Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) Datuk Garry Chua

Chua wants to focus on giving MRCA members more benefits.

MRCA's new president 

has plans all laid out

He aims to guide members to adapt to the current tough market condition, reports JOY LEE.

IN the current challenging market, few would dare take on a role to lead a group of retailers.

It certainly will be a challenge, agrees newly-elected president of the Malaysia Retail Chain Association (MRCA) Datuk Garry Chua, but it is also a good time to engage its members even more and beef up the association to boost the retail industry.

“I want to try to bring a fresh per­spective to the leadership and inject more professionalism in driving the association forward,” he declares.

“It is a big responsibility. Some of the biggest names are a part of MRCA,” he adds.

Chua had been the vice president of MRCA for 10 years prior to taking over the mantle from immediate past presi­dent Datuk Liaw Choon Liang this year.

He has his plans laid out for his two- year term: drive membership from 300 to 350 by next year, and return more benefits to its members.

Drawing from his own experience in business and the retail industry, Chua wants to guide MRCA and its members to adapt to the current tough market condition.

He is the founder and group manag­ing director of Rotol Group, a one-stop architectural solutions provider. The company provides coating, restoration, maintenance, cleaning and recovery services, among other things, for build­ing facades.

In the early 1990s, when the group was established, opportunities were aplenty in the property and construc­tion industry. However, when the Asian financial crisis hit in 1997, Rotol Group diversified into the food and beverage . (F&B) sector to grow its sustainable income.

“You have to be versatile and adapt­able,” he says. “While it is good to be focused on your core business, some companies have done well with diversi­fication. You need businesses that com­plement each other. I like the F&B busi­ness so we moved into that in 1998.”

The Rotol Food Chain owns and oper­ates a chain of restaurants including Chakri Palace, Rainforest outlets and the upcoming Sanook.

This also brought Chua closer to the retail sector as the group now had to deal with retail rentals, an issue close to his heart. He notes that MRCA has maintained a good relationship with mall managers to seek out better rates for retailers.

“We hope malls can be more accom­modating, especially during this tough market,” he says.

Retailers, however, need to relook their business models over the next five years, opines Chua, given how fast things are changing in the industry.

He also hopes MRCA will engage bet­ter with the Government to be able to sort out workable solutions for the labour market and tourism industry that will benefit retailers.

Support and grooming of younger retailers would be encouraged; many are second-generation business owners in MRCA.

The association is looking at organis­ing more monthly and quarterly talks to inspire and equip its members with the latest in the industry. These events will also provide its members with net­working opportunities and access to some of the top entrepreneurs in the industry. Chua assures that only the top will do for MRCA. Some of its annual talks have featured the likes of Tan Sri Liew Kee Sin and Datuk Seri Nazir Razak.

And if its Council Installation Night 2016 was anything to go by, members can expect more prestige in MRCA’s upcoming events. The installation night was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, a fact Chua is proud of.

“That is MRCA. We want to set the standard,” he says.

He is optimistic about his plans for the association, remarking that putting its members first is the right thing to do.

“We want to be more member…