YANGON — “No matter where we are, Malaysians will always remain closely connected to our homeland. Even when we are far from Malaysia, our sense of belonging and identity with our country will never change.”
Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) Sabah President Datuk Dexter Lau, who was invited by the Embassy of Malaysia in Yangon as a Special Guest to attend the Malaysia National Day dinner on September 1, said National Day was not only an important occasion to commemorate the country’s independence, but also an opportunity to strengthen bonds among Malaysians at home and abroad and foster a stronger sense of community.
Approximately 500 Malaysians living, working and doing business in Myanmar, together with their spouses and partners, attended the dinner, which provided an opportunity for Malaysians in Yangon to come together and celebrate National Day in a warm and lively atmosphere.
Datuk Dexter Lau said the invitation was particularly meaningful to him as it allowed him to celebrate National Day overseas alongside fellow Malaysians while gaining a deeper understanding of their experiences in living, working and building their careers and businesses in Myanmar.
He expressed his appreciation to the Embassy of Malaysia in Yangon for the invitation and extended his National Day greetings to all Malaysians in Myanmar. He also hoped that Malaysians in the country would continue to excel in their respective fields and contribute towards strengthening friendship and cooperation between Malaysia and Myanmar.
Datuk Dexter Lau noted that Malaysians in Myanmar come from diverse professional and business backgrounds. While pursuing their careers and businesses locally, many also play a role in facilitating exchanges and building closer links between Malaysia and Myanmar.
He said the relationships and networks developed by Malaysians overseas could serve as an important bridge for people-to-people and commercial exchanges between the two countries. Malaysian entrepreneurs and professionals, he added, could leverage their expertise and networks to connect businesses and create new avenues for bilateral cooperation.
“Although we are living overseas, each of us represents Malaysia. Our words and actions, the way we conduct our businesses, and our interactions with the local community can all reflect the professionalism, friendliness and unity of Malaysians.”
On the Myanmar market, Datuk Dexter Lau said the country’s large population and diverse consumer demand continued to present potential in areas including agriculture, food, consumer products, manufacturing and services.
He said Malaysian companies looking to expand overseas should not focus solely on traditional markets, but should also explore emerging markets within ASEAN. Given Myanmar’s links to the wider ASEAN economic landscape, Malaysian companies could leverage their strengths in products, services, management and business experience to identify areas of mutual complementarity and cooperation.
“We hope more Malaysian companies will come to Myanmar and experience the market firsthand, rather than relying solely on information or hearsay. Only by gaining an on-the-ground understanding of market demand, consumer habits, the business environment and potential partners can companies more accurately assess the opportunities that are suitable for them.”
He said Malaysian entrepreneurs and professionals already based in Myanmar could play an important bridging role by sharing their experiences of operating in the local market, helping Malaysian companies better understand the business environment and facilitating contacts with potential local partners.
With regional economic ties becoming increasingly interconnected, Datuk Dexter Lau said there was still considerable room for Malaysia and Myanmar to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, tourism and other areas.
He encouraged businesses from both countries to strengthen engagement and explore new opportunities through business visits, networking sessions, trade activities and other platforms.
He also stressed that chambers of commerce should go beyond serving their members and businesses by actively providing platforms for networking, strengthening business linkages and opening doors for companies seeking to explore overseas markets.
“Especially amid the constantly changing global economic environment, businesses need to strengthen their connections, support one another and actively seek new opportunities for cooperation. Through greater engagement, we hope Malaysian companies can gain a deeper understanding of the Myanmar market, while local businesses can also better appreciate Malaysia’s commercial strengths and development potential.”
The National Day dinner not only brought Malaysians living overseas together to celebrate the country’s National Day, but also provided an avenue to strengthen people-to-people and business links between Malaysia and Myanmar, laying the groundwork for future cooperation in trade, investment and other areas.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Association of Myanmar President Choy Wai Kwong said this was Datuk Dexter Lau’s second visit to Yangon. Coinciding with the National Day celebration hosted by the Embassy of Malaysia in Yangon, the visit provided an opportunity for Malaysian nationals and friends of Malaysia in Myanmar to come together, while also enabling Datuk Dexter Lau to gain a better understanding of the country’s business and investment landscape.
He described Datuk Dexter Lau as an accomplished corporate leader, noting that many Malaysians in Myanmar were already familiar with his work and contributions in the corporate and chamber-of-commerce sectors, and were keen to meet and exchange views with him.
“This visit provides a good opportunity for Datuk Dexter Lau to connect with Malaysian business people in Myanmar and fellow Malaysians living here, exchange experiences and explore potential business and investment opportunities.”
Choy Wai Kwong added that, apart from attending the National Day dinner, Datuk Dexter Lau would also meet the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Malaysia in Yangon, Hew Tse Hou, and Muhd Hairi, Counsellor at the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) Yangon office, during his visit.
He said such engagements would help strengthen coordination between Malaysian businesses and Malaysia’s representatives in Myanmar, while creating further avenues for economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.
Choy Wai Kwong also revealed that Datuk Dexter Lau had joined the Malaysian Association of Myanmar, further strengthening his ties with the Malaysian community and creating additional opportunities for cooperation between Malaysian businesses and community organisations in both countries.
He said, “Datuk Dexter Lau is the President of the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce Sabah and also serves as an Executive Committee member of the Federation of Public Listed Companies Berhad (FPLC). His involvement with our association will further strengthen links between Malaysian businesses, as well as business communities in East Malaysia and Brunei, and the Malaysian community in Myanmar, creating greater opportunities for regional exchanges and cooperation.”
“We believe that, with Datuk Dexter Lau’s extensive experience and network in the corporate and chamber-of-commerce sectors, he can further strengthen the Malaysian Association in Myanmar’s links with Malaysian and Brunei business communities and contribute to closer regional cooperation in the future.”
