TAN SRI MUHAMMAD ALI BIN HASHIM, (age: 67), served as President and CEO of Johor Corporation for more than 28 years (from January 1, 1982 up to July 29, 2010). As CEO over such a long period, he was responsible for leading and growing Johor Corporation into one of Malaysia’s outstanding conglomerates with a formidable reputation for entrepreneurial achievements and outstanding business track record.

He was also appointed as President, Pasir Gudang Local Authority (a Mayorial position for one of Malaysia’s most successful industrial townships) for a period of 26 years (1982-2008).

As President and CEO of Johor Corporation (JCorp), Muhammad Ali had also served as Chairman of several of JCorp’s companies listed on Malaysia’s Bourse (PLCs), namely Kulim (Malaysia) Berhad, KPJ Healthcare Berhad, KFC Holdings (Malaysia) Berhad, QSR Brands Berhad, Sindora Berhad and Al Aqar KPJ REIT Bhd.

Johor Corporation is today a leading state-owned government-linked corporate entity in Malaysia with market leadership positions in several businesses. At the end of Tan Sri Muhammad Ali’s term as CEO, market capitalisation value of JCorp’s PLC shares stood at RM18.1 billion (Approximately US$6.0 billion), involving more than 280 companies employing more than 65,000 people throughout the group.

Among JCorp’s leading businesses (as at July 2010):-- Foods and Restaurants: Across the value chain from a downstream network of more than 900 restaurants (KFC – in Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia & Mumbai, India; PIZZA HUT – in Malaysia, Singapore dan Cambodia; and AYAMAS outlets and RASAMAS Restaurants in Malaysia) plus upstream chicken farming, feed production and foods processing;

-       Major Palm Oil player in Malaysia and Ultimate Holding Company for the largest palm oil plantations and downstream industries in Papua New Guinea (New Britain Palm Oils Ltd.) that is also listed on the London Stock Exchange;

-       Market leadership position in private sector Healthcare, with 22 Specialist Hospitals, more than 800 specialist consultants and doctors in Malaysia and Indonesia, a college trainging nurses and skilled healthcare providers, as well as a subsidiary company in Australia providing quality aged-care services.

Muhammad Ali is currently the President, Malaysian Islamic Chamber of Commerce (DPIM). DPIM’s principal agenda includes the promotion of “Business Jihad” ideology and public acceptance of “Corporate Waqaf” as the institutional driving force to transform the economies of Islamic nations. The goal is to fully meet with highest social responsibility as well as environmental sustainability standards, and at the same time fully integrate Islamic aspirations into business practice, aligning them with the objectives of the Maqasid Al Shari’ah.

Muhammad Ali graduated with a Bachelor of Economics (Honours) degreee from the University of Malaya (1969). He has also been awarded Honorary Doctorates by 8 universities in Malaysia, namely in Entrepreneurship and Islamic Business Management.

He has devoted his career to integrating Islamic values and percepts into business and corporate practice and redefining business and corporate pursuits in Islamic terms. He distinguished himself through introducing creative, innovative, highly effective and often unprecedented measures. Among the most outstanding concepts and institutions developed and practised at Johor Corporation include the “Business Jihad” idea, “Intrapreneurs” (or “Amanah Entrepreneurs” concept) and the “Corporate Waqf” institution.