Oleh/By : DATO' SERI DR. MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD
Tempat/Venue : KOMPLEKS PERNAS SOGO, JALAN TUANKU
ABD RAHMAN, KUALA LUMPUR
Tarikh/Date : 18/01/94
Tajuk/Title : MAJLIS PERASMIAN KOMPLEKS PERNAS
SOGO DAN PELANCARAN SOGO PERNAS
DEPARTMENT STORE (TRANSLATION)
Saya mengucapkan terima kasih kepada PERNAS kerana
menjemput saya untuk merasmikan pembukaan Kompleks
Perdagangan PERNAS SOGO dan seterusnya melancarkan SOGO
PERNAS DEPARTMENT STORE pada hari ini.
2. Saya difahamkan projek ini adalah projek usahasama yang
pertama antara PERNAS dan SOGO Group of Companies. Tahniah
kepada PERNAS kerana memilih untuk memasuki bidang 'retail'
atau dagangan runcit di ketika bidang ini berkembang maju
kerana pendapatan rakyat telah meningkat. Kepada SOGO
diucapkan terima kasih di atas keyakinannya kepada negara
ini kerana memilih Malaysia sebagai salah satu tempat
operasi seberang lautnya yang terbesar. Adalah diharapkan
lebih banyak lagi PERNAS SOGO Department Store atau pasar
raya akan diwujudkan di negara ini di masa depan.
3. The establishment of mega retailing enterprises is not
a recent phenomenon in Kuala Lumpur. We have over the
years witnessed the openings of large establishments like
Yow Chuan, The Mall, Parkson Grand, Metro Jaya, Yaohan, Lot
10, Subang Parade, Ampang Complex as well as many other
establishments. This has been made possible by the rising
per capita incomes of the people. Malaysia's per capita
income increased from US$2,495 (RM6,238) in 1990 to US$3,340
(RM8,550) in 1993. In terms of purchasing power parity, it
had increased from US$5,416 to US$7,500 during the period.
This increase, together with low inflation, enables
Malaysians to enjoy a higher standard of living and a better
quality of life. Of course at the same time low inflation
causes Malaysian products to remain competitive at home and
abroad, contributing to the economic growth of the nation.
4. The opening of this PERNAS SOGO Complex housing the
SOGO-PERNAS Department Store, has special significance.
Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman has traditionally been the premier
shopping district of Kuala Lumpur. But the advent of modern
shopping complexes in other parts of the city within the
last decade had reduced its importance significantly. But
now, with the imposing presence of the PERNAS SOGO Complex
at the busy Jalan Dang Wangi and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman
intersection, this part of the city will regain its former
glory.
5. At a time when we are doubling our efforts to realise
our Vision 2020, the opening today of PERNAS SOGO Department
Store marks yet another step in the standard and way of life
which we can expect with development. With the growth in
population, especially in the cities, and the new affluence,
small 'papa' and 'mama' shops are no longer going to be able
to meet the needs of the people. Roaming the city in order
to buy the daily needs for different goods is also
impractical. By developing shopping centres and large
stores which cater to almost every need, the problem of
modern city living is fairly well resolved. Small
businesses will probably be affected but they, too, must
adjust to a new way of life. The establishment of these
complexes creates new business opportunities and revalues
upward their assets. Theirs will not be a total loss.
Indeed if they are willing to change they will gain a lot
from the changed way of life that goes with development.
6. There is, however, a need to adjust to a more affluent
life style. This is not because of snob value but there is
money to be made from affluent living. To use highly
valuable space for low-value business would be a great
waste. Retailers and even hawkers operating 'gerais' must
be more conscious of the need to cater to a more affluent
clientele. If the authorities seem to be unduly strict with
hawkers it is because we can no longer accept dirty,
unhealthy and unaesthetic environment. Besides, they know
that the so-called small businesses can afford and they will
naturally make more by being cleaner and more aesthetically
presentable. The enforcement of higher standards will
actually increase the profits of the small businesses.
7. PERNAS SOGO has done Kuala Lumpur a good service by
helping us remove the shabby flats of the former Sulaiman
Court. In Malaysia we want the people to live in the cities
so that they will not be deserted and dangerous at night as
some cities in developed countries are. But the
accommodation in the cities must not disfigure them. If
unsightly extensions are allowed and dirty washing
displayed, the occupants are actually devaluing their
property. The replacement of Sulaiman Court with Sogo
Department Store will renew this area and add value to it
and to the city. Later I believe Pernas Sogo will build a
hotel and urban flats which, hopefully, will not be used
like Sulaiman Court.
8. I am glad that the PERNAS SOGO Complex and the SOGO
PERNAS Department Store are joint-venture projects. This
partnership is in line with the Government's policy of
bringing in foreign expertise while retaining local
participation in all sectors of the country's development.
Retailing is an art which is very well-developed in Japan.
Although department stores were introduced by the British
during colonial period, the locals did not adopt their style
of retail business. It is only now that department stores
are being operated by local chains. The presence of the
Japanese will no doubt provide keen competition. And, as
usual, it will lead to rapid upgrading and sophistication.
9. Kuala Lumpur has not been known as a shopping centre
for foreign tourists who usually opt for Singapore, Hong
Kong or even Bangkok as their shopping destinations. This
is unfortunate for the tourists are really missing a good
bargain. It is not generally known among travellers that
most consumer goods are tax-free in Malaysia. Besides there
are numerous tax-free shops for tourists. Besides, the low
cost of living means low overheads for Malaysian retailers.
Goods should, therefore, be cheaper in Malaysia than
elsewhere. With the opening of more outlets, the range of
goods will be as wide as in the better-known shopping
destinations. Malaysia is, therefore, a good place to
shop. Tourists must be made to know of this fact by the
shops selling at bargain prices. It would be a mistake on
the part of the Malaysian retailers to go for short-term
profit rather than long term gains.
10. While we still welcome participation of well-known
foreign retailers in the retail business in Malaysia we hope
that Malaysian retailers will learn to upgrade their
retailing methods and skills so as to be as good as their
foreign competitors. One day we hope to see Malaysian
department stores operating in other countries.
11. Malaysia is not quite like Japan or any of the `four
dragons' of East Asia. In the first place we are a
multi-racial, multi-religious, multi-cultural and
multi-lingual country in which the different ethnic groups
are not equally developed economically. Additionally, we
lack the capital, know-how and technology and marketing
expertise. Under colonial rule we were not encouraged to
think beyond our immediate locality. We knew nothing about
manufacturing or adding value, or about exports. All these
had an effect on our psyche. In other words we had an
inferiority complex which undermined our actual capability.
12. Yet even the World Bank now acknowledges that Malaysia
has performed extremely well economically and is an example
to other developing nations. While we have a right to
congratulate ourselves, we must also learn to understand why
we have been able to overcome our many handicaps. In the
first place we are politically stable. When Government
feel safe they do not have to pander to extremist sectarian
demands which are invariably selfish and disruptive. It is
this confidence that has enabled the Government to formulate
constructive policies. Of course the Government must have
the necessary ideas, skills and sense of responsibility.
That this Government has all these can be gauged from the
results. If sometimes this Government comes up with ideas
which appear outlandish, I hope that they will not be
rejected off-hand.
13. In the interest of developing this country the
Government may, off and on, come up with more outlandish
ideas. It is hoped that there will be sufficient faith in
the ability of the Government to make these ideas work.
14. SOGO adalah salah satu rangkaian pasar raya yang
terbesar di dunia. Dengan mempunyai 26 pasar raya di Jepun
dan beberapa bandar utama di Asia dan Eropah, adalah logik
bagi SOGO menjadikan Malaysia sebagai 'procurement centre'
bagi sesetengah daripada keperluan bekalan untuk pasar-pasar
rayanya yang lain. Malaysia mempunyai berbagai-bagai jenis
barangan pengguna yang mempunyai harga yang kompetitif.
Langkah ini bukan sahaja akan memberi perangsang kepada
industri-industri kecil dan sederhana tetapi akan juga
menggalakkan pembekal-pembekal tempatan untuk meningkatkan
mutu dan rekabentuk barangan mereka. Adalah diharapkan di
masa hadapan SOGO akan menimbang menjalankan usahasama
dengan rakyat Malaysia di dalam sektor pembuatan.
15. Dengan ini, saya dengan sukacitanya merasmikan Kompleks
PERNAS SOGO dan melancarkan SOGO PERNAS Department Store.
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