THE TEAM
Unity in Diversity
We comprise of members from all sectors of business and industry. Through an elected board of voluntary directors and committees, we connect from our Malaysian alliances with UAE government officials to forge strategic business platforms that of mutual benefit.
The Malaysian Business Council, UAE is operating under the Patronage of the Malaysian Ambassador of Malaysia to the UAE and Consul General of Malaysia of Malaysia in Dubai. The Malaysian Trade (MATRADE) Commissioner Dubai, UAE is the Advisor to the Council.
Have an enquiry? Please send to info@mybc-uae.com
FAHMY ANSARA
Chairman
Fahmy Ansara has been instrumental in the development and the progress of Malaysian Business Council (MBC) in the UAE. He has held various positions in Malaysian Business Council ever since its establishment in the year 2007 under the Pro-term Committee, and he was its 3rd Chairman during the period of 2011-2013.
Fahmy holds more than 20 years of corporate experience working with PETRONAS, the Malaysian National Oil Company. He came to Dubai in 2007 as the Country Head for PETRONAS MITCO – a PETRONAS’ trading arm, specialising in petrochemical and commodity trading in the Middle East. He was later appointed as the Regional Head for PrimeSoucing International, another PETRONAS’ procurement arm, managing the team’s regional business development and procurement in the MENACA Region.
He left PETRONAS in 2016 to manage his own business in Dubai. He is the Managing Director of Alpharex Trade DMCC (2017) and also the Executive Director of ATF Meat and Food Trading LLC (2020).
RICHARD IMRAN
Vice President - Corporate Membership
Richard is a partner and the head of the corporate practice at MS Law. He has over 25 years’ experience and specializes in mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures and foreign direct investment in the Middle East, South East Asia, England, Europe and the US, with expertise in structuring transactions and setting up businesses.
He advises a broad range of clients across several industries including technology, pharmaceuticals, retail and investment. He has worked in Malaysia and London and has been in Dubai since 2005.
Provides specialist advice and tends to be a sounding board to clients who wish to start a business or expand their businesses by way of M&A or joint ventures. Over the last few years, he has been working with tech clients and advising them on their start-ups and priced funding rounds and, on the other side of the table, advising investors investing into tech start-ups.
With strong morals and social principles, he set examples to entrepreneurs acting diligently.
TS. IZWAN ADNAN, MBA
Vice President - Individual Membership
A proud trilingual Malaysian, Izwan comes with more than 20 years of Oil & Gas covering aspects of engineering, economics, and strategic components worldwide. Graduated in Chemical Engineering at University Teknologi PETRONAS Malaysia in the year 2005, followed by Masters in Business Administration from Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University in the year 2016.
Izwan launched his career with PETRONAS for ten (10) years and worked among high-profile operators such as Shell, REPSOL, ONGC, Indian Oil, and PDVSA in strategic field development projects worldwide worth billions of dollars of development capital expenditures.
He is also a firm advocate of networking, and human development.
Izwan has personally mentored numerous internationals in building up world-class professional capabilities in the Oil & Gas sector.
With MBC, Izwan has designed high level business networking events up to the ministrial levels in creating opportunities in the UAE region.
MURALI VASANTHAN
Treasurer
He is a Regional Manager handling Accounts & Finance of Leopad Middle East based in Dubai. Graduated from University Science of Malaysia and started his practicing career as an auditor and later joined Leopad Group of Companies in Sultanate of Oman. With progress and growth in the operation of Arabian Leopad Contracting LLC based on business expansion and restructuring exercise of its operation in the Middle East, he was relocated to Dubai, and started heading the Accounts & Finance of Leopad Dubai LLC which become the main hub for Middle East operation.
Apart from providing financial advises for management’s decision, he is also responsible for monthly management reporting of: Cash Flow Projections, Budgeting, Financial Reports (Balance Sheet & Profit & Loss Accounts), VAT Filing with FTA, Liaising with external auditor on completing and finalizing annual financial audits, Liaised with banks to obtain credit lines from banks, and key liaison person for all banking related matters of the organization.
Also a P.R.O. of the company handling licensing matters with Department of Economic Development(DED), and Employment Visa related matters with both Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation(MOHRE) and General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai (GDFRA)
KC CHEAH
Secretary General
An Abu Dhabi Award winner in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Investor-Government Relations, Conferred the title of “Associate Fellow” by Dr Mahathir Mohamad Thoughts Institute (The ex-Prime Minister of Malaysia) for bilateral relations between Malaysia and UAE.
Key projects:
Oil & Gas (Crude Storage Farm, Refinery), Power Station, Pharmaceutical Zone, Industrial Plant, Commercial Fishery, Land and Sea based Aquaculture Farm, China-Fujairah (Dibba) Retail Mall etc.
Core Associations:
Business development advisor for the top 3 most prominent royal families in Fujairah.
Holds key voluntary-positions in various government agency, private companies and foreign consulate related initiatives. Appointed Secretary-General (Board of Malaysian Trustee),
Think-Tank Moderator for Dubai Government (Dubai Land Department & DREI),
Ex-Independent Director, Audit Committee Chairman (Shanghai-Cayman Island SGX listed company).
NURUL FATEN JASMEE
Deputy Secretary General
Faten Jasmee, is the CEO of IACS International, has an impressive track record in the corporate sector, contributing significantly to various organizations in Malaysia and the UAE.
Her journey includes pivotal roles at Front Talent, Keolis MHI in UAE and previous roles in Malaysia for Land Public Transport Authority (SPAD), Asian Finance Bank, AmBank and U Mobile.
Faten's academic background is equally notable, holding a Bachelor's Degree in Communications, majoring in Business Management from Universiti Teknologi MARA, coupled with a Project Management certification from PMI.org. She is an active member of the PMI UAE Chapter, demonstrating her ongoing commitment to professional development and excellence in project management.
Under Faten's leadership, IACS International has evolved into a globally recognized consultancy, known for its strategic business solutions and partnerships. The company stands out for its mission to connect businesses with growth opportunities worldwide and its vision to guide companies through global market complexities. Faten's direction has been instrumental in forging IACS's reputation as a preferred partner for comprehensive business services, with strong ties in both the UAE and Malaysia
Faten's expertise and experience are invaluable to the Malaysian Business Council. Her deep understanding of international business dynamics, coupled with her strategic approach to leadership, offers insightful perspectives on global market trends and opportunities. Her role at IACS International, characterized by fostering impactful business solutions and robust partnerships, aligns seamlessly with the Council's objectives to promote business excellence and collaboration within Malaysia and on an international stage.
Faten's blend of global experience and local insight positions her as a key contributor to the Council, driving forward initiatives that benefit Malaysian businesses in the global economy.
NURLIZA MOHAMED YUSUFF
EXCO
Nurliza Mohamed Yusuff is an accomplished business strategist and catalyst with a distinguished career spanning over two decades. She has played instrumental roles in numerous Multinational Companies (MNCs) and Government Linked Companies (GLCs) in both the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Malaysia. Her remarkable expertise in business management and development has consistently contributed to the success and growth of the organizations she has been associated with.
Ms. Nurliza's passion lies in fostering commercial and business activities, with a relentless focus on building reputation, recognition, and revenue generation. She is widely recognized for her ability to assume leadership roles in business development, often serving as the head of business development for prominent corporations, companies, or organizations.
She holds an impressive educational background, having graduated from MARA University of Technology with a degree in Public Administration and Business Law. Her commitment to academic excellence led her to complete a Master's in Business Administration (MBA) from Open University Malaysia, specializing in Business Management and Sales & Marketing.
Ms. Nurliza currently serves as the Group CEO of Royal Eficaz, where she excels as a Business Catalyst and Perception Strategist. Her strategic vision and executive acumen drive Royal Eficaz's success in the competitive business landscape. Additionally, she is an integral member of the Executive Committee for Government Relations and serves as a Mentor for Associates at the Malaysian Business Council UAE, in partnership with the Royal Diamond Group.
Nurliza Mohamed Yusuff's extensive experience, profound business insights, and commitment to excellence make her a valuable asset to the business community in both the UAE and Malaysia. Her contributions have been instrumental in driving growth, fostering relationships, and enhancing the overall success of the organizations she has been involved with.
NORFAHREEN AZFY
EXCO
Completing her degree from the University of Auckland in Robotic Engineering, a highly versatile professional offering overall 16 years of experience in formulating and enforcing corporate affairs policies and procedures in addition to communicating strategic business plans and information to various internal departments
With hands-on expertise in developing, executing and managing a cohesive business expansion plan by maintaining close communication with all clients, determining their needs and delivering apposite solutions, she adds the wow factor to any management success. She can be a single point contact for client servicing, retention and acquisition.
An entrepreneur & a communication expert in conducting thorough market research to determine key client groups/audiences while defining effective communication ways to present organizational strategies and implement an effective communication plan.
SIEW HUA
EXCO
In almost three decades of experience in Logistics, she has worked in the corporate setting at leadership roles and experienced in entrepreneurship. With high learning agility, work flexibility and adaptability, she was able to successfully manage global mega projects and serve as a reliable team member and business partner. Has worked with world-class organizations, playing an instrumental role in the expansion projects at MENA region and streamline Asian Operations as well as act as a transition manager for a growing business unit.
As a logistics leader she thinks one step ahead of everyone else, anticipating possible issues in the supply chain and come up with a solution before they even arise , she instrumented the JV of an American Logistics Company to Middle East & Africa, with India as the recent add on.
DR. MUHAMMAD EHSAN CHE MUNAAIM
EXCO
Ehsan is an advocate of lifelong learning. As a construction professional, he has worked at two American programme management consultants as senior consultant (Hill International) and contracts manager (Parsons Corporation), managing multi-million dollars construction contracts and settling complex claims and disputes in the Middle East and Asia. As an academic, he has taught at four universities in the UK, UAE and Malaysia as teaching fellow (University College London), lecturer (Heriot Watt University and Universiti Malaya) and assistant professor (British University in Dubai). Ehsan supports the education of underprivileged children in Malaysia through Inspirasi (inspirasicentre.com), which, to date, has served over 2500 students in Malaysia through seminars and online mentoring.
MUNIRA ISHAK PMP ®
EXCO.
Munira is a PMI accredited Project Management Professional and Business Travel Expert with over 15 years of oil and gas and marketing experience, 13 years of which serving PETRONAS. Munira’s accomplishment while working in a complex international joint venture project (Iraq, Turkey, South Korea and Malaysia) as a company liaison included streamlining multi-million dollar contract resolutions through her remarkable stakeholder management skills.
She has since expanded her portfolio into entrepreneurship in Project Management, Public Relations, Marketing and Travel Management in 2020 focusing on high-value marketing projects worth AED 1 million in United Arab Emirates for Malaysian businesses since 2020.
Her contribution of assisting in opening doors to multi-million dollar investments for the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry agencies into Malaysia and several other Malaysian government agencies has enabled her to quickly build her credibility in handling VIP, board level, CXOs and government ministerial level with their business objectives in the UAE.
Munira has a BSc (Hons), Electrical & Electronics Engineering and a scholarship student of PETRONAS and Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS.
Munira is currently the Founder of Prioritised (www.prioritised.online) and a franchisee of Travel Counsellors UAE specializing is MICE, corporate and mid to high-end travels.
BRENT YAP HON YEAN
Exco
Brent is the co-founder and partner of VIKNESH & YAP, a Malaysian international law firm based in Kuala Lumpur with extensive legal network in Asia and Middle East.
Brent specialises in business and corporate legal services including company law, corporate governance, restructuring, M&A, private equity and corporate financing. Having obtained the certification in Chinese Law from one of China’s best law universities, Brent also regularly advises clients in Chinese legal compliance. Since 2021, Brent is primarily in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
He is a frequent presenter in legal workshops in Malaysia and China on issues relating to commercial laws, cross-border investments and legal compliance.
Brent advises multi-sectors SMEs (Small-Medium Enterprises) to enter into the suitable contracts and agreements. He has expanded his services to emerging businesses and tech start-ups in legal compliance and securing business capital & funding.
In 2017, Brent obtained the Chinese Law course certificate awarded by Southwest University of Political Science and Law (SWUPL) one of China’s leading legal research centers and law university where he is also a Fellow Researcher.
In 2019, Brent obtained a certification in Islamic Finance to add to his practice portfolio covering Islamic finance and sukuk investments.
In 2021, Brent has traversed to Dubai, United Arab Emirates at the invitation of a leading Emirati law firm to provide consultation related to regulatory compliance and pre-market entry advice to the clients in the Gulf Countries to enter into China and Malaysia.
Primarily based now in Dubai, Brent is the present legal advisor to the Malaysian Business Council UAE (MBC) registered under Dubai Chamber of Commerce. He is also the legal advisor to MIECA and TEEAM in Malaysia, established NGOs recognized by the Prime Minister’s Department to promote cross-border businesses and investments between Greater China and Malaysia.
AHMAD FAIS FAUZI
EXCO
Ahmad Fais Fauzi is a seasoned finance professional who holds the pivotal position of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at Royal Eficaz. With his extensive financial expertise and strategic insights, he plays a crucial role in managing and optimizing the financial health of the organization.
In addition to his role at Royal Eficaz, Mr. Fais Fauzi serves as the Executive Committee Vice Treasurer for the Malaysian Business Council (MBC-UAE). In this capacity, he contributes to the financial oversight and decision-making processes that drive the council's objectives and initiatives in the United Arab Emirates.
Under Mr. Fais Fauzi's financial stewardship, Royal Eficaz has emerged as a valuable corporate member of prestigious organizations, including the MBC, Dubai Chamber of Commerce, and Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce. These affiliations underscore his ability to foster strong partnerships and navigate the complex financial landscapes of these influential institutions.
Notably, Mr. Fais Fauzi also serves in the Private Office of Sheikh Khalifa Khalid Ahmed Al Hamed, in partnership with the Royal Diamond Group. This role showcases his exceptional financial acumen and his capacity to manage high-stakes financial affairs within a prestigious and influential private office.
With a distinguished career in finance and an impressive track record of financial leadership, Ahmad Fais Fauzi stands out as a respected and influential figure in the UAE's financial and business circles. His commitment to excellence and his ability to navigate complex financial landscapes make him an asset to both Royal Eficaz and the Malaysian Business Council, reinforcing his reputation as a prominent financial professional in the region.