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The local freight forwarding industry lost a pioneer and industry
leader last Saturday with the passing of Abel Tan Ah Beng, founder
and chief executive officer of the Able Group of Companies and
president of the Selangor Freight Forwarders & Logistics
Association (SFFLA). He was 54.
Tan was highly respected in and out of the industry. He spent his
entire working career in the freight forwarding industry,
beginning as a forwarding clerk with a local company for a few
years, and later as a shipping claims clerk and shipping manager
before starting his own group of companies in 1990.
The group comprises four subsidiaries: Able Consolidation Services
Sdn Bhd dealing with consolidation of goods from Peninsular
Malaysia to Sabah and Sarawak, Abletech Sdn Bhd which is a private
transit warehouse, Able Freight Forwarding Sdn Bhd which offers
Customs brokerage formalities and Able International Freight Sdn
Bhd to deal with international freight.
It is understood that the group would remain controlled by the Tan
family.
Tan was elected as president of SFFLA in 2001 and has helmed the
association since. As president of SFFLA, Tan was also appointed
as the
vice-president of the Federation of Malaysia Freight Forwarders (FMFF).
He also co-founded the Global Logistics Network, a New
Jersey-based global grouping of international freight forwarders
to promote networking and business goodwill and opportunities
among fraternity members.
As the president of SFFLA and vice-president of FMFF, Tan sat as a
permanent member of the Malaysia Logistics Council, which is
headed by the Minister of International Trade and Industry.
He also sat on Port Klang Authority's Port Consultative Committee
and the Small and Medium Industries Development Corp Focus Group
on Logistics.
SFFLA vice-president Chan Kong Yew said Tan was a champion of the
industry with 36 years of freight forwarding experience.
"He had charisma and could bring together various players in the
freight forwarding and logistics industry. He also opened up
communication channels between the members and other government
agencies, such as Customs and the Ministry of Transport to listen
to the views of the freight forwarding industry," he said
yesterday.
With his extensive experience in shipping, logistics and port
operation and management, Tan was a much sought-after resource
person in the logistics industry. He was a firm believer in
building the professional capacity of the freight forwarding and
logistics industry, said Chan.
Under his committed leadership, SFFLA and FMFF have implemented
the training programme at foundation, certificate and diploma
level for industry members in 2007. The courses have been
developed under the guidance and assistance of UNESCAP, in line
with the International Federation of Freight Forwarders
Associations (Fiata) diploma syllabus.
"The local logistics and shipping industry has lost a great leader
with the passing of Tan," said Shipping Association of Malaysia
chairman Ooi Lean Hin. "He had dedicated a large part of his life
improving service standards and operating conditions for the
forwarding community . He was a person that was helpful and looked
to serve the community in the best possible way," he added.
Tan is survived by his wife, two daughters and sons-in-law and two
grandchildren. |
