THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS

DATUK GORDON LEONG, JP
Senior Partner/Lawyer, Lim Guan Sing and Co and Chairman, Hyatt Regency Kinabalu

“I first started my shoe collection in 2005 and became serious about it five years ago. I still remember the day I got my first notable pair of shoes – it was right after I had received my first pay cheque, and I ran all the way to pick it up at Gucci! My current collection includes pieces by Louboutin, Dolce & Gabbana, Jimmy Choo, Paciotti, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, Louis Leeman and Steffano & Mario Ltd. Every pair comes with a story. Some are still waiting to make their débuts, while others have already made many appearances. As for my dream pair (well, two, really), they would have to be the Diamond Encrusted Shoes by Tom Ford and a Swarovski crystal pair from Giuseppe Zanotti I spotted at Harrods. There’s a certain thrill in procuring and waiting for the right time to introduce a new pair. It also has to do with the satisfaction when a total stranger approaches you to say: ‘Wow, that’s a very nice pair of shoes!’ While I haven’t got children of my own, my nephews will sometimes ask if they can borrow a pair and I’d tell them to take whatever they need. The youngest, Adam, is still too small to wear them, but he already knows how to appreciate these beautiful shoes. So, in a way, these can be heirlooms or even be auctioned off for charity later on.”

DATUK (DR) KELVIN TAN
Chairman, TSH Resources

“Practising yoga and qi qong have enhanced my life. I started on them several years ago. It was pretty much a wake-up call for me as I became more health conscious and aware of my body’s functions. I started seeing things differently, with fewer distortions, resulting in greater peace of mind, better health, more enthusiasm for life and an ever-growing sense of inner well-being. Every morning, I religiously start my yoga and qi qong at 8am, and only schedule my meetings from 10am onwards. I also make it a point to travel to Kamalaya in Koh Samui and Chiva-Som in Hua Hin for five one-week detoxification programmes every year. The most important part of practising yoga and qi qong is that they make you feel good; they relax, energise and strengthen body and mind. You will always feel better at the end of a session than when you begin, and life runs more smoothly when you maintain a constant discipline.”

DATUK AZRIN MOHD NOOR
Founder and Group CEO, Sedania Corporation

“My passion for football started with my father. When I was five, there was this football programme on TV and my father made me pick and root for a team. When my team won, I would share in their sense of victory and, when they lost, I would also experience their sadness. That was how it all started. Now, every four years, my friends and I have a ‘Boys Night Out’ holiday to the FIFA World Cup. It’s not only about the football, but also the energy and atmosphere. I must say that the tournament in Brazil was just far out compared to the ones in Germany, Korea and France. Nobody slept, there were parties every night and the Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro was truly special. I also managed to get a Brazilian football jersey signed by the entire team to mark the day that they lost 1-7 to Germany. Today, I coach children’s teams and the Under-Eights are my favourites as they’re just learning how to kick the ball properly. I’m also a firm believer that a person’s participation in sports is an indicator of how he will go on to lead his life. While it’s important to aim to win, you must also follow the rules and play the game with honour. You can’t go about elbowing people in the face and stealing the ball when they’re down.”

DR AXEL LIAU
Director, XLEric Group

“I like the colour blue so you could say that’s why my Audi R8 went, first, from black to matte black and now chrome blue. I’ve been told it’s the only one of its kind in Malaysia and I had to import the special colour directly from Japan. I am actually deciding on getting two more cars right now – a Lamborghini as well as a McLaren, but it’s a toss-up between the 650S and the 570S. I’ll be getting one of the new cars in chrome blue as well. I love my fast cars but, for everyday use, I still turn to my Vellfire or Alphard. But, I can tell you, my R8 is a favourite because it combines speed with comfort. You have to experience it to believe it.”

DATO’ SRI JACKIE TOR
CEO, LIC Industries

“I love watches and I’ve been collecting slowly but steadily ever since my friend, who hails from a renowned watch retailing family, introduced me to the rarefied world of timepieces. My first significant piece was a TAG Heuer, which I bought in my younger days, followed by a Rolex. I have about 20 key pieces now and I change my timepiece daily, according to my mood, activity for the day and wardrobe. I consider my collection to be quite eclectic as the pieces range from dressy to sporty. For formal occasions, I love my Girard-Perregaux and Zenith pieces. Right now, I’m wearing a limited edition Breitling for Bentley piece, which I like very much as I drive a Bentley myself. It’s macho yet special. I do, however, have my sights set on a limited edition Royal Oak by Audemars Piguet.”

DATO’ SETIA AUBRY MENNESSON
Managing Director, Light Cibles Malaysia

“I first started playing tennis in Paris at age six. My wooden racket was so heavy that I had to hold it using both hands. I still play the same way today on both forehand and backhand. As a self-proclaimed sports addict, I need my daily dose of exercise. My routine involves playing on weekends – sometimes twice a day – and early in the morning on weekdays. I enjoy playing at Bukit Kiara as I have great friends and players there. I have played at Duta Tennis Centre and the Royal Selangor Golf Club, but I think I might be a bit too French to play on the grass – I really miss clay courts! I have played on Court Philippe Chatrier (Centre Court) in Roland Garros for a charity event. It was fascinating to play in this legendary stadium and it brought back a lot of good childhood memories. The great thing about tennis is that it combines a lot of skills: endurance, speed, strength, precision and concentration. It’s a very mental and strategic game. I also like the fact that nothing is settled until the last point, so you can overturn a match at any time. But, in the end, it’s not about winning or losing. Just have fun.”

JAMES BELTRAN
Deputy Chairman, Melewar Holdings

“I’ve always been passionate about cycling, but had to put it on hold while pursuing the mandatory higher education. It was only within the last year I rediscovered that passion, after purchasing a mountain bike to encourage my eldest son to experience the great outdoors. My daily routine involves cycling around the neighbourhood and the nearby hills for at least an hour. Longer rides are reserved for weekends in places like Semenyih, Genting Peras and Bukit Hantu, usually with friends or family. In August, I’ll be spending a month in Colombia, which is renowned for its uphill climbs. I plan to use this time to cycle daily while experiencing the high altitudes, which will, hopefully, help me improve my ride. My advice to those keen on trying it out would be to just get a decent bike based on your budget, as the only thing you really should be focused on is upgrading your methodology and stamina.”

JUAREZ LOWE
CEO, Juarezlowe Corporate Consultants

“Growing up in a household with amazing food certainly played a big role in my passion for cooking. My foray only began during my boarding school days in England. This was in the 1990s and the food you’d find outside or at the student hall just wasn’t all that good. So, if you wanted decent food, you had to learn how to cook. I began by asking the local butchers for tips on how to cook certain meats and slowly learned from there. I would follow a recipe and spice things up once I understood the science behind the flavours. As for the most challenging dish I’ve tackled, it would have to be chocolate fondant – the temperature and the timing have to be perfect, otherwise you’ll just end up with a chocolate cake or a molten mess. And, of course, every chef has a go-to kitchen tool. For me, that would be my Henckels knife, which has lasted for 18 years. I’ve brought it with me to places like Singapore, Arizona and Mexico. Besides being amazingly sharp and long-lasting, it also serves as a constant reminder of the importance of sticking with the basics. You’d be surprised what you can whip up using just a knife and pan, which is especially important when you’re travelling to so many different places.”

BOB CHUA
CEO, Pulse Group PLC

“I discovered my passion for big bikes at a very young age. When I was about 10, my dad let me ride with him on a 250cc scrambler. We ended up crashing. Fortunately, I got away relatively unscathed although I can’t say the same about my dad, who got a good scolding from my mum! But I do look forward to riding with my own sons one day – that would be awesome. I’ve travelled a lot with big bikes and met a lot of wonderful people, who share the same passion, along the way, while also learning a lot about self-discipline and making the most of life. The sense of freedom is just exhilarating. I’m contemplating getting into motor racing, possibly via sponsorship for a regional outfit to take part in the Porsche Carrera Cup or the Bentley circuit. I guess some guys never grow up; we just get involved with bigger and more expensive toys. As for my current collection, it includes a Harley-Davidson, Triumph, Royal Enfield Cafe Racer, Norton, Ducati, and a BMW GS 1200 Adventure. I also recently bought a Vespa for my wife, which has since been hijacked into my own collection as well. I’m just so intrigued by the machines, the nostalgia, the journeys and the experiences.”

DATO’ TAN SUCHENG
Managing Partner, PDI Design & Associates and President, Ferrari Owners Club Malaysia

“I’ve always been fascinated with fast cars since I was a little boy. When I was 18 or 19, I decided that the Ferrari was the ultimate expression of a supercar. My very first sports car was actually a MR2, which I acquired while I was doing my masters in New York. I would go racing around Long Island Rail Road with my friends at crazy speeds; we had no fear at that age. We also went on a week-long, 5,000km road trip from New York to Los Angeles in my MR2. When I returned home, my second sports car was a red Supra; it was a manual and I modified it so it had over 430hp. Today, I’m very enthusiastic about the Ferrari Owners Club Malaysia. I initially started out as a regular member and was taken aback when I was asked to be President. However, I decided it would be a good opportunity to improve my HR skills, as I would have to deal with members who are all very successful in the marketplace and come from very diverse backgrounds. In May, we hosted a Grand Tour for Asia-Pacific Ferrari drivers. We started in Singapore and drove up all the way to the Sepang International Circuit for track events, before splitting into two groups – one went for a golf tour, while the other went up to Genting Highlands and Bukit Tinggi. We then held a grand gala dinner in the city before driving back to Singapore. I’m also very excited about my next car, the Ferrari 488 GTB.”

BINGLEY SIM
Managing Director, Equity Capital Markets, CIMB Investment Bank Berhad

“I’ve been picking up artworks and sculptures for over 10 years now. The piece that really got me started was Bayu Utomo Radjikin’s Kau Sekutu atau Seteru, a massive black work that I loved at first sight. I particularly like looking out for up-and-coming artists, though, making time to attend their exhibitions as well as talk to like-minded friends and compare notes. Personally, I make it a point to support Malaysian artists. I track their careers and follow through by consistently supporting them. It really helps, of course, that Malaysia has no shortage of artistic talent. I’m not kiasu and I take risks when I buy. If I like a piece, I just buy it. But, having said that, I don’t buy blindly. If the artist or work becomes well-known after, I consider that a bonus. Buying art makes for a poor pocket but I can’t tell you how much it enriches my life.”