Tan Sri Mokhtar Al-Bukhary is one of the most prominent Malaysia entrepreneurs and is popular with his generosity and philanthropic deeds for the society. He is also known for his down-to-earth attitude, and a guy who as much as possible, avoids publicity, cameras and interviews, which at times can be an overwhelming task, considering his status quo as one of the 10 richest men in the country.
Much of Syed Mokhtar’s attitude is attributed with his parents’ upbringing since he was still a small kid. He was born into a mid-low class family in Kedah, with both his parents having average income background. Being nowhere near to living a wealthy life style did not stop his father and mother from instilling good values in raising their kid. Their home came without necessities, let alone luxuries. Syed Mokhtar himself never went beyond the secondary school, as the prevailing family condition forced him to quit schooling and help family by doing odd jobs and starting small scale businesses.
Syed Mokhtar started his real business in the southern Malaysia, selling and distributing rice. With the acquired knowledge and increase in his entrepreneurship skills, he later ventured into trading, logistics and shipping. His mother’s advice to treat part of the money he received as belonging to the poor and the needy remains at the core of his heart. True enough, when he was merely 23 years old, he gave away half of his monthly income of RM1,500 to the needy, donating it to 15 poor families in his village. He has never stopped giving since.
In 1996, Syed Mokhtar set up Al-Bukhary Foundation to assist the needy, with him as the sole donator. The foundation finances English, Science and Mathematics classes for more than 20,000 underachieving students every year, as well as running a college scholarship program for 300 students in more than 40 countries. Between 1996 and 2006, the Al-Bukhary Foundation has contributed about 1 billion for various charity causes.
The foundation also built the famous and gigantic Al-Bukhary mosque in Alor Setar, Kedah, adjacent to a business complex, which today becomes a prominent landmark in Kedah with its remarkable architecture.
In January 2008, Syed Mokhtar was honored as the recipient of the Tokoh Maal Hijrah 1429. And owing his success to his mother’s teachings, he decided to give the cash award of RM80,000 to his mother, Sharifah Rokiah Syed Mohamed Rahmat.
A month later, Tan Sri Mokhtar, together with Hishamudin Ubaidulla, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and Datuk Amar Leonard Linggi Tun Jugah were featured in Forbes Asia Heroes of Philantropy list.
Masjid Al Bukhary image: Lealaurielle
Well done Tan Sri, you make us proud of what you have done so far
Salam…
Tan Sri,
I really wanna work with you. This is not a joke. I’m an economic student from UM and i will graduate in 2009.
assalamualaikum…kepada hamba ALLAH yg telah menjalankan tanggungjawabnya. saya bersyukur kerana anta sudah menjadi contoh yg baik kepada muda mudi supaya lebih menghormati orang tua kita dan juga orang yg berada disekeliling kite..semoga ALLAH sentiasa murahkan rezeki anta..tidak kira siapa dan apa jawatan seorang muslim itu..yang pasti dia akan tetap sujud juga pada MAHA PENCIPTA.
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hurmm..
hopefully lebih ramai malaysian especially MELAYU akan jadi cam tan sri ni..
You need to give a talk at UiTM..for the benefit of Bumiputra..tq
I am a pharmacist in a Teaching Hospital in Ghana and volunteering for Zakat Foundation. You are my role model. Let me learn more from you. I like to work with/for you
Salam Tan Sri,
Terlebih dahulu ucapan tahniah dari saya di atas kejayaan yang Tan Sri kecapi sekarang. Diharap Tan Sri akan lebih berjaya di masa akan datang..InsyaAllah..Semoga Tan Sri dan keluarga mendapat keberkatan dari Allah SWT. Saya berharap suatu masa nanti saya juga akan berjaya seperti Tan Sri dan dapat membantu masyarakat yang kesempitan. Tahniah sekali lagi.
salam Tan Sri,
saya menumpang berasa bangga dengan kejayaan Tan Sri yang membuktikan masyarakat melayu juga boleh berjaya. Selain itu juga, saya mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Tan Sri kerana banyak menolong masyarakat hari ini. Saya mendoakan semoga Tan sri dilimpahi keberkatan dari Allah SWt. amin… saya berharap juga satu hari nanti saya dapat menyumbang jasa kepada masyarakat malaysia..
As Salam Tan Sri,
Alhamdulillah, syukur kepada Allah kerana telah melahirkan insan yang sangat istimewa di bumi Malaysia ini. Tan Sri telah membuka mata masyarakat dunia yang dahulunya nama Malaysia tidak terlalu di kenali tetapi kini nama Malaysia telah di kenali di serata dunia walaupun di negara-negara kecil. Ini disebabkan oleh kelahiran MENTOR-MENTOR ENTREPRENEUR MALAYSIA. Tahniah buat Tan Sri dengan pencapaian yang dikecapi. Ianya menjadi sumber inspirasi kepada ‘Apprentice’ yang bakal tersenarai dalam industri Entrepreneurship ini. Kepada mereka yang ingin terjun di dalam industri ini, jadikanlah Tan Sri sebagai Mentor anda.
salam!!!!
i won’t lose hope to survive in this life until achive success…you’re my role model in my life…:)
alhamdulillah.. bkn senang melihat golongan BUMIPUTERA di ats.. yg slalu kdengaran melayu sama melayu menindas 1 sama lain.. tp, xsemua bgitu.. sy amik c0urse business studies n diberi assignment tuk mcari usahawan m’sia yg bjaya.. finally, i’ve found it.. it’s U!!
be m0re succeed t0 be the greatest seed 0f malaysia!!
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sy suka dengan perjalanan hidup usahawan Tan sri Mokhtar al-bukhari
aslm tan sri..saya sangat kagum dengan apa yang tan sri buat..smoga menjadi cntoh kpd org2 islam yg kaya yg lain!
Salam Tan Sri , Saya amat kagum dengan kejayaan Tan Sri dan berjaya kendalikan berbagai syarikat dibawah kawalan DRBhicom saperti Bank Muamalat , POS Malaysia,double track rail serta berjaya mendapat kebenaran pemasangan Wolkwagen dan terbaru akan dipertimbangkan saham Proton sebanyak 42 peratus . Tapi sehingga kini saham Drbhicom tidak begitu menarik , sebagai sebuah Congromerate yang besar maka sepatutnya ianya menjadi tarikat pekabur, harga saham hanya sekitar RM2.00.
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