lingam provided me with some valuable advice.

Membership of AMBC Victoria has remained fairly stable with 42 financial members consisting of individuals, SMEs, company, corporate members, honorary and Life Members.  Company and Corporate members have more than one representative which takes our active membership to around 70 people.

Plans are currently underway for a number of webinars that will be held jointly with our sister organisations – Malaysia Australia Business Council and AMBC NSW/ACT.  In addition to these webinars, plans are also underway for a Yum Cha luncheon in February to launch the 2021 activities of AMBC Victoria and celebrate the Lunar New Year and planning is also taking place for our Malaysia Day Dinner in September.

Our events, seminars and networking functions would not happen without the hardworking and dedicated team that makes up the AMBC Victoria Board.  My personal thanks go to Nathanael Kitingan and Ken Ong OAM for their service as Vice Presidents, Trevor Haines – Treasurer and Secretary, Josh Chye, Meileng Tam, Shok Kuan Ho and Damian Mannix (who retired from the Board in January 2020).

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the AMBC Victoria Secretariat.  The role that Chris performs is often a thankless task but one that is most appreciated.

Finally, I thank you, our members for your on-going support.  None of our successes would have occurred if it wasn’t for your participation and financial support through this very difficult year.

Mike Anderson
President AMBC Victoria
September 2020

« GO BACK