The Star - Stay global, says CM

Deputy Chief Minister 1 Mansor Othman (third left) and state executive councillor Lim Hock Seng (second left) checking out some of the stationery products in Chee Wah Corporation Berhad's plant in Mak Mandin, Butterworth. With them is state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh (far right).

LOCAL small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) should continue seeking trade opportunities in the international markets despite the global economic crisis, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said.

He said the move was vital as it allowed local companies to be resilient and less dependent on a single market.

“Chee Wah Corporation Berhad is one of the few SMEs in the stationery business that aggressively pursued the export marketing strategy in the 1970s. “Today, this public-listed corporation on the Second Board of Bursa Malaysia with an annual sales exceeding RM100mil exports its paper products to over 50 countries,” he said during Chee Wah’s 50th anniversary celebration at its Mak Mandin plant in Butterworth recently.

Deputy Chief Minister 1 Mansor Othman read out his speech text. Lim said many local companies had pulled through and grown further during the recovery phase of the economic cycle.

“These companies have graduated into champions and should be lauded for their contributions to Penang’s socio-economic development through employment opportunities and multiplier effects to the supporting and ancillary businesses,” he said.

Chee Wah Corp group managing director Khor Say Beng thanked his staff, business partners and suppliers for their dedication through the years, and paid tribute to his late brother Khor Say Khai, who co-founded the company, with his other brother Khor Say Kai.

The event also marked the official launch of the company’s automated warehouse within the plant using Daifuku ASRS (automated storage and retrieval systems).
Also present were state executive councillors Lim Hock Seng and Phee Boon Poh, Daifuku Japan international business development general manager Edward Ray and Daifuku (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd managing director Hiroyuki Katsura.

We are celebrating 50 inspiring years

The CAMPAP story, 3 brothers driven by a vision and passion to succeed. In 1959, two brothers Khor Say Kai and Khor Say Khai began to operate a small sundry goods business.



By 1966, Khor Say Beng join forces with his brothers in the fast growing business from the back of their van. The fledging business soon flourish and expanded its product and services to include stationery and paper converting. Understanding the importance of branding and product differentiation, the company introduces high quality brand of Camel Paper products to the market.

By 1977, Chee Wah Printers Sdn. Bhd. was in-cooperated. With substantial investment in printing technology, the company was that able to have in-house manufacturing facility to ensure better monitoring for stringent quality standards. In conjunction with the growth and expansion of the group, Chee Wah was listed on the Bursa Malaysia stock exchange in first November 1994.

Over the years, the emphasis on brand building continued as Camel Paper products has involved into a shorter acronym CAMPAP.
Today, CAMPAP is a leading Malaysia stationery brand with a wide range of quality products that inspire. Our premium products are used by many international consumers in Asia, Oceania, Middle East, Africa, Europe and America for office, education and personal requirements.

The company’s forward looking brand vision is supported with an extensive investment in the latest technologies. Our manufacturing excellence is backed by our Daifuku Automated Storage/Retrieval System and network to ensure that our products are delivered to global destinations on time. As a measure to enhance our product differentiation, Chee Wah is a pioneer in the deployment of license characters on paper stationery products.

Currently, Chee Wah is a Malaysia licensee for Disney stationery products and movement up to value chain and a testimony to our high manufacturing standards. We strongly believe in product diversification for future growth and offer wide and synergised product mix. These includes premium paper bags and wrapping papers created by our subsidiary Sun Paper Bags.

We have also created a wide range of educational publication including wall chart, flash card, board book, activities book and reading book by our subsidiary, Future Ace.

Our products are manufactured in compliance with vigorous international quality standards including Intertek, SGS, Bureau Veritas and STR requirements. A firm commitment to excellence is a cornerstone of the CAMPAP brand identity and Chee Wah was the first in our industry to achieve ISO quality certification in 1996. Our sustained commitment to product quality and brand building has continued. This recognition has led to CAMPAP receiving the SMI achievers recognition award in 2002, as well as the Superbrands award 2003, 2004 and 2005.

In line with our overall objective of comprehensive brand building we have embarked on a downstream retailing strategy to the establishment of the CAMPAP Superstores. Malaysian consumers will soon find the CAMPAP Superstores in their neighborhood supplying all total stationery needs under a single roof.

CAMPAP, inspiring ideas through product excellence and innovation, for our customer’s satisfaction.