KEE@FSWMAG.COM
IT WAS A NIGHT TO REMEMBER ON 15 APRIL 2012 AT EQUATORIAL PENANG AS DATO' JOSEPH KOW, HIS LOVELY WIFE DATIN VERONICA KOW AND GORGEOUS DAUGHTER HOSTED THE 74TH BIRTHDAY OF THE GOVERNOR OF PENANG TOGETHER WITH GENNEVA GOLD BULLION AND PARCEL POST.
TYT Tun Dato Seri Utama Dr Haji Abdul Rahman Haji Abbas blowing out his candles on his birthday cake shaped as gold bullion as host Dato Joseph Kow and wife Datin Veronica Kow at extreme right plus directors of Genneva Gold looked on.
Yuma Yabuki from Tokyo, Japan, AFS exchange student from AFS Japan delivering Parcel Post box to big boss Dato Joseph Kow with MD Jacalyn Kow at right.
The Governor of Penang, TYT Tun Abdul Rahman Haji Abbas signing the plaque to launch Parcel Post on 15 April 2012
Parcel Post is now launched! Contact 04- 6606 909 for details and Parcel Post will even pack for you!
The wife of the Penang Governor Yang Amat Bahagia Toh Puan Datin Seri Utama Hajjah Majimor binti Shariff placing her palm on the globe to light it and signify Parcel Post's global domination! From left, the Governor of Penang, Datin Veronica Kow and Jacalyn Kow at extreme right
Datin Veronica Kow thanking the Governor of Penang while Dato Joseph Kow thanks Toh Puan Majimor
IT WAS CERTAINLY AN EXTRAORDINARY EVENING AS 3 EPIC EVENTS WERE CELEBRATED ONE AFTER ANOTHER AND IF YOU COUNT THE AWARDING OF GOLD, SILVER AND SENIOR CONSULTANTS AWARDS IT WOULD BE 4 EVENTS AND IF YOU INSIST ON COUNTING THE CHEQUE PRESENTATION TO WORTHY CAUSES, THEN IT TOTALS 5 SPECIAL EVENTS!
The birthday boy was the Yang DiPertua Negeri Pulau Pinang Tuan Yang Terutama Tun Dato' Seri Utama Dr Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Abbas who was accompanied by his wife Yang Bahagia Toh Puan Dato' Seri Utama Hajjah Majimor Binti Shariff.
Held in Equatorial's Matahari Ballroom which could accomodate the 1,100 guests, the gala was one the highlight of Penang's social calender so far. Dato' Joseph Kow originally wanted the ornate E & O Ballroom which would be nice as I have never stayed or even been at this historic hotel but the ballroom could not squeeze in the 1,100 guests. To think Genneva started with 40 tables (which was quite a lot already) when it started trading 3 years ago under the Samudra GV name when it was launched on 26 December 2009. Then the tables swelled to 80 and now 110 tables. They may have to hold their next party in the stadium!
It was a bit of deja vu for the Governor of Penang as YTY Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas also launched the inaugural event in 2009 and now he is repeating the feat under the new banner of 'Genneva Penang' and no longer under Samudra-GV.
I arrived before noon on 15 April and spent half an hour admiring Equatorial's pool, verdant gardens and Penang's skyline from my balcony before descending to Matahari to watch the rehearsal by Dato' Joseph Kow's family and team. He is the Regional Director of Genneva Malaysia and run the Penang branch while his 20-something graduate from Melbourne Monash University daughter Jacalyn Kow runs the newly established Parcel Post.
Genneva sells gold as in gold coins, wafers, bars and bullion which you buy and sell like in the good old days of the Gold Standard. Unlike some banks which give you a bankbook detailing how much gold you own, Genneva sells you solid gold which you can hold, kiss, lick and press against your cheek or breast! Nothing beats the feeling of real, solid gold you can actually touch, more so when you don't even have share certificates anymore as everything in the KL Bourse is online! I had friends who based their wealth on the height and weight of their share certificates! Now some of them plaster their study rooms with these antique papers!
But Genneva offers the traditional alternative of being able to buy and sell gold!
As for Parcel Post, it is similar to a courier delivery service except they will do the packing for you! Of course you can pack yourself but should the Ming vase need arrive unscathed you might as well let Parcel Post pack for you!
Check out this great service at www.parcel-post.net
The Who's Who of Penang who graced the Kow's party (apart from the Governor and his wife) were Ketua Polis Pulau Pinang Dato Wira Ayub, Ketua Jabatan Pengatuan Jalan (JPJ) Dato Hassan Haji Yaccob, President Persatuan Melayu Pulau Pinang Dato Seri Yusof Latiff, President of Penang Swimming Club K.H Chan, President of Penang Sports Club Dr Shankar, Naib Profesor Yayasan Canselor Universiti Tenaga Dato Seri Maskuri, Penang Head of Pathology Dato Dr Bhupinder Singh, Consul General of Japan Tetsuro Kai, Consul General of Indonesia Pak Chilman Arisman and Consul General of Thailand Voradet Viravakin.
In his welcome speech, Dato Joseph Kow thanked TYT Tun Abdul Rahman Abbad and Toh Puan Majimor and the board of directors of Genneva Malaysia CEO Dato Tan Liang Keat, International Marketing Director Dato Phillip Lim, director Dato Mohd Azmi Dato Abdul Aziz and advisors Dato Sunny Yee and Dato William Chin.
Dato Joseph Kow noted with gratitude His Excellency the Governor of Penang had specifically flown back from Kuala Lumpur at 4pm that same afternoon after attending the coronation of the King and Queen of Malaysia just to be with us.
"Thank you so much YTY Tun for your tremendous effort to grace our event," said Dato Joseph Kow. "When we began operation in Penang in 2009, we operated under Samudra GV. YTY Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas launched it at Bayview hotel. Since then we have become a Syariah compliant company and our institutional status was launched by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad our former Prime Minister on 15 December 2010.
"In our first year we sold RM 60 million worth of gold. In 2011 I bravely committed in the presence of Tun and Toh Puan we would have sales of RM 100 million in 2011---I am proud to announce we sold RM 117 million and exceeded our target!
"Then I took a greater challenge to have sales of RM 20 million a month for Genneva Malaysia. We are again proud to announce within 3 months from January to March 2012 we achieved total sales of RM 127 million when our target was RM 60 million!
"This is due to our team of Consultants who have worked so tirelessly in educating the public about the value of gold in good and bad times. Our Consultants have earned the respect of over 30,000 customers who have bought over RM 3 billion from Genneva Malaysia over the last 3 years.
"We now have branches in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Ipoh, Batu Pahat, Sitiawan, Seremban, Malacca, Sabah and Sarawak and soon Kota Baru and Johore Baru. We opened our Beijing office recently on 27 March 2012."
Dato Kow is a fervent believer in gold and declares it will never cease to shine even in the darkest economic cycle. He noted, "In my interview with The Star published on 16 February 2012, I stated the gold of price will increase between 5 to 8 percent this year. The recent contraction of gold has seen a huge increase in sales as investors buy now before the next bullish phase begins."
After the speeches by Dato Tan Liang Keat and Dato Joseph Kow, cheques were presented to charitable organisations by the Penang Governor. The Governor then launched Genneva Penang followed by Parcel Post. Awards were also given to top achievers while a lady with a winsome smile was selected to win the 'Night of a 1000 Golden Smiles' award. I thought it would be me after my teeth job by Dr Datuk Sean Paul of Livingwell Clinic...
Entertainment was provided by the amazingly talented Helmi the Gimmick who appeared as an Indian before morphing into a Chinaman and finally Michael Jackson! Now that is really 1Malaysia!
I enjoyed myself so much I stayed till the very end and would have stayed till dawn drinking had not I been asked politely by Equatorial staff to vacate my seat as they needed to clean the Ballroom.
Here are the photos in chronological order;
Jacalyn Kow with her grandfather
The father of Dato Joseph Kow, Kee Hua Chee and Yuma Yabuki
Jonathan Kow, Kee Hua Chee and Yuma Yabuki plan to start a boy band...
Yuma Yabuki, his 'Malaysian mum' Datin Veronica Kow, Jacalyn Kow and her grandfather Mr Kow
Yuma Yabuki, Datin Veronica Kow, Jacalyn Kow, Mr Kow and Kee Hua Chee
Yuma Yabuki in his batek shirt bought for him by his foster family and Kee Hua Chee in Tangoo jacket and personalised pants painted in Bangkok
Yuma looking yummy
Yummy Yuma
All set for J-Pop as Yuma is Japanese
Yuma and his foster brother Jonathan Kow are both 16
Jacalyn Kow with her school mates
Kee Hua Chee joins in
Winsome threesome
Yuma, Kee Hua Chee, president of Persatuan Melayu Pulau Pinang Dato seri Yusof Latiff and wife and Jacalyn Kow of Parcel Post
Jacalyn Kow and guests and foster brother Yuma at right
2 Penang lovelies
The Consul General of Indonesia Pak Chilman Arisman and wife
Kee Hua Chee signing in
Guests being informed of their table number
Dato Mohd Azmi Dato Abdul Aziz greeting Datin Veronica Kow while waiting for the Governor of Penang to arrive
Left; Dato Azmi, Dato Joseph Kow and his family, wife Datin Veronica Kow, daughter Jacalyn Kow and son Jonathan Kow
Kee Hua Chee joins in
The directors and owners of Genneva Gold
Gathering of Genneva team
The Genneva management team and associates
Yuma Yabuki, the Consul General of Japan Tetsuro Kai and Dato Joseph Kow
The welcome banner says it all
Arrival of the Chief of Police Ketua Polis Pulau Pinang Dato Wira Ayub being welcomed by Dato Joseph Kow
Penang's top cop chattin with Genneva directors
Jacalyn Kow and Kee Hua Chee retreated to the VIP Room for some air conditioning while waiting for the Governor of Penang's arrival
Jacalyn Kow and Yuma Yabuki
Kee Hua Chee, Jacalyn Kow and Jonathan KowTHE ARRIVAL OF THE GOVERNOR OF PENANG TUAN YANG TERUTAMA TUN DATO SERI UTAMA DR HAJI ABDUL RAHMAN BIN ABBAS AND HIS WIFE TOH PUAN MAJIMOR SHARIFF
The Governor of Penang being warmly welcomed by Dato Joseph Kow
The Penang Governor being welcomed by Dato Phillip Lim
The wife of the Governor of Penang Toh Puan Majimor Shariff is warmly welcomed
The Governor of Penang and his wife being welcomed by Datin Veronica Kow, wife of Dato Joseph Kow of Genneva Penang and Parcel Post
The Governor of Penang being escorted to Matahari Ballroom by Dato Joseph Kow
A red carpet welcome
Jacalyn Kow, Datin Veronica Kow and Toh Puan Datin Seri Utama Majimor Shariff
Jacalym Kow, Datin Veronica Kow, Toh Puan Majimor and Yuma Yabuki
Sharing a joke; Datin Veronica Kow, Toh Puan Majimor and Yuma Yabuki
Directors of Genneva Malaysia with the Governor of Penang and his wife
The Governor of Penang escorted by Dato Joseph Kow greeting guests
Entering Matahari Ballroom
Standing to attention as Negara-Ku is played
Toh Puan Majimor's table
View from the stage
Showing off Genneva bullion
Dinner is served
All ready for a sumptuous repast
Signages in foyer
Senior Consultants
All that glitters is gold!
Genneva gold bullion
Cheque presentation
Waiting for the birthday cake
Bullion shaped cake
All ready
All set
Singing Happy Birthday
Happy 74th birthday Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas
Happy birthday!
Cutting the cake
Launching of Genneva Penang under its own name and not Samudra GV anymore
Genneva Malaysia Penang Branch is now launched!
Datin Veronica Kow, Toh Puan Majimor, Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas, Dato Joseph Kow and Jacalyn Kow waiting for the first 'delivery' from Parcel Post, the new courier/delivery service
Arrival of first despatch box by Yuma!
The Governor of Penang TYT Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas officially launching Parcel Post M Sdn Bhd with his signature
Everyone is so happy!
Toh Puan Majimor too launches Parcel Post by bringing life to the magic ball
A big Thank You from the Kows to their Excellencies
for launching Parcel Post
ENTERTAINMENT AND MERRYMAKING
Helmi the Gimmick at work
The Gloved One
Michael Jackson is resurrected
The handsome quartet
The new generation
Jonathan Kow and Kee Hua Chee
Daryl and Kee Hua Chee
Kee Hua Chee wins hands down in the bling department
Jacalyn Kow concedes defeat in the bling department
Kee Hua Chee and Yuma Yabuki
Yuma's hair won the Best Coiffure for Men
Yuma and Daryl
THE END
Posted by Desperado on 9:58 AM. Filed under