MASTER ENTREPRENEUR CATEGORY

GOH THIAN TECK

Director

BATARAS SDN BHD

Retail Industry

www.bataras.com.my

Information about the Entrepreneur

Humbly keeping his scorecards in maneuvering the growth and achievement of the company, Goh Thian Teck, the founder and CEO of Bataras Sdn. Bhd. (Bataras) is a living example of a resilient businessman who recognizes success and failure as part and parcel of the path he had chosen. Born and raised in Labuan, Goh came from a humble background and he had learned that life will not be easy for him in his early days. Mr. Goh didn’t get to have the chance to finish his secondary school studies as he had to work to provide for the family.

Like many youngsters, Mr. Goh was driven by the goal to provide better living conditions for his family, he had worked numerous kinds of jobs since he was 15. Though not being able to finish schooling may have placed Mr. Goh at a tougher start as compared to others with a certificate, his years of working in different industries had compensated for his shortcomings and earned him valuable experiences and networks that played a significant part in developing Bataras.

Other Interesting Facts about the Entrepreneur

Goh Thian Teck always believes in integrity and honesty, be it in running a business or being a person. Regardless of how muchwritten terms are in black and white, to make a business deal happen and last long, it could never run away from one being honest and genuine in sustaining the business.

Goh loves meeting people from different industries and of all ages as he believes that every person is an opportunity for him to mirror his strength and flaws and for him to learn new things from time to time. He practices lifelong learning and believes in practicing good deeds and always gives back to society when he is able to.

Integrity and honesty win the world.

Goh Thian Teck’s vision is to make Bataras the hypermarket a customer-centric shopping place where the public gets to access all daily necessities and goods at an affordable rate without having to travel far.

Company Achievements and
Role of the Entrepreneur

The first accomplishment of the company was when Goh Thian Teck took over the first Bataras outlet in Labuan when it was almost near to closing down. In a year’s time, Goh managed to sustain the business and eventually opened 13 outlets.

After the acquisition of 13 outlets from GIANT, the company took two years to complete the acquisition and only to face another challenge – The Covid-19 pandemic, which caused Bataras unable to launch its new outlets. Goh and his team immediately changed the direction and launched the delivery service and Bataras E-store.

This had helped its customers to obtain groceries and goods when many were restricted to go around and had to stay home. However, that was not the only challenge. Shortly after, there was a shortage of necessary supplies due to the restriction and delays of the sea and air freight logistics going to Sabah and Labuan. Goh and his team had to seek supplies from various places and tried to secure as many supplies as they could, and they eventually managed to pull through and kept the operation running.

The company’s revenue has grown to about RM 800 million in a year. To date, Bataras Sdn. Bhd. has about 2,000 employees and 35 outlets, and there are a few new outlets that are currently under development.

Vision, Mission & Future Plans

Goh Thian Teck’s vision is to make Bataras the hypermarket a customer-centric shopping place where the public gets to access all daily necessities and goods at an affordable rate without having to travel far. All goods prices are the same for in-store and online platforms, and Goh insists to work out ways to keep the price that way for everyone.

Goh hopes that with Bataras providing variety and affordable rates, customers will find it is a breeze to shop at Bataras outlets.