PPI 3153

Entrepreneurship Practice

Entrepreneurship Icon:
Loh Boon Siew
• Loh Boon Siew was born in 1915 in Fujian,
China, one of the poorest province in China.
• He never had the chance to go to school due
to his poor family condition. He spent his
childhood by collecting pig dug that used to
fertilize his family’s plants and bait for fishing.
• At the age of 12, he moved to Pulau Pinang
with his father to gain some money. At that
time, he could speak only Hokkien and had
no formal education. Yet, he did not regard
these issues as the constraint for him to
become a successful man.
• He was told by his father to work in a
mechanic shop. They both did not
have time to enjoy but worked hard to
send money to families in China. To
earn more money, he spent his night
by doing bus washing services with
the payment of 10 cents for each bus.
• The money saved by him little by little,
he later bought some mechanical
equipment worth RM10.00 and eight
used buses worth RM200.00 to repair
and used as a passenger bus. These
buses yielded lucrative revenue to him
at RM1.20 to RM 1.40 per day.
• Within 7 years he had 40 buses
and managed to open a battery
shop and spare parts of the
vehicle.
• However, In 1942, during World
War II, his money was confiscated
by the invading Japanese army.
After World War II ended in 1945,
he started selling bicycles, tires and
motorcycle accessories.
• In 1958, he visited Japan for a
vacation. In Japan, he saw a
Honda motorcycle that has never
been used in Malaysia and thought
it might get a good market if
brought here.
• After detecting who the producer was, he made an agreement to order 12
units of the motorcycle. This motorcycle is then sold to his close friends
without taking any profit. The Honda motorcycles that he brought were
ridiculed by people who thought it was useless and quickly damaged, but it
did not break his intention to introduce a motorcycle until by 1963, Honda's
motorcycles became the most sought vehicle.
• The first Malaysian Honda showroom was set
up at Pitt Street in Penang, very near the home
of Boon Siew. The Japanese Honda Motor Co
Ltd soon appointed Boon Siew the sole
distributor for Honda motorbikes in the country.

• A factory was built in Penang to assemble the

Honda Cub and the Honda motorcycle
assembled in Malaysia was renamed the Boon
Siew Honda. The Honda Cub became the best
selling motorcycle in Malaysia and Boon Siew
was recognised as the first person to bring the
Honda Cub motorcycles into Southeast Asia.
1) Dare to Take Risk
Loh Boon Siew was dare to take risk & facing the uncertainty when he
decided to bring in Honda Cub to Malaysia. Before introducing Honda
Cub in Malaysia, he did not know whether the motorcycle will be
accepted by the local people. He was brave to take the risks and what
was mesmerizing is his decision turned his life to become one of the
successful entrepreneur in Malaysia.

2) Persistent & Never Give Up

In the early phase of introducing the Honda Cub, the motorcycle was
ridiculed by the local people who thought the motorcycle is less durable
and easily to damaged. Despite all the negative thoughts, he never give
up and keep continuing his efforts to commercialize the Honda
motorcycle to Malaysian’s market. His hard works were paid off after
several years as the demands of the motorcycle increase time by time.
3) Dare to Dream
Loh Boon Siew dreams is to become a successful businessman. Even
though he was born in a very poor family, it does not stop him to dream
higher. He keep passionate and work hard to achieve his dreams.
People in Malaysia have witnessed Boon Siew’s efforts to achieve his
dreams. Even Honda Boon Siew’s company motto is inspired by Loh
Boon Siew’s life dreams.
Loh Boon Siew died at
the age of 79 on 16th
February 1995. To
memorialize his
contributions to the
automotive industry, a
road called Jalan Loh
Boon Siew was
named after him in
George Town,
Penang.