Dato' Mukhriz Mahathir
Co-ordinator, AMAN Malaysia

Dato’ Mukhriz Mahathir studied Business Administration at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan and graduated with a degree in Marketing from Boston University, Massachussetts, U.S.A. in 1989.

He has over 10 years experience in business and project development during his tenure at the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd. Mukhriz served as Investment Bureau Officer at the Bank’s Nihombashi Head Office in Tokyo and thereafter as Senior Advisor to the President of the Bank’s Kuala Lumpur office until 2000.

His venture in establishing his own telecommunications company, OPCOM Sdn Bhd, and its joint-venture subsidiary with Ericsson Cables AB of Sweden, called OPCOM Cables Sdn Bhd, has made significant impact in the telecommunications market and manufacturing industry in Malaysia as well as in the region.

OPCOM Cables is currently the largest manufacturer of fibre optic cables in Malaysia. The company is also the largest supplier to Telekom Malaysia Bhd and other major telecommunications service providers in the country.

The success of OPCOM Cables has been exemplary in the area of effective transfer of high technology in an increasingly competitive telecommunications industry. In December 2003 OPCOM Holdings Bhd, a group holding company, was listed on the MESDAQ – the Malaysian stock exchange targeted specifically at growth and technology companies.

Mukhriz’s diverse business ventures also include an active partnership with the only travel services company listed on the main board of Bursa Malaysia, Reliance Pacific Bhd. The company is currently the largest operator of inbound, outbound and domestic travel in Malaysia.

Mukhriz’s involvement in the hotel business includes the Tanjong Jara Beach Hotel, Terengganu; Avillion Village Resort and Admiral Cove Marina and Hotel, Port Dickson; and the Hotel Seri Malaysia franchise operations.

He is also active in advertising and communications, and is Chairman and partner of the ISC Group – an advertising agency affiliated with TBWA of New York. A professional with diverse interests, Mukhriz is also active in youth and sporting organisations. He is the current President of the MRSM Alumni (Persatuan Bekas Pelajar MRSM), or ANSARA, and President of the Malaysian Sport Diving Association. He was recently elected to the Supreme Council of UMNO Youth, the youth wing of the largest political party in Malaysia, and is currently Chairman of the wing’s International & NGO Relations Bureau.

Mukhriz has since been involved as Coordinator of PEACE Malaysia where he spearheaded humanitarian relief efforts in tsunami-torn Aceh. He was also instrumental in organizing an international civil society conference promoting peace in Palestine. He has also successfully led a massive charity drive for South Asian earthquake victims where the donations were used to set up medical camps, supply medicines, and most importantly, provide shelter for earthquake victims in Pakistan.