It gives me great pleasure and honour to pen down my vision and feelings as the President of PRIMAS, one of the most successful NGOs in Malaysia. I will be failed member of this wonderful organization if I did not thank my past Presidents and everyone who had contributed their best towards the development of our association.

I express my highest regards to the first president, Dato Ramalingam Pillai, who achieved great success by making PRIMAS the best among other organizations in our country. He had purchased an iconic building, WISMA PRIMAS, fully paid up, in Kuala Lumpur. During his term, he had also established a great relationship between relevant government authorities, leaders, and lawmakers. His exemplary leadership had laid a solid foundation that has now become a model, in moving the association forward.

T Muthusamy, the second president of PRIMAS, continued the momentum and persisted in steering the association beyond the benchmark set by his predecessor. His task was incredibly challenging due to the political and social changes the country went through during his term. Undeterred, he worked relentlessly and met all the challenges head on, to assist PRIMAS members to the best of his ability. He played a vital role in mooting an exceptionally good relationship with all major Indian Business associations in the country. This had brought vast benefits to PRIMAS members. My words of appreciation are also dedicated to all the committee members who had served, during both the past Presidents’ terms.

Again, I thank each and every one who worked as a team and made me who I am today. My term has begun with tougher challenges in fighting the pandemic which has brought the world to a stand still. I am confident that we will be able to sail through these trying times, with all the support of the PRIMAS team, with their innovative and focused actions. The challenges are hugely different now and I can see that it is going to become tougher to operate restaurants in future. And, I am very certain that, without accepting this HARD TRUTH, we will not be able to forge ahead effectively in our business.

Acceptance is a stepping stone to greater transformation. My vision and dream are to bring about a great change in our industry. Our restaurants must become an outlet welcoming all Malaysians as our customers. We must focus on the following changes such as becoming semi- automated, becoming Halal certified restaurants, having 60% local employees, and also maintaining hygienic & clean Restaurants with “A” certificates. I strongly urge all our members to specifically give this a thought and be ready to spend greater amount of time and money, not only to dream but to realise such an outlet, within the next 3 to 5 years.

The PRIMAS committee, together with me, will not be able to achieve this transformation, without the shared interest and ambition of all of you. PRIMAS will initiate this effort by giving ideas and assistance to those interested to participate and bring about a new look to the industry. PRIMAS will also continue to identify ways and means to support your efforts, through appealing to the government for aid and assistance.

As the President of PRIMAS, I cannot get away without mentioning about the dire need for foreign workers and the issues faced currently by our sector. We, at PRIMAS, are constantly looking at all the options and knocking on every door, to resolve the current scenario. PRIMAS will forge ahead, fighting hard for getting new approvals, resolving pending issues due to the pandemic, and above all, bringing a solid & permanent solution to our struggle for at least the next 5-10 years. This will be
achievable if Restaurant operators are willing to transform and to accept to walk the path to CHANGE.

I wish the absolute best to all PRIMAS members, to create an exemplary environment for our customers and to go the extra mile, to change the customers’ mindset and opinion in favour of us. To My Exco and Committee members, I appeal for unity and cooperation as “TEAM PRIMAS” in taking our Association to greater heights.

Thank you.
Mr. J. Govindasamy @ Suresh
PRESIDENT