theceomagazine.com | 99WHAT I LOOK
FOR IN A BUSINESS
PARTNER IS THAT
THEY ARE HONEST,
SINCERE AND
HARDWORKING ...
THEY HAVE
THE POTENTIAL
TO BECOME A
GREAT LEADER.”
HFMD cases reported since the beginning of this
year. The number has increased from 21,950 cases,
which were reported in 2012. The recent extensive
spread of the virus has seen a total of 3,259 students
from 1,202 schools be infected. As a result, 10 schools
and a total of 265 classes were instructed to be closed
under the Prevention and Control of Infectious
Disease Act 1988 (Act 342).
Not only has HFMD disrupted the overall health
of students and their families, it has also affected
students’ learning at school. Only students who have
not contracted HFMD are allowed to step foot into
school premises, while all infected students are
effectively quarantined.
As a company dedicated to raising public
awareness on general health, hygiene and simple
preventative measures, MELILEA hopes that
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs
such as this will help guide parents and children in
preventing infectious illnesses beyond HFMD, such
as dengue. And by pushing the message that overall
cleanliness needs to be kept in check, students can
come to understand how hand hygiene is an
important first line of defence against the spread
of many diseases.
A CARING CULTURE
Alan believes that in order to build a successful
business, you must first create a conducive
environment. In collaboration with Alan’s business
school, Global Netplus System, MELILEA conducts
comprehensive training to build a new breed of
entrepreneurs armed with advanced network business
development skills.
“Our team is made up of people from different
countries and cultures, so it’s important that they
come together under MELILEA’s value system. In
our onboarding centre, we not only teach sales and
marketing skills, but also foster a culture where
people are kind, respectful and supportive of one
another. They become leaders, they learn from each
other and achieve success as a team. We teach them
how to help society and farmers by sourcing non-
toxic foods and products,” Alan explains. “These
lessons are also important for MELILEA’s business
partners. What I look for in a business partner is
that they are honest, sincere and hardworking.
If they show these characteristics then I believe they
have the potential to become a great leader.”A BETTER FUTURE
Alan believes that every company must always come
with a mission and vision to grow, and must be
compliant with the laws and regulations of the
country. “Success is not a destination, but a journey.
In every journey there will be failures, which we
must learn from because they are all part of success
too,” he explains. “While MELILEA was born here,
most of our business opportunities are now based in
the US so we will continue to expand our presence
there. We have been concentrating a lot of time and
effort on the Asia–Pacific region, and we hope soon
to open branches in Shanghai, China, the US and
Australia also.”
This plan for expansion isn’t unlike Alan’s own
yearning to visit new places. “I don’t like to stay in
one place – I always move around and I enjoy
meeting and listening to people, no matter their age,
race, profession, culture or religion,” he says. “I can
speak English, Mandarin, Malay, Thai, Indonesian, and
Cantonese, and I love sharing my vision. I think of
MELILEA as more than a business. It is a social
enterprise that helps people lead a successful, healthy
and happy life. That, in turn, makes me happy.”Interview | INNOVATE