Name: Cheong Swee Leong (张骐椋)

Position: Director

Company: Inter Smart Sdn Bhd

Personal Profile:

Cheong Swee Leong, born in 1981 in Taiping, Perak, dropped out of school at the age of 14. Despite facing hardships and hunger, he ventured into entrepreneurship and became a successful self-made entrepreneur of the new generation.

In 1995, he worked as an electrician, furniture maker, and spray painter in Taiping. Determined to learn and improve his skills, he persevered through difficulties. In 2006, through a fortuitous opportunity, he traveled to Singapore with friends and learned the latest spray painting techniques.

In 2010, after working in Singapore for 5 years, he returned to Malaysia with courage to start his own business. He, along with three friends from Taiping, pooled RM 10,000 each to open a spray painting factory in Puchong, Kuala Lumpur, marking the beginning of their entrepreneurial journey.

That year, they established Lune Enterprise Sdn Bhd, with Cheong overseeing planning and management, one friend managing the shop, another handling customer acquisition, and two additional workers hired, making a total of five people.

His business philosophy is distinctive – rather than providing on-site spray painting, they offered a unique service of transporting iron gates, wooden windows, and furniture needing painting to their factory in Puchong from areas like Sungai Besi, Kajang, and the Klang Valley for refurbishment. They aimed for excellence before returning the items to customers.

Customers greatly appreciated their craftsmanship and service, leading them from losses to profitability.

To gain customer trust and satisfaction, they expanded their workforce. They completed tasks in three days that others required a week to finish. The company grew from five to fifty employees. With Cheong’s expertise in the latest spray painting techniques, the business flourished.

In 2014, after achieving success, differences in ideals and goals emerged among the partners. They decided to part ways amicably. Cheong established another company to pursue his entrepreneurial endeavors.

During his entrepreneurial journey, his greatest regret was not acquiring sufficient education beforehand. He struggled with computers initially, leading to difficulties in managing finances and being taken advantage of. However, he humbly learned computer skills, digitalizing business operations, and maintaining proper records. His advice to young people is to seize opportunities for education as it greatly benefits future careers.

He finds joy in philanthropy, leaving positive impacts wherever he goes.

In the company, although he hasn’t received outstanding entrepreneur awards, his office is adorned with numerous charity awards, evidence of his altruism and compassion. While business dealings may involve competition and strife, philanthropy fosters genuine connections and lightens the heart.

Company Profile:

In 2014, he independently founded Inter Smart Sdn Bhd. It has since become one of Malaysia’s top professional renovation companies, renowned for its exceptional work.

Initially, he intended to register the company as “Inter Team Sdn Bhd,” inspired by a successful renovation company he worked for in Singapore. However, the registration authority suggested “Inter Smart Sdn Bhd” as a more fitting name, signifying intelligence. He embraced the suggestion and registered the company accordingly.

Currently, he serves as the company’s director, leading it towards specialization in high-end renovations. They are now the preferred renovation company for many luxury brand stores.

They have undertaken renovations for prestigious stores like The Garden Hermes and Pavilion Hermes office, TRX Valentino, Snowbank Mitsui Outlet, and Gurney Plaza in Penang. They are not only main contractors for luxury stores but also subcontractors for secondary renovations, gradually establishing their reputation.

The company operates based on three principles:

Firstly, completing renovations punctually to ensure timely store openings, with meticulous craftsmanship and elegant aesthetics.

Secondly, providing professional advice for safer, durable, and robust renovations based on the designs provided by clients. For instance, they advise on electrical safety, ensuring appliances like water dispensers near sinks are installed securely to prevent accidents.

Thirdly, a commitment to lifelong learning and improvement.

Despite being a business owner, he remains eager to learn. In 2022, he attended courses at the OE Business School, learning the “Triple Win Model” from mentor Datuk Wira Calvin Khiu – aiming for wins for customers, the team, and shareholders. He hopes his employees join him in continuous learning and growth towards success.

Company Vision:

In the future, he aims to venture into the food and beverage industry, establishing a chain of restaurants nationwide. Inter Smart Sdn Bhd will handle all the renovations for their brand, while adopting innovative marketing strategies to keep customers engaged – regular small renovations every three years and major renovations every seven years, offering fresh culinary experiences and attractive dining environments.