Ahamad

Ahamad Bin Mohamad, Managing Director and Executive Director of Kulim (Malaysia) Berhad for over 20 years, believes that passion is the key to success. He emphasizes that passion drives individuals to turn ideas into reality, exuding confidence that creates value for themselves and others.

A Rich History of Expansion

Kulim traces its roots back to 1933 when Kulim Rubber Plantations Ltd was incorporated in the United Kingdom. It later became a public limited company and was listed on the Main Board of the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, now known as Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad, in 1975. The following year, Johor Corporation became its major shareholder. Since then, Kulim has transformed into a diversified plantation company, expanding its land holdings while strengthening its intrapreneurial ventures and exploring new business opportunities. Today, the company employs approximately 23,000 people.

Leadership in the Palm Oil Industry

Palm oil is a competitive and vital industry for Malaysia, the world’s second-largest producer of the commodity. Kulim was among the earliest palm oil producers to be certified to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil standard and was the first Malaysian plantation company to publish a Carbon Footprint Report. This commitment to sustainability has significantly improved Kulim’s operations and business practices.

Strategic Diversification

While Kulim is recognized as a plantation company, it has strategically diversified its business portfolio to reduce dependency on any single sector. This approach helps mitigate risks associated with fluctuating crude palm oil prices and stabilizes the Group’s earnings.

Kulim’s re-entry into Indonesia expanded its oil palm land bank by approximately 40,000 hectares in Central Kalimantan. The company also ventured into Indonesia’s oil and gas sector while maintaining its presence in Malaysia through E.A. Technique (M) Sdn Bhd and Danamin (M) Sdn Bhd. A key investment opportunity is the Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development project in Pengerang, Johor, which has accelerated demand in the oil and gas and related industries.

Despite this diversification, Kulim remains committed to expanding its plantation business while continuously exploring new ventures with strong long-term growth and profitability potential. This strategy aims to minimize earnings fluctuations and ensure attractive returns for shareholders.

A Global Footprint and Diverse Business Interests

Kulim serves a broad range of clients globally, leveraging its integrated approach to support them whenever and wherever needed. Beyond its main product, crude palm oil, the company’s Intrapreneur Ventures Division engages in diverse businesses including shipping and logistics, agricultural machinery and oil palm nursery operations, plantation support services such as mill maintenance, oil and gas sector support including Non-Destructive Testing and pipe rolling mills, facilities management and civil works, as well as IT-related services.

A Visionary Leader

Ahamad Bin Mohamad holds a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) from the University of Malaya. He joined Johor Corporation in 1979 as a Company Secretary and was involved in several major projects, including the Johor Specialist Hospital and the Kotaraya Complex. He currently serves on the boards of KPJ Healthcare Berhad, New Britain Palm Oil Limited in Papua New Guinea, and several other companies within the JCorp Group. He is also a Director of Waqaf An-Nur Corporation Berhad, which leads JCorp’s corporate responsibility programs through the Corporate Waqaf Concept.

For Mr. Mohamad, success is rooted in character. He believes that self-discipline and honesty are essential, as trust forms the foundation of all relationships. When people trust a leader’s word and actions, they are more likely to collaborate and achieve their goals efficiently.

Transformational Leadership

Under Mr. Mohamad’s leadership, Kulim has grown from a small plantation group in Malaysia into a diversified multinational enterprise with operations in Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, and Indonesia. Beyond traditional plantation businesses, Kulim has expanded into oleochemicals, food, and restaurant ventures. Market capitalization has surged from approximately RM547 million in the mid-1990s to around RM4.3 billion today.

Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

For young individuals looking to start their own business, Mr. Mohamad advises pursuing what they enjoy. The rewards of entrepreneurship, whether financial stability, personal satisfaction, or business success, are directly proportional to the effort invested.

He highlights the importance of career planning, emphasizing that strategic business planning builds essential habits for success. He also reminds aspiring entrepreneurs that failure is part of the journey, and those with an intrapreneurial mindset will recognize setbacks as stepping stones to innovation and growth.

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