The Story : Dato' Haji Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir

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WHEN Proton Holdings Bhd's supremo Tengku Tan Sri Mahaleel Tengku Ariff made a sudden departure from the company in July 2005, he left behind a much-publicised vacant position. In less than a month, numerous names had been proposed.

Only some 40 names were shortlisted, and in the end, only one stood out - that of Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohd Tahir, the former executive director of second national car manufacturer, Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd. He was hand-picked to revive Proton's fledgling fortunes in Malaysia and its vital export markets.

Syed Zainal is no new face to the automotive world. He cut an impressive figure at Perodua, forging strong links with Toyota and Daihatsu. His departure from Perodua was a huge loss for the manufacturer, says a motoring journalist.

Perhaps, it is now national service for Syed Zainal as Proton's new managing director and chief executive officer. It would be interesting to see how he can transform the national car manufacturer in the coming years. What Proton needs now is a new `mental framework'. Can he bring the kaizen culture he learned from Perodua's foreign partners Toyota and Daihatsu to Proton?

`Proton is a national asset. The most important element at the company is its existing workforce. I believe Proton has big potential to grow further,' Syed Zainal told the Press upon his appointment to the position.

With him lies the hope of the nation's automotive industry in the new millennium. Can Syed Zainal strengthen the national automaker and forge new deals with Germany's largest automotive company Volkswagen AG?

Industry observers have pointed out that Proton is short of new ideas, including coming up with new models to replace its existing fleet comprising the Iswara, Wira and Perdana.

With his position in Proton comes the responsibility of the nation's economic goals and the livelihood of more than 100,000 people, both directly and indirectly.

Prior to Proton and Perodua, Kelantan-born Syed Zainal was a project engineer at Petronas Gas Sdn Bhd, and he climbed the ranks as senior manager, general manager and finally CEO at conglomerate Hicom Holdings Bhd.

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Profile : Dato' Haji Syed Zainal Abidin

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Dato’ Haji Syed Zainal Abidin B Syed Mohamed Tahir was appointed Managing Director of PROTON on 1 January 2006. He also sits on the Boards of various subsidiaries within the PROTON Group of companies. Dato’ Haji Syed Zainal is the Chairman of PROTON’s Management Committee.

Dato’ Haji Syed Zainal who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Maryland, USA, began his career as a Project Engineer with Petronas Gas Sdn Bhd in 1987, prior to joining Petroliam Nasional Berhad in 1992 as Senior Executive of Corporate Planning & International Business Development. He then left to join HICOM Holdings Berhad in 1995, where he assumed various senior positions in the company.

Dato' Haji Syed Zainal lent his expertise to PERODUA when he was appointed Senior General Manager in 1999. Subsequently, he was appointed Executive Director of PERODUA Auto Corporation Sdn Bhd in 2002, and later promoted to Deputy Managing Director in October 2005.

Dato’ Haji Syed Zainal has attended all Board of Directors’ Meetings held during the Financial Year. He has no conflict of interest with the Company and does not have any family relationships with any director and/or major shareholder of the Company. He has had no conviction for any offences within the past ten (10) years.

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Dato' Haji Ismee Ismail

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Ismee Bin Ismail has been the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LembagaTabung Haji since 2006. Datuk Bin Ismail served as the Chief Executive Officer of ECM Libra Securities Sdn Bhd. from December 2003 to December 2005.

He has 15 years working experience in the fields of accounting, finance and business & corporate development relating to various industries - textile, property, oil & gas, hotel and medical.

He served as the Chief Financial Officer of Lembaga Tabung Haji and also served as its Senior General Manager for Finance from December 2001 to December 2003. He began his career in 1988 with Arab Malaysian Development Berhad as its Management Accountant from 1987 to 1989 and subsequently served with Shell Malaysia Trading Sdn Bhd as an Accountant from 1989 to 1996, where he also held several key finance positions, including Head of Forex and Banking.

He also served as General Manager for Business Development of Arab Malaysian Development Berhad from 1996 to 1998. In 1998, he served with the pioneer management team at the national asset management as Chief Accountant and Treasurer. He served as Senior Vice President for Operations of AIH Group (M) Sdn Bhd. since 2001. He served as Senior Vice President for Business & Corporate Development of Medical Online (M) Sdn Bhd. from September 2000 to November 2001.

He also served as Chief Accountant and Treasurer of Pengurusan Danaharta Nasional Berhad from April 1998 to August 2000. He has been the Chairman of Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Bhd since December 16, 2009. He has been Non-Independent & Non-Executive Director of Bimb Holdings Bhd. and Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad since October 9, 2006.

He has also been a Director of TH Plantations Berhad since January 1, 2006. He has been Non Independent Non Executive Director of KFC Holdings Malaysia Bhd since March 1, 2009.He serves as a Director of Techsteel Corporation Berhad, TH Technologies Sdn Bhd. He served as a Non-Independent & Non-Executive Director of Pelikan International Corporation Berhad from September 9, 2009 to June 21, 2010. He served as a Non-Executive Director of Lityan Holdings Bhd from October 23, 2002 to December 1, 2003.

He served as Independent and Non-Executive Director of Efficient E-solutions Bhd. from December 14, 2005 to February 28, 2006. He served as a Director of ECM Libra Capital Sdn Bhd from December 2003 to December 2005. Datuk Bin Ismail is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, United Kingdom, ACMA (UK), Chartered Accountant of Malaysia, CA (M) and Completed Professional Stages of CIMA from Landon School of Accountancy in 1987. He is a member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants.

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