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Tuesday, 3 January 2012
Mydin-The Untold Story
The humble embodiment of honesty, thriftiness and frugalness forms the very pillars of Mydin Mohamed Holdings Bhd today, a legacy of its founder Mr Mydin Mohamed
CHILDREN’S toys imported from Thailand was the very first product sold by Mr Mydin Mohamed when he started shop in Kota Bahru, Kelantan and it took him another 22 years to open his second outlet in Trengganu.
He returned to Kota Bahru in 1957 with his wife Mrs Rowshan and three children Jarina, Murad Ali and (Dato) Ameer Ali to start his very own business. Dato Ameer was only a year old.
“It was all about hard work coupled with lots of tears and sweat. There was no short cut to success and there is still no short cut today if we want to succeed,” Datin Dr Siti Hawa Mohd, the author of the recently launched book “MYDIN-The Untold Story” revealed.
Datin Dr Siti Hawa’s eyes glow with excitement every time she describes the Mydin family and its rags to riches story in the 3-hour interview session with SJ Echo on Christmas Day.
“This book is a celebration of the spirit of Malaysia and the brave men and women who make up the Mydin family. The Mydin family institution is extended to its staff as well.”
“The family is an institution which is close knit and the values that they grew up with are what make them who they are today,” she said.
She revealed that when Mr Mydin was hospitalised, the four sons worked out their own schedule to care for their father.
“They took him to the toilet, bathed him and fed him. Seeing the four brothers shower their father with tender loving care is rare.”
“I didn’t want to die with this story in me and this is why I authored this book to share with everyone,” she said.
It took Datin Dr Siti Hawa 2 years to put this book together; sitting down on Sundays or during family events with Mr Mydin to get chunks of information about the past; digging into old photographs and talking to the other family members for more insights.
“I woke up extra early in the morning to start writing this book before coming to the office,” the director of human resources in Mydin revealed.
Datin Dr Siti Hawa shared her perspective in life before we parted ways that day. “Find what you are good at and what the world needs. Make it meet!” she said.
The book is available at all MPH bookstores and at Mydin’s outlets nationwide. Mydin The Untold Story is a delightful Malaysian success story which all of us can draw inspiration from.
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