Business executive • MAY 11


you have to say and suggest. No, not yet, George, when I want your opinion I’ll give it to you. The trouble is too many people around the organisation


are downright unproductive. For instance, half the customer service team seem to spend all their time surfing the internet rather than talking to customers, tweeting or facebooking or whatever it is. Or worse: I read somewhere that 70% of all the hits on pornography sites are made between the hours of 9 and 5, no wonder customers are complaining. We have to get people to pull their socks up, gird up their loins and get down to some real work. Times are hard and I know it’s difficult to see the writing on the wall when your back’s to it, but we have to re-double our efforts and get things really buzzing. There’s no excuse for procrastination. You do all know what that is don’t you? Quiet George, I’m sure you do, especially as you’re so very good at it. Oh do come in Harry, here you are at last. No don’t apologise, we knew you were going to be late and had more important things to do than join us. Help yourself to some coffee; actually, it’s not arrived yet. Right, we must wrap it up now. I for one have a more


important meeting to get to. We’ve covered a lot of ground this morning, I think it has been very useful, but clearly no decision can be made today. Think about it and we will meet again soon. Trust me: we will get this right if we all pull together. Thank you all for your contributions today. No George, say no more now


for goodness sake, save it for the next meeting… besides, and I‘m sure I said this already, when I want your opinion I’ll give it to you. And just one more thing I should perhaps have mentioned


earlier: Mary, perhaps you would write up the minutes for this meeting. And this time try and get them round to everyone before we meet again will you. Oh, here’s the coffee – about time too – such a pity we must all get on. And one more final thing – next time we meet let’s have a bit more order shall we? I don’t want you all talking while I’m interrupting.” The Moral: Monologue is clearly not the way forward! A


clear purpose, a clear agenda, good communication, and good chairmanship can prompt meetings that find solutions, spark ideas, make decisions and create real opportunities.


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OBITUARY


Dato’ Dr tan tiong hong A


fter graduating from Sydney University as a Medical doctor, Dato’ Dr Tan was in practise for a number of years in Malaysia. He then made a series of career


changes and was elected a Member of Parliament and ministerial office followed quickly. After serving as Deputy Minister of Education, he held a post in the Treasury and later ran the Prime Minister’s Office. Dato’ Dr Tan then moved to Hong Kong where he chaired


a major bank for several years. Later he moved to China and whilst there his future son-in-law, Dr Trevor Sikorski joined him. Next he became a Visiting Fellow at an Oxford University


College. Whilst resident in Oxford, two of his three daughters married there. The circle was then completed following his return to Malaysia where he continued with his business interests and also set up a college. Dato’ Dr Tan’s first association with ABE was in 1985 when


as Deputy Minister of Education he spoke at an ABE Malaysia Branch function at the Merlin Hotel which had been organised by ABE’s Branch Chairperson, Dato’ Zaini Manaf and Cecilia Leong Faulkner, now ABE’s Representative in Singapore. Amongst the many guests were the British High Commissioner,


Head of British Council, and the CEOs of the Malaysian Divisions of ICI and Unilever. In 1997, Dato’ Dr Tan joined ABE’s


Council and in 1999 became the Chairperson. Throughout this period he gave dedicated service and sagacious advice to ABE. He will be sorely missed for his wealth of experience which he was always ready to share with others and for his willingness to listen to their views. At this very sad time, our thoughts are with his wife,


Catherine who was always a tower of strength, and his three daughters, two of whom followed in their father’s footsteps and are members of the medical profession.


he will be sorely missed for his wealth of experience which he was always ready to share with others and for his willingness to listen to their views


19


it is with the deepest regret that we report the death of aBe’s chairperson, Dato’ Dr Tan Tiong Hong.


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