Directors’ Profile

78, Malaysian, Male

Dato’ Abdul Majit Bin Ahmad Khan was appointed to the Board of Unitrade Industries Berhad (“Unitrade” or “the Group”) as a Senior Independent Non-Executive Chairman on 15 September 2021 and subsequently re-designated to Independent Non-Executive Chairman on 2 September 2022.

Dato’ Abdul Majit holds a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) from University of Malaya. He had served with the Malaysian government for 34 years in various capacities in the Prime Minister’s Department and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia to strengthen Malaysia’s bi-lateral relations. As a diplomat, Dato’ Abdul Majit gained wide exposure having served in various countries, namely Laos, Vietnam, USA, Nigeria, as well as the People’s Republic of China.

Dato’ Abdul Majit also held the positions of Under Secretary of South-East Asia and South Pacific Division, Under Secretary of West Asia and the Organisation in Islamic Cooperation (“OIC”), in addition to being the Director General of the ASEAN Division of the Foreign Ministry. In these capacities, he participated in several Prime Ministerial and Ministerial visits to the respective countries, including to ASEAN and OIC meetings and summits. Furthermore, he had served as the Chairman of Malaysian Investment Development Authority (“MIDA”) between April 2019 and April 2021.

Presently, Dato’ Abdul Majit is the President of the Malaysia- China Friendship Association, the Honorary President of the Malaysia China Chamber of Commerce, as well as an Adjunct Professor at the Institute of China Studies in University of Malaya. He is also the co-founder of the Cheng He International Peace Foundation.

Dato’ Abdul Majit serves as a Director on the board of DutaLand Berhad, and Hong Leong Asset Management Berhad.

Dato’ Abdul Majit attended all six (6) Board meetings during the financial year.

77, Malaysian, Male

Mr. Sim Keng Chor was appointed to the Board of Unitrade as an Executive Vice Chairman on 1 September 2021.

Mr. Sim is the founder of Unitrade. In 1979, with his entrepreneurial spirit and aspiring vision, he established Syarikat Unitrade to undertake the trading of pipes, valves, fittings, and accessories. Since then, he has been instrumental in spearheading the growth and strategic development of the Group. Under his leadership, Unitrade has grown to become one of the largest homegrown wholesalers and distributor of building materials in Malaysia.

Equipped with over 44 years of experience in the business, Mr. Sim holds vast knowledge and in-depth understanding of trends and demands in the industry. At present, he continues to play a major role in charting Unitrade’s strategic business direction and expansion.

Mr. Sim Keng Chor is a major shareholder of the Company and his spouse, Ms. Teh Beng Khim is a substantial shareholder of the Company. Mr. Sim is the brother of Sim Aik Chor and Sim Yung Chi, and father of Nomis Sim Siang Leng and Simson Sim Xian Zhi.

Mr. Sim attended all six (6) Board meetings during the financial year.

48, Malaysian, Male

Mr. Nomis Sim Siang Leng was appointed to the Board of Unitrade as Group Managing Director on 1 September 2021. He is also a member of the Risk Management and Sustainability Committee of the Group. As Group Managing Director, he is responsible for overseeing and managing the day-to-day operations as well as driving the growth of our Group.

Mr. Nomis Sim holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of London, as well as a Master of Science in Analysis, Design & Management of Information Systems from London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London.

Upon graduation, Mr. Nomis Sim was recruited by IBM Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. in April 2000 as an Information Technology (“IT”) Specialist and was involved in programming software for wafer manufacturing machines. Mr. Nomis Sim’s journey with Unitrade started in 2002 when he joined Syarikat Logam Unitrade Sdn. Bhd. (“SLU”) as a Product Development Director. In this capacity, he worked on identifying and sourcing new products to expand the Group’s product offerings. Following Unitrade’s acquisition of Ricwil (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. (“Ricwil”), he was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Ricwil in December 2007. He gradually took on more responsibilities in strategic planning, as well as overseeing and managing the day-to-day operations in Unitrade across all departments. In 2019, he was redesignated to Chief Executive Officer of SLU, a position he presently holds in addition to being Managing Director of Unitrade.

Mr. Nomis Sim Siang Leng is the son of Sim Keng Chor, nephew of Sim Aik Chor and Sim Yung Chi, and brother of Simson Sim Xian Zhi.

Mr. Nomis Sim attended all six (6) Board meetings during the financial year.

32, Malaysian, Male

Mr. Simson Sim Xian Zhi was appointed to the Board of Unitrade as Executive Director on 1 September 2021. He is accountable for overseeing the overall operations and business direction of the rental business of our Group. He has also been designated as the key person spearheading the Group’s agenda for Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”).

Mr. Simson Sim holds a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) in Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia. He joined SLU in 2014 as an Assistant to Mr. Sim Keng Chor and was responsible for assisting him on the day-to-day management of the company.

Having acquired experience in business development along with deep industry understanding, Mr. Simson Sim was promoted to Business Development Director in April 2018. Prior to that, he was also appointed as a Director of Unitrade United Sdn. Bhd. in January 2017 upon incorporation of the company on the back of his solid track record in yielding strong operational results.

Mr. Simson Sim Xian Zhi is the son of Sim Keng Chor, nephew of Sim Aik Chor and Sim Yung Chi, and brother of Nomis Sim Siang Leng.

Mr. Simson Sim attended all six (6) Board meetings during the financial year.

75, Malaysian, Male

Dato’ Loh Yeow Boo was appointed to the Board of Unitrade as an Independent Non-Executive Director on 15 September 2021 and later on 21 July 2022, he was redesignated to Senior Independent Non-Executive Director. He is the Chairman of the Audit Committee and the Nomination Committee, and a member of the Remuneration Committee.

Dato’ Loh holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accountancy) from Nanyang University, Singapore. He has been a member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (“MIA”) since June 1980 and was reclassified as Chartered Accountant in June 2001. He is also a member of Certified Practising Accountant (“CPA”) Australia since October 1987, and advanced to the status of Fellow of CPA Australia in December 2005.

Dato’ Loh has accumulated profound experience spanning across more than four decades, particularly in the field of finance and accounting. He began his career in 1976 as an Accountant at the Eastern & Oriental Hotel Penang. He subsequently gained further experience having worked in different companies across the hospitality and telecommunication industries, serving in various roles that included Assistant Financial Controller, Group Procurement Director, Group Human Resources Director, Financial Controller, and Financial Advisor.

Dato’ Loh is currently an Independent Non-Executive Director of Plenitude Berhad, a company listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad (“Bursa Securities”).

Dato’ Loh attended all six (6) Board meetings during the financial year.

51, Malaysian, Female

Ms. Cynthia Toh Mei Lee was appointed to the Board of Unitrade as an Independent Non-Executive Director on 15 September 2021. She is the Chairwoman of the Risk Management and Sustainability Committee, as well as a member of the Audit Committee, the Remuneration Committee, and the Nomination Committee.

Ms. Cynthia Toh holds a double degree in the Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws from Monash University. After she completed her pupillage at Presgrave & Matthews in 1997, she was successfully admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya. In March 2002, she became one of the founding partners of Wong Beh & Toh, a firm in which she presently holds the position of Partner.

Ms. Cynthia Toh has more than 20 years of experience in the legal practices of equity corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and joint ventures as well as other corporate and commercial matters.

Ms. Cynthia Toh is currently an Independent Non-Executive Director of QL Resources Berhad, a company listed on the Main Market of Bursa Securities.

Ms. Cynthia Toh attended all six (6) Board meetings during the financial year.

62, Malaysian, Female

Ms. Ong Soo Chan was appointed to the Board of Unitrade as an Independent Non-Executive Director on 15 September 2021. She is the Chairwoman of the Remuneration Committee, in addition to being a member of the Audit Committee, the Nomination Committee, and the Risk Management and Sustainability Committee.

Ms. Ong graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from University Malaya in August 1987. She has in-depth knowledge and experience in financial services, having dedicated more than 30 years of her professional life in the industry. From her initial career at Development and Commercial bank as a Management Trainee, she has subsequently served at major local and foreign banks in Malaysia such as RHB Bank and ABN-AMRO Bank, predominantly in treasury operations. After a stint at ABNAMRO Bank as the Head of Treasury Operations, she joined Citibank Berhad in 1998 in a similar capacity.

Over the next 20 years, Ms. Ong held various leadership roles at Citibank Berhad, including the Head of Corporate Banking Operations and Technology, Head of Consumer Business Operations and Technology, as well as Head of Citigroup Transaction Services Sdn. Bhd. during her secondment to Citigroup Overseas Investments Ltd. Her last role at Citibank Berhad prior to her retirement in December 2020 was as the Head of Country Operations and Technology.

Ms. Ong is currently an Independent Non-Executive Director of CIMB Bank Berhad, a member of CIMB Group Holdings Berhad; and SkyWorld Development Berhad, all of which are companies listed on the Main Market of Bursa Securities.

Ms. Ong attended all six (6) Board meetings during the financial year.

45, Malaysian, Female

Datin Shivajini Sathya Seelan was appointed to the Board of Unitrade as an Independent Non-Executive Director on 14 June 2023. She is a member of the Audit Committee, the Nomination Committee, the Remuneration Committee and the Risk Management and Sustainability Committee.

Datin Shivajini holds a Bachelor of Business & Commerce specialising in Accounting from Monash University. She is a Chartered Accountant of the MIA, a Fellow of CPA Australia, and holds a Company Secretarial Licence from the Malaysian Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (“MAICSA”), as well as a Tax Agent Licence from the Chartered Tax Institute of Malaysia.

Datin Shivajini brings a wealth of professional experience to the Board. In 2011, she founded JS Partners, an accounting and taxation services firm, where she currently serves as a Partner. Prior to that, she held the positions of Audit Manager and Managing Partner at Inpana & Associates, a professional advisory firm, from 2002 to 2011.

Datin Shivajini attended five (5) out of six (6) Board meetings during the financial year.