While Sarawak has always been recognized for its traditional industries and logging business, the state’s premier has over the last five years been advocating for a shift towards sustainable development and community building to reshape the economy.
TSG Group is working in line with that shift by building transformative businesses that are involved in cultivating tissue cultures and planting future trees; building bridges to connect rural communities; developing, constructing and managing world-class and unique property developments; cultivating and commercially planting oil palm; and attracting capital and talent into Sarawak.
TSG Group CEO and founder Dato Chris Chung Soon Nam says: “As an entrepreneur of 25 years, I have founded different businesses, and I have found that a purpose-driven strategy is a great differentiator. It can drive financial performance and bring people together.
“A ‘purpose drives people and profit’ system generates sustainable impact. This results in a sustainable cycle of growth. So, just before the Covid-19 pandemic, I began a strategic review to unite all my businesses around a meaningful purpose to shape the state’s future. The reason behind it was not just financial growth but to contribute meaningfully to shape the future of Sarawak.”
Via its subsidiary, TSG Green Sdn Bhd, the group seeks to plant a million trees for Sarawak by end-2023 under its FutureTrees project. “This project is close to my heart and represents what Sarawakians can do. We have a tissue culture lab, the first in Kuching, that produces RT-Paulownia clones that can generate quality trees. This species is known as the empress tree in Japan and is known as the most effective natural carbon-capture tree in the world, capturing up to 10 times more than most tree species can absorb. It took us five years of experimenting with a partner to find an acclimatised version of this tree that is non-invasive and can be scaled up in Sarawak.”
He notes that the FutureTrees project is important in terms of developing the biotech industry in Sarawak as well as opening a viable economic pathway for the rural communities. “As it is, the state has a constant brain drain, as the young see few opportunities here, but a project like this can change that perception. We also seek to partner with the rural communities, as they can help us scale up, which can benefit them as well. It is a win-win-win situation in terms of the business, socio-economic and environmental aspects.”
Founded with a vision of developing a world-class township in Sarawak that boasts its own unique identity, the group’s Saradise Sdn Bhd has a vision to shape a new kind of Sarawakian township. “The Saradise model of a township is not typical in Kuching, and took us eight to nine years to get right,” says Chung.
“Our aim is to raise the bar of property developments in the state and set a benchmark that is on a par with international standards. Saradise is not just about creating a physical space but, rather, a vibrant community. We want to ensure that the township is not just aesthetically pleasing, but also functional and liveable. We aim to create a sustainable and inclusive environment where residents can thrive and enjoy a high quality of life.”
The company plans to launch a new residential development called Saradise Dreams in the Saradise township in Stutong. “We believe Kuching is an attractive second home; it is safe, offers great food and is surrounded by the best that nature can provide. We are also focused on bringing technology-oriented industries into our township for a good mix of community, technology and sustainability,” says Chung.
Under Saradise, the company has also set up the Saradise Gallery to foster the spirit of creativity and be a venue to promote local culture, arts and design, be a platform to showcase “Sarawakiana” creative works by local artists. The gallery currently features 800 local artists. “If you look at the most liveable places on earth, like Melbourne and Singapore, they have unique stories and cultures,” Chung says.
The group’s investment holding arm DesignFutures Venture Pte Ltd was set up to attract capital and talent to Sarawak, from Singapore, through the development of projects involving food security, environment as well as the data and space sector.
Through its subsidiaries Titanium Management Sdn Bhd and Titanium Project Management Sdn Bhd, the company has built 652 bridges in rural communities throughout Sarawak. Through Grand Olie Sdn Bhd, the company is exploring new ways to establish a circular economy by ensuring every part of the oil palm it cultivates can be reused.
“Sarawak is undervalued and there is a lot of latent value in terms of talent and uniqueness. Also, just a decade ago, few paid attention to the social or environmental impact, but I knew then that the way of doing business had to change. By addressing these two factors, businesses in Sarawak can be examples of sustainable and inclusive growth,” says Chung.