Executive Chairman
National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM)
President (2016 – Present)
NCCIM was created by the Malaysian Cabinet in 1962 as the apex business organisation in the country, representing five national trade associations consisting of over 600,000 businesses and entrepreneurs, namely:
- Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM)
- Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (DPMM)
- Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MAICCI)
- Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI)
- Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM)
Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM)
President (2015 – Present)
Established in 1921, ACCCIM is one of the oldest and largest business organisations in Malaysia, representing 17 constituent chambers of commerce and over 100,000 members. ACCCIM works closely with both public and private sectors particularly on developing national economic policies. ACCCIM has signed over 60 Memoranda of Understanding or Economic Cooperation Agreements with chambers of commerce or trade organisations overseas.
Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Kuala Lumpur & Selangor (KLSCCCI)
President (2012 – Present)
Founded in 1904, KLSCCCI is the foremost institution representing the Chinese business community in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, including 77 trade associations and over 1,900 companies.
Sunsuria Berhad
Executive Chairman
Sunsuria is an award-winning public-listed property developer that has also diversified into construction, landscaping, and other complementary businesses or joint-ventures. The flagship project of Sunsuria City is a mixed-development built on the principles of ‘Smart, Livable, Sustainable’, which was awarded the ‘Best Sustainable Township 2016’ by industry publication Property Insight. In 2017, Sunsuria Berhad was recognised for the ‘Highest Returns to Shareholders over Three Years’ in the Billion Ringgit Club Awards by business newspaper The Edge.
OTHER AFFILIATIONS
- Director of Xiamen University Malaysia
- Director of Bank of China (M) Bhd (2010 – 2017)
- Honorary President of Young Malaysia Movement (YMM)
- President of Klang Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCCI) (2002 – 2009)
- Member of the Malaysia – China Business Council
- Committee Member of China Overseas Exchange Association
- Member of World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention (WCEC) Advisory Committee
- Vice-Chairman of Hin Hua High School
- Vice-Chairman of Pin Hwa High School
- Director of Kuen Cheng High School
- Director of Sunsuria Primary School
AWARDS
- Panglima Setia Mahkota (PSM), 2017
- Panglima Jasa Negara (PJN), 2011
- Ahli Mangku Negara (AMN), 2001
- National Unity Ambassador – Department of National Unity and Integration (JPNIN), 2016
- The Edge Malaysia Outstanding Property Entrepreneur Award, 2017
- Business Excellence Person of the Year – Sin Chew Business Excellence Awards, 2014
- Outstanding Malaysian Hokkien Award – Federation of Hokkien Associations of Malaysia,
2008
EDUCATION
University of Malaya
Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours)
BIOGRAPHY
Early Life and Education
Tan Sri Datuk Ter Leong Yap was born on 11 th January 1964 in Klang, Selangor, Malaysia. He graduated from the University of Malaya (UM) with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, where he was also an active member of the Student Council.
Chambers of Commerce and Industry
Ter’s lifelong association with the chambers of commerce began when he joined his hometown’s Klang Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCCI) in 1997, where he was elected KCCCI President in 2001 and also the Vice-President of the national-level Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) in 2003.
In 2009, Ter was elected the Deputy President the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor (KLSCCCI) before becoming its President in 2012. Three years later, Ter was elected President of ACCCIM, which represents 17 constituent chambers across the country.
Ter was elected the President of the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM) in 2016, which was the first time in 42 years that the country’s apex business organisation has been led by the ACCCIM.
As President of KCCCI, Ter was the first person to moot the idea of creating a youth wing, which eventually led to the formation of Youth Committees in ACCCIM and its Constituent Chambers. Under his presidency, KCCCI was also the first chamber of commerce to obtain ISO certification. Later, Ter was instrumental in founding ACCCIM’s Socio-Economic Research Centre (SERC), which conducts independent and objective research that enhances ACCCIM’s collaboration with both public and private sectors, particularly on the development of economic and business policies.
In addition, Ter has been responsible for organising large-scale events such as the “Malaysia Economic Conference” in 2010, the “One Belt One Road Economic Conference and Business Matching Session” 2015, and the “ACCCIM Economic Forum” in 2016. As NCCIM President, Ter has organised high-profile events including the “National Economic Forum” in 2016 and the “Moments of Unity” in 2017.
Sunsuria
Ever the entrepreneur, Ter knew early on that his passion lay in starting businesses. His foray into property development culminated in Sunsuria Berhad, which is publicly listed on the Main Board of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad. Today, Sunsuria has a strong track record of delivering quality projects including residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational developments.
Since 2013, Sunsuria has embarked on its flagship township, Sunsuria City, which is a mixed development built on the principles of ‘Smart, Livable, Sustainable’. This transit-oriented, mixed development township has received wide accolades and was awarded the ‘Best Sustainable Township 2016’ by industry publication Property Insight.
Under his leadership, Sunsuria has grown in leaps and bounds. In 2017, Sunsuria was recognised for the ‘Highest Returns to Shareholders over Three Years’ in the Billion Ringgit Club Awards by business newspaper The Edge.
Charitable Work
Ter believes strongly that businesses have a responsibility to give back to society, which can be seen in the many charitable or welfare initiatives undertaken by the chambers of commerce, Sunsuria, or Ter personally.
As Chairman of ACCCIM’s Disaster Relief Committee, Ter led relief efforts in the devastating East Coast floods of 2014. Furthermore, he has established official working groups at ACCCIM to address social welfare, culture, education, and other public interests issues, including setting-up scholarships, funds for the needy, and initiatives to raise awareness on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Promoting Education
Born into a family of teachers, Ter has always maintained a keen interest in the education and schools. Not only is he on the board of several schools, but he was also instrumental in expanding Chinese education to pastures anew.
In a ceremony witnessed by the Chinese President Xi Jinping and Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on 4 th October 2013, Ter successfully concluded an agreement with Xiamen University to establish a branch campus in Malaysia. This is the first time a university from China has opened a campus outside China.
Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM) received its first students in February 2016 and has an enrolment of 2,700 students at September 2017, which will eventually rise to a capacity of 10,000. Ter continues his contribution as a Director of XMUM, which offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes ranging from business to engineering, journalism to medicine.