Newspapers are rife with bad news, disasters and tragedies. It can be pretty depressing to start the day with a dose of such unpalatable news. However, once in a while, you read something that is so positively inspiring that you can’t help but be thankful that the powers-that-be in the newspaper has chosen to frontpage the news instead of tucking it in an obscure corner of the daily. Those of you who have read last Saturday’s The Star would know what I’m talking about.
Klang’s king of mini markets, The Star, 1 July 2006
BY LOONG MENG YEE
KLANG: Running a grocery business with a RM200mil annual sales turnover, local boy Lee Thiam Wah is giving hypermarket giants a run for their money.
Lee, 42, the founder of the 99 Speedmart chain of stores is Klang’s undisputed “Mr Mini Mart” and runs his business empire from a wheelchair.
At eight months, he was struck with polio, rendering his legs unuseable. The disability had in no way affected Lee’s zest to succeed in life and business. Pointing to his wheelchair, he said: “This is nothing.”
Perfect Perfect- ‘Mr Mini Mart’ Lee and his wife Ng Lee Tieng at their distribution centre in Klang. – STARpic by K.K. SHAM
“Life should not be lived bemoaning what you don’t have. Rather, it is about using what you have to build something for yourself, your family and the community,” added Lee, whose journey to success has been one of blood, sweat and tears.
Life has thrown challenges at Lee at every turn. He was born into a poor family and his hawker mother and contract labourer father fended for their 11 children as best as they could.
However, the financial burden was just too much. His parents cried when they told Lee he could not attend secondary school because the journey was too far and they just could not afford the transport fare.
“I was sad but undeterred. I borrowed textbooks from neighbours and read them at home. I also read the newspapers and magazines,” Lee recounted.
At 23, he opened his first grocery shop in Jalan Tepi Sungai here.
“I took to trading because there were not much employment opportunities for me. Let’s face it, a man in a wheelchair with a primary education is not exactly in high demand.”
In a few years, his shop became the best grocery store around – known for its good customer service, fair price and variety of goods.
Business was good but Lee wanted more challenge. He sold the shop to a relative and opened a mini-market in Klang Utama with RM300,000 seed money in 1992.
“I was not afraid, having been in business for five years. I knew I could do better and at that time, the big hypermarkets were not around yet,” said Lee, who now owns 44 convenience stores here and in the Klang Valley. While the business has given Lee a tremendous sense of achievement, it is his wife Ng Lee Tieng, 27, and their two children, aged four and six, who have brought him much joy and a sense of completeness.
“Lee Tieng is my source of strength. Her vivacity complements my more reserved nature.
“More importantly, my wheelchair is invisible in her eyes and those of my kids. Their love allows me to walk tall, run, sprint and race towards success.”
I am happy for the success of Mr. Lee. 99 Speedmart is known in Klang for its low prices and fast service. Though they only stock the essentials, no fancy products such as whipped cream, turkey or exquisite glassware are available here, you can rest assured that prices here are fair. What’s more, they now accept credit card payment for purchases of RM50 and above. Just last week, a friend was raving about how cheap their vegetables are. I don’t usually do my marketing at 99 as their vegetables are limited in variety but I remember buying a packet of fresh chillies at RM1.20 which would have cost me more than RM5 at the market.
Mr. Lee is truly a success story. I am awed by his attitude, he who views his disability as “nothing.” How often we let lesser challenges knock us senseless. But here is a man who has conquered adversity and turned his life around for the better. Way to go, Mr. Lee!
I totally agree. I was reading the same article and thinking how I work my way towards achieving my dreams. I was inspired, to say the least.
But I suppose people like him think that he’s got nothing to lose when able people like myself think’ alamak, malu la if fail!’. I think I have to put aside that feeling in order to achieve greater things…
I hope this is not just my fingers typing, but also my heart talking!
A nice inspiring story for monday.
Lydia, God knows how much we need this kind of stories these days. Stories that inspire us. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the inspiring post! Makes you think what you can (and should) do!
I personally have friends who grew up with polio and despite that, are very successful.
My cousin is a successful accountant with his own company of 20 over staff.
So is my friend Patrick Teoh, the popular radio DJ and actor and columnist.
They are mighty inspiring to me and I’m sure, to many others too.
p1p3, that’s true. In this case, able-bodied people are letting their wellness become a crutch, isn’t it?
FH2o, thanks for visiting. You have a beautiful blog.
Kak Teh, Yeah, we need more of such stories. You could write them
Yvonne, Kudos to your cousin, Patrick Teoh and others who have excelled in spite of their disability.
Tokkok is YVonne’s cousin?Now, that’s news to me.heheh..sorryla miss the train.hehehe
p1p3, no, Patrick Teoh is not Yvonne’s cousin, he’s a fren. The cousin is the accountant. See Yvonne’s comment above.
Mr or miss . How if i want open small 99 speedmart mini market at nilai . Where did i want get discus or get idea . Pls give idea or respon . Thank you .
Dear sir or Madam ; If i want open one branch at nilai how ? Where did i want get merchendise ? Im confiues . if want help me to find the way , e-mail to this no: aegan.90210@yahoo.com. Thank you very much.
Balan, I have no connection to 99 at all. I suppose you could look up the contact no. of 99 management office via Telekom or you could go to an existing 99 outlet to ask them how to get in touch with the big boss.
Impossible is nothing…
hello
i want to complain.
why your branch kg.jawa have very abnormally high tempature.
i think management of this branch could do something with this issue.
im feel so hot,not just my body feel it but all of my family and neighbours talk about this.
others customer too i think.
please take some act.
i like to shopping at 99 cause the price,fast service,friendly staff and it have all i want to buy but i cant stay,i cant choose things i want.
please respons this messages,thanks.
honest customer here.
we’ll wish some feedback.
Dear regular customer, I’m the wrong person to complain to. You should go to the shop and tell the management. If you read this post carefully, you’ll notice that I have no connection with 99 at all. I’m also a customer like you.
Hi,Lydia
Im so impressed with the article published on the successful story of Mr Lee Thiam Wah@Director of 99 Speedmart which i knew him personally since 2001 when i was working in a MNC trading company servicing his ac.
In fact,Mr Lee is a pleasant personnel with his style of ordering goods and he is very generous in dealing with the sales person meanwhile willing to further assist the sales person to achieved monthly sales target by fullfilled the expected sales shortfall as it was required,he is also known as ”Saviour”to the supplier by his flexibility on prompt payment when the supplier squeezed into financial difficulties……Im proud with you,Mr Lee
Paul, thanks for enlightening me further on the positive attributes of Mr. Lee. Sounds like a very nice person to know.
I couldn’t agree more about the low prices. I walked into a 99 mart a few months ago and I am glad I did. I have been going there regularly! Great job, Mr Lee.
I would like to show my appreciation for your quality article. Your original content has given me reason to think about a lot of this information. Your writing style is original and engaging. Thank you.