Saturday September 15, 2012

Lim plans to live healthily and happily to 100 years old

Holding pole position for seven years is a tough job. Can Top Glove Corp Bhd maintain its dominance in the competitive rubber glove industry?

“As long as I am around, that should be the case,” says Top Glove Corp Bhd's chairman Tan Sri Lim Wee Chai.

And he intends to be around for a long time to see its market leadership continues. Lim, 54, says he wants to live to 100 years old.

And Lim is already preparing himself physically and mentally to hit the centenary mark.

“This means my heart has to pump for another 46 years. So I have to take care of my heart.

“This means not smoking, not drinking too much and not simply eating any food. I have to set a target and work towards it.

“This also means exercising three to four times a week,” says Lim who works six-and-a-half days a week.

Lim is slim but bustles with energy. He wouldn't call himself a workaholic as he considers his job a hobby. Even on Sundays, Lim is in his office, checking on his many factories.

“When you like what you do, it doesn't feel like working. So going to see my factories is like going for a holiday,” says Lim.

“I am a disciplined, honest and optimistic person who looks forward to learning new things everyday which are good and can improve my work, health and life. “I aspire to be healthy, knowledgeable and target to live until 100 healthily and happily,” he exclaims.

The second of six children, Lim hails from a small town of Titi in Jelebu, Negri Sembilan. His family was involved in rubber trading and hence, rubber was something he was familiar with since his childhood years.

Lim was initially more interested to pursue his studies, and went on to University Malaya to earn a Bachelor's degree in Physics and subsequently an MBA from the United States.

In 1991, Lim and his wife pooled their savings of RM180,000 and started their first rubber gloves business on a very small scale. The venture paid off, and not long after that they pumped in more money to expand the business.

With aggressive expansion, the company was growing at a rate of 35% per annum, and soon Lim was exploring opportunities overseas. By 2005, the company became the market leader.

Success also stems from personal beliefs and strength in character.

“Don't be like some people who when they are unhappy, hurt themselves and they destroy value. For example, they start drinking too much or doing bad things. Don't do that,” he says.

Lim strongly believes in the principles of discipline, honesty, integrity and transparency.

“Knowledge is also very important. It is only when you are knowledgeable that you are able to make good decisions. Then this will create something valuable.

“When you make wrong decisions, then negative values are created,” Lim, who is a Buddhist, says,

Lim has two children. His son is 26, and his daughter, 19.

He spends time with them by having breakfast together and for holidays once or twice a year.

When asked whether his wife and children complain that he spends too much time at work, Lim says:“So far, there are no complaints. In fact, if I spend too much time at home, they will start to feel uncomfortable,” he laughs.

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Saturday September 15, 2012

Lim plans to live healthily and happily to 100 years old