theceomagazine.com | 97MELILEA is particularly wary of the worsening
air pollution and the rise of epidemic diseases
throughout Asia. Given these living conditions, Alan
believes that strengthening the body’s immune system
is more crucial than ever before. In a market full of
untested products claiming to provide a defence
against these issues, he warns consumers to only
choose what is reliable and safe.
MELILEA Organic is the company’s exclusive
range of organic products made from fresh and clean
fruits, vegetables, grains and herbs. Produce is grown
in a zero-pollution, fertile soil environment and the
entire process of cultivation, harvesting, transportation,
storage, processing and packaging is in line with the
highest industry standards of zero-pollution farming
and production.
GIVING BACK
Growing up in the 1970s on a poor rubber estate
in rural Malaysia, Alan’s upbringing was not without
its challenges. He learned the importance of hard
work and humility from his foster parents, who spent
their days working as rubber tappers for a measly
wage. Alan’s rags-to-riches story is a testament to the
power of customer relationship marketing. “I was
excited by how you could start a business without
capital,” he told The Business Times of Singapore. Today,
he gives back to the community through a variety of
initiatives so that others might not have to live as he
did. “I believe that by transforming lives one at a
time, we will slowly transform the world,” he says.
On top of managing the ever-growing MELILEA
enterprise, Alan is currently spearheading a social
housing development project in Malacca, aimed
at providing affordable housing for lower-income
families upon completion by year 2020.
Alan is also working with various non-
governmental organisations in providing
underprivileged communities with goods and services,
and is a strong supporter of women’s empowerment
and development through his wife’s company,
Stellavingze International.
Aimed at enriching the lives of women
everywhere, Stellavingze helps women balance family
with a successful career – all the while becoming
stronger, smarter and wiser. This is done through
self-improvement seminars, motivational talks,
mentoring and career counselling, business
networking events, and community fundraising
campaigns. “We help women achieve a thriving
household and encourage them to become more
involved in the workforce, or even build a business
of their own,” Alan explains. “While the number
of women in business in Asia is steadily growing,
we’re also finding that a large number of women are
leaving the workforce to become housewives after
several years of marriage. Being a single-income
household is very challenging in this region, given
the high cost of living, so we prove to women that
they can have a happy family and a successful career
at the same time – it doesn’t have to be one or
the other.”HELPING STUDENTS
This year, the Ministry of Education Malaysia, in
collaboration with the Ministry of Health Malaysia
and MELILEA launched the Prevention of Hand,
Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) Campaign at
Schools. The program actively involves 500 schools
across the country and aims to raise awareness among
students, parents and teachers about prevention and
the dangers of the disease, as well as the general
health and hygiene of students.
MELILEA hopes that as the program runs
over the next three years, it will contribute in the »WE PROVE TO
WOMEN THAT
THEY CAN HAVE A
HAPPY FAMILY AND
A SUCCESSFUL
CAREER AT THE
SAME TIME – IT
DOESN’T HAVE
TO BE ONE OR
THE OTHER.”
Interview | INNOVATE