Tun Mahathir and Taib heap accolades on Ting Phek Khiing

KUCHING: Former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad last night praised prominent developer Tan Sri Ting Phek Khiing for the latter’s ability to complete projects ahead of schedule.
He said a person like Ting, whom he described as a long time friend, was an asset to the country because he could build things fast.
Dr Mahathir said when he was the premier he had always wanted projects he approved to be completed fast or in time because, according to him, one could not know when would one’s authority last.
He said he could have been ousted from power “naturally or politically”, therefore, he counted on Ting to complete some of the major projects.
“I did not mind when people accused me of having Ting as my crony. All that mattered was that Ting could complete the projects ahead of time,” he said during Ting’s and his wife Puan Sri Dato Wong Sui Chuo’s 40th anniversary function last night.
Dr Mahathir said when Ting built a breakwater in Langkawi nobody predicted the tsunami disaster would hit the island resort.
But Ting, he said, had already thought ahead of time, thus built the breakwater which eventually saved some lives when tsunami pounded Langkawi in Dec 2004.
Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud also praised Ting for his wonderful work.
Apart from saying that Ting is now famous for completing projects ahead of schedule, Taib also said that he is a kind person.
That kindness, according to the Chief Minister, is manifested in the fact that most of his employees stayed loyal to his flagship company Global Upline Sdn Bhd, or himself personally.
Ting should be a kind employer as he could keep 3,000 employees loyal to him, Taib insisted.
Ting, advisor to Global Upline is a role model for all to emulate because he has risen from a gardener’s son to a prominent businessman despite the fact that he did not have high education, Taib added.
It was a good thing that Ting is a true Sarawakian who opted to work in the State otherwise Sarawak could not have experienced some of its successes now, he added.
In his welcoming speech, Ting described Mahathir and Taib as long time friends and mentors who worked hard and smart.
At the same function Taib and his wife Datuk Amar Laila also celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary which they marked by cutting a cake, while Ting and Wong cut their cake and exchanged anniversary rings to mark theirs.
Also present at the grand function held at Ting’s newly launched The Original Car Wash, were Head of State Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Mohammad Salahuddin and his wife Toh Puan Norkiah, Mahathir’s wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan and Federal Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Seri Aziz Shamsuddin.

Hard work, good planning key to speedy project completion: Ting

KUCHING: Tan Sri Datuk Ting Pek Khiing is known for his speed in completing projects in the construction industry in the country.
But he says he is neither a magician nor a superman.
He attributes his success to hard work, good planning and ‘less sleep’.
Ting adds success does not appear overnight, adding one has to work for it over the years.
“Nothing is easy. You have to work hard and spend less time sleeping because you can do more work when you’re awake.
“I sleep five hours a day,” he told reporter here yesterday when asked for his advice for aspiring young businessman.
Ting who is Global Upline Sdn Bhd advisor conceded that there were many established contractors in the country.
He felt it was insufficient to deliver a good job on time, adding one must also strive to complete a project well ahead of schedule.
As such, he said good planning encompassing all aspects including workers, equipment and technology would determine whether a project would be completed half a year or a year before the deadline.
“I’ve been in the construction business for 45 years now. Success doesn’t come in one day,” he said, adding that he believed in keeping his workers comfortable and happy so that they would give their best to the job instead of worrying about making ends meet.
On projects here for 2008, he said this year would see the completion of a four-star hotel - Sheraton Hotel - in August and the Jalan Song flyover by the end of the year.
Both developments would be a boost to city dwellers as the hotel would provide job opportunities while the flyover would allow for smoother traffic flow, he said.
Ting said Global Upline Sdn Bhd would be completing a range of big and small projects comprising airports, highways and flyovers in the country valued at about RM5 billion in the next two years.
In the past few years, the company had completed projects amounting to more than RM3 billion, he added.
Asked if he would venture out of Malaysia in the near future, Ting said: “I’d stick to Malaysia. I love Malaysia.”