Parents the Reason for All His Success

WEALTH CREATION

LANGKAWI: He started off with a meagre RM500 loan from Mara to set up a driving school in Kangar.

That was 25 years ago. Today, Mohd Fadzil Salleh is a millionaire who owns 29 driving schools throughout the country.

And the soft-spoken 55-year-old entrepreneur, who has more than RM12 million to his name, attributed his success to his late parents, Salleh Lebai Man and Halimah Hassan .

"They had always reminded me against being arrogant but to always help others if I want to succeed in business," he said after receiving the national-level Mara Entrepreneur Award 2009 from Deputy Regional and Rural Development Minister Datuk Hasan Malek here on Sunday night.

Present were Mara chairman Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh and Mara deputy director-general (entrepreneurship) Datuk Othman Ahmad.

Together with his wife, Noriah Shafie, who strongly subscribed to her in-laws' advice, the couple set out with a modest driving school in the outskirts of Kangar in the early 80s.

"It was never easy but my wife and I soldiered on.
There's an easy way to plan for retirement. Find out how.

"Mara later provided an additional RM50,000 loan and technical support.

"We are now enjoying the fruits of our labour. Mara's confidence in us and most of all the prayers of our parents and six children, have been answered."

Fadzil, who is also Institut Memandu IKMP (Perlis) Sdn Bhd executive chairman, was among 19 entrepreneurs under Mara who received their respective awards from Hasan.

He received RM10,000, a trophy and a certificate.

Asked for his advice to budding entrepreneurs, Fadzil, who is also Malaysian Driving Institute Association secretary-general, said they must be resilient and never to give up in all their endeavours.

"They must also know of all the opportunities available, be honest and trustworthy so that their efforts is blessed," said Fadzil.